The Avocado Store

spinach avocado soup

Can someone suggest a soup with these ingredients?

I have
avocados, onions(red,yellow,white), zucchini, garlic(whole and powder), vegetablebroth, parsely, baby spinach, and celery.

Sounds like a recipy for vegetable soup, salad and dessert

Soup:

Chop the onions and zucchine into pieces
Press the garlic into a pan with some hot oil. Fry it slightly before adding the onions and zucchini.
Chop the celery and add this.
Add the vegetable broth.

Leave for a while to heat.
Add to tate rosemary, oregano and blackpepper.

When serving the soup add a little bit of parsely

Whilst the soup is simmering, put the baby spinach in a bowl. Chop the avocado and add this. To taste, blackpepper, oil and a touch of salt.

Dessert:
cranberries

Scrummy!

Vegetarians, being fans of vegetables most probably do not have problems with body detoxification. But sometimes, vegetables are cooked and mixed with processed ingredients. In this case, the body cannot absorb all of the nutrients found on these vegetables completely. When a person wants to undergo a full body detox, he should eat raw vegetables and fruits more because of the enzymes that help greatly in the detoxification process. Detoxification is the elimination of toxic substances that are found in your kidneys, liver, intestines, lymph, lungs, skin and body fat. If a person does not detoxify, degradation of health will occur, and worse, the accumulation of severe diseases. A person can acquire these dangerous toxins from industrial chemicals encountered in workplaces, beauty products, hair-coloring products and dental fillings.

If you decide to pursue a body detox plan involving the body detox diet, then you have better ideas for your stored fruits and vegetables and of course, your body. There are many types of body detox diets already out but there are simple body detox recipes that you can try at home.

Monothropic Diet

This body detox recipe is a contribution of Dr. Kiki Sidhwa where a person is only allowed to eat one type of fruit per meal. In a day, for instance, you can have apple for breakfast then maybe by lunch you can have pineapple and for your dinner, you can have pears.

Ginger Healing Tea with Turmeric

This is not your processed and ready-made tea on teabags. In two cups of water you put ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger and turmeric each. Here you can also add other powdered herbs to the boiling water and then let it simmer for ten minutes. When it is ready, strain the tea and maybe add a maple syrup and lemon extract to enhance the taste more.

The Vegetable Super Juice

This juice is for an energy boost and for the stimulation of your digestive system. What you have to do is blend in together one cucumber, four celery sticks, two to four handfuls of spinach and eight lettuce leaves. You can add parsley and fresh alfalfa leaves if you want. Add some water and lemon juice and you're good to go.

Alkalising Raw Soup

Your objective here is to make a light paste with avocadoes, spring onions, red/green pepper, cucumber spinach and garlic. You should also mix a light vegetable Bouillion. It is your choice if you want to add some lime or lemon juice here.

Warm Broccoli Soup

In this soup, you blend avocadoes, broccoli heads, red onion, celery sticks, ginger roots and cumin together. If you want to add garlic, it can also be possible.

There are other body detox recipes out there. These are some body detox recipes that are particular a certain part of the body that you want to cleanse, which is why you will expect a wide variety of diversity in body detox recipes.

About the Author:

John Khu is a health enthusiast and author of a new eBook titled "Body Detox Tips". He is devoted to educate others on the benefit of body detoxification. He is also the owner of the website called

www.BodyDetoxTips.com
which provides complete and up-to-date information.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Care For Some Body Detox Recipes?

avocado storage temperature

If you are interested in health and diet, you have probably read all the research which points to the benefits of fresh, unprocessed foods. Eating healthier nearly always means opting for fresh fruits, whole grains and unprocessed meats and fish. Unfortunately, choosing foods without preservatives does have a down side - food spoils faster. That is no reason to go back to eating over-processed foods full of chemical preservatives, though. Long before our dependence on chemical preservatives, our mothers knew the secrets to keeping food fresh longer naturally. Here are some tips to help you keep fresh fruits, grains, vegetables, meat and fish fresh longer - the natural way.

General Tips

1. Keep your refrigerator at the right temperature. It should be kept between 38 and 40 F. to keep your foods as fresh as possible without freezing them.

2. Keep your eye on expiration dates when you shop.

3. Do not store highly perishable foods in the refrigerator or freezer door. They are more prone to temperature fluctuation.

4. Moisture promotes rotting and mold. Wipe vegetables and fruits dry before storing and avoid storing in plastic bags.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Vegetables and fruits give off a gas called ethylene as they ripen. The ethylene sets off a chain reaction that causes the release of more ethylene, causing the food to ripen further. When fruits and vegetables are exposed to ethylene, they ripen faster. Some fruits and vegetables give off more ethylene than others - and some of them are more sensitive to ethylene than others.

1. Ethylene producers include apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, kiwis, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, and tomatoes.

2. Fruits and vegetables that are sensitive to the effects of ethylene include: apples, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, lettuces and other greens, potatoes, summer squash, and watermelons.

3. To keep fresh fruits and vegetables fresh longer, do not store any of the former group n the same drawers as those in the latter group.

4. Store fruits and vegetables in the warmest part of your fridge to preserve flavor.

5. Remove produce from plastic bags before storing. The bags trap the ethylene close to the fruit so that it ripens faster.

6.Wash produce and then dry well before storing. Moisture speeds rotting.

Meats and Eggs

1. Keep fresh meats refrigerated between 38-40 F.

2. Keep meat in original wrapping in refrigerator if you will be using it within two days.

3. Wrap meat in foil or freezer paper before freezing.

4. Make sure that there is plenty of air circulation around meat products in your refrigerator.

5. Store eggs pointed side down.

6. Wrap smoked meats like ham or bacon in a vinegar-soaked cloth.

7. Cool cooked meats quickly and completely before placing them in refrigerator.

Bread and Cereal Products

1. Store fresh bread in a cool, dark, dry place like a cupboard or breadbox.

2. Close the waxed paper inner bag of breakfast cereals tightly to preserve freshness. Better yet, transfer the cereal into a zipper lock plastic bag and put it back in the box.

3. Freeze bread that will not be used within a week. If you freeze artisan breads pre-sliced, you can just take a slice when you need it.

4. Keep soft cookies soft by storing them in a cookie jar or airtight container with a slice of bread.

5. Cut slices from loaf cakes like banana bread and pound cake from the middle instead of the end. After slicing, push the two ends together to reform the 'loaf'. You don't leave a cut end to get stale that way.

6. To keep cake moist, store it with half an apple in the container.

Dairy Products and Cheese

1. Store milk in its original container.

2. Do not store milk in the door where temperature is warmer.

3. Put milk back in refrigerator immediately after using.

4. Wrap cheese in waxed paper or plastic, then store in deli drawer.

5. Do not store ice cream in the freezer door. Keep it in the main part of the freezer.

6. Place a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper directly on the surface of the ice cream before storing. It will keep fresh longer.

Miscellaneous

1. Store coffee in an airtight, opaque container to preserver flavor and freshness.

2. Buy coffee in whole bean form and grind enough for one pot at a time.

3. If you buy more coffee than you can use in 3-4 days, store in an airtight container in the freezer/

4. Store avocadoes unbagged in the refrigerator.

5. Store bananas on the counter, unbagged.

6. Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) should be stored in their plastic container or a resealable plastic bag in the back of the refrigerator.

7. Wrap lettuce in damp paper towels and store in a plastic bag.

About the Author:

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics and products concerning food storage such as Green Bags.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Natural Ways to Keep Food Fresh Longer

If you are interested in health and diet, you have probably read all the research which points to the benefits of fresh, unprocessed foods. Eating healthier nearly always means opting for fresh fruits, whole grains and unprocessed meats and fish. Unfortunately, choosing foods without preservatives does have a down side - food spoils faster. That is no reason to go back to eating over-processed foods full of chemical preservatives, though. Long before our dependence on chemical preservatives, our mothers knew the secrets to keeping food fresh longer naturally. Here are some tips to help you keep fresh fruits, grains, vegetables, meat and fish fresh longer - the natural way.

General Tips

1. Keep your refrigerator at the right temperature. It should be kept between 38 and 40 F. to keep your foods as fresh as possible without freezing them.

2. Keep your eye on expiration dates when you shop.

3. Do not store highly perishable foods in the refrigerator or freezer door. They are more prone to temperature fluctuation.

4. Moisture promotes rotting and mold. Wipe vegetables and fruits dry before storing and avoid storing in plastic bags.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Vegetables and fruits give off a gas called ethylene as they ripen. The ethylene sets off a chain reaction that causes the release of more ethylene, causing the food to ripen further. When fruits and vegetables are exposed to ethylene, they ripen faster. Some fruits and vegetables give off more ethylene than others - and some of them are more sensitive to ethylene than others.

1. Ethylene producers include apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, kiwis, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, and tomatoes.

2. Fruits and vegetables that are sensitive to the effects of ethylene include: apples, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, lettuces and other greens, potatoes, summer squash, and watermelons.

3. To keep fresh fruits and vegetables fresh longer, do not store any of the former group n the same drawers as those in the latter group.

4. Store fruits and vegetables in the warmest part of your fridge to preserve flavor.

5. Remove produce from plastic bags before storing. The bags trap the ethylene close to the fruit so that it ripens faster.

6.Wash produce and then dry well before storing. Moisture speeds rotting.

Meats and Eggs

1. Keep fresh meats refrigerated between 38-40 F.

2. Keep meat in original wrapping in refrigerator if you will be using it within two days.

3. Wrap meat in foil or freezer paper before freezing.

4. Make sure that there is plenty of air circulation around meat products in your refrigerator.

5. Store eggs pointed side down.

6. Wrap smoked meats like ham or bacon in a vinegar-soaked cloth.

7. Cool cooked meats quickly and completely before placing them in refrigerator.

Bread and Cereal Products

1. Store fresh bread in a cool, dark, dry place like a cupboard or breadbox.

2. Close the waxed paper inner bag of breakfast cereals tightly to preserve freshness. Better yet, transfer the cereal into a zipper lock plastic bag and put it back in the box.

3. Freeze bread that will not be used within a week. If you freeze artisan breads pre-sliced, you can just take a slice when you need it.

4. Keep soft cookies soft by storing them in a cookie jar or airtight container with a slice of bread.

5. Cut slices from loaf cakes like banana bread and pound cake from the middle instead of the end. After slicing, push the two ends together to reform the 'loaf'. You don't leave a cut end to get stale that way.

6. To keep cake moist, store it with half an apple in the container.

Dairy Products and Cheese

1. Store milk in its original container.

2. Do not store milk in the door where temperature is warmer.

3. Put milk back in refrigerator immediately after using.

4. Wrap cheese in waxed paper or plastic, then store in deli drawer.

5. Do not store ice cream in the freezer door. Keep it in the main part of the freezer.

6. Place a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper directly on the surface of the ice cream before storing. It will keep fresh longer.

Miscellaneous

1. Store coffee in an airtight, opaque container to preserver flavor and freshness.

2. Buy coffee in whole bean form and grind enough for one pot at a time.

3. If you buy more coffee than you can use in 3-4 days, store in an airtight container in the freezer/

4. Store avocadoes unbagged in the refrigerator.

5. Store bananas on the counter, unbagged.

6. Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) should be stored in their plastic container or a resealable plastic bag in the back of the refrigerator.

7. Wrap lettuce in damp paper towels and store in a plastic bag.

About the Author:

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics and products concerning food storage such as Green Bags.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Natural Ways to Keep Food Fresh Longer

quinoa avocado recipe

By now, most of you should know that to lose weight as quickly as possible, you need a combination of exercising and dieting. Types of exercise can range from walking to sports like tennis to mountain climbing. You should choose an exercise program that suits your physical conditions. As you go through your exercise regime, you need to boost your body’s energy level and keep it nourished by eating proper food. Foods that will keep you healthy as well as help you to lose weight.

When planning your weight loss meals, be sure to include the following list of foods. They provide the necessary vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, fibre and essential amino acids etc. They are grouped into starches, fruits, vegetables, proteins and fats.

Sources of starches include: yams, oats, quinoa and amaranth.

Recommended fruits and vegetables are: tomatoes, spinach, oranges, apples, onions, bananas, melons, pumpkins, beans broccoli, blueberries.

Essential fats can come from: walnuts, pecans nuts, almond nuts, extra virgin olive oil, avocado, flaxseed oil.

Sources of proteins are: lean red meat, salmon, cottage cheese, lean poultry, omega-3 eggs, milk protein powder.

Other healthy foods that you can include in your weight meal plan are garlic, cinnamon, green tea and hot peppers.

Here is an example of a simple weight loss meal plan you can easily adopt.

Breakfast
Fruits
Whole Grain

Lunch
Vegetables (salad), add walnuts and pour extra virgin olive oil as dressing
Lean red meat or salmon (or any of the protein foods)

Dinner
Lean Meat or salmon  (or any of the protein foods)
Vegetables and fruits

Snacks (whenever you feel hungry)
Yam or oats (or any other starchy foods)
Vegetables and fruits

So, the next time you go grocery shopping, remember to include the above foods. Also remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day. I am very sure you will achieve your goal of losing weight sooner than you think.

About the Author:

Dave Lu is a health and fitness enthusiast. He is constantly researching and writing articles as well as reviews on various weight loss and health care products available in the market. You can visit his review site at Best Weight Loss and Health Care Products Review for more information.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Free Weight Loss Meals Plan – Power foods You Need for Fast Fat Loss

avocado leaves toxic

If your pets are anything like mine, they may come off as omnivores. My Akita mix is likely to eat anything that does not eat him first. One of my cats has acquired a taste for tomato bisque and all of my dogs enjoy green pepper, zucchini and lettuce. As for my horse, she would drink all of my beer if she had the chance.

There is not much harm in feeding our pets human foods. However, there are some foods that our animal friends should definitely avoid. In addition to foods, certain plants can be downright deadly for our pets.

Chocolate and Pets Do Not Mix

Chocolate has long been considered a human food that dogs should avoid, and with good reason. Chocolate contains a chemical known as theobromine. Theobromine is similar in chemical composition to caffeine and is tolerated by humans in small amounts and is used as a therapeutic drug for certain medical conditions. Like many types of stimulate chemicals, theobromine can be harmful to humans to large doses. When it comes to animals, theobromine poses a significant health risk.

Though the danger to dogs is widely known, theobromine also poses a risk to cats and horses and other domestic pets. The metabolic process for cats, dogs and horses is significantly slower than it is for humans. An animals inability to quickly metabolize theobromine allows toxic levels of the chemical to buildup. Symptoms can range from diarrhea to muscle spasms and vomiting.

No antidote exists for treating theobromine poisoning and it is important to seek immediate veterinary help for any pet who has ingested chocolate. The vet can administer a variety of treatment options that can help reverse the toxic effects of theobromine. The key is to not wait until your pet starts to exhibit symptoms. Seek professional veterinary services immediately.

Since caffeine is similar to theobromine, avoid exposing your pet to sources of caffeine like coffee, tea, coffee beans and tea leaves.

Vegetables and Fruits to Avoid

In addition to chocolate, there are variety of fruit and vegetables that are potentially harmful to domestic pets. Just a few of the fruits and vegetables that your pet should avoid include onions, avocados, mushrooms, grapes and raisons. There are a number of fruit seeds that can cause toxicity problems for your pet including, but not limited to apple seeds, peach and apricot pits, cherry and avocados pits, and mustard seeds.

Fruit seeds and pits contain various levels of cyanide compounds. Though the amount of cyanide may not be fatal to your pet, the effects can be serious enough to require veterinary care. The best advice is to play it safe and avoid exposing your pets to these foods. Onions and similar foods such as leeks and scallions are not poisonous but can cause digestive problems and anemia in some animals so it is best to avoid them.

Candy is Sweet but Not for Your Pet

Sugar and candy may seem like a harmless treat for your pet. Problems can arise when the candy contains any type of artificial sweetener such as Xylitol. Some candy may contain cacao-based ingredients which can expose your pet to toxic levels of theobromine. If you choose to indulge your pet with the occasional sweet, make certain of the ingredients and do so only in moderation.

Other Foods to Avoid

Dogs love peanut butter and giving them peanuts in moderation can make for a tasty treat. While peanuts do not pose a risk for most dogs, other varieties of nuts should be avoided. Among the nut varieties that you should not give to your pet include macadamias and walnuts. If you have walnut trees on your property or walk your dog where walnut trees grow, make sure your dog does not ingest the nut meat or the shells. Either can cause moderate to severe digestive problems that may not show for a day or two.

The best rule of thumb when it comes to your pets and food is when in doubt, throw it out. Take a look around the kitchen and make sure that you pet-proof cabinets and pantries. It is much easier to prevent exposure to harmful foods than it is to see your pet suffer.

If you are ever in doubt about your pets health, seek professional veterinary help immediately.

About the Author:

Mitch Endick is a staff writer for the quality online store FineWebStores.com.
Shop for unique items for your home or office including Lane Lumber Support Recliners, Adjustable Beds and quality Bed Linens at Fine Web Stores.com. Visit FineWebStores.com today for all of your home decor and furnishing needs.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Foods Your Pets Should Avoid

Some of the food sources of fatty acids are fish and shellfish, flaxseed (linseed), soya oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, hemp oil, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, leafy vegetables, and walnuts.

Essential fatty acids play a part in many metabolic processes, and there is evidence to suggest that low levels of essential fatty acids, or the wrong balance of types among the essential fatty acids, may be a precursor in a number of illnesses.

Plant sources of omega-3 do not contain eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. This is thought to be the reason that absoption of essential fatty acids is much greater from animal rather than plant sources.

EFA content of vegetable sources varies with cultivation conditions. Animal sources vary widely, both with the animal's feed and that the EFA makeup varies markedly with fats from different body parts.

The primary source of omega6 fatty acids in the diet is linoleic acid from the oils of seeds and grains. Sunflower, safflower and corn oil are particularly rich sources of linoleic acid, which is at the root of the omega6 fatty-acid family. Evening primrose oil and borage oil are high not only in linoleic acid, but the omega6 derivative gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Avocado is 15-20% oil (mainly monosaturated), but also high in linoleic acid. (Avocado has the highest fat content and the highest fiber content of any fruit.)

Alpha-linolenic acid, the primary dietary source of omega3 fatty acids in the diet, is frequently found in green leaves. The leaves and seeds of the perilla plant (widely eaten in Japan, Korea and India) are the richest plant source of alpha-linolenic acid, although linseed oil is also a rich source. Fish oil contains very little alpha-linolenic acid, but is rich in the omega3 derivatives EPA and DHA. Fish are at the top of a food chain based on phytoplankton (algae) that manufacture large amounts of EPA and DHA. Nonetheless, fish can be high in toxic mercury.

It has been suggested that thousands of years ago the diet of human hunter-gatherers consisted of approximately equal parts of omega3 and omega6 essential fatty acids. However, Since the beginning of agriculture ten thousand years ago there has been a steady increase in omega6 at the expense of omega3 fat in the human diet. This process accelerated about 50 years ago as cattle began to be fed increasingly on grains rather than grass. Recommendations by nutritionists to eat margarine rather than butter (polyunsaturated rather than saturated fats) increased the trend toward omega6 and trans fat consumption. Currently, the ratio of omega6 to omega3 fatty acids in the American diet is 7to1 or more. There are good reasons to believe that this imbalanced essential fatty acid ratio has led to increased cancer, heart disease, allergies, diabetes and other afflictions.

The low death rate from coronary heart disease among Greenland Eskimos led scientists to suspect that high fish consumption might be protective. A 20-year study of 852 middle-age Dutch men showed that coronary artery disease was more than 50% lower among the men who consumed at least 30 grams of fish per week, when compared with men who did not eat fish. A 30-year study of over 2,100 Chicago men showed a 62% risk of coronary heart disease and 56% risk of sudden myocardial infarction for men who ate at least 35 grams of fish daily, compared to those who ate none.

Fish oil has been shown to lower LDL-cholesterol by about 13%, to lower blood pressure, and to dramatically lower blood triglycerides. The effect on triglycerides, in particular, appears to be due to EPA and DHA, because flaxseed (ie, linseed oil, which is over 50% alpha-linolenic acid) did not lower triglycerides. More careful analysis has established that DHA alone has no effect on blood triglycerides, but that EPA alone is capable of lowering blood triglycerides by about 30%.

Although most fish oils are high in EPA and DHA, there are some fish oils which are not. Flounder, swordfish and sole are particularly low in EPA and DHA. Fish oils having the highest levels of EPA and DHA include mackerel, herring and salmon. Some fish, such as cod and haddock, store most of their fat in the liver, therefore the liver oils of these fish should be taken rather than the fillet.

Optimum dietary benefit from fat for most people would come from a program of reduced total fat, reduced saturated and unessential fat, and increased proportions of omega3 (relative to omega6) essential fats. A high omega3 oil like perilla oil might be a simple remedy for young people, and the best remedy for smokers. But as most people age, they will benefit most from CLA, GLA, and DHA supplementation combined with antioxidants (especially vitamin E) to protect these polyunsaturated essential fats from oxidation.

Fats are an important component of membranes in our hearts, brains, immune cells and most of the other tissues of our bodies. Since we need these fats, it is important to ensure that we have the right kind of fats, that we have enough of them and that we protect them with antioxidants.

About the Author:

Paul is the webmaster of a Weight loss & dieting portal called dietlose.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Fat in your diet is essential!

make avocados ripen faster

How do i make avocados ripen faster?

Put them in a bag with apples.
Apples emit a lot more ethylene gas than other fruits, which hastens the ripening. It is helpful to do this in a warm area as well, like above the fridge or on the counter next to the cooking area.
A good way to check for ripeness, without squeezing and bruising the avocado, is to push on the stem. It will not push in until the avocado is ripe and the flesh soft enough. The stem is really a ripeness button!

If you are interested in health and diet, you have probably read all the research which points to the benefits of fresh, unprocessed foods. Eating healthier nearly always means opting for fresh fruits, whole grains and unprocessed meats and fish. Unfortunately, choosing foods without preservatives does have a down side - food spoils faster. That is no reason to go back to eating over-processed foods full of chemical preservatives, though. Long before our dependence on chemical preservatives, our mothers knew the secrets to keeping food fresh longer naturally. Here are some tips to help you keep fresh fruits, grains, vegetables, meat and fish fresh longer - the natural way.

General Tips

1. Keep your refrigerator at the right temperature. It should be kept between 38 and 40 F. to keep your foods as fresh as possible without freezing them.

2. Keep your eye on expiration dates when you shop.

3. Do not store highly perishable foods in the refrigerator or freezer door. They are more prone to temperature fluctuation.

4. Moisture promotes rotting and mold. Wipe vegetables and fruits dry before storing and avoid storing in plastic bags.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Vegetables and fruits give off a gas called ethylene as they ripen. The ethylene sets off a chain reaction that causes the release of more ethylene, causing the food to ripen further. When fruits and vegetables are exposed to ethylene, they ripen faster. Some fruits and vegetables give off more ethylene than others - and some of them are more sensitive to ethylene than others.

1. Ethylene producers include apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, kiwis, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, and tomatoes.

2. Fruits and vegetables that are sensitive to the effects of ethylene include: apples, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, lettuces and other greens, potatoes, summer squash, and watermelons.

3. To keep fresh fruits and vegetables fresh longer, do not store any of the former group n the same drawers as those in the latter group.

4. Store fruits and vegetables in the warmest part of your fridge to preserve flavor.

5. Remove produce from plastic bags before storing. The bags trap the ethylene close to the fruit so that it ripens faster.

6.Wash produce and then dry well before storing. Moisture speeds rotting.

Meats and Eggs

1. Keep fresh meats refrigerated between 38-40 F.

2. Keep meat in original wrapping in refrigerator if you will be using it within two days.

3. Wrap meat in foil or freezer paper before freezing.

4. Make sure that there is plenty of air circulation around meat products in your refrigerator.

5. Store eggs pointed side down.

6. Wrap smoked meats like ham or bacon in a vinegar-soaked cloth.

7. Cool cooked meats quickly and completely before placing them in refrigerator.

Bread and Cereal Products

1. Store fresh bread in a cool, dark, dry place like a cupboard or breadbox.

2. Close the waxed paper inner bag of breakfast cereals tightly to preserve freshness. Better yet, transfer the cereal into a zipper lock plastic bag and put it back in the box.

3. Freeze bread that will not be used within a week. If you freeze artisan breads pre-sliced, you can just take a slice when you need it.

4. Keep soft cookies soft by storing them in a cookie jar or airtight container with a slice of bread.

5. Cut slices from loaf cakes like banana bread and pound cake from the middle instead of the end. After slicing, push the two ends together to reform the 'loaf'. You don't leave a cut end to get stale that way.

6. To keep cake moist, store it with half an apple in the container.

Dairy Products and Cheese

1. Store milk in its original container.

2. Do not store milk in the door where temperature is warmer.

3. Put milk back in refrigerator immediately after using.

4. Wrap cheese in waxed paper or plastic, then store in deli drawer.

5. Do not store ice cream in the freezer door. Keep it in the main part of the freezer.

6. Place a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper directly on the surface of the ice cream before storing. It will keep fresh longer.

Miscellaneous

1. Store coffee in an airtight, opaque container to preserver flavor and freshness.

2. Buy coffee in whole bean form and grind enough for one pot at a time.

3. If you buy more coffee than you can use in 3-4 days, store in an airtight container in the freezer/

4. Store avocadoes unbagged in the refrigerator.

5. Store bananas on the counter, unbagged.

6. Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) should be stored in their plastic container or a resealable plastic bag in the back of the refrigerator.

7. Wrap lettuce in damp paper towels and store in a plastic bag.

About the Author:

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics and products concerning food storage such as Green Bags.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Natural Ways to Keep Food Fresh Longer

corn avocado salad

A lot of people are becoming health conscious already. They prefer to prepare their own food to make sure they are eating just healthy foods. They would not know what ingredients are used in commercial foods.

Then again, many of us are busy with our works and personal lives. It is often easier to resort to buying food outside rather than go to the ordeal of preparing our own food in the kitchen. Good thing though that there are now many quick recipes that will only take around 10 minutes to do. These are easy to make and promises to be very healthy.

You could also adapt a few tips on how to make preparations much easier and quicker. The first tip is to use all the possible convenient products available to you. It could be frozen mixed veggies, pasta sauces and many more. It requires little cooking. You could toss them up together in a matter of few minutes with hardly any cooking needed.

Ready the ingredients beforehand if you are thinking of a recipe already. Also prepare the utensils and other items you will need. You could easily cook after coming home if you have all these prepared already.

Think of recipes that only have a few ingredients. These are easier to prepare. You could also use leftovers instead of buying in the grocery. You save time and money. Recipes are not necessarily strictly followed. You could always deviate and make use of what you have in your refrigerator. Just experiment and see what will taste good for you. Be sure to write down what you have used so you could prepare it again next time.

Salads are generally easy to make, plus it is very healthy. Most are made from vegetables and fruits. It could be topped with a dressing or just seasoned to taste. It may also be an appetizer for your main meal.

Green or garden salads are mostly made out of green leafy vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers and cabbages. It may also be topped with mushrooms, carrots, peppers, onions, celery, avocado, and radishes. You could make your own vinaigrette dressing or just buy ready-made in bottles.

Another kind of salad is the entrée. It has toppings like chicken or sea foods. The most common type of green salad known worldwide is the one we called the caesar salad. This is very healthy and offers a complete meal at the same time. You have meat and vegetables already in one dish.

Dressings added to salads vary in different cultures. Vinaigrettes are common in Southern Europe but Asians adopted it too. Mayonnaise is often used in Eastern Europe. Crème Fraiche is the well known Denmark's salad dressings.

Other salad dressings are light edible oils. It may be soybean oil, olive oil and corn oil. Vinegar and cheeses can also be added to complement the taste. There are lots of ingredients that can be made salad dressings. These salad dressings are added to salad to add some flavors to the vegetables or fruits. These are needed because some of the vegetable are taste less. We need something to make it a little sweet or sour to make the salty taste of the fruit or vegetable less.

Salad garnishes also add flavor. It could be bacon bits ( an imitation), beetroot bell peppers, mushrooms, anchovies, sunflower seeds, shredded carrots and many more.

About the Author:

For more information on Salad Shooters & Choppers and Egg Salad Products.Please visit our website.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Vegetable Salad for Dinner

Colombia has some of the most delicious food in South America. Despite this fact, there are few American households that enjoy Colombian Recipes regularly – or even know much about them. When you want to add a little bit of flavor or variety of your meals, Colombian food is easily one of the best choices, as you will have dishes that few people have ever tried in their own home.

Examples of Traditional Colombian Dishes:

• Lechona

Commonly found in both Panama and Colombia, Lechona is pork stuffed with peas, onions and rice, and cooked for an impressive 10 hours in a brick oven to bring out its best flavors. Many Colombian Recipes add a Colombian corn bread to enhance its flavor.

• Sanchocho

Sanchocho is a type of South American soup. Ingredients differ by region, but in Columbian recipes it is common to find potato, vegetables, and nearly any kind of meat imaginable. Each region uses different meats and vegetables, so even Columbian recipes can differ quite a bit.

• Aijaco

Another soup, Aijaco is a type of Columbian potato soup that often has large chunks of meat. In most Columbian recipes the meat will be chicken. You will also find corn, various herbs for flavoring. Like many of the Columbian meals, Aijaco started as a food for peasants before slowly gaining acceptance as a main stream dish.

• Bandeja paisa

Of all of the Columbian recipes available, Bandeja paisa is one of the few that has very strict rules as to what constitutes the “True” dish. The Bandeja paisa contains at minimum 13 different ingredients (these ingredients include white rice, ground meat, red beans, pork rinds, friend eggs, plantain, chorizo, arepa, Hogao saunce, avocado, black pudding, mazamorra, and panella) which are served in a variety of different bowls- it must not be served in a regular plate, and the quantity of many of these items needs to be fairly high. Some areas adjust the ingredients, but those that do are said to not be caring the authentic style.

• Asado

Asado itself is not necessarily a meal. Rather, it is the way that meat is cooked in order to get a certain type of flavor. Though it most often uses beef, it is usually complemented with other meats including chicken, steak, and goat. The meat is fired up in a traditional manner, and most Columbian recipes will add a side salad and some bread to make the meal more traditional.

Finding Columbian Recipes That Suit Your Needs

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Columbian food is that few people have truly experienced it. Though often a variation of other, more popular South American cuisine, the food itself almost always started as food for peasants before its flavors were more mastered and designed to reach the palates of food enthusiasts. You can find recipes for the Colombian dishes above and many others quickly and easily on the FoodieView Recipe Search Engine at www.foodieview.com. If you are looking for a new and exciting meal to feed your family or entertain guests, Columbian food is an excellent choice!

About the Author:

FoodieView is a leading food portal with a recipe search engine providing one-stop access to the Web's best recipes, along with virtual recipe boxes, meal plans, food pics, restaurant guides/reviews, social networking and more.

Find Colombian recipes on FoodieView by typing "Colombian recipes" into the recipe quick search box. You'll have instant access to thousands of the yummiest Colombian recipes on the planet!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Colombian Recipes

avocado seedling

How do I encourage my baby (seedling) avocado tree to grow more leaves?

Massiga T
I am currently growing a lovey seedling avocado tree, and I was fortunate enough that it acutually sent up TWO sprout at once from the one seed! Very unusual, I am told. Anyway, for your seedling. I assume you have it growing in soil by now. Once it is a minimum of a foot tall, you can pinch out the leader leaves, and this will force it to branch out into double leaves. Make sure you have excellent soil, and good, not full sunlight. Keep your plant moist, but not wet.
Goodluck
Bertram

A good greenhouse is a must for any passionate garden enthusiast, and quality cedar greenhouses from Gabriel Ash are  renound as the very best.

With a greenhouse you can start your seeds early in the year, when the ground outside would be much too cold for planting.  Typically, greenhouses are used for starting seeds and protecting seedlings until they are large enough and the weather is warm enough to plant them in the outdoor garden.  However, a greenhouse can also be used to grow fruits and vegetables inside under glass for the duration of the growing season or even year round.

Finely crafted greenhouses by Gabriel Ash are the perfect settings for container gardens.

They are designed with Gabriel Ash’s signature ridge vents, which allow you to control the temperature to maintain the perfect environment for your plants.  It is easy to grow a wide assortment of fresh vegetables and fruits in your greenhouse as long as space allows.  You can select special hybrid plants that were created specifically to be small in size while producing the same amount as larger versions of the same plant.  Examples of common hybrids are peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and some types of squash.  It is quite amazing to see cucumbers or squash growing from a heavily laden compact bush instead of from a long trailing vine.  Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers also grow quite well when they are hung upside down, a method that can save you valuable space on your greenhouse staging.  You can also grow hanging strawberry plants or dwarf blueberry bushes inside a greenhouse.  You may not have room for all of these in a smaller sized greenhouse or vinehouse, but you can still grow herbs and a selection of fresh salad ingredients to be always at your disposal.

To keep your edible garden growing year round, you may need to install a greenhouse heater to keep the climate even, and Gabriel Ash has an assortment of electric heaters in all sizes.  With a heated greenhouse you can add a collection of exotic edibles to your garden, such as bananas, avocadoes or oranges.  When gardening year round you may be wise to supplement natural lighting with electric UV lighting to keep your plants producing even during the winter when the days are much shorter.

About the Author:

To know more about Greenhouses and Using your Greenhouse to Grow your Own Food visit http://gabrielash.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Using your Greenhouse to Grow your Own Food

avocado season mexico

It depends.  For many, it can make sense to selectively purchase organic.  For example, a banana with a thick skin that you peel and throw away absorbs fewer pesticides than a strawberry, which acts as a virtual chemical sponge.  

The lab tests of the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that even after washing certain vegetables and fruits, they contain high levels of pesticides.  The highest, and perhaps the best items to buy organic, are: <b>apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries</b>.  Some of the lowest concentration items were: <b>asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples, and sweet peas</b>.

Anytime you buy organic produce you are supporting the use of fewer pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals being used and put into the environment, including the ground water.  In these cash strapped times, however, that may not always be reason enough for a family to increase their food budget.  Many people decide to buy organic because they want to limit their ingestion of potentially harmful chemicals and they believe organic is generally healthier.  

Sorting through the data on the harmful effects of different chemicals can be overwhelming and sometimes contradictory.  One problem is that although we know some potentially carcinogenic pesticides and chemicals build up in our bodies over time as we consume them, there are almost no studies looking at the very long term effects of this.  However, since 1996, when a new federal law required pesticides to meet safety standards for children, more than a dozen formerly widely used pesticides have been banned, restricted, or voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers.

Children’s developing immune, central-nervous, and hormonal systems are especially vulnerable to damage from toxic chemicals.  Contrary to previous scientific belief, a 2005 study found that pesticides in a woman’s bloodstream can be passed to a fetus in the womb.  The Red Cross collected the umbilical-cord blood of children and after they tested it for pollutants it showed that 21 pesticides had crossed the placenta.  Looking at current data, then, it seems to be especially prudent for children and pregnant women to limit their chemical consumption by eating organic.

Currently there are protracted fights over banning additional pesticides in America that have been shown in studies to have harmful effects and have already been banned by the European Union.  Many other countries are much worse, however, such as Mexico.  Mexico frequently irrigates crops with sewage water and uses many chemicals which have been banned in America.  When buying conventional (non-organic) produce, it is a good idea to stick with vegetables and fruits grown in the United States.  In fact, the closer either a conventional or organic product is grown to you, the fresher and better it’s likely to be.  A great way to both support local farmers and significantly save on organic produce is to shop at farmers markets.  Farmers markets also feature almost exclusively produce that’s in season, which should be both fresher and tastier.

Besides reduced chemical exposure, several recent studies have found organic produce to be higher in nutrients and antioxidants.  In the largest study of its kind, a 2007 European Union study found that organic produce had 40% higher antioxidants than conventional produce.  Scientists believe this is likely because organically raised plants are more stressed without pesticides and chemical fertilizers to depend on and as a result create higher levels of antioxidants as a defense mechanism.

Everyone must make their own decision as to how much of their produce should be organic, if any at all. It seems though that it may be an especially good idea for pregnant women and children.  It also makes sense to try to buy the most easily contaminated produce as organic and to support local farmer’s markets whenever possible.  Lastly, when you do buy conventional produce it can be a good idea to avoid items from third world countries with lax regulations regarding pesticide and chemical use.

About the Author:

As gourmet San Francisco Caterers, Componere Fine Catering’s owner Ethan Mantle uses seasonal, organic ingredients as much as possible. For those looking for the finest presentation and food in a San Francisco wedding caterer or San Francisco caterers, Componere Fine Catering can provide a truly memorable event.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Is Buying Organic Produce Worth It?

It depends.  For many, it can make sense to selectively purchase organic.  For example, a banana with a thick skin that you peel and throw away absorbs fewer pesticides than a strawberry, which acts as a virtual chemical sponge.  

The lab tests of the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that even after washing certain vegetables and fruits, they contain high levels of pesticides.  The highest, and perhaps the best items to buy organic, are: <b>apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries</b>.  Some of the lowest concentration items were: <b>asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples, and sweet peas</b>.

Anytime you buy organic produce you are supporting the use of fewer pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals being used and put into the environment, including the ground water.  In these cash strapped times, however, that may not always be reason enough for a family to increase their food budget.  Many people decide to buy organic because they want to limit their ingestion of potentially harmful chemicals and they believe organic is generally healthier.  

Sorting through the data on the harmful effects of different chemicals can be overwhelming and sometimes contradictory.  One problem is that although we know some potentially carcinogenic pesticides and chemicals build up in our bodies over time as we consume them, there are almost no studies looking at the very long term effects of this.  However, since 1996, when a new federal law required pesticides to meet safety standards for children, more than a dozen formerly widely used pesticides have been banned, restricted, or voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers.

Children’s developing immune, central-nervous, and hormonal systems are especially vulnerable to damage from toxic chemicals.  Contrary to previous scientific belief, a 2005 study found that pesticides in a woman’s bloodstream can be passed to a fetus in the womb.  The Red Cross collected the umbilical-cord blood of children and after they tested it for pollutants it showed that 21 pesticides had crossed the placenta.  Looking at current data, then, it seems to be especially prudent for children and pregnant women to limit their chemical consumption by eating organic.

Currently there are protracted fights over banning additional pesticides in America that have been shown in studies to have harmful effects and have already been banned by the European Union.  Many other countries are much worse, however, such as Mexico.  Mexico frequently irrigates crops with sewage water and uses many chemicals which have been banned in America.  When buying conventional (non-organic) produce, it is a good idea to stick with vegetables and fruits grown in the United States.  In fact, the closer either a conventional or organic product is grown to you, the fresher and better it’s likely to be.  A great way to both support local farmers and significantly save on organic produce is to shop at farmers markets.  Farmers markets also feature almost exclusively produce that’s in season, which should be both fresher and tastier.

Besides reduced chemical exposure, several recent studies have found organic produce to be higher in nutrients and antioxidants.  In the largest study of its kind, a 2007 European Union study found that organic produce had 40% higher antioxidants than conventional produce.  Scientists believe this is likely because organically raised plants are more stressed without pesticides and chemical fertilizers to depend on and as a result create higher levels of antioxidants as a defense mechanism.

Everyone must make their own decision as to how much of their produce should be organic, if any at all. It seems though that it may be an especially good idea for pregnant women and children.  It also makes sense to try to buy the most easily contaminated produce as organic and to support local farmer’s markets whenever possible.  Lastly, when you do buy conventional produce it can be a good idea to avoid items from third world countries with lax regulations regarding pesticide and chemical use.

About the Author:

As gourmet San Francisco Caterers, Componere Fine Catering’s owner Ethan Mantle uses seasonal, organic ingredients as much as possible. For those looking for the finest presentation and food in a San Francisco wedding caterer or San Francisco caterers, Componere Fine Catering can provide a truly memorable event.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Is Buying Organic Produce Worth It?

avocado ads

Why does my kitten eat raw potatoes?

My five month old kitten eats raw potato skins whenever he finds them, ad also avocado skins and porridge. Is this bad for him or should I just let him go ahead. Might he be missing something from his diet? I feed him on tinned cat food twice a day and leave out dry food for him to eat whenever.

sounds like u got a baby garfield on our hands.

You probably know by now what detoxification is and the ways that it can be done. A detox diet provides the simplest way to detoxifying yourself. A rule of thumb in detox diets: the more fiber and water, the better. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits, beans and nuts. On the other hand, steer clear of caffeine, carbonated drinks, sugars like chocolates, alcohol and yeast.

Dr. Kiki Sidhwa recommends going on a monotrophic diet after a three-day fast. By monotrophic, we mean eating only one type of fruit for every meal. Example, for breakfast, you can eat apple. For lunch, try out oranges or pineapples. Eat until your hunger is satisfied. You can squeeze in a grapefruit juice at around 4 pm for your snack. And in the evening, eat only apples, pears, grapes or bananas.

Of course, this is just one of those do-it-yourself diet plans that you can take on when you're on a detox program. For most people, however, detox recipes are the best way to go. These detox recipes are especially designed to provide you with the necessary nutrient in the body and at the same time, providing you with the necessary antioxidants and substances that will cleanse your body from toxins.
For more fluid intake, you can try Ginger Healing Tea with Turmeric. What you need are the following: 2 cups of water, 1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger, 1/2 teaspoon of tumeric, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and lemon extract. To make your special healing tea, add powdered herbs to boiling water and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the tea into a mug and add maple syrup and lemon extract. Stir and whalaaah--- you can start drinking!

For breakfast, you can try the vegetable super juice. This juice gives you the needed energy boost for your senses, wakens your digestive system and can keep you going until lunchtime. For starters, you need 1 whole cucumber, 4 celery sticks, 2-4 handfuls of spinach, 8 lettuce leaves. You can also add other green vegetables like parsley and fresh alfalfa sprouts. The process is easy and simple, juice all ingredients and add distilled water. You can also add lemon juice for better taste.

And now for lunch, try the Alkalising RAW Soup. All you need are 1 avocado, 2 spring onions, 1/2 red or green pepper, 1 cucumber, 2 handfuls of spinach, 1/2 clove of garlic, 100 ml of light vegetable Bouillon, lemon or lime juice and Bragg Liquid Aminos for added taste. Just like our vegetable juice, the recipe is simple and easy to do. Blend the avocado and stock to form a light paste. Add other ingredients and blend. And then you can start eating!

Our dinner treat is Warm Broccoli Soup. All you need is 1/2 avocado, 6-8 broccoli heads, 1/3 red onion, 1 celery stick, a big handful of spinach, inch of root ginger, cumin and bragg liquid amino for added taste. Lightly steam the broccoli for 5-6 minutes. After steaming, blend all the ingredients together and add garlic and pepper to taste. This is perfect for a cold winter night.

Feeling hungry still? These recipes are just few of the hundred other detox recipes available on the net. The key here is to pack yourself with enough water and nutrients to keep you going without ingesting a plateful of additives, sugars and food preservatives. So what are you waiting for? Start eating healthy!

About the Author:

To read about milk thistle benefits, rsd symptoms and other information, visit the Health And Nutrition Tips site.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Simple Detoxification Recipes

making avocados ripen faster

How do i get avocados ripe and soft?

I just bought a few avocados and i want to use two of them tomorrow to make guacemole. To make guacemole i need two soft avocados and the ones i just bought today are quite hard. Does anyone know how to make avocados soften faster? Like ripen faster?

put them in a paper bag and put them in a dark place like a cupboard. i don't know if they will be ripe enough by tomorrow, but it will help ripen them faster

If you are interested in health and diet, you have probably read all the research which points to the benefits of fresh, unprocessed foods. Eating healthier nearly always means opting for fresh fruits, whole grains and unprocessed meats and fish. Unfortunately, choosing foods without preservatives does have a down side - food spoils faster. That is no reason to go back to eating over-processed foods full of chemical preservatives, though. Long before our dependence on chemical preservatives, our mothers knew the secrets to keeping food fresh longer naturally. Here are some tips to help you keep fresh fruits, grains, vegetables, meat and fish fresh longer - the natural way.

General Tips

1. Keep your refrigerator at the right temperature. It should be kept between 38 and 40 F. to keep your foods as fresh as possible without freezing them.

2. Keep your eye on expiration dates when you shop.

3. Do not store highly perishable foods in the refrigerator or freezer door. They are more prone to temperature fluctuation.

4. Moisture promotes rotting and mold. Wipe vegetables and fruits dry before storing and avoid storing in plastic bags.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Vegetables and fruits give off a gas called ethylene as they ripen. The ethylene sets off a chain reaction that causes the release of more ethylene, causing the food to ripen further. When fruits and vegetables are exposed to ethylene, they ripen faster. Some fruits and vegetables give off more ethylene than others - and some of them are more sensitive to ethylene than others.

1. Ethylene producers include apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, kiwis, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, and tomatoes.

2. Fruits and vegetables that are sensitive to the effects of ethylene include: apples, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, lettuces and other greens, potatoes, summer squash, and watermelons.

3. To keep fresh fruits and vegetables fresh longer, do not store any of the former group n the same drawers as those in the latter group.

4. Store fruits and vegetables in the warmest part of your fridge to preserve flavor.

5. Remove produce from plastic bags before storing. The bags trap the ethylene close to the fruit so that it ripens faster.

6.Wash produce and then dry well before storing. Moisture speeds rotting.

Meats and Eggs

1. Keep fresh meats refrigerated between 38-40 F.

2. Keep meat in original wrapping in refrigerator if you will be using it within two days.

3. Wrap meat in foil or freezer paper before freezing.

4. Make sure that there is plenty of air circulation around meat products in your refrigerator.

5. Store eggs pointed side down.

6. Wrap smoked meats like ham or bacon in a vinegar-soaked cloth.

7. Cool cooked meats quickly and completely before placing them in refrigerator.

Bread and Cereal Products

1. Store fresh bread in a cool, dark, dry place like a cupboard or breadbox.

2. Close the waxed paper inner bag of breakfast cereals tightly to preserve freshness. Better yet, transfer the cereal into a zipper lock plastic bag and put it back in the box.

3. Freeze bread that will not be used within a week. If you freeze artisan breads pre-sliced, you can just take a slice when you need it.

4. Keep soft cookies soft by storing them in a cookie jar or airtight container with a slice of bread.

5. Cut slices from loaf cakes like banana bread and pound cake from the middle instead of the end. After slicing, push the two ends together to reform the 'loaf'. You don't leave a cut end to get stale that way.

6. To keep cake moist, store it with half an apple in the container.

Dairy Products and Cheese

1. Store milk in its original container.

2. Do not store milk in the door where temperature is warmer.

3. Put milk back in refrigerator immediately after using.

4. Wrap cheese in waxed paper or plastic, then store in deli drawer.

5. Do not store ice cream in the freezer door. Keep it in the main part of the freezer.

6. Place a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper directly on the surface of the ice cream before storing. It will keep fresh longer.

Miscellaneous

1. Store coffee in an airtight, opaque container to preserver flavor and freshness.

2. Buy coffee in whole bean form and grind enough for one pot at a time.

3. If you buy more coffee than you can use in 3-4 days, store in an airtight container in the freezer/

4. Store avocadoes unbagged in the refrigerator.

5. Store bananas on the counter, unbagged.

6. Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) should be stored in their plastic container or a resealable plastic bag in the back of the refrigerator.

7. Wrap lettuce in damp paper towels and store in a plastic bag.

About the Author:

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics and products concerning food storage such as Green Bags.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Natural Ways to Keep Food Fresh Longer

avocado iron content

There are many foods that help improve the memory power. Consuming these foods not only greatly enhances the memory power of an individual, but assists all round growth of the individual. It is recommended that people consume a healthy diet to maintain a level of intelligence. There are natural products without any artificial additives that help enrich a person's capabilities. For instance, high vitamin and protein rich foods are suggested to people whose performance is below average in an effort to boost their academic performance. This is a commonly accepted practice across the world. Dieticians and physicians suggest the intake of proteins and vitamins with moderate quantity of carbohydrates in an effort to help people with poor intelligence levels. Similarly, there are some agents such as synthetic products that help improve the memory power. However, it is best suggested that people avoid artificial products and opt for natural ways of improving the intelligence and academic performance. They include a variety of vegetables and fruits grown in organic manure. Avoid vegetables and fruits grown with fertilizers and artificial manures since they are laced with chemicals. At the most possible extent use naturally grown fruits and vegetables.

Some of the foods meant for super brains include chocolate, yogurt, spinach, egg plants, red cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, avocados, egg, green tea, pumpkin seeds, blackberries, strawberries, walnuts, almonds and cashews.

These foods meant for super brains contain a lot of minerals and vitamins that will assist the all round development of an individual. The lack or deficiency in any of these minerals or vitamins could result in poor health condition of the individuals. For instance, the deficiency of Vitamin A could result in night blindness among many people. Doctors recommend food rich in Vitamin A in an effort to improve their condition. Similarly, people lacking Vitamin B are exposed to a condition called Beri Beri. The absence of Vitamin C causes scurvy, especially among the children. The lack of Vitamin D among people results in leads to certain chronic conditions. In an effort to avoid such conditions over a prolonged period, it is recommended that people consume plenty of greens and spinach, which are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Red cabbage is found to be essential for easy flow of blood. Similarly, broccoli improves the iron content in the human body. Strawberries are said to be good at raising the level of thought process in a person. Therefore, doctors recommend a rich diet consisting of a balanced mix of vegetables and fruits, which will help the overall growth of an individual. Similarly, people showing anemic conditions are asked to inculcate a habit of consuming large amounts of naturally grown fruits devoid of any chemicals or fertilizers. It so happens that the addition of vitamins and carbohydrates in such forms have yielded the desired results among people of all age groups. These foods are considered super foods meant for the brain in an effort to enrich the intellectual thought process of an individual.

About the Author:

Article written by Robert Riles, who is a sports expert and owner of skyfireproducts.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Healthy Diet Will Improve Intellect (10 Super Brain Foods)

Article from: My Family UK

Protein and nutrients are in abundance in meat, but they are harder to attain in a vegetarian’s diet. However, follow these guidelines and you can make sure your child won’t miss out on a thing.

Raising a vegetarian - before six months

1) Starting out

If you want to start your children on a veggie diet from birth, steer clear of wheat, nuts, oats, milk (apart from breast or formula), eggs or citrus fruit until they are past the "safe age" - fourteen months or so.

It is common knowledge that babies are able to eat solids at four months. To stick to the guidelines above, begin with pureed banana, avocado or a mixture of vegetables. You can mix and match and see what your child will eat willingly and what they will reject.
If something is rejected always try again a few days later, and keep trying. Many of an adult's favourite food are, in fact, aquired tastes, so there is no harm in developing a baby's tastes. If constantly rejected, of course, there could be a risk of allergy.

Your baby will have sensitive taste buds at first, so avoid overpowering flavours like sprounts or spinach. When they progress beyond fourteen months, it's up to your own discretion what to feed them. 

After six months

2) Iron

Babies are born with natural stores of iron that will begin to deplete after six months. From the age of 4 months, babies will require around 4.3mg of iron in their diet, which rises to 7.8mg at around 7 months. It is vital that you provide them with iron to aid their strength and development. Some vegetarian foods that have a high iron content are:

• Figs
• Apricots
• Raisins
• Prunes
• Potato (mashed)
• Egg yolks
• Green leafy veg such as spinach, asparagus, broccoli, kale, parsley and cabbage.

.

3) Experimentation

As your baby gets older, you can experiment with ways of introducing various nutrients into their diet, like adding lentils to their mashed potato. You could even put the family meal into a blender and see how well that goes down.

If you’re trying to make the leap from meat to vegetarianism with older kids and they’re digging their heels in, ask them to experiment with meat substitutes. Try making Quorn burgers or stir fries using soy. Don’t tell them what it is and see what they think without any preconceptions. Never force them to make a dietary change, as they may resent you for it immediately, or further down the line, and if they don't learn to prepare nutricious food fod themselves, their health can suffer.

4) Portion control

Portion sizes generally need to be larger on a vegetarian’s diet. The nutrients supplied in a slice of meat are difficult to extract from a vegetarian plate the same size. For instance, 20% of the body's required iron intake can be absolbred from meat, poultry and fish, but only 5% from vegetables and grains.

The vegetarian diet, however, has a few advantages: it tends to contain far less calories, saturated fats and oils. In fact, studies have shown that vegetarians have lower chances of obesity, coronary artery disease, hypertension and some forms of cancer.

5) Protein and Calcium

Include milk, cheese and eggs, all of which contain high contents of protein, in your child's diet. Meat the the main provider of protein in a normal diet. Don't worry about high fat intakes or imbalances: the vegetarian diet is naturally low in fats, and these are (believe it or not) necessary.

Protein is vital for growth, strength, and mental development during childhood and teenage years, so a vegan diet, at these stages, is best avoided. For example, to gain the protein given in one slice of cheese, your child will need to eat two cans of beans.

At least three pieces of calcium should be included into your child’s diet: try a glass of milk, a yoghurt and a small block piece of cheese.

6) Get your teeth stuck in

For weaning children off meat, hearty meals like a veggie lasagne, a folded omlette oozing with cheese or bean burritos are best. Try to provide foods that they acutally can sink their teeth into, missing meat can also affect children psychologically.

Further Information

For further information, and for more great ways to have fun with your family, log on to www.myfamilyuk.com. With a huge collection of articles covering everything from child safety to rainy day activities, you'll find all the help, guidance and entertainment you need to be a great parent. Go now!

About the Author:

My Family UK is a brand new website that is turning the online focus back onto families. We're dedicated to supporting you and your family live the life you choose to the full, with games, tips, offers and articles on all aspects of parenting. If your family means the world to you, check out www.myfamilyuk.com.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Raising a Vegetarian Child

ripen avocados faster

If you are interested in health and diet, you have probably read all the research which points to the benefits of fresh, unprocessed foods. Eating healthier nearly always means opting for fresh fruits, whole grains and unprocessed meats and fish. Unfortunately, choosing foods without preservatives does have a down side - food spoils faster. That is no reason to go back to eating over-processed foods full of chemical preservatives, though. Long before our dependence on chemical preservatives, our mothers knew the secrets to keeping food fresh longer naturally. Here are some tips to help you keep fresh fruits, grains, vegetables, meat and fish fresh longer - the natural way.

General Tips

1. Keep your refrigerator at the right temperature. It should be kept between 38 and 40 F. to keep your foods as fresh as possible without freezing them.

2. Keep your eye on expiration dates when you shop.

3. Do not store highly perishable foods in the refrigerator or freezer door. They are more prone to temperature fluctuation.

4. Moisture promotes rotting and mold. Wipe vegetables and fruits dry before storing and avoid storing in plastic bags.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Vegetables and fruits give off a gas called ethylene as they ripen. The ethylene sets off a chain reaction that causes the release of more ethylene, causing the food to ripen further. When fruits and vegetables are exposed to ethylene, they ripen faster. Some fruits and vegetables give off more ethylene than others - and some of them are more sensitive to ethylene than others.

1. Ethylene producers include apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, kiwis, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, and tomatoes.

2. Fruits and vegetables that are sensitive to the effects of ethylene include: apples, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, lettuces and other greens, potatoes, summer squash, and watermelons.

3. To keep fresh fruits and vegetables fresh longer, do not store any of the former group n the same drawers as those in the latter group.

4. Store fruits and vegetables in the warmest part of your fridge to preserve flavor.

5. Remove produce from plastic bags before storing. The bags trap the ethylene close to the fruit so that it ripens faster.

6.Wash produce and then dry well before storing. Moisture speeds rotting.

Meats and Eggs

1. Keep fresh meats refrigerated between 38-40 F.

2. Keep meat in original wrapping in refrigerator if you will be using it within two days.

3. Wrap meat in foil or freezer paper before freezing.

4. Make sure that there is plenty of air circulation around meat products in your refrigerator.

5. Store eggs pointed side down.

6. Wrap smoked meats like ham or bacon in a vinegar-soaked cloth.

7. Cool cooked meats quickly and completely before placing them in refrigerator.

Bread and Cereal Products

1. Store fresh bread in a cool, dark, dry place like a cupboard or breadbox.

2. Close the waxed paper inner bag of breakfast cereals tightly to preserve freshness. Better yet, transfer the cereal into a zipper lock plastic bag and put it back in the box.

3. Freeze bread that will not be used within a week. If you freeze artisan breads pre-sliced, you can just take a slice when you need it.

4. Keep soft cookies soft by storing them in a cookie jar or airtight container with a slice of bread.

5. Cut slices from loaf cakes like banana bread and pound cake from the middle instead of the end. After slicing, push the two ends together to reform the 'loaf'. You don't leave a cut end to get stale that way.

6. To keep cake moist, store it with half an apple in the container.

Dairy Products and Cheese

1. Store milk in its original container.

2. Do not store milk in the door where temperature is warmer.

3. Put milk back in refrigerator immediately after using.

4. Wrap cheese in waxed paper or plastic, then store in deli drawer.

5. Do not store ice cream in the freezer door. Keep it in the main part of the freezer.

6. Place a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper directly on the surface of the ice cream before storing. It will keep fresh longer.

Miscellaneous

1. Store coffee in an airtight, opaque container to preserver flavor and freshness.

2. Buy coffee in whole bean form and grind enough for one pot at a time.

3. If you buy more coffee than you can use in 3-4 days, store in an airtight container in the freezer/

4. Store avocadoes unbagged in the refrigerator.

5. Store bananas on the counter, unbagged.

6. Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) should be stored in their plastic container or a resealable plastic bag in the back of the refrigerator.

7. Wrap lettuce in damp paper towels and store in a plastic bag.

About the Author:

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics and products concerning food storage such as Green Bags.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Natural Ways to Keep Food Fresh Longer

If you are interested in health and diet, you have probably read all the research which points to the benefits of fresh, unprocessed foods. Eating healthier nearly always means opting for fresh fruits, whole grains and unprocessed meats and fish. Unfortunately, choosing foods without preservatives does have a down side - food spoils faster. That is no reason to go back to eating over-processed foods full of chemical preservatives, though. Long before our dependence on chemical preservatives, our mothers knew the secrets to keeping food fresh longer naturally. Here are some tips to help you keep fresh fruits, grains, vegetables, meat and fish fresh longer - the natural way.

General Tips

1. Keep your refrigerator at the right temperature. It should be kept between 38 and 40 F. to keep your foods as fresh as possible without freezing them.

2. Keep your eye on expiration dates when you shop.

3. Do not store highly perishable foods in the refrigerator or freezer door. They are more prone to temperature fluctuation.

4. Moisture promotes rotting and mold. Wipe vegetables and fruits dry before storing and avoid storing in plastic bags.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Vegetables and fruits give off a gas called ethylene as they ripen. The ethylene sets off a chain reaction that causes the release of more ethylene, causing the food to ripen further. When fruits and vegetables are exposed to ethylene, they ripen faster. Some fruits and vegetables give off more ethylene than others - and some of them are more sensitive to ethylene than others.

1. Ethylene producers include apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, kiwis, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, and tomatoes.

2. Fruits and vegetables that are sensitive to the effects of ethylene include: apples, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, lettuces and other greens, potatoes, summer squash, and watermelons.

3. To keep fresh fruits and vegetables fresh longer, do not store any of the former group n the same drawers as those in the latter group.

4. Store fruits and vegetables in the warmest part of your fridge to preserve flavor.

5. Remove produce from plastic bags before storing. The bags trap the ethylene close to the fruit so that it ripens faster.

6.Wash produce and then dry well before storing. Moisture speeds rotting.

Meats and Eggs

1. Keep fresh meats refrigerated between 38-40 F.

2. Keep meat in original wrapping in refrigerator if you will be using it within two days.

3. Wrap meat in foil or freezer paper before freezing.

4. Make sure that there is plenty of air circulation around meat products in your refrigerator.

5. Store eggs pointed side down.

6. Wrap smoked meats like ham or bacon in a vinegar-soaked cloth.

7. Cool cooked meats quickly and completely before placing them in refrigerator.

Bread and Cereal Products

1. Store fresh bread in a cool, dark, dry place like a cupboard or breadbox.

2. Close the waxed paper inner bag of breakfast cereals tightly to preserve freshness. Better yet, transfer the cereal into a zipper lock plastic bag and put it back in the box.

3. Freeze bread that will not be used within a week. If you freeze artisan breads pre-sliced, you can just take a slice when you need it.

4. Keep soft cookies soft by storing them in a cookie jar or airtight container with a slice of bread.

5. Cut slices from loaf cakes like banana bread and pound cake from the middle instead of the end. After slicing, push the two ends together to reform the 'loaf'. You don't leave a cut end to get stale that way.

6. To keep cake moist, store it with half an apple in the container.

Dairy Products and Cheese

1. Store milk in its original container.

2. Do not store milk in the door where temperature is warmer.

3. Put milk back in refrigerator immediately after using.

4. Wrap cheese in waxed paper or plastic, then store in deli drawer.

5. Do not store ice cream in the freezer door. Keep it in the main part of the freezer.

6. Place a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper directly on the surface of the ice cream before storing. It will keep fresh longer.

Miscellaneous

1. Store coffee in an airtight, opaque container to preserver flavor and freshness.

2. Buy coffee in whole bean form and grind enough for one pot at a time.

3. If you buy more coffee than you can use in 3-4 days, store in an airtight container in the freezer/

4. Store avocadoes unbagged in the refrigerator.

5. Store bananas on the counter, unbagged.

6. Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) should be stored in their plastic container or a resealable plastic bag in the back of the refrigerator.

7. Wrap lettuce in damp paper towels and store in a plastic bag.

About the Author:

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics and products concerning food storage such as Green Bags.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Natural Ways to Keep Food Fresh Longer

avocado lettuce salad

A lot of people are becoming health conscious already. They prefer to prepare their own food to make sure they are eating just healthy foods. They would not know what ingredients are used in commercial foods.

Then again, many of us are busy with our works and personal lives. It is often easier to resort to buying food outside rather than go to the ordeal of preparing our own food in the kitchen. Good thing though that there are now many quick recipes that will only take around 10 minutes to do. These are easy to make and promises to be very healthy.

You could also adapt a few tips on how to make preparations much easier and quicker. The first tip is to use all the possible convenient products available to you. It could be frozen mixed veggies, pasta sauces and many more. It requires little cooking. You could toss them up together in a matter of few minutes with hardly any cooking needed.

Ready the ingredients beforehand if you are thinking of a recipe already. Also prepare the utensils and other items you will need. You could easily cook after coming home if you have all these prepared already.

Think of recipes that only have a few ingredients. These are easier to prepare. You could also use leftovers instead of buying in the grocery. You save time and money. Recipes are not necessarily strictly followed. You could always deviate and make use of what you have in your refrigerator. Just experiment and see what will taste good for you. Be sure to write down what you have used so you could prepare it again next time.

Salads are generally easy to make, plus it is very healthy. Most are made from vegetables and fruits. It could be topped with a dressing or just seasoned to taste. It may also be an appetizer for your main meal.

Green or garden salads are mostly made out of green leafy vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers and cabbages. It may also be topped with mushrooms, carrots, peppers, onions, celery, avocado, and radishes. You could make your own vinaigrette dressing or just buy ready-made in bottles.

Another kind of salad is the entrée. It has toppings like chicken or sea foods. The most common type of green salad known worldwide is the one we called the caesar salad. This is very healthy and offers a complete meal at the same time. You have meat and vegetables already in one dish.

Dressings added to salads vary in different cultures. Vinaigrettes are common in Southern Europe but Asians adopted it too. Mayonnaise is often used in Eastern Europe. Crème Fraiche is the well known Denmark's salad dressings.

Other salad dressings are light edible oils. It may be soybean oil, olive oil and corn oil. Vinegar and cheeses can also be added to complement the taste. There are lots of ingredients that can be made salad dressings. These salad dressings are added to salad to add some flavors to the vegetables or fruits. These are needed because some of the vegetable are taste less. We need something to make it a little sweet or sour to make the salty taste of the fruit or vegetable less.

Salad garnishes also add flavor. It could be bacon bits ( an imitation), beetroot bell peppers, mushrooms, anchovies, sunflower seeds, shredded carrots and many more.

About the Author:

For more information on Salad Shooters & Choppers and Egg Salad Products.Please visit our website.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Vegetable Salad for Dinner

Enjoy a great salad with your own homemade dressing of honey and lime.  Refreshing and different; try it today!  This light and festive salad has a Mexican flair with the black beans, corn, and avocado.  It can be made into an entree salad by adding cubed cooked chicken.  You could also make it a fried chicken salad by slicing fried chicken breast over the top.  The dressing would be good on other salads as well.  It has a Tex-Mex appeal with the lime and cilantro.  It would be a good dressing to keep sealed in a jar in your refrigerator for use on other salads or for marinating meats.

FIESTA SALAD WITH HOMEMADE HONEY AND LIME DRESSING

1 pkg (10-oz) romaine lettuce blend (or your favorite salad blend of greens)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 pint tiny tomatoes, halved
1 pkg (10-oz)frozen whole kernel corn, microwaved and cooled
3/4 cup thinly sliced radishes
1/2 small red onion, peeled and sliced
1 ripe avocado, peeled, cored, chopped
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Freshly ground black pepper

Put frozen corn in a microwave-safe bowl, cover and cook about 10 minutes stirring halfway through cooking. Toss corn with remaining ingredients in a large bowl just before serving. Pour Honey-Lime Dressing over the salad and serve.

HOMEMADE HONEY AND LIME DRESSING

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup Canola oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tsp minced garlic

Using a wire whisk, mix all ingredients together in a small chilled bowl until well combined. Pour over salad at serving time.

This recipe serves 8 to 10 people.

Enjoy!

About the Author:

For more quick and easy recipes visit my blog at http://grandmasquickfixrecipes.blogspot.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How to Make a Great Salad with Homemade Dressing of Honey and Lime

avocado plant from pit

Enjoy the scenic drive on your way to sleepy Ngunguru, which translated from its Maori language to mean ‘rumbling tides’. Perhaps the most endearing part of Ngunguru is what you find along the way there. Before actually starting your 26 kilometre journey from Whangarei, make a stop at the Whangarei Falls that are located in the city limits. Always something to be admired, these falls have pools and a river to be explored. Also a great place to have a picnic, the Whangarei Falls is frequented by locals and tourist alike who brave abseiling down the wet rocks.

The first ten kilometres of your journey will take you through some of the oldest and lush market gardens that grow vegetables and fruits. It was built over a hundred years ago to serve the European settlement that grew at the basin of the Hatea River. During the season you will be spoiled for choice with a selection of organic and fresh produce that you can buy directly from the farmers. Take your pick from a mouth watering selection of kiwi, strawberries, avocados, oranges and others items like vegetables, flora and fauna. Look out for other farms along the way, like your traditional sheep farms, emu and even alpaca farms along with some olive groves.

Make a pit stop at the Glenbervie School that was built in 1893 for the children in the surrounding area. Kiripaka was once a populated town that is now non-existent and no sign of the bustling town remains. However, it is an ideal spot for a picnic and a place to spot native plants and herbs growing close to the river banks.

Beyond the winding roads you will begin to hear the oceans of Ngunguru, and get glimpses of the sandy coastal beach. Overlook the Manaia Mountain over the sparkling waves and take time out to watch nature and appreciate the picture perfect world in front of you. Take time to explore Whangarei’s beautiful destinations from the convenience of a Whangarei hotel. Enjoy the comforts and a style of living you can only get used to once you check in at one of the Millennium Hotels nearby. And be enchanted by the many Whangarei tourist attractions.

About the Author:

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Exploring the Northland of Whangarei - Ngunguru

freezing avocado slices

If you are interested in health and diet, you have probably read all the research which points to the benefits of fresh, unprocessed foods. Eating healthier nearly always means opting for fresh fruits, whole grains and unprocessed meats and fish. Unfortunately, choosing foods without preservatives does have a down side - food spoils faster. That is no reason to go back to eating over-processed foods full of chemical preservatives, though. Long before our dependence on chemical preservatives, our mothers knew the secrets to keeping food fresh longer naturally. Here are some tips to help you keep fresh fruits, grains, vegetables, meat and fish fresh longer - the natural way.

General Tips

1. Keep your refrigerator at the right temperature. It should be kept between 38 and 40 F. to keep your foods as fresh as possible without freezing them.

2. Keep your eye on expiration dates when you shop.

3. Do not store highly perishable foods in the refrigerator or freezer door. They are more prone to temperature fluctuation.

4. Moisture promotes rotting and mold. Wipe vegetables and fruits dry before storing and avoid storing in plastic bags.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Vegetables and fruits give off a gas called ethylene as they ripen. The ethylene sets off a chain reaction that causes the release of more ethylene, causing the food to ripen further. When fruits and vegetables are exposed to ethylene, they ripen faster. Some fruits and vegetables give off more ethylene than others - and some of them are more sensitive to ethylene than others.

1. Ethylene producers include apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, kiwis, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, and tomatoes.

2. Fruits and vegetables that are sensitive to the effects of ethylene include: apples, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, lettuces and other greens, potatoes, summer squash, and watermelons.

3. To keep fresh fruits and vegetables fresh longer, do not store any of the former group n the same drawers as those in the latter group.

4. Store fruits and vegetables in the warmest part of your fridge to preserve flavor.

5. Remove produce from plastic bags before storing. The bags trap the ethylene close to the fruit so that it ripens faster.

6.Wash produce and then dry well before storing. Moisture speeds rotting.

Meats and Eggs

1. Keep fresh meats refrigerated between 38-40 F.

2. Keep meat in original wrapping in refrigerator if you will be using it within two days.

3. Wrap meat in foil or freezer paper before freezing.

4. Make sure that there is plenty of air circulation around meat products in your refrigerator.

5. Store eggs pointed side down.

6. Wrap smoked meats like ham or bacon in a vinegar-soaked cloth.

7. Cool cooked meats quickly and completely before placing them in refrigerator.

Bread and Cereal Products

1. Store fresh bread in a cool, dark, dry place like a cupboard or breadbox.

2. Close the waxed paper inner bag of breakfast cereals tightly to preserve freshness. Better yet, transfer the cereal into a zipper lock plastic bag and put it back in the box.

3. Freeze bread that will not be used within a week. If you freeze artisan breads pre-sliced, you can just take a slice when you need it.

4. Keep soft cookies soft by storing them in a cookie jar or airtight container with a slice of bread.

5. Cut slices from loaf cakes like banana bread and pound cake from the middle instead of the end. After slicing, push the two ends together to reform the 'loaf'. You don't leave a cut end to get stale that way.

6. To keep cake moist, store it with half an apple in the container.

Dairy Products and Cheese

1. Store milk in its original container.

2. Do not store milk in the door where temperature is warmer.

3. Put milk back in refrigerator immediately after using.

4. Wrap cheese in waxed paper or plastic, then store in deli drawer.

5. Do not store ice cream in the freezer door. Keep it in the main part of the freezer.

6. Place a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper directly on the surface of the ice cream before storing. It will keep fresh longer.

Miscellaneous

1. Store coffee in an airtight, opaque container to preserver flavor and freshness.

2. Buy coffee in whole bean form and grind enough for one pot at a time.

3. If you buy more coffee than you can use in 3-4 days, store in an airtight container in the freezer/

4. Store avocadoes unbagged in the refrigerator.

5. Store bananas on the counter, unbagged.

6. Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) should be stored in their plastic container or a resealable plastic bag in the back of the refrigerator.

7. Wrap lettuce in damp paper towels and store in a plastic bag.

About the Author:

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics and products concerning food storage such as Green Bags.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Natural Ways to Keep Food Fresh Longer

Making Maki Sushi is easy. The steps are very basic and easy to follow.

Maki is a famous and favorite Japanese dish. It can be any kind of sushi rolled with rice and nori (also known as seaweed) inside. "Maki" in Japanese means "roll."

There are many kinds of maki, depending on the filling used. For example, there is California maki. This is salmon and mango rolled in rice and seaweed. Kappa maki is cucumber rolled in rice. And tekka maki is tuna fish rolled in rice.

Uramaki is more complex. Only an expert chef can do it to perfection. The easier ones to make are temaki. Temaki is often served in social gatherings at home.

There are several maki sushi according to thickness of the roll. Hosomaki is the most common and is made of thin rolls. By thin, it means the rolls are slender, with small strips of every ingredient inside. Hosamaki is cut to small sizes before serving.

Thicker rolls are called futomaki. These are thick because of the many ingredients inside. Thick roll can measure 1 to 1 ½ inches in diameter. Most futomaki are made of vegetables like radish and cucumber. Some have eggs also. Like hosamaki, futomaki is also commonly cut to small pieces before serving. However, in big festivals, it is served in whole uncut rolls.

Next, there is also the uramaki, wherein the rice is outside the roll. And temaki is a cone-shaped sushi rice roll.

When making maki, remember to freeze raw fish or seafood first below 4oF to kill any possible pathogens or parasites that may be harmful when consumed.

In making a maki sushi, one should have a sharp knife, and bamboo mat. A rice cooker is optional. It just makes it easier to cook rice. There is a special sushi knife with only one sharpened edge. It is advisable to use this when you can buy one, instead of using an ordinary kitchen knife.

Maki Sushi Recipe

Ingredients:
Sashimi-grade fish or sushi
Nori (thin sheet of seaweed)
Wasabi
Vegetables or other fillings (e.g. asparagus, avocado, cucumber)
Short-grained rice with sticky consistency
Vinegar rice
Gari (thinly sliced ginger roots)
Soy sauce

First make the sushi rice. Prepare the vinegar rice. Combine it with heated salt and sugar. Cook rice, making sure it will have a sticky consistency. It is the suitable type of rice for spreading on the nori.

Lay out the bamboo mat and place a plastic wrap on top. Lay out the nori, with the shinier side facing down. Slightly wet your hands and take a handful of rice. Spread it evenly and thinly on the nori. Leave a margin of half inch on all sides of the nori. Put the other ingredients in the middle.

Next, hold the two ends of the bamboo mat and roll it away from you. Make sure that the food tightens as you roll. Don't roll too tightly though or the fillings will fall out.

Unfold the bamboo carefully, making sure the rolled food does not break. Place the rolled sushi in a cutting board and slice it evenly to several pieces. Serve it with soy sauce dip on the side.

About the Author:

For more information on
Sushi Knives
and
Sushi Plates
please visit our website.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Easy Steps of Making Maki Sushi

spinach avocado tomato salad

Using organic food remedies for beauty and health is definitely not a new concept. In fact, people have been relying on such before the coming of the Industrial Age.

Modernization may have brought us a lot of convenience, but there are now growing populations of people who are seeking to go back to their "organic roots" in the quest to find the perfect anti aging products.

Organic foods are quite beneficial on their own. These have undergone the least amount of processing and preservation. The "raw" materials and the products used to sustain them are all derived from nature.

This means that there are no synthetic chemicals, fertilizers or genetically modified enhancements to worry about.

So how exactly do you use organic foods as anti aging remedies? Here's how:

1. Try to find the viable fruits that have the highest amounts of Vitamin C or Vitamin E components that can help in anti-oxidation. And try to utilize these in more ways than one.

A wonderful example for this would be the innocuous avocado. Aside from containing high levels of Vitamin B, biotin and folic acid, one small avocado fruit contains about 58 grams of mono-saturated fats, 3 mg. of Vitamin E and 32 mg. of Vitamin C. It also contains 25 mg. of calcium.

All these are necessary in cell regeneration which can help speed up the rehabilitation of dry and damaged skin. The mono-saturated fats help promote skin elasticity, making it look more youthful in appearance.

You can incorporate a small amount of avocado with your meals: taking it as it, as a health drink or part of a dish. You can also create an avocado mask made of pureed avocado mixed with a dash of lime or a spoonful of honey.

This also works well with rolled oats. Other examples of such organic fruits that are rich in Vitamin C and E are: kiwifruit, mangoes, papayas, raspberries, strawberries, etc.

2. Try to favor more organic vegetables and fruits; and cook them with organic seasoning - at the least amount of cooking time as possible. There are three elements here:

One: you could incorporate these organic vegetables into your daily meal plans: blueberries, Brazil nuts, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, citrus fruits, cranberries, green tea, kale, prune, raisin, spinach and tomato.

These are the ones that have the best sources of Vitamin C and E which you could take as much as you want. Organic foods like almonds, olive oil, sesame oil and red wine also contain these essential vitamins, but should be taken in moderation.

Two: instead of favoring the already bottled marinades and sauces, you could try making your own using organic fruits, vegetable and seasoning (like sea salt, freshly grated pepper, freshly chopped tomatoes, etc.) You can gain the most benefit from going organic big time, as opposed to simply using one or two organic products.

Lastly: the cooking process can destroy many essential nutrients including the very fragile Vitamin C. So if you are indeed whipping up a dish, try to choose the ones that have the least amount of cooking time.

Grilling is always a great option especially for fish steaks - a dash of organic lime just before serving will add more levels of Vitamin C to your meal. If the dish needs a longer cooking time, you may want to reserve fresh, uncooked vegetables and fruits as a side salad to counter the loss of vitamins in the cooking process.

About the Author:

Are you interested in looking and feeling younger? If so then discover how Proxacine anti aging properties can benefit you.
http://www.1thinkhealthy.com/Proxacine.html

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Organic Food Remedies: Here a Quick Way to Get Back Your Youthful Glow

Note for those not familiar with the pH scale

The pH scale measures whether or not a substance is an acidic or alkaline: An acid has a pH of less than 7. The lower the pH the stronger the acid. pH 7 is neutral. An alkaline has a pH of more than 7. The highest pH is 14, which is the strongest alkaline.

You are what you eat?

-This saying is not accurate. It's not really true either. However, what is accurate and true is 'You are what you digest and absorb.'

Take, for instance, the example of fruits. They have an acid pH, but after eating and digesting, many types of fruits absorbed into the body then become alkaline. They give an alkaline ash residue.

Any foods that produce an alkaline ash residue when absorbed into the body are called alkaline foods. Foods that give an acid ash residue when absorbed into the body are called acid foods. It is important to distinguish the differences when choosing a healthy diet.

Getting it right...

Ideally, for optimum nutrition a good diet should strike a balance between 80%/20% alkaline/acid foods respectively. Ideally, your pH should be around 7.4.Before I list what foods are available to strike this right ratio in favour of the alkaline diet, it has been well noted that many people are out of balance. The reason being that there has been a rise over the years of not so good, or even downright poor nutrition, such as those containing trans-fats, certain saturated fats, refined sugars, starchy carbohydrates...This has given rise to higher acid foods and a predominantly more acid ash residue in the body. It comes as no surprise to me that the rise in acid foods correlates with the increase of the major life-threatening illnesses, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes...over the last 60 years or so.

So what are the possible benefits of an alkaline diet?

v Feel more alive and alert

v More able to concentrate better

v Far less prone to mood swings...

v Need less sleep

v Feel more willing to do exercise

v Serves as a strong prevention against disease

v Slows down the ageing process

The Alkaline diet Includes: The vegetables Spinach, asparagus, broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumber, lettuce, courgette, cabbage, greens, swede, squash (summer, butternut, yellow etc), peppers, chilli, tomato, onion, garlic, chickpeas, pinto beans, kidney beans, spring onions, root ginger, and aquatic vegetables such as sea kelp and sea dulse.

Salad Recommendations

Avocado, celery, cucumber, dandelion greens, kale, lettuce, rocket, spinach, walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts...i.e. any nuts accept cashews and peanuts. Seeds of different sorts such as pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, flax or any sprouted seed... and watercress. Some Herbs and Spices...

Basil, parsley, coriander, ginger, garlic and dandelion greens...

About the Author:

I, Paul Phillips am a health writer researcher. I graduated in 'Biological Sciences' which includes biochemistry, physiology and nutrition. I have worked in various related research and development labs. I am always willing to give advice and help people in my field. For more information please try the link below http://www.HealthNewsLive.net or http://acidalkalinediet.com/alkalize/index.php

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The Health Wonders of the Alkaline Diet

avocado mango

Can you prune an avocado tree?

Avocado trees grow huge, is there a way to prune them and keep them under 8 feet? I know we can do this with mangoes, not sure about avocado. Thanks.

Yes, it will be best time to do in the winter. After the branches are prune, you will expect to have less or sometimes none of avocados come back the following year due to the cutting. It needs time to recover their cut. Good luck.

Every person hopes to have healthy mind and body. However, there are still many of us who get sick and suffer from various diseases. There are many foods that are not good for the health and yet are chosen by most people. The alkaline diet system is a great way to alleviate sickness and live a better life.

Our body should maintain a pH balance so that it may function well. The cells are responsible for our better mind and body. These cells get weak and unhealthy when they are exposed to unwanted elements that come from the foods that we eat. When our body cells were damaged, it is a sign of having illnesses like cancer.

Therefore, each cell should utilize nutrients that are needed for them to do well. And alkaline foods are the food choices that must be taken in by our bodies and not so much acid foods. The ratio should be 4:1, where 4 should be for alkaline foods and 1 for acidic foods.

How do we know what alkaline and highly-acidic foods are?

In general, alkaline rich foods can be found mostly from vegetables and fruits. We must know that asparagus, cabbage, lettuce, onion, cauliflower, spinach, turnips, chives and carrots are some examples of vegetables that are alkaline-rich. Fruits that are alkaline-rich are avocado, mango, tomato, grapefruit, lemon, lime, watermelon, papaya, kiwi, apple, pear and raisins. Drinks such as fresh vegetable drink, lemon water and herbal tea are considered to be alkaline-rich drinks. Other foods such as almonds and sprouts are also good examples.

Meat such as beef, pork, lamb, turkey and chicken are acid foods. Shellfish is an acid food too. Dairy products such as milk, eggs, cheese, cream and yogurt belong to foods that are acidic. Blueberries, cranberries, prunes and processed fruit juices are amongst the acid fruits.

Highly acidic foods are not good for our health. The foods that belong to this category are those that produce acid ash after our body cells have utilized them. And alkaline foods are simply those that produce alkaline ash residue after the process.

It will now be easier for you to distinguish what types of food you must consider and that will boost your immune system. If you are now living with acid ash foods, then you must be doing something to incorporate alkaline-rich foods into you diet more.

This way, you would be able to live a healthier life that is free from any illness. In addition you will gain a healthy mind which will surely help you to think and act accordingly and enjoy every event in your life.

About the Author:

You should never miss knowing more fully what the alkaline-rich foods and acid ash foods are. It is for you to completely understand what you need to do with your alkaline diet system. Every person can live a better life and enjoy optimum health. You can get a free newsletter and Alkaline Diet Chart by visiting http://www.acidalkalinediet.org. Grab one now and make a big difference!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Alkaline Diet System - Live a Better Life and Enjoy Optimum Health

soften avocados

Would any of these things cause or irritate acne? PLEASE ANSWER!

Sweet Almond Oil (B vitamins, calcium, magnesium)
Avocado Oil (hydrates skin)
Rosehip Oil (restores skin cells & slows aging)
Liquid Lecithin; soy (adds moisture, UV protection)
Purified Water
Bees Wax (softens)
Grapefruit seed extract(natural preservative)

Not that I can see. The Rosehip Oil will probably we very good for the skin actually, as Rose Water has been used for centuries as a natural toner for sensitive skin.

If you are in search of effective dry skin remedies then you are going to want to read this article. Specifically we’ll discuss three techniques you can use to hydrate and moisturize your skin today.

These are olive oil, avocado oil and fruits and vegetables.

After reading this article, you should be able to restore moisture in your skin to keep in supple and radiant again.

The benefits of olive oil go beyond the kitchen. It has been used for thousands of years by ancients Egyptians as a vital skincare ingredient. Today you can use olive oil in its raw form to sooth very-dry skin. Simply massage the oil over any areas that need moisture.

Avocado oil is another ancient skincare secret that the Egyptians used. Avocado oil is rich essential skin vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E as well as minerals like potassium. All these nutrients provide Avocado oil with its ability to heal, moisturize as well as soften skin.

Any skincare product that contains Avocado oil and Olive oil will provide you will a very effective dry skin therapy in a bottle.

Insufficient nutrients in your diet can also cause you skin to dry. You can include vegetables and fruits that are rich in vitamin A, vitamin c and vitamin E to help improve the health of your skin.

Another group of food that helps improve the overall look and feel and feel of skin is the fatty fish species. These include both tuna and salmon.  Both are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which are one of the most important nutrients for good skin health.

Now that you are armed with this information its time to put it in action. Remember that dry skin therapy does not need to hard or expensive.

About the Author:

John Lexon is a dedicated researcher of important issues that affect skin and health. Visit his website now at http://www.abc-skin-and-health.info to learn more about the ingredients you can use to drastically improve the health of your skin.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Here's a Quick Guide to Natural Remedies For Dry Skin Therapy

banana avocado ice cream

did i eat healthy or a lot today????im on a diet?

for breakfast i had half peta bread with two egg whites and 2 table spoons of low fat cream cheese

That menu for today not only sounds extremely healthy, it sounds pretty tasty, too!

Our face is very dear to all of us and it does not pinch us a little to spend fortune to preserve it beautiful. It is not easy simple to stay pretty and fresh. it needs a lot of hard work. Remember no gain without pain. To protect your face from day to day harsh damages we really do not have to spend whole day in front of our mirror instead we just have to be regular. It is also required that you do not use any face cream, lotion or gel which have heavy chemicals in it.

Water based face pack firm up the skin. They help in removing the wrinkles. There are many types of skin such as oily skin, normal skin, dry skin etc, but normal skin is a perfectly balanced skin. This type of skin does not look dry and shiny. It is very necessary to take care of normal skin because it is mostly affected by pimples and acne. Face packs are very useful to make skin soft and smooth. Face packs are also affected to increase circulation as well as tauten and cleanse the complete face. Home made face packs are prepared by using fresh and variety of vegetables and fruits. Use banana, avocado, grape, cantaloupe, nectarine and peach for making face packs for normal skin.

This type of skin is usually oily on the nose and forehead and dry around the eyes and cheeks. Cleanse the center zone with an astringent while dab the rest of the face with cold milk. Apply a pack made of half a cup of powered, dry peas, mixed with three spoons of curd, juice of one lemon and half a cup of papaya pulp. Apply it for 20 minutes and wash your face with ice- cold water. Better still rub an ice cube dipped in rose water over the T-Zone. It prevents enlarged pores and blackheads. Freeze tray with rose water ice cubes so you can rub your face with them any time of the day especially after a bath as it opens the pores.

Mix 2 teaspoon of Fullers earth with 2 teaspoon of chilled rose water to a thick paste. Apply on the face with a brush, avoiding the delicate areas around the eyes. Leave it on for about 20 minutes or till completely dry. Rinse with warm water. The result is a pinkish youthful skin.

Raw Gaia’s sun-dried green clay is a wonderful detox face pack. It gently draws out toxins and environmental pollutants that may be lying under the skin in order to heal and clean while giving your face a nice lift and glow. It is ideal for sensitive skin. Green clay helps to keep your skin fresh and toned. It helps to relieve skin congestion, spots, inflammation, fatty deposits and dry skin. Raw Gaia’s green clay has been sun-dried, so it retains all its natural minerals. It has not been heat treated or chemically processed in any way.

Mix in Sandalwood powder, turmeric powder and milk in equal proportions, apply over face and neck avoiding the eye area and eyebrows, wash with cold water after 15 minutes. This pack is best for skin rejuvenation and fairness. Turmeric helps get the skin fairer, sandalwood for coolness and milk for skin miniaturization. Can be used for any skin type.

About the Author:

Read about Herbal Natural Home Remedies. Also read about Hair Loss Treatments and Beauty and Makeup Tips

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Information About Water Face Packs