avocado leaf cooking

Recipes for kids are always hard go make. With the proper serving and right food proportion, weight loss can now be healthy and yummy! You need not deprive yourself of good food in dieting. Because of the delicious and healthy weight loss diets around, it is now easy to say goodbye to your excess pounds without suffering from starvation through recipe for kids.

Here are some healthy weight loss diets and their recipes which can make you lose pounds while having a flat belly. You’ll be surprised with these yummy treats too!

Chicken With Citrus Avocado Salsa

Recipe for kids can be overwhelming with this recipe around. Try making the meal and see how fast and yummy weight loss can be. Preparation time is only around 19 minutes.

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into halves (about 6 oz each)

1 ruby red grapefruit

1 cup cubed avocado (medium-sized)

4 radishes, thinly sliced

1?4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1?8 teaspoon salt

4 leaves of green or red leaf lettuce (optional)

In a large saucepan, place chicken with 4 cups salted water. Bring to a boil. Put off the heat, cover and set aside for 15 minutes until the temperature reaches 160°F.

Peel the grapefruit and catch the juice using a bowl. Cut the grapefruit into segments and drop them in the bowl. Add the radish, basil, salt and avocado. Mix gently to avoid crushing the avocado pieces.

Discard the liquid while draining the chicken. Cut crosswise in ½ inch slices. The grapefruit is cut into four portions and add a quarter of chicken to each. Drizzle the juice on top of the chicken slices. Garnish with additional basil and serve with lettuce leaves as desired.

You can also eat this recipe with rice.

About the Author:

Cooking is an art. I like to cook. http://www.planyourdinner.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Recipes for kids is an altogether different cooking experience

I love avocados with a passion and am always looking for new ways to incorporate that delicious little fruit into my cooking. One of the best things to pair avocado with is delicious, crispy bacon. If you don’t believe me, just try making a BLT sandwich with mashed avocado instead of mayonnaise. You’ll never go back. Here are two recipes that accomplish just that. Give them a try and see if you don’t fall in love with avocado bacon recipes as well.

Avocado Salad With Bacon and Sour Cream

• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 avocados – peeled, pitted, and cubed
• 3 green onions, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• salt to taste
• red leaf lettuce

Cook the bacon until crisp. Allow it to drain on paper towels to drain off the fat. Crumble the bacon and mix it with the avocados, green onions, sour cream, lemon and salt. Spoon the mixture over red leaf lettuce.

Bacon Stuffed Avocados

• 8 slices crisp bacon, crumbled.
• 4 medium avocados, ripe and unpeeled.
• Lemon juice.
• ½ cup of butter.
• ¼ cup of brown sugar.
• ¼ cup of white wine vinegar.
• ¼ cup of garlic puree.
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce.

Slice the avocados in half, then remove pits and brush with lemon juice. Fill the avocado with bacon.

Get out a small sauce pan and over medium heat stir together the lemon juice, butter, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic and soy sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, then allow to cool slightly. Pour over the bacon stuffed avocados and serve.

Give these recipes a try and see if they don’t quickly become some of your own favorites. You’ll quickly turn into an avocado addict as well.

About the Author:

One way to make sure you always have plenty of this delicious fruit on hand is to keep them in a freezer. Here are some tips on how to freeze avocados and use them in recipes down the road.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Two Delicious Avocado Bacon Recipes You Have Got To Try

cooking avocado

Cooking for your dog: No no’s?

I was looking on the ASPCA website, and they claim that this is the list of ‘no no’s’ for cooking for your dog.

A little bit of garlic is fine. You just don’t want to give them the whole clove.

Many people use garlic & brewers yeast tablets for a holistic approach to flea control (I’ve never tried it myself, so I don’t know how well it works or not).

I see “bones” is on your list, and I think that requires some clarification. Cooked bones should be avoided because they can splinter. But raw bones are fine for a dog to chew on.

Recipes for kids are always hard go make. With the proper serving and right food proportion, weight loss can now be healthy and yummy! You need not deprive yourself of good food in dieting. Because of the delicious and healthy weight loss diets around, it is now easy to say goodbye to your excess pounds without suffering from starvation through recipe for kids.

Here are some healthy weight loss diets and their recipes which can make you lose pounds while having a flat belly. You’ll be surprised with these yummy treats too!

Chicken With Citrus Avocado Salsa

Recipe for kids can be overwhelming with this recipe around. Try making the meal and see how fast and yummy weight loss can be. Preparation time is only around 19 minutes.

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into halves (about 6 oz each)

1 ruby red grapefruit

1 cup cubed avocado (medium-sized)

4 radishes, thinly sliced

1?4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1?8 teaspoon salt

4 leaves of green or red leaf lettuce (optional)

In a large saucepan, place chicken with 4 cups salted water. Bring to a boil. Put off the heat, cover and set aside for 15 minutes until the temperature reaches 160°F.

Peel the grapefruit and catch the juice using a bowl. Cut the grapefruit into segments and drop them in the bowl. Add the radish, basil, salt and avocado. Mix gently to avoid crushing the avocado pieces.

Discard the liquid while draining the chicken. Cut crosswise in ½ inch slices. The grapefruit is cut into four portions and add a quarter of chicken to each. Drizzle the juice on top of the chicken slices. Garnish with additional basil and serve with lettuce leaves as desired.

You can also eat this recipe with rice.

About the Author:

Cooking is an art. I like to cook. http://www.planyourdinner.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Recipes for kids is an altogether different cooking experience

mango avocado salsa

what do y’all think of this together?

ok so ‘y’all’ is just cool Im not southern, lol. But! in the meantime, I’ve come up with this menu for what I think would be a great meal. What do you think?
the main course is some type of white fish, possibly halibut or tilapia, baked with spices to make it spicy, with a little mango-avocado salsa on top.
The sides are sweet potato fries dusted in a bit of garlic
and those (veggietype)beans(what are they called?) theyre usually white but could be light green, are about the size & roundness of a pencil & are somewhat curly at the end???
well those sauteed in just a little butter
for dessert is eithera caramel mocha cheesecake or a fried pancake with bananas & almond sauce(which 1 would be better?)
I don’t know what to serve to drink, any suggestions?(no alcohol)
what do you think of this?Does it sound like it’s be good? Does it all work well together?just looking for input, suggestions, opinions, etc. lemme know
Also, please no rude or pointless answers.Thanks so much. (=

I would do the fried pancakes for dessert..it sounds like the flavors would compliment the dinner better than the cheesecake, although both sound delicious. Good luck!

Try this for a refreshing non alcoholic drink…
http://www.bahamabreeze.com/recipes/beverages/lemon_breeze.asp

Alvin Starkman  M.A., LL.B.

Internationally acclaimed Oaxacan chef Pilar Cabrera (NY Times, Bon Appetit) has expanded the roster at her well-known downtown Oaxaca cooking school, Casa de los Sabores (House of Flavors).  Effective June, 2009, indigenous Zapotec chef Reyna Mendoza joins Pilar’s team, offering a new dimension to the already stellar selection of options available to intrigued foodies, those with a keen interest in Mexican cuisine, as well as chefs from around the globe seeking to add to their existing menus.

A native of Teotitlán del Valle, Reyna brings her knowledge, skill and experience to Casa de los Sabores.  She specializes in the preparation of Zapotec dishes.

Reyna has worked with the likes of chefs Rick Bayless and Ricardo Muñoz.  Accordingly, her pedigree is beyond reproach, combining technical aspects of the culinary sciences, with lifelong experience in the modest kitchens of her mother and her family’s other matriarchs of gastronome. And today, members of the Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast Association (http://www.oaxacabedandbreakfast.org) had an opportunity to learn for themselves.

Pilar invited colleagues from the association to attend her cooking school, so that owners and managers of small hotels and bed & breakfast guest houses in Oaxaca, would be able to experience for themselves what Reyna can add to the vacation of any visitor to the city and its central valleys.  And for four hours, we grilled, chopped and filled, and finally indulged in the fruits of our labor, at this hands-on demonstration.

While we prepared a complete comida, we focused on the preparation of three distinctly different types of Zapotec-style tamales.  The complete menu consisted of:

1)      Tamales of mole amarillo with chicken, wrapped in large corn stalk leaf;

2)      Tamales of mole negro with chicken, in banana leaf;

3)      Tamales of mole negro with quesillo, in banana leaf;

4)      Tamales of black bean, flavored with avocado leaf, wrapped in corn husk;

5)      Salsa of tomatillo and dried Oaxacan chile

6)      Salad of organic lettuce, locally grown tomato, avocado and scallion, with cilantro and chile poblano dressing;

7)      Mango sherbet served with pecan cookie.

And of course, upon completing the preparation of the foregoing dishes, and throughout the comida, there were rounds of the requisite “salud,” while imbibing … Corona beer and village mezcal.  

More than  providing an opportunity for us to learn about Reyna and her ability to teach, and to experience for ourselves the exquisite flavor and ingredient combinations of Zapotec cuisine, it was one of those rare opportunities for members of the Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast Association to tell stories, laugh, and enjoy a day away from the office. 

Classes for both traditional Oaxacan recipes with Pilar, and Zapotec cooking with Reyna, can be booked by contacting Pilar through her website, http://www.casadelossabores.com.

About the Author:

Alvin Starkman received his Masters in Social Anthropology in 1978. After teaching for a few years he attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, thereafter embarking upon a career as a litigator until 2004. Alvin now resides in Oaxaca, where he writes, leads small group tours to the villages, markets, ruins and other sites, is a consultant to film production companies, and operates Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast. ( http://www.oaxacadream.com ) .

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Casa de los Sabores Cooking School in Oaxaca expands options for food enthusiasts

lime avocado salsa

Pistachio crusted chicken with avocado lime sauce/salsa? Anyone have recipe?

I had made from recipe in a book – I cannot locate recipe and wondered if anyone has made something similar – it was delicious.

I do not have the recipe extracted from the book, but I do have my own recipe for this that I make. It may not be exactly like the one you made, but it is a versatile recipe (I will show how else you can use it as other chicken recipes), and it’s delicious!

PISTACHIO CRUSTED CHICKEN W/AVOCADO SALSA

FOR THE CHICKEN

1 lb. of boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 large egg whites (beaten)
flour for dredging
kosher/sea salt
fresh ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
The zest of one lemon
1 c.pistachios (chopped finely, or put in a food processor)

Get three pie plates:

In the first one put flour.

In the second one: Put the beaten egg whites.

In the third one: Put the pistachios, lemon zest, thyme and sage.

Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breast, dredge in flour, dip in egg white and coat in the pistachio mixture.

Drop in a skillet that is heated with a few drizzles of olive oil and brown on both sides. Put the chicken breasts in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

(HERE IS THE VARIATION)…. in that third pie plate, on a night when you are not in the mood to cook pistachio crusted chicken, you can put flaked coconut. On another night, you can put Italian bread crumbs and bake in the oven with some mozarella cheese on top and serve with marinara. This is a good staple recipe to have to do lots of different things.

AVOCADO SALSA

3 large, ripe avocados
1/2 cup of finely chopped fresh cilantro
the juice and zest of 1 small lime
kosher/sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1 splash of jalapeno sauce (if you like it spicy, this is optional)

Mash together to desired consistency and serve on pistachio chicken.

ENJOY

Gifts of food are welcomed and appreciated for all holidays and special occasions. It can be a basket of homemade goodies or it can be a more elaborate gift basket containing gourmet foods and a bottle of wine.

Wicker baskets are traditional containers, but there are many other containers that are suitable. Unbreakable containers like wooden crates, trays with an edge, basins, tubs, and ice buckets are good alternatives. Since theme gift baskets are very popular, here are three of my favorite themes when making a food gift basket.

Cookie Lover’s Theme

This is a gift for anyone who loves sweets. It’s a good idea for work associates and teachers as well as family and friends. A cookie jar, mixing bowl, or a basket are all nice containers. Line the container with a decorative towel, purchased shred, or tissue paper. Fill it with an assortment of cookies wrapped in small cello bags, purchased cookie mixes, chocolate chips, herbal tea, gourmet coffee, or envelopes of hot chocolate mix. Add a wooden spoon, spatula, and your favorite cookie recipes written on recipe cards. Wrap the completed gift in a cello bag, tied at the top with curly ribbon. If desired, tie a decorative cookie cutter in with the ribbon and add a gift card.

Barbecue Theme

This is a particularly nice idea for men on Father’s Day, birthdays, or anniversaries. It’s also a nice gift to take if you are invited as a guest to a barbecue or housewarming party. Use a container that can double as a cooler such as a metal or plastic basin, tray, or a pail. An unbreakable tray with an edge works well, too. Include gifts items such as bbq tools, an apron, an oven mitt, cookbook, or citronella candles. Barbecue sauces, marinades, rubs, hot sauce, and cans of soda or beer are all necessary items for a cookout.

Mexican/Southwestern Theme

Anyone who enjoys spicy food would be more than happy to receive an assortment of Mexican food items. The best tip I can gift you in creating this theme gift basket is to make it spicy and make it colorful. Place an assortment of spices, dry or canned beans, rice, bags of chips, and jars of salsa in a basket or a colorful bowl or serving tray. Add some fresh fruit such as avocados, lemons, limes, and pineapple. You may want to add a cookbook for Mexican food or beverages. Line the container with bright colored terry towels and top off your gift basket with some fresh peppers. Don’t forget the makings for margaritas.

About the Author:

For assembly information, decorating tips, and unique container ideas for homemade food gift baskets, go to http://www.homemade-gift-basket-ideas.com/

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Homemade Food Gift Baskets – Created by You!

avocado tomato recipes

What do you think about this sandwich recipe?

6-grain bread
lettuce
avocado
tomato
sprouts
brie cheese

I invented a sandwich for a gourmet deli that was basically the same thing, but I used a mixture of cheddar and jack cheeses, and also added onions and mayonnaise.

I also ended up changing to guacamole instead of sliced avocado, and never used lettuce…the sprouts are enough.

YUMMY

Almost everyone loves Mexican food regardless of where they are from. Here is a Mexican recipe for grilled chicken that you can create in your own kitchen. This recipe is very easy to make and you can be sure that your friends and family will enjoy it.

Mexican Grilled Chicken with Tomato Avocado Salsa

Ingredients to serve 4 people:

4 boneless chicken breasts (leave the skin on)

2 large tomatoes

1 small red onion

1 peeled avocado

2 jalapeno peppers or 3 to 6 fresh serrano chili peppers (the more the spicier; start with 3)

3 cloves garlic, unpeeled

2 tbsp orange juice

1 tbsp lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Olive oil for basting the chicken breasts

Cut the tomatoes and red onion into thick slices.

Cut the peppers in half and discard the seeds.

Put the garlic cloves and the tomato, onion, and pepper slices on the grill. Let these grill with the lid closed until the vegetables and peppers are charred and garlic skin comes off (about two minutes on each side).

Remove the vegetable, pepper and garlic from the grill and chop them up and mix well. Stir in the lemon and orange juice and season with salt and/or pepper (to desired taste).

Using half of this mixture spread it over the chicken breasts (be sure to rub it under the loose skin) and let it marinate for 1 hour at room temperature or up to four days refrigerated.

When you are ready to grill the chicken baste it with the olive oil and place it on a grill that has been preheated on high. Cook the chicken breasts until the juices are clear – about five minutes on each side.

While the chicken is grilling chop up the avocado and stir it into the remaining half of the vegetable, pepper and garlic mixture. Add the cilantro and stir everything well.

When your grilled chicken is cooked to your satisfaction remove it from the grill and cut it into one-half inch slices. Now serve it to your friends or family with the grilled tomato avocado salsa.

Remember that food safety is very important. You want your barbecue to be both fun and safe for everyone. Always be sure that you cook meat completely. Cut into the chicken breast at its thickest part, when they are completely cooked the juices will be clear and the meat will be white. Keep all utensils you use to handle the raw chicken separate from the ones you use to handle the cooked meat. Be sure to wash your hands after handling the raw chicken. Cross contamination of bacteria can be as risky to your health as eating raw meat.

About the Author:

Get some mouthwatering Chicken Recipes at yummytummy.info or if you are after some Mexican Recipes visit dietflavor.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Mexican Grilled Chicken With Tomato Avocado Salsa

tomato avocado salsa

Whats the WEIRDEST omlette?

you have ever ordered before? I just had 1 with Alf alfa and Avocado,cheese and tomato and my friend had 1 filled with ground beef, salsa , taco cheese and sour cream……

My mom used to make my kids “candy omlets” for breakfast.

They are exactly what they sound like. And omlet with candy sprinkled inside. M&Ms, hunks of candy bar, colorful nerds…and the kids would go crazy for it. Ewww.

History of Salsa

The word “salsa” is the Spanish word for sauce. The salsas that many of us think of are salsa frescas or salsa cruda, fresh sauces served as a condiment aside a Mexican meal. These uncooked sauces might be pureed until smooth, semi-chunky, or the uniformly chopped pico de gallo (my favorite).

The Chile – Tomato Combination

The making of of a sauce by combining chiles, tomatoes, spices and other ingredients like squash seeds and even beans has been documented back to the Aztec culture..

We have Spanish-born Bernadino de Sahagun to thank for the detailed culinary history of the Aztec culture. His extensive writings documented every food common to the culture. This is an excerpt from Sahagun’s writings about the food vendors in the large Aztec markets:

“He sells foods, sauces, hot sauces, fried [food], olla-cooked, juices, sauces of juices, shredded [food] with chile, with squash seeds, with tomatoes, with smoke chile, with hot chile, with yellow chile, with mild red chile sauce, yellow chile sauce, sauce of smoked chile, heated sauce, he sells toasted beans, cooked beans, mushroom sauce, sauce of small squash, sauce of large tomatoes, sauce of ordinary tomatoes, sauce of various kinds of sour herbs, avocado sauce. (Sahagun, translated 1950 -1982).

Ingredients Then and Now

The paragraph above refers to many of the ingredients in our modern-day salsas.

Large tomatoes – We believe this references is to a large red tomato similar to what we eat to day.

Ordinary tomatoes – most likely this reference is to the tomatillo or tomate verde.

Smoked chiles – The chipotle or smoked jalapeno was a staple in the Aztec diet.

Avocado – cultivated by the Aztecs the avocado was an important source of fat and protein and was used in a sauce similar to what we call guacamole.

Two Delicious Salsa Recipes:

2 c fresh plum tomato, diced

1 c fresh green tomato, diced

1/2 c fresh green bell pepper, diced

1/4 c fresh purple onion, chopped.

1 tbsp jalapeno pepper, finely chopped

1 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

1/4 tsp salt.

1/8 tsp coarsely ground pepper.

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tbsp olive oil.

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir well. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Serve with corn or flour tortilla wedges, poultry, or fish.

Yield: 3 cups (approx 6 calories per tbsp).

Mango Salsa

2 medium ripe mangoes

1 small cucumber, peeled, diced (it says seeded, but I’ve never bothered)

1 ripe tomato

juice of 1 lime (lemon works, too!)

pinch of salt

1/2 – 1 small fresh chile pepper, minced, or Tobasco or other hot pepper

sauce to taste (I have always used Tobasco)

1 Tablespoon chopped, fresh cilantro (It says optional, but I don’t really

think so)

Peel and chop the mangoes. In a large bowl, mix together the mangoes,

cucumber, tomato, lime juice, salt, chile or tabasco, and cilantro. Let

salsa sit for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend before serving. Mango

salsa keeps refrigerated for 2 or 3 days.

About the Author:

Michael K. Sasaki is the founder of RecipeMatcher ( http://www.recipematcher.com ), where you can find delicious salsa recipes.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Real History of Salsa

avocado content

Know any good recipes that use avocados?

I love avocados, but rarely eat them because they’re so high in fat content. I normally just cut them up and put them in salad, but haven’t done that in ages because I’m kinda on a diet.

Tomato Avocado Salsa

8 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1-2 seeded minced jalapeno peppers
1/2c chopped cilantro
2 avocados, chopped
1tsp salt
juice of 1/2 lemon

Chop avocado and toss with lemon juice. Add remaining ingredients, refrigerate at least one hour before serving with chips. Sometimes I add 8oz. of mock crab.

In our society, I have realized that most people have been exposed to a ton of different ideas and information on the best ways to lose weight. Well, the knowledge and experiences I have gained may be shocking to hear, but have proven to be the top fat burning foods that are best for weight loss and good health. However, unlike many of the other so called “gurus” in the health and fitness industry, I won’t bore you with all of the typical stereotyped fruits and vegetables that we are so accustomed to hearing today…it’s the same information over and over. Rather than feed you with outdated and boring information I’m going to reveal to you the obvious, yet unexpected healthy foods for fat loss to immediately add to your Fat burning foods list and start seeing results. This will be the Burn fat food help that you have been searching all this time.

Brace Yourselves. Here’s the Burn Fat Food Help That actually work:

1. Grass-fed Beef: While most beef you see at the supermarket is practically grain fed beef from cattle that are in an unhealthy condition and omega-3 to omega-6 fat ratios that are outdated and have very low nutrition values, there is a better option. This option as you have read is Grass-Fed Beef! For those who may not know, Grass-fed beef is widely known to have lower omega-6 fats, which is great since we have too much of this anyway. It even has very high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are extremely healthy to your diet. In addition to these benefits Grass-fed beef also has high levels of vitamins and minerals and even possess conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which serves as a healthy fat to assist in the muscle building and fat burning process.
   So as long as you choose healthy grass-fed beef instead of grain fed beef you’re on your way to a healthy diet. Any one not implementing this into their diet is hurting their chances to start burning Fat fast. It is simply a no-brainer to add to your Fat burning foods list.
2. Egg Yolks: Do you want me to repeat that? Well, opposed to what you have been constantly told about the high fat and cholesterol in egg yolks they actually help balance proper ratios and increase your GOOD cholesterol. There is nothing to fear with the fat and cholesterol in these power packed nutritional foods. In addition, by choosing cage-free eggs from free roaming hens, you will learn that the omega-3 content is much higher with more balanced fat. Interestingly, Egg yolks have proven to be one of the most powerful nutritional foods in the world in regards to the amount of vitamins, minerals, and trace nutrients. Believe me I can go on and on about the countless nutrients that egg yolks provide. The list would take up this entire article page, so it wouldn’t be appropriate in this article. However, I do want you to understand that egg yolks should NEVER be overlooked and ignored when deciding between egg yolks and egg whites. In fact, you would be surprised to learn that the protein is more bio available when you include the yolks! So begin to enjoy consuming these mouth-watering and nutrition packed eggs and start burning belly fat faster. Trust me, you will see that it ranks at the top of your Fat burning foods list.
3. Avocados:
   Last but certainly not least is another commonly misperceived “fatty food” that is one of the TOP fat burning foods! In fact, as you may have noticed from experience avocados make just about everything more delicious and creamier. They also include vitamins and minerals and contain healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants as well. The benefit of avocados is that the healthy fat contained in avocados help control your hunger for food and fat burning hormones within your body. When added to your diet, avocados, in the form of slices or guacamole to even morning eggs, salads, sandwiches, and burgers will allow you to see quick results and start burning body fat in no time! From experience, I have come to learn and consider avocados as one of the Top healthiest super foods on any powerful Fat burning foods list.

I hope you have embraced the Burn fat food help that really work and have realized the significance and effectiveness of these Top 3 Best Foods on any Fat Burning Foods List. Now go out and enjoy and start burning more body fat with these so called “fatty” foods!

About the Author:

Sonam Lama is a lover of good health and a fitness fanatic. He finds joy in helping others achieve their health and fitness goals. If you want to lose body fat faster and take your fat-loss efforts to an entirely new level, go to the following site and grab a Free Fat loss report which details 27 unique methods for boosting your metabolism and losing belly fat – Truth About Abs

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Burn Fat Food Help That – 3 Most Important Foods To Burn Fat Fast!

mexican avocado salsa

What type of mexican food is this?

My roommate used to make these delicious things that were eaten with your hands, they were basically a circular, stiff (fried?) taco that formed the base, covered with meat, cheese, salsa, avocados, and sauce. Also if anyone has any good recipes please share.
edit: I found out myself through some research that they are called “Tostadas.” But if anyone wants to share some good recipes go ahead.

those were either tostadas or “sopes”..

sopes are more of a “masa”(corn paste) and the “base” is much thicker than the tortilla that is used in tostadas

yum yum!!

Mexican food is very popular in the U.S., despite the general belief that Mexican cuisine is high in calories. As a matter of fact, authentic Mexican cuisine uses fresh, highly-nutrient ingredients and can provide you with a lot of healthy choices. But, as everything is super-sized in America, so has happened with the Mexican food. Portions have grown larger and recipes have grown fattening, which is what most Mexican restaurants and fast food chains serve in the U.S.

Some great Mexican meals such as tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos are prepared with fresh produce, corn, fresh tomatoes or tomatillos, avocado, beans, rice, mushrooms, corn tortillas and nutritious spices such as chilies, cinnamon, garlic, cumin and cloves.

If you want to avoid the Americanized versions of Mexican food that are high in fat, calories and sodium, you can prepare healthy Mexican food at home. In some very easy and quick steps you can taste highly nutritional Mexican meals in no time.

Here are some tips for cooking healthy Mexican food at home:

- Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the main ingredient of Mexican salsas. Rich in lycopene, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C, tomatoes reduce the risk of several types of cancer and their protective effect is highly beneficial.

Pico de gallo is the most famous Mexican salsa. All you need is 2 large fresh tomatoes, 1/2 large white onion, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, minced fresh chile, 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, salt and freshly ground black pepper. It can be prepared in 15 minutes and it contains all the natural ingredients that contribute to your overall wellness.

-  Beans

Beans contain high amounts of proteins and fiber and provide antioxidant benefits. The best variety are the pinto or the black beans that are low-fat, low-calorie. Instead, the refried beans that are usually served in the Mexican restaurants are totally unhealthy and should be avoided.

For a bean salsa, you cook pinto or black beans and then you add onion and 1 teaspoon of cumin. After 30 minutes is ready for you to enjoy.

- Corn

Corn has extraordinary health qualities because it is rich in folate, vitamin B, vitamin C and fiber. It contributes to heart prevention, it helps in better digestion and it stabilizes blood sugar levels. Bake 12 6-inch corn tortillas with 1 tablespoon of canola oil in 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes and you can enjoy a really delicious and healthy food that goes with homemade guacamole, pico de gallo or avocado salsa.

- Avocado

Avocados contain high quantities of vitamin K and potassium that lower “bad” cholesterol (LDL).

For a great guacamole sauce all you need is ripe avocados, chopped tomatoes, salt and pepper. For the salsa, add chili peppers, garlic, onions, lime and cilantro to make the taste more intense.

-  Chilies

Chili peppers are rich in capsaicin that promotes anti-inflammatory and pain-relief qualities. In addition, chilies reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases because they lower “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and they contain vitamin A. In most of the Americanized Mexican restaurants you will hardly find real chilies, so it’s better to prepare your own homemade Mexican meal.

If, however, you prefer going out to a Mexican restaurant, you still have healthy choices.

- Avoid the chips

Chips that are served before the meal are a dieter’s nightmare. Normally, they are full in sodium, which means that, not only they increase the levels of water weight, but they also increase blood pressure. Avoiding the chips may save you an extra 200 calories of fat. Instead, you can eat as mane carrots or celery sticks you want with the salsa dip.

- Avoid sour cream and extra cheese

Sour cream and extra cheese are nothing more than extra fat and calories. Sour cream is a basic topping in Mexican food, used in all meals to add a smooth taste. But if you are on a diet, you should avoid it. If you’re looking for protein sources, you’d better go for black beans, grilled shrimp or grilled chicken and avoid cheese.

- Prefer corn tortillas

Corn tortillas may save you an extra 200 calories of fat that you would gain if you ordered flour tortillas.

- Prefer grilled food

Order grilled chicken or meat rather than fried. For instance, fajitas have a great taste flavor and are lower in calories and fat than enchiladas and tacos that are fried.

- Cut your portion in half

Do not eat all your lunch. Cut it in half and eat it later in the week. Cutting back the portion size automatically means 200 calories less, which consequently means healthy eating in terms of fat.

The main advantage of Mexican food is that most Mexican meals can be adapted to your eating habits. So, either at home, or at a Mexican restaurant, you can add the ingredients you like and enjoy really delicious and healthy dishes. Without a doubt, Mexican food is a great temptation. But if you want to derive the healthy benefits of true Mexican cuisine, offer to yourself something authentic.

About the Author:

I work as a financial and investment advisor but my passion is writing, music and photography. Writing mostly about finance, business and music, being an amateur photographer and a professional dj, I am inspired from life.

Being a strong advocate of simplicity in life, I love my family, my partner and all the people that have stood by me with or without knowing. And I hope that someday, human nature will cease to be greedy and demanding realizing that the more we have the more we want and the more we satisfy our needs the more needs we create. And this is so needless after all.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Tips for eating healthy Mexican food

mango avocado salsa recipe

I have to be honest.  This is one question that REALLY gets my goat.  Whenever I hear someone attacking the raw diet because it’s too “boring,” I go crazy!

Really, I hulk out!

I’ve been following a low-fat raw vegan diet for almost 2 years now.  I can honestly say, without any reservations, that there is absolutely NOTHING boring about a raw food diet!

*Deep Breath*  Okay, I’m calm now.

Let me explain why a raw food diet is totally NOT boring.

Variety

The variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds that exist is astounding.  You have apples, grapes, oranges, bananas, peaches, pears, cantaloupe, romaine, celery, cucumber, avocado…and I’m just alluding to what is available in your local grocery store!

In fact, I can almost guarantee you that raw foodists eat *more* variety than ANYONE on a standard American diet…or any other diet for that matter.

This is because most people tend to eat just a handful of dishes that become their staples.  And these dishes are usually very similar.

If you eat meat, your meals will generally center around a protein, with some starchy vegetable and maybe greens along side.  If you’re from the Southern States, your greens are cooked to death in butter and everything gets a nice heapin’ helping of beef gravy smothered on top.

If you are vegetarian or vegan, the focus is usually on whole grains or legumes with vegetables.  And of course, everyone has his or her favorite dessert.

But when you live on a fruit-based diet, you have to adapt what you are eating to what you can find in your area.  Just because you have a few favorite fruits does not mean that they will always be available.

I would gladly eat nothing but mangoes for the rest of my life, but I can’t because they are not always in season!

Where’s the Proof?

Still skeptical that a raw diet is really that varied?  Here’s a list of several of the different varieties of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds that I eat in a given year:

o    Apples
o    Apricots
o    Avocado
o    Bananas
o    Basil
o    Bell Pepper
o    Blackberries
o    Blueberries
o    Boston Lettuce
o    Cantaloupe
o    Celery
o    Cherries
o    Cilantro
o    Clementines
o    Cucumber
o    Currants
o    Dates
o    Dill
o    Grapefruit
o    Grapes
o    Honeydew
o    Iceberg Lettuce
o    Kiwi
o    Lemon
o    Lime
o    Mangoes
o    Mint
o    Nectarines
o    Oranges
o    Papaya
o    Peaches
o    Pears
o    Pineapple
o    Pistachios
o    Raspberries
o    Romaine Lettuce
o    Star Fruit
o    Strawberries
o    Sunflower Seeds
o    Tangerines
o    Tomatoes
o    Watermelon
o    Zucchini

AND I didn’t even include the different varieties of fruit within each species.  For instance, there are Navel and Valencia oranges, red and green grapes, the Fuji apples and the Gala apples, Red Haven and White Nectar peaches, etc.

All of this is found conventionally at my local supermarkets in Tennessee.  Of course, if you live somewhere tropical or have access to exotic markets, you have a whole different spectrum of fruits to choose from:

o    Chocolate Sapote
o    Custard Apple
o    Durian
o    Jackfruit
o    Litchi
o    Longan
o    Mamey Sapote
o    Mangosteen
o    Rambutan
o    Sapodilla
o    Soursop

There’s even a peanut butter fruit that has the taste AND texture of peanut butter!

How can a diet that’s full of so many different smells, tastes, and textures be boring?

Quite simply, it cannot.

Raw Recipes

If you *still* aren’t convinced that a raw diet isn’t boring, you probably haven’t considered all the different raw vegan recipes that you can make.

And I’m not talking about fatty dehydrated conglomerations that are made to mimic the flavor and textures of cooked dishes.  I’m referring to simple, delicious, healthy meals that contain few ingredients and take literally minutes to put together.

There are fruit smoothies, green smoothies, fruit soups, vegetable soups, fruit salads, savory salads, fruit puddings, dips, salsas, and even fruit ice creams!

You could literally take just a few different healthy raw ingredients and have a completely different dish for every meal for a whole week!

Now how in the world can a diet like *this* be boring?

Quite simply, it cannot.

Don’t Take My Word For It!

If you are still debating going raw, there is no better time than now to get out there and go for it.  See for yourself just how varied this diet can be.  Buy all the fruits you can and go crazy in the kitchen!

Just be sure to send me the recipes to all of your awesome raw creations.

About the Author:

For more information on the best raw vegan diet, be sure to visit Fit On Raw and subscribe to Swayze’s newsletter Peachy Keen Ezine. By subscribing, you will also receive the free report The 4 Principles of a Healthy Raw Diet as well as the 5-week mini-course The Fool Proof Transition to Raw.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Is a Raw Food Diet Boring?

History of Salsa

The word “salsa” is the Spanish word for sauce. The salsas that many of us think of are salsa frescas or salsa cruda, fresh sauces served as a condiment aside a Mexican meal. These uncooked sauces might be pureed until smooth, semi-chunky, or the uniformly chopped pico de gallo (my favorite).

The Chile – Tomato Combination

The making of of a sauce by combining chiles, tomatoes, spices and other ingredients like squash seeds and even beans has been documented back to the Aztec culture..

We have Spanish-born Bernadino de Sahagun to thank for the detailed culinary history of the Aztec culture. His extensive writings documented every food common to the culture. This is an excerpt from Sahagun’s writings about the food vendors in the large Aztec markets:

“He sells foods, sauces, hot sauces, fried [food], olla-cooked, juices, sauces of juices, shredded [food] with chile, with squash seeds, with tomatoes, with smoke chile, with hot chile, with yellow chile, with mild red chile sauce, yellow chile sauce, sauce of smoked chile, heated sauce, he sells toasted beans, cooked beans, mushroom sauce, sauce of small squash, sauce of large tomatoes, sauce of ordinary tomatoes, sauce of various kinds of sour herbs, avocado sauce. (Sahagun, translated 1950 -1982).

Ingredients Then and Now

The paragraph above refers to many of the ingredients in our modern-day salsas.

Large tomatoes – We believe this references is to a large red tomato similar to what we eat to day.

Ordinary tomatoes – most likely this reference is to the tomatillo or tomate verde.

Smoked chiles – The chipotle or smoked jalapeno was a staple in the Aztec diet.

Avocado – cultivated by the Aztecs the avocado was an important source of fat and protein and was used in a sauce similar to what we call guacamole.

Two Delicious Salsa Recipes:

2 c fresh plum tomato, diced

1 c fresh green tomato, diced

1/2 c fresh green bell pepper, diced

1/4 c fresh purple onion, chopped.

1 tbsp jalapeno pepper, finely chopped

1 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

1/4 tsp salt.

1/8 tsp coarsely ground pepper.

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tbsp olive oil.

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir well. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Serve with corn or flour tortilla wedges, poultry, or fish.

Yield: 3 cups (approx 6 calories per tbsp).

Mango Salsa

2 medium ripe mangoes

1 small cucumber, peeled, diced (it says seeded, but I’ve never bothered)

1 ripe tomato

juice of 1 lime (lemon works, too!)

pinch of salt

1/2 – 1 small fresh chile pepper, minced, or Tobasco or other hot pepper

sauce to taste (I have always used Tobasco)

1 Tablespoon chopped, fresh cilantro (It says optional, but I don’t really

think so)

Peel and chop the mangoes. In a large bowl, mix together the mangoes,

cucumber, tomato, lime juice, salt, chile or tabasco, and cilantro. Let

salsa sit for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend before serving. Mango

salsa keeps refrigerated for 2 or 3 days.

About the Author:

Michael K. Sasaki is the founder of RecipeMatcher ( http://www.recipematcher.com ), where you can find delicious salsa recipes.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Real History of Salsa

corn avocado salsa recipe

Mexico of course lies next door to the United States of America. This means the people frequently cross the border and so, all over the states, even as far north as Washington State, one can find ‘Mexican ‘food.

But this isn’t quite the same food that is eaten south of the border. The Conquest of Mexico early in the 16th century gave rise to one of the richest ever culinary mixes in history. Cortez and his followers came to the new world in search of gold. They found rather a great wealth of culinary specialties such as chocolate, peanuts, vanilla, beans, squash, avocados, coconuts, corn and tomatoes. In return turn the Spanish brought to the Americas products pork, beef, lamb, citrus fruits, garlic, cheese, milk, wheat, vinegar, spices and wine. The result was Mexican cuisine as we now have it, and explains why it is difficult to decide what is authentically Mexican and what is not. Basically it is the food of the poor – meat is there, but vegetables and maize flour predominate.

Roast Pepper Dip

1tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil
1 head of garlic, peel intact
3 red bell peppers, roasted, peeled and seeded
½ teaspoon of ground cumin
4oz, 100 grams, cream cheese, room temperature
2 tbsp sour cream or crème fraiche
Salt & freshly ground pepper

You need to preheat the oven to 350 F., 180 C, Gas 4.

Separate the cloves of garlic, place then on a square of foil. Sprinkle with the oil and make up into a parcel. Cook this for about 40 minutes. When cool enough to handle squeeze the soft garlic into your food processor. Add all except the sour cream/crème fraiche and blend. Turn out into a bowl and fold in the sour cream. Place in a screw top jar. It will keep in the fridge for a few days.

Although meant as dip you can go totally non-Mexican and serve it on pasta or baked potatoes.

Crusty Bean Pie

For 6 helpings
1 large tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 small green bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
4 oz, 80 ml salsa
1/4 red bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
¼ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 unbaked 9 inch pie crusts
6 oz, 170 g shredded mature cheese – don’t use processed cheese as it turns to glue.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F ,165 degrees C, Gas 3

Heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Use this to saute the onion and chopped green pepper until soft. Stir in the beans, salsa, red bell pepper, chili powder and cayenne. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Spoon half of the mixture into one of the pie crusts and cover with half of the cheese. Repeat with remaining beans and cheese. Top with remaining crust. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.

This is the kind of pie you can wrap in foil and take on a picnic. You could replace the black beans with whatever sort you have or even sweet corn.

I f you use one of those really stretchy cheeses you can hold a stretching contest i.e. how high can you pull up a forkful of pie before it breaks contact with the food still on the plate.

Sausage Wrap

Use whatever sausages you want.
8 flour tortillas,
200g/7oz guacamole
1 crisp lettuce, shredded
200g/7oz sour cream
200g/7oz salsa

Just cook your sausages. Place on each tortilla some lettuce and guacamole. Place sausage on top and then top this with salsa and sour cream. Roll up and place one end between your teeth. Bite!

About the Author:

Discover the best
Recipes For Salmon Patties
and
Ramen Noodle Salad

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Real Mexican Food as Eaten by Mexicans

Holiday appetizers are all about the different flavors that satisfy your taste buds. Whether it is Christmas evening or a huge party with your friends, a table with assorted appetizers along with a bowl of punch is indeed a great beginning. There are some specific appetizers are there for some occasions like; you can’t have Labor Day party without chicken wings or Halloween without crawly cookies.

Let’s look at some easy to make holiday appetizers for this holiday season. Mini quiches, are easy to make holiday appetizer. You can add any flavor from chopped olives to tiny shrimps. Filo onion rolls can be the other option where there can be a variation by making triangles instead of long roll. They have to be kept crisp and have to be baked them just before serving. Tapende, is a spread made with different type of chopped olive. Apple mint chutney, any kind of chutneys are great as spread for anything, you can make many different types of ingredients.

There are traditional holiday party appetizers like chips or sandwiches, which can also be a used as Holiday appetizers. Just with cheese balls, you can have many different appetizers like mini cheddar cheese balls, pineapple balls, salmon cheese balls, sausage cheese balls. You can have many different dip recipes like creamy shrimp dip, chili dip, artichoke cheese dip, crockpot spice chile cheese dip, avocado dip, lobster dip, clam sip, beef and bean dip and more such dip with anything you have with you at home. You can have many different salsa recipes.

If you don’t want ordinary chips and dip then here are exclusive appetizers for your holiday party. Holiday goat cheese leaf, just make small loaf with goat cheese in plate, cover it with olives, sun dried tomatoes and peppers and spread some pita chips around goat’s loaf. Or you can make Cranberry brie pizza, cranberry cream cheese roll ups or special holiday meatballs with various vegetables and meat. Then you can have spiced sausage lettuce wraps. Gingerbread caramel corn is also one very delicious recipe, in this flavor of gingerbread is combined with sweet and crunchy caramel corn.

If you want some show stopper appetizer for your holiday party, you can combine your cooking skills with creativity to produce creative holiday appetizers. You can make Christmas cheese trees with just combination of different cheese and some sauces like pesto sauce. You can make many different creative appetizers with combination of cheese like cheese pinecones or snowman cheese balls and many more. With olives you can make perky olive penguins. You can serve your smoked salmon with cucumber cups. Then you can have different tarts or you can create Santa with strawberries.

Holiday appetizers are usually very rich and heavy. If you want to have some low fat but tasty appetizers like; marmalade, apple butter on lo fat cracker with slices of gourmet cheese. Pears and low fat cheddar cheese is delicious but healthy option. If you chose lean varieties then ham and turkey are low fat meats. Different appetizers made up if Shrimps is also great low fat recipe option.

About the Author:

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Appetizers for Years. For More Information on Holiday appetizers, Visit His Site at HOLIDAY APPETIZERSI Will Also Highly Appreciate Your Views On Holiday appetizers At My Blog here

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Some Easy to Make Holiday Appetizers for This Holiday Season

large avocados

whats a good shade tree for florida?

i have thought about royal poinciana tree.
but then someone told me they are not nice trees and become a mess.
once it starts growing it keeeps growing…..
my backyard is 35′x45′
at the moment i have 2 orange trees and a small avocado tree.

sycamore trees dont have much leaves to clean up and their leaves are large enough for shade.
all the leaves dont fall off during the winter as long as your beliw the frost line.

the avocado will grow to about 60 feet and is a excellant shade tree.

Almost everyone loves Mexican food regardless of where they are from. Here is a Mexican recipe for grilled chicken that you can create in your own kitchen. This recipe is very easy to make and you can be sure that your friends and family will enjoy it.

Mexican Grilled Chicken with Tomato Avocado Salsa

Ingredients to serve 4 people:

4 boneless chicken breasts (leave the skin on)

2 large tomatoes

1 small red onion

1 peeled avocado

2 jalapeno peppers or 3 to 6 fresh serrano chili peppers (the more the spicier; start with 3)

3 cloves garlic, unpeeled

2 tbsp orange juice

1 tbsp lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Olive oil for basting the chicken breasts

Cut the tomatoes and red onion into thick slices.

Cut the peppers in half and discard the seeds.

Put the garlic cloves and the tomato, onion, and pepper slices on the grill. Let these grill with the lid closed until the vegetables and peppers are charred and garlic skin comes off (about two minutes on each side).

Remove the vegetable, pepper and garlic from the grill and chop them up and mix well. Stir in the lemon and orange juice and season with salt and/or pepper (to desired taste).

Using half of this mixture spread it over the chicken breasts (be sure to rub it under the loose skin) and let it marinate for 1 hour at room temperature or up to four days refrigerated.

When you are ready to grill the chicken baste it with the olive oil and place it on a grill that has been preheated on high. Cook the chicken breasts until the juices are clear – about five minutes on each side.

While the chicken is grilling chop up the avocado and stir it into the remaining half of the vegetable, pepper and garlic mixture. Add the cilantro and stir everything well.

When your grilled chicken is cooked to your satisfaction remove it from the grill and cut it into one-half inch slices. Now serve it to your friends or family with the grilled tomato avocado salsa.

Remember that food safety is very important. You want your barbecue to be both fun and safe for everyone. Always be sure that you cook meat completely. Cut into the chicken breast at its thickest part, when they are completely cooked the juices will be clear and the meat will be white. Keep all utensils you use to handle the raw chicken separate from the ones you use to handle the cooked meat. Be sure to wash your hands after handling the raw chicken. Cross contamination of bacteria can be as risky to your health as eating raw meat.

About the Author:

Get some mouthwatering Chicken Recipes at yummytummy.info or if you are after some Mexican Recipes visit dietflavor.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Mexican Grilled Chicken With Tomato Avocado Salsa

avocado salsa recipes

Holiday appetizers are all about the different flavors that satisfy your taste buds. Whether it is Christmas evening or a huge party with your friends, a table with assorted appetizers along with a bowl of punch is indeed a great beginning. There are some specific appetizers are there for some occasions like; you can’t have Labor Day party without chicken wings or Halloween without crawly cookies.

Let’s look at some easy to make holiday appetizers for this holiday season. Mini quiches, are easy to make holiday appetizer. You can add any flavor from chopped olives to tiny shrimps. Filo onion rolls can be the other option where there can be a variation by making triangles instead of long roll. They have to be kept crisp and have to be baked them just before serving. Tapende, is a spread made with different type of chopped olive. Apple mint chutney, any kind of chutneys are great as spread for anything, you can make many different types of ingredients.

There are traditional holiday party appetizers like chips or sandwiches, which can also be a used as Holiday appetizers. Just with cheese balls, you can have many different appetizers like mini cheddar cheese balls, pineapple balls, salmon cheese balls, sausage cheese balls. You can have many different dip recipes like creamy shrimp dip, chili dip, artichoke cheese dip, crockpot spice chile cheese dip, avocado dip, lobster dip, clam sip, beef and bean dip and more such dip with anything you have with you at home. You can have many different salsa recipes.

If you don’t want ordinary chips and dip then here are exclusive appetizers for your holiday party. Holiday goat cheese leaf, just make small loaf with goat cheese in plate, cover it with olives, sun dried tomatoes and peppers and spread some pita chips around goat’s loaf. Or you can make Cranberry brie pizza, cranberry cream cheese roll ups or special holiday meatballs with various vegetables and meat. Then you can have spiced sausage lettuce wraps. Gingerbread caramel corn is also one very delicious recipe, in this flavor of gingerbread is combined with sweet and crunchy caramel corn.

If you want some show stopper appetizer for your holiday party, you can combine your cooking skills with creativity to produce creative holiday appetizers. You can make Christmas cheese trees with just combination of different cheese and some sauces like pesto sauce. You can make many different creative appetizers with combination of cheese like cheese pinecones or snowman cheese balls and many more. With olives you can make perky olive penguins. You can serve your smoked salmon with cucumber cups. Then you can have different tarts or you can create Santa with strawberries.

Holiday appetizers are usually very rich and heavy. If you want to have some low fat but tasty appetizers like; marmalade, apple butter on lo fat cracker with slices of gourmet cheese. Pears and low fat cheddar cheese is delicious but healthy option. If you chose lean varieties then ham and turkey are low fat meats. Different appetizers made up if Shrimps is also great low fat recipe option.

About the Author:

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Appetizers for Years. For More Information on Holiday appetizers, Visit His Site at HOLIDAY APPETIZERSI Will Also Highly Appreciate Your Views On Holiday appetizers At My Blog here

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Some Easy to Make Holiday Appetizers for This Holiday Season

It is pretty simply to cook healthy recipes, without dedicating too much of time and energy.
But in all this rush we overlook our dietary needs. This in turn leads to common medical conditions and concerns the most frequent being (IBS) irritable bowl syndrome.

There are several ways to make healthier recipes
Increase the consumption or switch to whole grain foods by replacing white with brown bread, rice, pasta, lasagne sheets.  They taste equally well.

Increase the amount of fibre in your diet through the intake of fresh vegetables, legumes and fruits. As far as possible reduce or stop meat. There are quite a few examples of animal diseases being transferred to humans e.g. the mad cow epidemic.

Replace meat with more of vegetables in recipes such as casseroles and stews.

Try and reduce fat content in your meals especially if you are a ‘potato couch’. Consume low fat cheese, skimmed milk. Try and replace cream with other ingredients such as buttermilk, yogurt wherever possible.

Avoid products like MSG as they are harmful for health. Therefore, in many of recipes I have stated its use as (optional), because a lot of people like to still incorporate it in their diet.

Try and keep salt levels low in food as increased consumption can lead to problems of blood pressure and heart.

Avoid fatty salad dressings (replace with avocado or salsa dressing) or more of sugar in preparing recipes.

Irrespective of all your healthy eating habits remember, consumption o water is utmost important for life. Medically it is recommend to consume a lot of water at least 8 glasses (1½ litre) a day. Water is a vital element in flushing out toxins and waste products from the body.

To view more articles on vegetarianism simply veg website

About the Author:

Been a vegetarian through out my life and since I have had a keen interest in cooking I have come up with several recipes across cuisines

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Healthy Recipes

grilled avocado salad

Best item at El Pollo Loco!!??

what’s your favorite?
-awesome grilled chicken (original, tequila lime, or orange marinades)
-The Infamous “Pollo Bowl”
-chicken taquidos with real guacamole
-quesadilla
-tostada
-grilled chicken nachos
-chicken tamales (seasonal)
-salads
-sides (mac and cheese, pintos, spinach rice)
-awesome salsa bar (house salsa, pico, avocado salsa?)

I think I had the chicken taquidos which were awesome only been there once

Just recently I’ve been thinking about Nantucket. I don’t know why, except my life is in the in-between dream state where one phase is ending and the next phase hasn’t yet begun. So in a way, anything is possible, and I set myself the task of day-dreaming about what I might like.

Which, when you are stuck in no-man’s land and you don’t know what you’d like, is very difficult. But I allowed myself to relax and asked myself what do you really want?

And the answer popped out. Nantucket.

Now I have to say I don’t even know where Nantucket is… well I do now because I looked it up for this article. But when Nantucket popped into my head I just had a vague New England feeling of painted clapboard houses, beaches and seagulls. And it felt good.

So I don’t know why, but Nantucket is saying something to me.

Oh, and I found out it’s an island (yes all you New Englanders, you can laugh, bet you don’t know where the original Boston is!) and my vision of painted clapboard houses with seagulls and beaches is reasonably accurate.

Now the same day that the vision of the north-eastern seaboard of the United States came to me, I also thought about avocadoes. And cream and salmon and olive oil. Every meal I had, for several days, had to be oil rich. With cream on the breakfast cereal, avocado salad for lunch and grilled salmon for supper I craved fatty foods. Then the fat yearning went away just as suddenly as it had arrived.

But for a few days, that’s what my body wanted. And as I am trying to be kind to myself this month, I decided to go with the flow and give my body what it wanted. I do like avocado and oily fish, though the cream craving was a bit of a surprise. But while I was feeding myself this way my body felt loved and cared for and I didn’t crave a lot of food, I just wanted those particular flavours.

And it was right. The avocado was right just as, in a way I really don’t understand, Nantucket is right. I’m going to follow my instincts on this one and keep Nantucket in mind, in a one-day-I-might-get-there sort of a way. Heck, I don’t even know if I like chowder, but I’m willing to give it a go!

So, what are your dreams? And can you listen to your body when it is telling you what to eat?

Try this exercise to get to the heart of what you want:

1. Relax and empty your mind. Just allow your brain to go into that day-dreamy state that means relaxation to you.

2. As you enter the dream state, check in with your body. How do you feel? If you are truly relaxed you may feel a definite sensation such as comfortable warmth somewhere within you. Or you may feel enveloped in warmth. Or coolness. Identify your comfort feeling.

3. Now ask ‘what would I like?’, relax further and note whatever pops into you head.

4. Whatever ideas you have are right. Ask yourself what these things mean to you, especially if it is food. You need to know what the food means, not in an existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre sort of way, but simply, are you hungry? Or is it the taste of the food? Or what it represents to you? An ice-cream cone with a chocolate flake on top might mean summer beach holiday (yes, I know, back to Nantucket again) rather than food.

5. Use these ideas straightaway if they appeal to you, or put them to one side for use in a future life, and not in the too distant future.

And feel free to day dream and enjoy whenever you want to get in touch with what you really want!

Trust in your body and it will tell you what it wants!

About the Author:

As a Nutrition Coach Liz Copeland shows people who find healthy eating difficult how to change their beliefs and behaviours around food so they can eat well, look good and feel great. Receive her 5-lesson mini ecourse “Conquer Emotional Eating Forever” and a complimentary subscription to her newsletter No More Rabbit Food – weight loss tips for people who love food at http://www.ConquerEmotionalEatingForever.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Emotional Eaters: Give Your Body What It Wants

spicy avocado salsa

The finger-licking fajita recipe was actually the discovery of Mexican workers in Texas, USA. However, it is recognized as a Tex-Mex cuisine.

Nevertheless, the name ‘Fajita’ originated many years ago, which vastly includes skirt steak but in the present days a variety of fajitas recipes are available with pork, chicken, shrimp, beef etc.

The traditional fajita meal is usually a combination of meat, vegetables and different ingredients that are mostly cooked on open fire or grilled by wrapping all the ingredients in the flour-based tortilla. The meat is usually cut into strips and among vegetables jalapenos and bell peppers are a must in the wrapping.

History of fajitas

Several studies and researches suggest that the butchers residing in the Texas- Mexico border were using the word ‘fajita’ to indicate the muscle that covers the cow’s belly. And there is no record as to when the name fajita came into the being, although it was seen in print around 1971.

However, the authentic fajita is made with skirt steak and later it was followed by chicken, pork etc. In 1969 Sonny Falcon is supposed to have started the fajita taco stand in Kylie, Texas and eventually sold the fajitas in fairs, festivals etc. A journalist from Austin called Sonny Falcon as ‘The Fajita King’, which made it easy for Falcon to sell his meal with a name that became so popular.

Fajita and it is so easy to cook!

Any fajita recipe is the most the easiest of all to cook; the process and the ingredients that go into the making of fajitas is pretty simple and the cooking time for any fajita is very less, which is why it is gaining more popularity with the working women folks and the taste of it makes it very special dish though.

You can use your creativity to make fajitas, include meat or vegetables and ingredients that will satiate your taste buds. Fajita recipe can be as diverse as you can make them and most importantly you can chew on them when they are hot or cold, either ways fajitas taste yummy; a cheese topping fajita can be an ideal meal. When you have ordered for a fajita recipe in any of the restaurants expect a sizzling sound when it is brought to your table with condiments such as lettuce, sour cream, salsa, tomato etc.

Fajita-a healthy meal

Fajitas are generally spicy and hot, which makes them ideal to increase the body metabolism, effective for sinus and blocked nose. The peppers used in most of the fajita recipe are good to reduce cholesterol and improves blood circulation. Condiments used in the making of fajitas, such as garlic, guacamole, avocado and onions are all very good for health. Generally fajitas are light and serve as a nutritious meal for all.

About the Author:

Are you game for some finger-licking fajita recipe? Looking for those tips in making delicious fajita recipe and want to impress your guests with some tasty fajitas? Check our authentic Fajita recipe site http://www.fajitarecipe101.com/

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Fajita Recipe And What You Should Know About It

I recently got stuck in an airport due a delayed flight. But I didn’t end up eating junk food. In fact, I have a SECRET that can help you avoid cheating on your diet.

First, you have to be prepared. In fact, here are my meals from that day. My brunch included an omelet with vegetables, some grilled fish & peppers, fruit (pineapple, raspberries, blueberries, watermelon), and a V8.

A late lunch included a grilled chicken salad (2 breasts), jimaca, salsa, black beans, avocado (I substituted the salsa for the dressing). NOTE: Lunch was eaten at a Mexican restaurant. I said “no thanks” to the chips and salsa. So there you go, proof that you can eat healthy when you eat out.

My snacks at the airport included raw cashews, red delicious apple, raw almonds, as well as a banana and more almonds later on my flight.

Without my preparation, I would have been outta luck, and stuck eating M&M’s (the peanut kind, of course) and greasy take out food at the airport. So what’s the secret? Accountability.

I’ve committed to telling the world about my diet and workouts, so I can’t set a bad example or break my promise to you by eating junk food.

I’m holding myself accountable to you. By doing this, I’m going to be more focused on eating healthier than ever, because I don’t want to have to report to YOU that I’m cheating on my diet.

I also need to eat well and research the best options so that I can pass along little insider nutrition tips to you, such as these tips.

1) Most people don’t know that the peanut butter they feed their kids (& themselves!) is filled with two of the nastiest ingredients in the world, and those are Trans fats (the “bad” kind of fat) and sugar. So you should choose Peanut Butter that contains JUST peanuts as the one and only ingredient.

2) My favorite canned food is Amy’s Organic Chili. I usually stick with Medium, but sometimes I go spicy.

3) I add a little of Mrs. Renfro’s Organic Salsa to almost every meal I eat. A little bit with my morning omelet, a little with my chili at lunch, and a little with my BBQ chicken at night.

By the way, you should follow my lead and start posting your daily diet and exercise somewhere for someone who is holding you accountable.

For many people, being ACCOUNTABLE to others is their #1 way to stay motivated and on-track with their diet and exercise program.

You see, I’m committing to you that I’m going to post all of my meals each day, showing you how to eat fast, nutritious foods even when you are traveling or really busy. Accountability is one of the major MOTIVATION SECRETS to success.

About the Author:

Discover NEW, NO-CRUNCH abs workoutsto get a flat stomach. Lose belly fatand get a flat stomach with Turbulence Training.

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men’s Health, Women’s Health, and Oxygen magazines.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – #1 Motivation Secret For Fat Loss

avocado tomatillo salsa recipe

Does anyone have a recipe for a tomatillo-avacodo salsa?

I went to a mexican resteraunt that was close to my house and had the best salsa ever! If heaven exsisted, it was in that bowl tonight. All I know is that it had tomatillo’s, avocado’s, onions, and cilantro. I am guessing it had peppers too. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I am a vegetarian

Recipe

1. Combine the following in a food processor or blender until uniform:
1 11 oz. can tomatillos
1 jalapeno, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Handful of cilantro leaves (about 1/4 cup)
Squeeze of lime juice

2. Pour into bowl, and add:
1 ripe avocado, chopped

3. Salt and pepper to taste

4. Serve very soon. Step 1 may be completed well in advance, but avocado will brown.

Serving suggestions

Besides as an easy hors d’oeuvres dip with chips, this salsa pairs well with pork or chicken tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. Also try as a dip for cheese quesadillas or a topping for nachos.

The sweet-sour taste of tomatillos tones down both the fattiness and the spice of many rich and hot Mexican dishes. The acid in the salsa also makes it a perfect complement to fish, a nice change from the usual squeeze of lemon. Try serving with beer-battered fried fish. Alternately, spoon some tomatillo-avocado salsa over freshly grilled fish like mahi-mahi or even shrimp. You could even make tacos out of this winning grilled fish and salsa pair.

Pairings

Mexican food and beer is standard–and terrific. But if you are hosting a more elegant supper, with, say, seared tuna topped with tomatillo-avocado salsa, you might want to consider wine with dinner. For Mexican food, the first rule is to pair the wine with the sauce, not the meat or fish. If the sauce is as green as this one, featuring not only green chilis but also green tomatillos, avodados, and cilantro, white wine is the way to go. If the rest of the menu is spicy, think about a high-acid Gewurztraminer.

Mexican food is very popular in the U.S., despite the general belief that Mexican cuisine is high in calories. As a matter of fact, authentic Mexican cuisine uses fresh, highly-nutrient ingredients and can provide you with a lot of healthy choices. But, as everything is super-sized in America, so has happened with the Mexican food. Portions have grown larger and recipes have grown fattening, which is what most Mexican restaurants and fast food chains serve in the U.S.

Some great Mexican meals such as tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos are prepared with fresh produce, corn, fresh tomatoes or tomatillos, avocado, beans, rice, mushrooms, corn tortillas and nutritious spices such as chilies, cinnamon, garlic, cumin and cloves.

If you want to avoid the Americanized versions of Mexican food that are high in fat, calories and sodium, you can prepare healthy Mexican food at home. In some very easy and quick steps you can taste highly nutritional Mexican meals in no time.

Here are some tips for cooking healthy Mexican food at home:

- Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the main ingredient of Mexican salsas. Rich in lycopene, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C, tomatoes reduce the risk of several types of cancer and their protective effect is highly beneficial.

Pico de gallo is the most famous Mexican salsa. All you need is 2 large fresh tomatoes, 1/2 large white onion, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, minced fresh chile, 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, salt and freshly ground black pepper. It can be prepared in 15 minutes and it contains all the natural ingredients that contribute to your overall wellness.

-  Beans

Beans contain high amounts of proteins and fiber and provide antioxidant benefits. The best variety are the pinto or the black beans that are low-fat, low-calorie. Instead, the refried beans that are usually served in the Mexican restaurants are totally unhealthy and should be avoided.

For a bean salsa, you cook pinto or black beans and then you add onion and 1 teaspoon of cumin. After 30 minutes is ready for you to enjoy.

- Corn

Corn has extraordinary health qualities because it is rich in folate, vitamin B, vitamin C and fiber. It contributes to heart prevention, it helps in better digestion and it stabilizes blood sugar levels. Bake 12 6-inch corn tortillas with 1 tablespoon of canola oil in 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes and you can enjoy a really delicious and healthy food that goes with homemade guacamole, pico de gallo or avocado salsa.

- Avocado

Avocados contain high quantities of vitamin K and potassium that lower “bad” cholesterol (LDL).

For a great guacamole sauce all you need is ripe avocados, chopped tomatoes, salt and pepper. For the salsa, add chili peppers, garlic, onions, lime and cilantro to make the taste more intense.

-  Chilies

Chili peppers are rich in capsaicin that promotes anti-inflammatory and pain-relief qualities. In addition, chilies reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases because they lower “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and they contain vitamin A. In most of the Americanized Mexican restaurants you will hardly find real chilies, so it’s better to prepare your own homemade Mexican meal.

If, however, you prefer going out to a Mexican restaurant, you still have healthy choices.

- Avoid the chips

Chips that are served before the meal are a dieter’s nightmare. Normally, they are full in sodium, which means that, not only they increase the levels of water weight, but they also increase blood pressure. Avoiding the chips may save you an extra 200 calories of fat. Instead, you can eat as mane carrots or celery sticks you want with the salsa dip.

- Avoid sour cream and extra cheese

Sour cream and extra cheese are nothing more than extra fat and calories. Sour cream is a basic topping in Mexican food, used in all meals to add a smooth taste. But if you are on a diet, you should avoid it. If you’re looking for protein sources, you’d better go for black beans, grilled shrimp or grilled chicken and avoid cheese.

- Prefer corn tortillas

Corn tortillas may save you an extra 200 calories of fat that you would gain if you ordered flour tortillas.

- Prefer grilled food

Order grilled chicken or meat rather than fried. For instance, fajitas have a great taste flavor and are lower in calories and fat than enchiladas and tacos that are fried.

- Cut your portion in half

Do not eat all your lunch. Cut it in half and eat it later in the week. Cutting back the portion size automatically means 200 calories less, which consequently means healthy eating in terms of fat.

The main advantage of Mexican food is that most Mexican meals can be adapted to your eating habits. So, either at home, or at a Mexican restaurant, you can add the ingredients you like and enjoy really delicious and healthy dishes. Without a doubt, Mexican food is a great temptation. But if you want to derive the healthy benefits of true Mexican cuisine, offer to yourself something authentic.

About the Author:

I work as a financial and investment advisor but my passion is writing, music and photography. Writing mostly about finance, business and music, being an amateur photographer and a professional dj, I am inspired from life.

Being a strong advocate of simplicity in life, I love my family, my partner and all the people that have stood by me with or without knowing. And I hope that someday, human nature will cease to be greedy and demanding realizing that the more we have the more we want and the more we satisfy our needs the more needs we create. And this is so needless after all.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Tips for eating healthy Mexican food

avocado dip sour cream

can 7 layer dip be frozen?

I have this dish of 7 layer dip. Just wondering if that can be put in the freezer for a later time. There is avocado, salsa, sour cream and cheese and olves are the ingredients. Does it freeze well?

No it does not thaw out evenly..The sour cream will stay frozen twice as long as the other layers!

BR

Mexico of course lies next door to the United States of America. This means the people frequently cross the border and so, all over the states, even as far north as Washington State, one can find ‘Mexican ‘food.

But this isn’t quite the same food that is eaten south of the border. The Conquest of Mexico early in the 16th century gave rise to one of the richest ever culinary mixes in history. Cortez and his followers came to the new world in search of gold. They found rather a great wealth of culinary specialties such as chocolate, peanuts, vanilla, beans, squash, avocados, coconuts, corn and tomatoes. In return turn the Spanish brought to the Americas products pork, beef, lamb, citrus fruits, garlic, cheese, milk, wheat, vinegar, spices and wine. The result was Mexican cuisine as we now have it, and explains why it is difficult to decide what is authentically Mexican and what is not. Basically it is the food of the poor – meat is there, but vegetables and maize flour predominate.

Roast Pepper Dip

1tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil
1 head of garlic, peel intact
3 red bell peppers, roasted, peeled and seeded
½ teaspoon of ground cumin
4oz, 100 grams, cream cheese, room temperature
2 tbsp sour cream or crème fraiche
Salt & freshly ground pepper

You need to preheat the oven to 350 F., 180 C, Gas 4.

Separate the cloves of garlic, place then on a square of foil. Sprinkle with the oil and make up into a parcel. Cook this for about 40 minutes. When cool enough to handle squeeze the soft garlic into your food processor. Add all except the sour cream/crème fraiche and blend. Turn out into a bowl and fold in the sour cream. Place in a screw top jar. It will keep in the fridge for a few days.

Although meant as dip you can go totally non-Mexican and serve it on pasta or baked potatoes.

Crusty Bean Pie

For 6 helpings
1 large tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 small green bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
4 oz, 80 ml salsa
1/4 red bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
¼ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 unbaked 9 inch pie crusts
6 oz, 170 g shredded mature cheese – don’t use processed cheese as it turns to glue.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F ,165 degrees C, Gas 3

Heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Use this to saute the onion and chopped green pepper until soft. Stir in the beans, salsa, red bell pepper, chili powder and cayenne. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Spoon half of the mixture into one of the pie crusts and cover with half of the cheese. Repeat with remaining beans and cheese. Top with remaining crust. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.

This is the kind of pie you can wrap in foil and take on a picnic. You could replace the black beans with whatever sort you have or even sweet corn.

I f you use one of those really stretchy cheeses you can hold a stretching contest i.e. how high can you pull up a forkful of pie before it breaks contact with the food still on the plate.

Sausage Wrap

Use whatever sausages you want.
8 flour tortillas,
200g/7oz guacamole
1 crisp lettuce, shredded
200g/7oz sour cream
200g/7oz salsa

Just cook your sausages. Place on each tortilla some lettuce and guacamole. Place sausage on top and then top this with salsa and sour cream. Roll up and place one end between your teeth. Bite!

About the Author:

Discover the best
Recipes For Salmon Patties
and
Ramen Noodle Salad

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Real Mexican Food as Eaten by Mexicans

green skin avocado

Avocado any one?

I have a avocado tree that produce smooth skin green avocados. How the heck do u eat this one ? It’s little different than rough skin avocado u buy at supermarket.

Avocado Salsa

1 (16 ounce) package frozen corn, thawed (you can substitute peeled chopped cucumber if you don’t like corn)
2 (2 1/4 ounce) cans black ripe olives, sliced, drained
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 cup chopped onions
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup green olives or vegetable oil
1/4 cup lemon juice, or lime juice or a combination
3 tablespoons white vinegar or cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 ripe avocados

In a large bowl, combine the corn (or cucumber), olives, red pepper, and onion.
In a small bowl, combine garlic, oil, lemon juice, vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper; mix well.
Pour over corn (or cucumber) mixture; toss to coat.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Just before serving, chop avocados and stir into salsa.
Serve with tortilla chips. Note: make sure that you get good, ripe avocados! Also, you can add some minced jalapeno if you’d like a bit of spiciness

I think you can eat it now..

Apples are a powerful source of antioxidants, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C, as well as good source of fibre, and potassium. Lucky for us, there are only 47 calories in an average sized apple. The secret behind the super antioxidant capacity of the apple is its skin. The apple skin alone provides two to six times the antioxidant activity of the apple flesh alone. Therefore it’s important to eat the skin as well so you obtain the full health benefits.

There are a variety of apples, and each of these have their own unique skin colour. Along with these differences in skin colour come differences in the chemical make-up of the skin itself, as the phytonutrient content varies in concentration and types of polyphenols present. For instance, in the United States, Fuji apples have the highest total phenolic and total flavonoid content of any apple. Thus, it’s important to eat a variety of different apples to ensure that you maintain a healthy nutritional balance.

Along with being a tasty, low-calorie source of antioxidants, apples are also high in fibre. One large apple has 5.7 grams of fibre, which is 30 percent of the minimum amount of your daily fibre requirements. Diets that are high in fibre have been highly correlated with a reduction in the risk of developing heart disease. So, eating an apple a day not only keeps the doctor away, but also keeps your heart happy. Aside from its link to heart health, the apple has also been linked to the prevention of lung cancer, improved pulmonary (lung) function, and the prevention of type II diabetes.

Avocados

Recent research has demonstrated that avocados offer some surprising and powerful health benefits. One of the most nutrient-dense foods, avocados are high in fibre and, ounce for ounce, top the charts among all fruits for folate, potassium, vitamin E, and magnesium.

The delicious, healthy monounsaturated fat in the avocado is one of its biggest Superfood health claims. The only other fruit with a comparable amount of monounsaturated fat is the olive. The monounsaturated fat in avocados is oleic acid, which helps lower cholesterol.

One study found that after seven days on a diet that included avocados, there were significant decreases in both total and LDL cholesterol as well as an 11 percent increase in the “good” HDL cholesterol. Half a California avocado has a really excellent overall nutrient profile. At 145 calories it contains approximately 2 grams of protein, 6 grams of fibre, and 13 grams of fat, most of which (8.5 grams) is monounsaturated fat.

Avocados are also rich in magnesium. Magnesium is an essential nutrient for healthy bones, the cardiovascular system (particularly in the regulation of blood pressure and cardiac rhythms), prevention of migraines, and prevention of type II diabetes. Ounce for ounce, avocados provide more magnesium than the twenty most commonly eaten fruits, with the banana, kiwi, and strawberry in second, third, and fourth place, respectively.

They’re also rich in potassium which is a critical nutrient that, until now, hasn’t received the attention it deserves. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure, and an adequate intake of this mineral can help prevent circulatory diseases, including high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.

This fruit is also a rich source of folate. One cup of avocado contains 23 percent of the daily requirement of folate. Various studies have shown a correlation between diets high in folate and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

In addition to their other heart-healthy qualities, avocados are rich in beta-sitosterol, a so-called phytosterol. Along with peanut butter, cashews, almonds, peas, and kidney beans, avocado is one of the best sources of beta-sitosterol from whole foods. A phytosterol is the plant equivalent of cholesterol in animals. Because beta-sitosterol is so similar to cholesterol, it competes for absorption with cholesterol and wins, thus lowering the amounts of cholesterol in our bloodstream. Beta-sitosterol also appears to inhibit excessive cell division, which may play a role in preventing cancer-cell growth. In both animal and laboratory studies, this phytonutrient helps reduce the risk for cancer.

Perhaps the most interesting research on avocados demonstrates that it’s a powerful “nutrient booster.” Avocados actually improve the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from foods. It’s important to remember that it’s not just the presence of nutrients in foods that matter, it’s also our body’s ability to absorb these nutrients.

About the Author:

Want to find out about growing cabbage and calories in cabbage? Get tips from the Fruits And Vegetables website.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Superfood – Apples And Avocados

fresh avocado salsa

For a lunch on the go, to pack for a picnic or just as a change from the typical sandwich, wraps can’t be beat. And with all of the flavored wraps now available, building the wrap of your dreams is easier than ever. Fillings as easy as peanut butter and jelly and as complicated as a club sandwich can all be made into wraps. In fact, almost any sandwich or salad you can imagine can be made more portable and a little healthier served on a tortilla instead of on bread or in a bowl. Wraps are particularly well suited to fillings that would drip out of two pieces of bread, or that tend to be soggy. The folded end keeps all of the fillings contained in your wrap instead of on your shirt or lap. This makes wraps wonderful for kids, lunches eaten in the car or really anytime that it’s just too inconvenient to eat messy food – like a first date, before a job interview or on an airplane

While a wrap is essentially a tortilla, today’s wraps have evolved far beyond the doughy flour tortillas we associate with burritos. Wraps can now be found in whole wheat, tomato basil, jalapeno, spinach, garlic herb and chipotle chili flavors in nearly every grocery stores in American, which means there is a perfect wrap for any filling you can stuff inside.

Here are some great wrap ideas for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Wrap one up today!

• Spinach wrap filled with Cajun spiced deli turkey, ½ avocado, honey mustard dressing and fresh spinach leaves.

• Whole wheat wrap spread with crunchy peanut butter, honey and banana slices.

• Garlic herb wrap filled with Chinese cabbage, cooked, shredded chicken, bean sprouts, chow mein noodles and miso dressing.

• Tomato basil wrap filled with goat cheese, ½ avocado, sprouts and black pepper.

• Garlic herb wrap spread with red pepper hummus, romaine lettuce leaves and feta cheese.

• Jalapeno wrap filled with black beans, steamed rice, shredded chicken, cheddar cheese and salsa

• Flour tortilla filled with scrambled egg, cheddar cheese and green chili or salsa

• Tomato basil wrap filled with cooked ground beef taco meat, lettuce, cheese and sour cream.

• Flour tortilla filled with cooked, breaded chicken fingers, Frank’s hot sauce and blue cheese dressing

• Spinach wrap filled with turkey, ham, lettuce and cheese, spread with mayo or ranch dressing.

• Chipotle-chili wrap filled with guacamole, deli turkey, bacon and tomatoes.

• Spinach wrap filled with lettuce and a mix of shredded cooked chicken, green grapes, cashews and mayo.

About the Author:

Want more tips on saving your waistline along with your budget? Check out The Deceptive Diet for great results!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Wraps Are Great For Your Family

Generally, salsa has been a staple in any occasion such as dinner parties and family reunions as it has been paired time and time again with different types of chips but usually corn chips.  Serving salsa has been so popular to serve in gatherings due to the fact that it’s easy to prepare and at the same time, it’s easy to eat and enjoy while talking to your friends, relatives and to others who are in the party.

Though salsa has been constantly served with chips and oftentimes, it’s classified as a dip.  But do you know that salsa can be included as a side dish to many different dishes?  Have you ever thought of what other food go well with salsa to spice up your parties even more?

Salsa can be likened to wine as different types of salsa can go well with different types of food.  For instance, a tropical mango-based salsa goes well with fish while avocado-based salsa is great when served with pork.  Salsa, when served with the right food, can help parties to get even better.

Here are a couple of salsa recipes that you can use as well as ideas of what food to serve them best with.

Corn and Tomato Salsa

1 cup fresh corn kernels (from 2 small ears) or frozen, thawed

1 large tomato, seeded, chopped

2/3 cup chopped red onion

½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

½ to 1 jalapeno chili, seeded, minced

1 avocado, pitted peeled, chopped

Fresh cilantro sprigs

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, cover and chill before serving.

Corn and tomato salsa goes well with grilled steaks like rib eye and porterhouse as the corn in the salsa mixes well with the beef.  Its taste gives a new dimension of flavor to the beef.  On the other hand, the mango and tomato salsa where a recipe of this side dish is shown below goes well with crispy coated fried shrimp.

Tomato and Mango Salsa

1 small mango

1 large tomato, seeded and chopped

1/3 cup chopped onion

¼ cup minced fresh cilantro

1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped

2 tablespoons lime juice

Carefully peel skin from mango sections attached to the seed.  Slice flesh from seed and chop it to measure 1-1/2 cups.  Combine ingredients in small bowl and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Now that you know which salsa to serve with what dishes, you can serve them in whatever gathering you may have to make it a more lively and memorable occasion.

About the Author:

A good salsa recipe can spice up a meal and add a little life to your next party. And while it’s easy to find salsa at any grocery store, it’s just not the same as a homemade salsa you make yourself. Making a salsa from scratch is actually quite easy. With the right salsa recipe and just a little preparation time, you can create a good homemade salsa that will have people coming back for more. Mexican food and salsa lover John Weisenberger has put together a delicious collection of tried and true Homemade Salsa Recipes that will get you started. Check them out at http://www.Homemade-Salsa-Recipes.com.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Homemade Salsa Recipes: How to Prepare and What Dishes to Pair It with

corn tomato avocado salsa

Vegan and always hungry?

I’ve been vegan for 2 months now and I am constantly hungry! I eat plenty, I eat healthy, and I eat often, but I always find about 1-2 hours after eating that I am hungry again. I’ll find a snack, eat it until I’m no longer hungry, then stop. Maybe this is part of the problem I’ve virtually eliminated ‘meals’ from my day. I graze. . all day long . . on a variety of foods.

you need to get more fiber in your diet, fiber fills you up and keeps you fuller longer. stay away from white and refined carbs, such as white bread and go easy on the sugar, white or natural (like in tomatoes or fruit) simple carbs fill you up for an hour if that, but then you just crash and feel hungry again..and the unfortunate part is that those simple carbs you ate do nothing for your body nutritionwise. make sure your grains and carbs say “whole wheat” or “whole grain” as the first ingredient on the label…also, keep yourself hydrated..drink lots of water and herbal tea, those will keep you feeling fuller longer. i hope this helps sweetie

p.s. you still can have your fruits and tomatoes, just in moderation

Tortillas provide the main ingredient in many Mexican food dishes. Tortillas make it easy to put together an authentic Mexican meal, snack or appetizer. They also offer flexible food options because people may cook with them to suit their dietary needs or to accommodate food allergies.

Corn tortillas provide a staple in many Mexican dishes. Below are some ways to incorporate them into your cooking:

Flour tortillas also provide a base in Mexican recipes. Below are some ways to incorporate them into your cooking:

Some tortilla recipes call for using either flour or corn ones. Options include:

While corn and flour ones are the most common types of tortillas, you could substitute many of the above tortilla recipes with flavoured ones. You will find spinach, salsa, spelt and other types at your grocery store. Whether you are a meat eater, a vegetarian, or a vegan, tortillas stimulate your taste buds and provide endless cooking options.

About the Author:

The article is written on the topic of Mexican dishes using tortillas. Check out the fancy tortilla recipes that the whole family can enjoy, including Enchiladas, Sopa de tortilla and Tortilla chips. Entertain your family and friends with the taste of Mexico.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – What Can You Make with Tortillas?