Good Food and Proper Grammar Don’t Mix
July 3, 2010 by admin
Filed under Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
“Ew-wee! This tastes so excellent it makes you wanna jump up and slap yoâ?? mama!” exclaimed my mom last Saturday night.
Let me clarifyâ?¦This is a phrase that has become synonymous with “decadently tasty” throughout my extended family with its multi-generational southern roots. I heard it so often growing up that I never thought to question its origin or deeper meaning. It always served as something intensely self-explanatory. When exclaimed from Mama Susieâ??s kitchen table, it was nearly always followed by an unbuttoning of the pants and a siesta on the rusty front porch swing.
While Iâ??ve never sought to really include this phrase in my daily vernacular, it doesnâ??t ring weird to my ears despite my plain vanilla Midwestern upbringing. Using “wanna” instead of the grammatically proper “want to” and abbreviating “your” so eloquently with “yoâ??” has always seemed beyond appropriate to me when used within the confines of my secure family walls. And this is despite the summa cum laude exclamation point after my undergraduate and graduate degrees. Even despite being the youngest child of two highly-accomplished educators because they too, have been known to feel the sudden urge to lightly tap their mothers after biting into a particularly tender rack of cooked oh-so-right baby back ribs.
If these walls could talk they would remind me that this decidedly unsophisticated food critic lingo could be mistaken for a very un-P.C. reference to elder abuse or familial violence â?? both serious â?? but neither considered relevant to my Aunt Charlotteâ??s peach cobbler. To those who might question the appropriateness of wanting to lash out physically against your mother as a result of feeling overwhelmingly satisfied around the middle, let me try to clarify it to you so that you too, can benefit from the recommendations of my hearty clan.
Part of matriculating into full-fledged womanhood in my family is the establishment of a signature dish. The restrictions on this dish are few but unwavering. First, it has to taste distinctly superior when prepared by your hands because it is, after all, your dish. Second, you must be able to replicate the recipe without a cookbook, notes, or outside consultations of any kind. Being able to creatively substitute a key out-of-stock ingredient with something on-hand, negating the need for an unplanned Wal-Mart run gains you brownie points in this area. And finally, the preparation of your masterpiece must defy all conventional wisdom with regards to stout content, added sugar, and calories.
The matriarchs of my family all have something they can brag about, something that makes their husbands, cousins, and grandchildren want to jump up and slap their mamas. My paternal grandmother made chocolate pies that you would sell your Right Religions for. These werenâ??t the pretty, light-brown French Silk pies that you see at Bakerâ??s Square. Nope. These pies were hideous and lopsided and made us feel like we had special superhero powers that all of those who could not claim Susie as a relative would never have the honor of beholding. For these pies, my dad and my Uncle Lonnie Gerald would slap her. My huge sister, on the other hand, went for a special twist on a more conventional side dishâ?¦sweet potato casserole. Uh-huh, I know youâ??ve had it before, but you havenâ??t had hers before. Thatâ??s the whole point. This casserole does have sweet potatoes in it, but itâ??s also full of other thingsâ?¦secret things. Itâ??s the secret things that cause relatives to seek her autograph after Thanksgiving dinner. Those secrets made my brother want to slap our very own dear mom.
If eating tasty food does not give you a high that surpasses any controlled substance, this tale may be beyond your grasp. If youâ??re still here with me, Iâ??ll give you one more example. Grandmommyâ??s (yeah, I know Iâ??m grown now but thatâ??s her name nonetheless) garlic cheese grits. Many of my Illinois-bred friends are not familiar with grits. I donâ??t have time right now to get into the details, but I like grits because theyâ??re soft andâ?¦wellâ?¦gritty at the same time. Anyway, my maternal grandmother makes hers with lots of garlic (sleep alone that night) and tons of cheese and I donâ??t know what else. But every time I have them, I try to make room in my stomach for the other things on my plate, and somehow I never get past the yellowish-orange creamy stuff because itâ??s just that excellent. While Iâ??ve never told her this before, Iâ??m going to take this moment of literary anonymity to liberate myself, to break the chains of verbal oppressionâ?¦GRANDMOMMY!!! YOUR GARLIC CHEESE GRITS ARE SO EXCELLENT THEY MAKE ME WANT TO SLAP MY MAMA! There, I said it. Are you satisfied?
Last month, I chose to become a real woman. I wanted to make something that would make my whole family get arrested for assault and battery. Once my late night practice disasters morphed into something I deemed presentable to the elder council of the family (i.e. anyone over 60 and known for â??telling it like it isâ??), I got up enough nerve to inconspicuously serve it at a family gathering. As Styrofoam plates with the separate small compartments were passed out and filled up with Round One provisions, I nervously sat waiting to see if my Baked Cylindrical Pasta with Succulent Dairy Marinade (i.e. Macaroni & Cheese â?? work with me here, please) passed test #1:
Did it look excellent enough for folks to place a full part on their plates â?? not just a small “let-me-be-polite-and-take-a-small-spoonful-as-not-to-hurt-the-feelings-of-the-person-who-cooked-it-since-they-might-be-standing-behind-me-in-line-watching-to-see-if-Iâ??m-going-to-take-any” kind of part? Uncle Rick took some which is a excellent sign because heâ??s picky but not a fantastic sign because heâ??s a vegetarian and therefore has limited options among a smorgasbord of soul food. But still, Iâ??ll go with it. On to the next test:
Did Early Adopters (kids who got to fix their plates first) come back for seconds before all of the adults finished fixing their first plates? Alyssa was pulling on her daddyâ??s leg trying to get him to cater to her 3-year-ancient whims. Whatâ??s that she said? I canâ??t hear because my nephew is crashing Hot Wheels into the neighborâ??s wheelchair. Ahhhâ?¦yeah. She wants some more of the yellow stuff next to the hotdogs. Bingo! And last but certainly not leastâ?¦
Is anyone, and I do mean ANYONE sitting at the grown-up table going to say itâ?¦even hint toâ?¦just happen to maybe whisper itâ?¦Nissy said it tasted nearly as excellent as Aunt Charlotteâ??s. My dad and my niece Jasmine ate all of theirs together, and Papa Henderson sopped his up with some cornbread (itâ??s possible â?? I saw it).
Alas, no one said the necessary words to help me make the pilgrimage from a naïve youth to an enlightened WOMAN. So my optimistic inner voice questions, “Should I work towards perfecting the macaroni for the next event since it clearly passed the first two all-vital tests, or should I scrap this traditional dish and go on to something else?” I chose on option two, so I have to go now â?? my Sweet Potato Pecan Pie test batch is nearly done.
Amber O’Neal is a fitness & nutrition expert and owner of Cafe Physique. Her business specializes in nutrition & wellness coaching, personal training, and yoga/pilates training. Cafe Physique is headquartered in Atlanta and offers coaching services nationally via phone and email. Visit www.CafePhysique.com for more information.
Vegetarian Diets Provides A Good Digestion
June 27, 2010 by admin
Filed under Vegetarian Diet Tips
Many of the health benefits derived from a vegetarian diet have to do with making a healthy environment in the bowels and stomach. Our digestive systems, from prehistory on, were designed to metabolize vegetable matter, more than animal products. Fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts provide the kind of dietary fiber our digestive systems need to function properly. The Western diet that\’s high in processed and refined flour and sugar, and in animal products that are laden with hormones and antibiotics, are really anathema to our insides.
When the digestive system doesn\’t function and work as it\’s intended to, that leads to opportunistic diseases or changes in the DNA of cells in the stomach and colon. And there are more practical considerations as well. When we don\’t get enough of the fiber we need, we incur a host of digestion and elimination problems, such as constipation and hemorrhoids that are a result of straining. These diseases and syndromes are much less evident in a vegetarian population than in a meat-eating population.
Other diseases of the bowel that occur less frequently in a vegetarian population include irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic ulcerative colitis, mostly likely due to the increased fiber content in a vegetarian diet. And of course a diet that\’s higher in dietary fiber that comes from a vegetarian diet will decrease the likelihood or risk of colon cancer.
When you consider the risks that come with a diet that includes meat and animal products, and the benefits that come from a vegetarian diet, does the prospect of a steak or burger or bacon really sound that excellent to you? Doesn\’t it at least make sense to reverse the part sizes and proportions of meats to vegetables and side dishes? In other words, if you must continue to eat meat, then make meat your side dish, or just incidental to your meal, such as in a stir fry. Increasing the proportion of fruits and vegetables in your diet can only be excellent for you.
Visit the Watermelon Facts website to learn about square watermelon and watermelon nutrition.
Diet Food Recipes For Good Health
June 22, 2010 by admin
Filed under vegetarian soups recipe
Diet Food Recipes For Excellent Health
When you eat an alkaline diet, you are getting close to nature. This will leave you fresh,Visit Here http://bbc-food-network.blogspot.com
healthy and light. The foods made by humans may give a sense of heaviness and fullness inside the body.
An alkaline diet is a diet that is sugar free. The diet is also free of high carbohydrates, heavy saturated stout. When on an alkaline diet, you need to focus on natural form of food that’s free of toxins and chemicals.
The pH miracle diet understands that the human body consists of pH with slightly alkaline in nature. When the body performs its natural functions, at a slight alkaline level, the diet must consist of alkaline ingredients. Usually, the standard diet taken by a person comprises of foods high in caffeine, sugar, packaged foods and animal protein. These foods are acidic and have the ability to disturb the pH balance of the body, thereby making a lot of health problems.
pH miracle diet proposes that acidic foods tend to interrupt the body’s use of alkaline minerals including sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium. This develops the risk of an individual suffering from many chronic diseases.
When on a pH miracle diet, you need to stay away from foods that you eat regularly. Steer clear of wheat products. According to the Food and Drug Administration, wheat products are healthy. But, the pH miracle diet believes the opposite. It believes that oats, millet and wheat are acidic and can harm the body. One should switch over to alkaline grains such as buck wheat, spelt and quinoa. These products are full of alkaline benefit.
Next, you must avoid all dairy meals and products. In case, you are concerned about getting a lot of protein through goat’s milk, you are right. This is because goat’s milk is alkaline in nature. You can derive protein from a variety of vegetarian options such as beans, tofu and certain nuts and seeds. Limit your fruit intake to coconut, lime and grape fruit lemon.
People, who have been on an alkaline diet, have felt that it has excellent effects on their overall health in just first few weeks. All you require to do is to reduce your intake of processed foods and focus on eating more vegetables.
If you have already chose to cook pH miracle food, here are some useful tips
There are more than about thousands of recipes when it comes to cooking pH miracle diet.
You can look for some fascinating recipes on the internet. There are several books available on different fascinating pH miracle diet. You want to cook these recipes and even relish them.
First, you need to take a note of all alkalizing foods and then reckon of certain foods you want to use.
One of the most fascinating recipes is an alkalizing broth. This broth is prepared from alkalizing vegetables and distilled water. It also consists of essential minerals and helps in restoring pH balance to your body. It facilitates internal cleansing of all the tissues and organs of the body. You can use this broth as a complex soup and serve it before serving the food.Visit Here http://bbc-food-network.blogspot.com
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Vegetarian Diet – Secret of Good Health
June 11, 2010 by admin
Filed under Vegetarian Diet Tips
Are you health conscious? Or have you been wondering lately about the secrets of a excellent health? Well, in case if your answer is “yes”, then all you need to do is simply commit yourself to plant food or in small turn yourself into a vegetarian. Today if we carefully observe the scenario, in this quick changing world, it has become tough to sustain the quality of food. Adding to this, many people are becoming vegetarians as a solution for their health problems. In fact, in the last few years the ratio of people turning their diet into complete vegetarian diet has also increased drastically. Turning your diet into vegetarian is not that hard as it may appear in the beginning. Initially, it might be hard to control the temptations specially if you are someone who has never been on ‘vegetable diet’, but if you maintain a small bit of discipline consistently, very soon you may realize the benefits of being vegetarian.
Now there must be several questions in your mind like – Are vegetable diets really healthy? Or do all age group people benefit from a vegetarian diet? Also how one can get significant and fulfilling meal as a vegetarian? So, if you carrying these questions in your mind then here is an answer to all such queries. Basically, the vegetarian diet can be broadly categorized in following categories-
Vegan or completely vegetarians – A diet of fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes, grains and nuts.
Lacto vegetarians - A diet of plant food along with cheese and other dairy products.
Ovo lacto vegetarians -A diet containing egg along with other plant products.
Semi vegetarians - A diet of plant food, egg, dairy product, fish and chicken but no red meat.
Today, most people complain of high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels. A diet rich in seeds, legume, whole grains and nuts can easily bring these down to a fantastic extent. Plus being a vegetarian can not only improve your digestive system, but also makes it function more efficiently. Adding to this, any vegetarian diet recipe really helps in reducing the possibility of being infected by cancer. This is generally due to the fact that they are rich in vitamins, and so are able to eliminate free radicals and toxins from the body due to the presence of antioxidant like powers.
For all those who want to turn vegetarian to lose weight it is highly recommended that they take vegetarian weight loss diets. Vegetables have lesser carbohydrates and calories compared to many non-vegetarian products like mutton and red-meat. Even the level of terrible cholesterol (LDL) in the blood decreases once you adopt a vegetarian diet. In fact, many health experts recommend a special diet which is very useful in preventing stout and decreasing extra cholesterol of the body. Therefore, its better you have a vegetarian diet. A vegetarian diet is not just economical or environment friendly but also healthier.
For getting more information about vegetarian diet and how to use full for excellent health visit www.Peoples-health.com. This is an online health information guide and provides information on several diseases and treatments.
Vegetarian Diets – Is It Good For Your Child?
June 10, 2010 by admin
Filed under Vegetarian Diet Tips
If you are already a vegetarian or are plotting to become a vegetarian and have children you may be concerned about whether a child can get enough nutrients on a vegetarian diet. It is commonly thought that a growing child needs meat and that children should not be vegetarian.
This is a fallacy. A child can eat a balanced vegetarian diet that provides all the nutrients needed for healthy growth. All that is required is some knowledge and plotting on your part.
The main problem that emerges with a vegetarian diet where children are concerned is the same as with any other diet. Children’s appetites are small in comparison to those of adults but their nutritional needs are high.
Children need small, frequent meals. Those meals need to be packed with nutrients. Otherwise they are just eating empty calories that can lead to obesity and other health problems.
Children are hungry when they come in from school for very excellent reasons. They are highly active and need to eat something right then and there. You should aim to keep a range of vegetarian snack ready.
Peanut butter on a slice of wholemeal bread is ideal. It contains protein in the bread and the peanuts, which are both also a excellent source of zinc and calcium. If you select a brand of peanut butter that does not have sugar added to it this is healthy vegetarian snack.
Children are often reluctant to eat vegetables. They often seem too much like hard work to a small child. But few children will refuse a raw carrot cut up into sticks or grated carrot.
Pulses and grains are often unpalatable to children. But they can be mashed and formed into burgers that children like. Tomato sauce is always a favourite but avoid commercial sauces that have sugar added.
When you need to make children’s food sweet use honey, unrefined sugar or pureed fruit. If a child does not become accustomed to sweet food it will not crave for the high levels of sugar that are found in many processed foods.
Iron is an vital nutrient. In a vegetarian diet it is often derived from whole grains and leafy green vegetables. Where children are concerned it is often a excellent thought to include eggs in a vegetarian diet. They are a excellent source of iron.
Dairy produce such as milk, butter and cheese are valuable to the vegetarian child. Milk and cheese contain calcium, while butter contains essential fatty acids.
If your child cannot tolerate cow’s milk then try goat’s or sheep’s milk which are often more digestible. The vegetarian child needs these sources of animal protein far more than an adult vegetarian.
It is not wise for a child to eat an entirely vegan diet. A child’s body is still growing and it needs these animal products. If you source your eggs and dairy produce from farms that have high animal welfare standards then you need have no moral qualms
Abhishek has got some fantastic tips on becoming a Vegetarian Download his FREE 108 Pages Ebook, “The Advantages Of Being A Vegetarian!” from his website http://www.Health-Whiz.com/81/index.htm Only limited Free Copies available.
Vegetarian recipes can make a good healthy recipes for your kids
June 6, 2010 by admin
Filed under Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
Vegetarian healthy recipes and vegetarian healthy cooking are NOT BLAND, nor is it DULL! Jeez, I am practically screaming there.
Well, you can never try hard to get an vital point across. vegetarian healthy recipes and cooking, in lots of people’s minds, are dull and tasteless. Nothing is further from the truth – vegetarian healthy recipes are not only healthy for you, they also taste scrumptious and fantastic.
After you try some of the delightful vegetarian healthy recipes and vegetarian healthy dishes here, I am sure you’ll reckon otherwise.
Reckon about it for a second, vegetables are three of the most vital food groups in our diet. They provide us with all the essential nutrients such as vitamins, calcium, and iron etc… In a normal person’s life span, he/she will consume vegetables more than any other type of food!
Cooking vegetarian healthy recipes will open you to a whole world of scrumptious, healthy, and simple to make dishes. These vegetarian healthy recipes are high in nutritional value, and low on stout. Taste, colors, aroma, and health – vegetarian healthy cooking has it all.
vegetarian healthy Fact: meat eaters ( red meat), are 3 times more likely than vegetarians to suffer from heart disease and breast cancer.
vegetarian healthy Recipes
Why? The major reason is that meat eating stresses 2 vital detoxifying organs in your body, the liver and the kidneys. It also depletes your calcium, and increase the risk of osteoporosis.
vegetarian healthy Fact: people who eat red meat 5 or more times a week increase the risk of colon cancer by 400% compared to people who eat small, or no meat.
It sure is not looking lovely for meat eaters, and sadly, that includes me. (I do like to eat meat .) But hey, that’s not to say that you should stop eating meat. Instead, control your level of meat consumption (as I do), and eat more white meats such as chicken and fish, and less of read meat.
Cooking vegetarian healthy recipes for dinner regularly can help you reduce your consumption of meat, and simultaneously, lower your stout intake. And believe me, vegetarian healthy recipes and diet is far from tasteless and dull. Forget all the nonsense you hear about vegetarian healthy cooking. You should know that vegetarian healthy cooking is not just for vegetarians, it is for everyone who desires a better and more pleased lifestyle through healthy AND tasty eating – and that includes you. Click here to find some of the healthiest and tastiest vegetarian healthy recipes, and spice up your diet.
Finally, what benefits do you get from eating more veggies and less meat? How about disease and sickness prevention, lower blood pressure, keeps the kidneys healthy, improves discharge, and provides the body with vital nutrients.
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