Archive for September, 2009

Isaac Robert Toussie: Pardon All Vegetable How-To’s!

Friday, September 18th, 2009

People say that of course it’s important to guard against food scams, as fraud could exist on food labels. Pardon the thought but I (Isaac Robert Toussie) say that today, when so many people are concerned about issues like housing and work place discrimination, fashion, entertainment, real estate, mortgages, vacations and the like, issues like food quality and food awareness may become unnecessarily overshadowed.

Eating vegetables can seem like quite a chore for many. After all, they don’t always go down easily, being full of water but not sweet like fruits, often requiring a lot of chewing for what seems to be little benefit to one’s taste buds. However, new scientific studies indicate the fascinating possibility that it is precisely the bitterness of a vegetable that may account for much, if not most, of its nutritional value. It turns out that health-promoting flavonoid phytonutrients are the compounds responsible for the taste that many people find so objectionable. Phytonutrients are chemicals in plants which modern science has only just begun to study. They appear to be responsible for defending the plant against such things as the damaging effects of oxidation. We have between twenty and fifty thousand taste buds on our tongues, and some of them, in particular those in the back row, contain receptors for the taste of bitterness. Bitter tastes can function like warning signals to help keep us from eating things that are toxic. Yet bitterness can also indicate something good for us. Most of the antioxidant phytonutrients in a vegetable taste bitter, but it is becoming increasingly clear to research scientists that they are good for us.

However, fresh raw vegetables are rarely bitter. Sometimes the bitter flavor of a vegetable can come from overlong cooking. It’s interesting to consider that perhaps one reason why Asians eat more vegetables than Americans may lie in the fact that Chinese stir-fry techniques call for cooking them lightly, thus making them more enjoyable. Overcooking vegetables causes them to become mushy, often losing their flavors and becoming undesirably bitter. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and Brussels Sprouts are especially susceptible to this phenomenon. Cruciferous vegetables contain healthful chemicals which, when overcooked, get changed into sulfurous compounds emitting a rotten egg smell which coincides with the most bitter flavors. Choosing young vegetables is also another great way to avoid the bitter taste as much as possible. As they are younger and thus more tender, they typically require less cooking, which should take care of the overcooking issue causing bitter flavors. Unfortunately, young vegetables, being less mature, also wind up being less nutritious – as their less bitter taste indicates (recall that the bitterness generally comes from beneficial phytonutrients). Luckily, most vegetables are not fattening and it is quite possible to just simply eat more! Finally, selecting the right dressing or sauce (if cooked) will go a long way towards mellowing the bitter taste of many vegetables.

This writing has been submitted by me, Isaac Toussie, strictly for information and human interest purposes only, not for medical or advisory purposes and does not necessarily constitute the opinions or conclusions of the provider (Isaac Toussie). The reader should not rely upon the validity of any of the information contained herein. The reader should consult a doctor, nutritionist, and other medical professionals when seek advice about food, nutrition, diet, and physiology.

A Beginners Guide to Wine Selection

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

One of the most asked questions by consumers within the wine industry has to do with wine selection. What wine is good? What type of wine will I like? Do more expensive wines mean they are better? Should I buy wine from online wine sites?

Wine selection primarily comes down to personal choice. But how would I know what’s good? There are many options to taste wines before buying them. A lot of bottles shops can from time to time have promotional wines which can be tried. Wine companies sometimes provide these stores with promotional stock to help sell their products.

This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t indulge in their free offerings, by all means, indulge. Most of the time, these promotional tastings are also accompanied with a sale of the product so good value can also be found.

A great way to try wines is by going to wineries. Some wineries are introducing a “tasting fee” which is mostly waived if wine is purchased. There are many ways to go about visiting wineries. You can plan a day trip yourself if you have knowledge of a particular winery region. Information can also be gathered from the internet about winery regions.

Some of the best information you can get is from the wineries themselves as they are knowledgeable about wineries in their area. If you’re not confident organising one yourself, you can always pay to go on an organised trip. There are many companies in each region that offer this service.

There’s two options you have if you’d like to try different wines from different wineries all from the one location. Firstly, you could join a wine club. Many of these clubs have wine tasting parties which are sometimes sponsored by wineries and or companies selling wines.

If you have an idea what you generally like, online wine website can be great. Otherwise you can always read the tasting notes provided which will give you some idea of what certain wines are like. Many online wine websites have mixed dozens which can be purchased which will give you knowledge of certain regions and/or certain types of wine.

In the end, its completely your personal choice. Nobody should ever tell you what you should like, but rather help in what you might like.

Wine can be a great shared experience, but above all else, an enjoyable personal experience.

Isaac Robert Toussie: Side Step Nutrition Scams and Frauds — Eat Vegetables

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Folks say that it is of course important to watch out for food scams, as fraud could exist on food labels. Pardon the thought but I, Isaac Robert Toussie, say that today, when so many people are concerned about issues like housing and work place discrimination, fashion, entertainment, real estate, mortgages, vacations and the like, issues like food quality and food awareness may become unnecessarily overshadowed.

Vegetables are herbaceous, or non-woody, plants that are edible to human beings. They come in many shapes and sizes and can be merely a part of the plant, such as cucumbers, which are actually the fruit of the cucumber vine, or they can be the plant itself, such as is the case with broccoli. They are an important part of good healthy diets, and a simple rule-of-thumb recommends eating five different colors of vegetables each day in order to ensure the most complete nutrition possible.

Getting good vegetables means carefully choosing them, selecting for quality and freshness. This usually means those which are locally and organically grown. Organically grown vegetables do not contain pesticides and other chemical agents that not only harm pests and vermin but human beings as well. Locally grown vegetables are usually less expensive to purchase because of the shorter distances involved in transporting them to market. Locally grown vegetables also means vegetables that are in season, which studies confirm to contain the highest nutritional values. For example, spinach that is in season can contain up to three times more Vitamin C than during other times of the year.

It is important to also check on the maturity of your vegetables. Although they do not ripen in the same way as fruits, they do reach maturity nonetheless and it is important to check this factor as taste and nutritional value depend on it. Bruising is an important aspect to consider, as cell damage can degrade their vitamin content, particularly Vitamin C. Storage is also an very important consideration, as some kinds of vegetables are better unrefrigerated and others almost require it if they are not scheduled for consumption within as little as a day after purchase or even picking!

Preparation is also important because nutritional value can be lost through careless handling; for example, soaking leafy green vegetables for longer than a couple of minutes will cause water-soluble vitamins, such as Vitamin B and Vitamin C, to “leak out.” Another example of proper preparation is cutting vegetables into small pieces prior to cooking so that they will cook more quickly and therefore better preserve their nutritional content, which is affect by the heat. And when it comes to cooking, sometimes it is critical to treat each vegetable as an individual food or dish in itself and not simply as mere garnishment; most vegetables are almost unforgiving of overcooking, unlike meats or grains.

This writing has been posted by me, Isaac Toussie, strictly for information and human interest purposes only, not for medical or advisory purposes and does not necessarily constitute the opinions or conclusions of the provider, Isaac Toussie. The reader should not rely upon the validity of any of the information contained herein. The reader should consult a doctor, nutritionist, and other medical professionals when seek advice about food, nutrition, diet, and physiology.

Cooking With Better Beef Barbecue Recipes

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Grilling is easy, but truly barbecuing is an art involving technique, even if you’re just cooking beef barbecue recipes like hamburgers! When you’re barbecuing up your favorite recipe, you’ll need to make choices on what sort of meat to buy, what thickness to use, whether to marinade or dry rub, what condiments to add, how long to cook and how to get that perfect texture.

Note that, differences aside, many pit bosses have the same standards when it comes to technique, so listen up to catch their secrets to a good BBQ.

ribs barbecue recipes
“I happen to think burgers, fries and shakes work in any economy,” says grill master Bobby Flay, author of a new cookbook called “Bobby Flay’s Burgers, Fries & Shakes” and owner of three Bobby’s Burger Palaces in New York and New Jersey.

He adds that, when cooking up your favorite barbecue recipes beef, you’ll probably want to use a fatty meat like ground chuck, at least 20% fat for a “juicy, flavorful burger.” He advises keeping it simple in terms of seasoning, using just salt and pepper. When forming patties for your barbecue recipes beef, he recommends using six ounces of chuck to form 3/4-inch thick patties. “Make a depression in the center of each burger with your thumb,” he advises, which will prevent “flying saucer-shaped burgers.”

Never, ever press the burger flat with a spatula! “All those little things like making a well (indentation in the middle) add up to the good habits of a good burger,” he said. “Good habits make good food. It’s so much more gratifying to do it with good technique.”

“If you’re looking, you’re not cooking,” says Nelson Colwell, an award-winning pit master from Chesapeake, North Carolina. Despite the temptation to micromanage your burgers, grilling with the lid open increases your cooking time and leads to drier burgers, he says.

propane barbecues
Use an internal thermometer to read that the meat is up to 160, the safe temperature for eating. In your beef barbecue recipes, always go for 80% lean, which leads to juicier burgers than the ultra-lean. Unlike barbones Bobby Flay, Colwell appreciates a good seasoning, using two tablespoons of mustard, one tablespoon of Worcestershire Sauce, 1/2 cup of finely diced onion, one egg, salt and freshly ground pepper.

For the best flavor, a barbecues charcoal can produce a distinctive “grilled” taste, although barbecues gas are more convenient during the week. Place the burgers on the bun bottoms, top with two slices of bacon and chopped parsley.

If you’re new to beef barbecue recipes, then a good place to start is www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com, where you’ll find a helpful grilling chart, with estimated cook times for all types of ribs BBQ recipes. You can also get preparation tips and get an idea on what is suitable for dry rub and what is suitable for marinade.

You’ll also get hints on what kind of beef to buy at the store; which cut, which size and which grade. While you’re there, you can learn how to make Garlic-Thyme Steak, Sweet Hawaiian Mini-Burgers or Steak and Grilled Ratatouille Salad.

ribs BBQ recipes
While beef has received much criticism from the health community, there are still many benefits to eating this type of meat. When choosing your barbecue recipes beef, think of more-meat-for-the-money: whole briskets or beef clods, for instance.

Try healthy food and drink recipes in your life to make your food all the more interesting!

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Food is the basic need of life. It functions as the fuel for our body and is the source of energy. Food nourishes us with the needed nutrients in the form of carbohydrates, proteins and fats and allows the machinery of our body to keep working. Our busy lives made us look out for alternatives which made food and drinks available easily and at the same time taste good too. But with convenience came bad effects. The emergence of the concept of fast food and drinks bought with it unhealthy diet habits. Loaded with undesired calories, most of food and drink options available were not very healthy for us to eat on a daily basis.

This made a lot of us to turn back and look out for healthy eating alternatives. The secret to the good health of our ancestors had a lot to do with the organic and healthy food habits adopted by them. This is what is desired to be bought back into our lives. Healthy recipes for food and drinks is the need of the hour. People are becoming more and more health conscious by the day. This has spontaneously increased the resources for finding healthy food and drink options too.

Healthy food and drink products need not be bland and tasteless. You will be surprised to see the vast range of tasty health products doled out by companies like Herbal life which cater to wellness and good health. Healthy food and drink recipes are your access towards a healthy body without having to compromise on time and taste!

Isaac Toussie: Pardon All Spinach Lovers!

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

Spinach is a low-growing annual garden vegetable with a thick cluster of wide succulent leaves that are edible cooked or raw. It is related to beets, Swiss Chard, and the common weed called lamb’s quarters, all belonging to the “goosefoot” or chenopodiaceae family. It is native to southwest Asia. Persians used it as medicine, and with its large amount of fiber, it can act as a mild laxative. It’s been said that when Catherine de Medici left her native Florence to marry the King of France, she insisted on bringing along cooks who knew how to prepare spinach a la Florentine. It’s been reported that the sale of the vegetable went up three hundred percent after the debut of prewashed and prepackaged spinach. And of course, the ever-popular Popeye the Sailor swears by spinach. Just what is it about spinach?

Recognized as a distinctive vegetable since the Gold Age of the Renaissance in the 1500s, spinach is a Mediterranean favorite that is an excellent source of iron and healthy phytonutrients like beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, all thought to provide protection against the oxidative effects which damage cell structures. Spinach contains at least thirteen different flavonoid phytonutrients. It also contains much in the way of Vitamins A and C, and is a fair source for the B-complex vitamins. It is a good source of calcium, as far as plants go. It also contains very high concentrations of oxalates, which normally work to inhibit calcium absorption, but the effects may be very small. Besides, cooking spinach can reduce its oxalate content by up to fifteen percent, while baby spinach has lower amounts of oxalate than more mature spinach.

Spinach grows rapidly and matures in the cool season. It is easy to grown and popular with backyard gardeners around the world. It grows best in sandy loam but not acidic soils. It can withstand frost but not heat. There are a few varieties of spinach, though most supermarkets do not bother distinguishing them. Curly or Savoy Spinach is the most popular kind and is generally used for cooking. They are usually sold in bunches and require thorough cleaning. Flat-leaf spinach is also typically served cooked, with larger, smoother, and even sweeter leaves than curly spinach but with similar nutritional values. Baby spinach is best for use in salads as they can be too tender for cooking. It is actually flat-leaf spinach, only harvested much earlier in its lifecycle. New Zealand Spinach is actually not true spinach but can be handled and used the same as spinach.

People have said that it is of course important to watch out for food scams, as fraud could exist on food labels. Pardon the thought I, Isaac Robert Toussie, say, but today, when so many people are concerned about issues like housing and work place discrimination, fashion, entertainment, real estate, mortgages, vacations and the like, issues like food quality and food awareness may become unnecessarily overshadowed.

This writing has been posted by me, Isaac Toussie, strictly for information and human interest purposes only, not for medical or advisory purposes and does not necessarily constitute the opinions or conclusions of the provider, Isaac Toussie. The reader should not rely upon the validity of any of the information contained herein. The reader should consult a doctor, nutritionist, and other medical professionals when seek advice about food, nutrition, diet, and physiology.

Water and Health Drinks Help Ensure That You Keep Fit And Well Hydrated!

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

70-75% of the total body weight is composed of water. This goes on to prove the importance of maintaining an adequate level of water in our body. It is seen that many of us do not drink water until we feel thirsty. Ideally, this should not be the case. We feel thirsty only when the amount of water in our body has reached low levels. It should be made a practice that we regularly hydrate our body at regular intervals so that we do not allow our body to dehydrate. Doctors have suggested that we should consume upto 8 glasses of water a day. This would help us to hydrate the tissues of our body sufficiently . Water and health drinks are also a reliable source of essential minerals and electrolytes which help us in maintaining adequate levels of salts in our body.

The salts that our body loses in the form of sweat needs to be replenished. It is a good thought to make it a habit to carry with you a bottle of water or a health drink and consume it regularly. These health drinks are very convenient to find in the market. The vertical of health drinks is shared by several popular players like Red Bull, Getorade as well as Herbalife.

A well hydrated body results in soft and supple skin and brings on a radiant glow on the face. It keeps you energetic and does not allow you to feel tired and sluggish . It is very essential that you keep a tab on drinking water and health drinks and make them a part of your daily regime !

Better Planning Ideas For Birthday Parties

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Depending upon who you ask, you may get different answers about what the best part of having a birthday is. For example, an elderly person may just be happy to be having another one while a kid is more likely to tell you that the best part is the birthday parties.

Unfortunately, the people who organize the parties stress over what type of theme, if any, they should have, yet that usually depends upon the gender, age and relationship of the one celebrating the birthday.

birthday parties
Some parents may think that having a birthday party for a one year old is a little silly, yet others feel that the first birthday is very special and will usually plan a big party.

This may actually be the easiest one for a theme since it mainly centers on the family and the new parents have probably had it planned for a while. However, even if it is not for a 1st birthday, there are different themes that you can choose for practically anyone.

Sports themed birthday parties are usually a great idea if you are planning one for a young boy, and a baseball theme is fairly easy to accomplish. You can place a cut-out baseball diamond by the door, where the guests can leave their birthday gifts until it is time to open them.

birthday gift
For refreshments, set up your own concession stand and consider making the birthday cake in the shape of a jersey with the birthday boy’s name across it. Perhaps you can make one in the shape of a bat and ball or something similar. For the birthday cake consider making one in the shape of a baseball jersey, you can add baseballs all around it and for a personal touch write the name of each guest on a baseball and they can take it home with them.

Of course, there are many different themes for girls as well; you can always go with a tea party theme. For invitations you can use real tea bags and replace the original tag with one that you have written all of the pertinent information on. Decorate a fresh white table cloth with birthday flowers and for party favors you can give each girl a demitasse cup with her name on it.

new born
Party planning can make people feel stressed, but the purpose should be to show the birthday girl or boy exactly how special they are to you. As long as it comes from the heart it will be appreciated and you will have the satisfaction of knowing it was a great birthday for them.

Isaac Toussie: Pardon All Tomato Fanatics!

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

People have observed that it is of course important to watch out for food scams, as fraud could exist on food labels. Pardon the idea but I, Isaac Robert Toussie, say that today, when so many people are concerned about issues like housing and work place discrimination, fashion, entertainment, real estate, mortgages, vacations and the like, issues like food quality and food awareness may become unnecessarily overshadowed.

Quick: are tomatoes plants or fruits? The answer is that they are both: they are technically fruits, as per botanical taxonomies, though typically enjoyed – and legally sanctioned (more on this soon) – as vegetables. This question isn’t just a cute amusement, but had historically been at the center of tariff disputes, as different taxes were imposed on fruits and vegetables! It actually took an 1893 decision by the United States Supreme Court, no body of botanists that, to determine that tomatoes are actually vegetables. (No word on whether “tomato” is properly pronounced “to-MAY-to” or “to-MAH-to.”) Even more interestingly, scientific research seems to indicate that tomatoes are most nutritious when cooked, though they are often enjoyed raw as a part of salads or sandwiches.

There are many varieties of tomatoes, and though they are closely associated with Italian cuisine, they are actually native to South America. They are members of the nightshade family of vegetables and come in various shades of red, yellow, orange, and even green and brown. While the leaves of the tomato plant are inedible as they contain toxic alkaloids, the fruit of the tomato plant, which we simply call “tomato,” is highly nutritious and available in literally thousands of different varieties. Most tomatoes can be classified according to five categories:

Cherry tomatoes are red, orange, or yellow in color and are bite-sized. These little round tomatoes most often used as garnishes or in salads. They are sometimes called grape tomatoes.

Plum tomatoes are also known as Roma Tomatoes or Italian Tomatoes. They are also small and round, but appear more egg-shaped than cherry or grape tomatoes. They contain less juice than slicing tomatoes, which make plum tomatoes ideal for use in tomato sauces.

Slicing tomatoes are the common tomatoes often used for sandwiches. One kind of slicing tomato is the flat beefsteak tomato easily available in many supermarkets.

Heirloom tomatoes are considered to be those varieties that have been specially bred by several generations of a family. There are hundreds of varieties classified as heirloom tomatoes, though the category has no standard definitions. As these are “specialty tomatoes” in a very real sense, most heirloom tomatoes are available only locally. Heirloom tomatoes are very important for the biodiversity they embody as a class.

Finally, green tomatoes are those unripe tomatoes which have less nutritional value because the phytochemicals which give a tomato its red color have not been developed and concentrated yet.

This writing has been posted by me, Isaac Toussie, strictly for information and human interest purposes only, not for medical or advisory purposes and does not necessarily constitute the opinions or conclusions of the provider, Isaac Toussie. The reader should not rely upon the validity of any of the information contained herein. The reader should consult a doctor, nutritionist, and other medical professionals when seeking advice about food, nutrition, diet, and physiology.

Purchasing Wine Online – An introduction

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Purchasing things online has always concerned people, especially those without knowledge of the intricacies of the internet.? Getting out a credit card near a computer is seen dangerous enough to some in case somebody sees it.? Billions of dollars is now spent over the internet regularly these days as security has improved over time.

Wine sales over the internet is no different, with many people reluctant to buy wine over the internet.? These days, more and more quality online stores are presenting quality wines at affordable prices.

Subscribing to a couple of mailing lists is a great way of being sent regular updates as to what is happening in the industry as well as the myriad of specials out there.? Sign up to one, sign up to many, there’s no limit.

Wine sales sites are many and varied.? It can take a fair amount of time to wade through the many different sites to find exactly what you’re wanting.? The best way to go about this is to start by searching for your favourite wines, then your favourite wineries, then your favourite regions.? You can even search for a combination of wineries and type of wine, or regions and type of wine.? You’re bound to find what you’re searching for.

Wine sales sites can include any of these types:
1. Wine direct from the winery from their own website.
2. Wine direct from the winery via an affiliate website that takes commission from the winery for the sale.
3. Companies that buy the wine from the winery, then on sell it via their website.
4. Auction houses which sell off stock no longer required from the winery or garnered through special deals.

Wine auctions should be looked at with an open mind though.? How wine has been stored prior to selling on auction sites is a question that one should ask before purchasing.

Depending on choice, the best sites to get wine online from are those that stock the latest vintages.? Check the terms and conditions of sites to see if there’s a guarantee on quality.

Shopping for wine online shouldn’t cause one too much concern in todays world.? Buying online should either be an extension of a vineyard trip you’ve already had, while also providing you with great value.

This is just a short guide to help ease the concerns of some people about buying things online, especially wine.? More and more quality wine sites are appearing all the time, so why not give it a try and see the quality for yourself.