Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Quick and Easy Raw Food Recipes, With 5 Ingredients Or Less!

Are you finding for easy raw food recipes? Well here are a few actually quick and easy raw food recipes with 5 ingredients or less for the raw food beginner.

The raw food diet is a type of diet where people eat the majority of their foods in their natural whole state without cooking them. Many people are adopting this lifestyle to eat a natural whole foods diet and to get the benefits of all the nutrients ready in fresh raw fruits and vegetables.

Food Recipe

Most raw food recipes ready on the web or in recipe books are complicated, time consuming, and want a lot of fancy kitchen equipment. This unfortunately turns a lot of people off to the diet because they think it is too hard and time involving to fit into their busy lifestyle. In this description I'm going to offer a few easy recipes that don't want any fancy tool or exotic ingredients.

*Most people already have a blender so some of these recipes want a blender.

Easy Green Smoothie Recipe

2 bananas 4 kale leaves chopped with stems removed 1/2 of an apple 1 cup water

Blend in a blender until smooth. This nutritious green smoothie can be eaten for morning meal or as a mid afternoon snack. By blending the kale you are production all the nutrients in the kale leaves such as A,K,C, Iron and calcium easy for your body to suck in and digest. The sweetness from the bananas makes the kale leaves palatable, you'll be surprised by how good it tastes! Serves 2.

Easy Cucumber Salad

2 cucumbers chopped 2 ripe tomatoes chopped 1 red bell pepper chopped 1 bunch cilantro chopped 1 avocado chopped pinch sea salt

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and enjoy as a simple and delicious side salad. The juices of the tomato and bell pepper will marinate with the cilantro to dress the cucumbers. The flesh of a cucumber is a very good source of vitamins A, C, and folic acid. The hard skin is rich in fiber and a collection of minerals along with magnesium, silica, molybdenum, and potassium. Serves 4.

Easy Avocado Salad Dressing

1/2 an avocado 1 cup orange juice 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon chives pinch cayenne pepper pinch salt

Blend all ingredients except for the chives in the blender until level and then mix in the chives. If you don't have a blender mash the avocado and then whisk the ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Avocados supply nearly 20 primary nutrients, along with fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid. Serves 2-4.

Easy Mango Pudding

2 mangoes peeled and diced 1 teaspoon honey 1/2 cup raspberries 1/4 cup water

Blend all ingredients except for the raspberries in the blender. Put the mango pudding in a bowl and then ornament with the raspberries or layer the mango pudding with the raspberries in itsybitsy dessert dishes to make a healthy parfait. Serves 2.

I hope you enjoyed these recipes and are encouraged to try production them at home. For more free easy raw food recipes please check out the resources below:

Quick and Easy Raw Food Recipes, With 5 Ingredients Or Less!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

10 Food Contamination Prevention Tips - How to Fight Contamination Without Chemicals

You cannot keep a tidy kitchen just by being able to store, prepare and serve foods. Know that, in the kitchen, it is absolutely critical to store perishable items properly, ensure that all food services are kept clean, and that the meal preparation methods do not cross-contaminate.

A Word Of Warning About Food Contamination

Food Techniques

Handling raw meat can leave behind bacteria such as coli and salmonella on several objects such as knives and towels that are reused for wiping up spills. These bacteria can be very harmful to the health of any human being. You can get sick from it, and even die.

Especially children and elderly are risk. Meat and eggs are considered the biggest threats, but there are other sources too like packaged spinach. Clean food handling practices cannot fully prevent food-borne illnesses, but they sure cut way down on these risks.

Strictly paying attention to precautions to fight contamination can seem challenging to your environmental principles. Many of these steps involve liberal amounts of hot water and you may even need to use disposable wipes or towels to prevent contamination. Another precaution, or safe way to deal with foods, is to throw a way foods when their freshness is questioned. Additionally, your concerns about possible infection and diseases might even force you to use dangerous chemicals that are both environmentally unfriendly and your own health.

There are however many ways to fight food contamination without chemicals which are as effective, if not more effective.

10 Food Contamination Prevention Tips: DO's and DONT's

DO keep your refrigerator at 36 and 39 degrees F. DO respect expiration dates of all foods, especially meat. DO keep foods well-wrapped, especially refrigerated foods. DO keep fruit and vegetables separated from meat products. DO store meat on the bottom shelve, eliminating the risk of juices dripping down on other foods. DO wash all foods that are to be eaten raw. DO NOT prepare vegetables and fruits on the same surfaces you prepare meat on. DO use separate cutting boards for meats and vegetables. DO use separate towels or use disposable paper towels for cleaning the meat and vegetable surfaces. DO NOT reuse plastic bags that held meat or any animal product or wash them thoroughly and dry before recycling.

10 Food Contamination Prevention Tips - How to Fight Contamination Without Chemicals

Thursday, November 10, 2011

simple Chicken recipe - Chicken Breast Stir Fry With Peppers and Onions - An Easy Food recipe

Want to make an easy chicken recipe. Stir fry dishes are ideal when you are looking for a uncomplicated chicken recipe. Most of your time will be spent in the preparing step. Chopping the ingredients takes time, but if you know how to use kitchen tools, such as the chef's knife, it is not that difficult/ If you do your cooking at a higher temperature, and the ingredients are cut into very small pieces, the actual cooking time becomes very short. I sometimes use a Wok, but the vessel I use most is a black iron chicken fryer. Most of the stir fry dishes I make are served over rice. I use a microwave oven for the rice and I always start the rice first so that it is cooking all the time I am preparing the ingredients and cooking them. Stir fries are not only quicker, but are also easy to make. About the only way you can mess them up is to over cook to the point where the ingredients burn. To forestall burning you must keep stirring and when it's done, remove the Wok or skillet from the heat source.

This uncomplicated chicken recipe can be made with whether raw chicken or you could use leftover cooked chicken. If you use leftover chicken it should be added last, as it will not require as much cooking time as the vegetables. whether way thisw dish is easy to make. If you have a Chinese Wok, this could be used here but I still prefer to use a cast iron chicken fryer. The best way to serve this chicken recipe is over cooked long grain brown rice.

Food Recipe

Chicken Breast Stir Fry with Peppers and Onions

Ingredients

2 chicken breast tenders (3 - 4 ounces total), cut into bite size pieces
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons flour
Instructions

1 - Place the flour, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl and stir together, then dredge the chicken and vegetables in it.
2 - Heat up cast iron skillet or Chinese Wok.
3 - Add extra virgin olive oil.
4 - Add the chicken and continuously stir for 2 or 3 minutes. If using cooked chicken, it can be added last.
5 - Add the chopped onions and chopped pepper and continuously stir for 2-3 minutes.
6 - Add 1/2 cup of water to help thin the sauce.

Serve over cooked long grain brown rice.

simple Chicken recipe - Chicken Breast Stir Fry With Peppers and Onions - An Easy Food recipe

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Food Processor

A newly purchased food processor comes with a small manual. Most of the content included is related to safety and warranty information. Little is dedicated to getting optimal performance from your new kitchen appliance. This can lead to frustration on the part of the user and eventual complete abandonment of the food processor.

It doesn't have to be this way. A properly used food processor can give you invaluable assistance in the kitchen when used properly. It can become quite indispensible once you are familiar with the inherent limitations and intended uses. Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

Food Techniques

Never use the food processor for something too hard for your kitchen knives. The blades are meant to perform as well as a good knife and as such they come with the same limitations. Never use them to chop ice or grind hard spices. The pulse button is the most crucial tool to master. It is how you will control the speed of processing and therefore how you will determine the texture of the finished product. Always use short bursts until you get the hang of it. Press the button for one quick second and let go;continue on this way until you are comfortable with the pulse feature. There are certain times when you will need to keep your ingredients cool. Any motor will give off heat, although heat output is minimal in more efficient models. Counteract this by chilling the bowl and blades in the refrigerator for 15 minutes prior to starting the project. Examples of when this will be helpful include when making butter, whipping cream or preparing a pastry crust. Use appropriately sized batches. The best volume to work with will vary from machine to machine. In general, you never want to fill the bowl more than halfway with liquids or three-quarters with solid foods. Recognize the limitations on the other side of the size scale. A few garlic cloves in a 14 cup bowl will not have very much contact with the blade. As a result, the cloves will not be evenly chopped and chunks will stick to the side of the bowl. Your best bet is to use a smaller machine or bowl, or to chop small projects by hand. When using the food processor to emulsify, slowly add the oil through the feed tube while it is running. Adding oil too quickly will cause it to pool within the dressing or mayonnaise rather than creating the desired emulsification. Spend a minute or two at the beginning of meal preparation to think about how the food processor can help. Having a plan will prevent you from realizing you could be using your food processor halfway through a task.

These are a few basic tenets of proper food processor usage. Simply knowing these seven crucial items can avoid annoyance and countless headaches. Remember, the food processor is there to help you, not to cause more problems. If you follow these guidelines and are still struggling, it may be time to shop for a better model.

Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Food Processor

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Food Photography Techniques for Capturing Minimalist Cooking

The rise of minimalist cooking is changing the art of food photography. The following is a look at some of the techniques adopted by photographers to capture the simplicity and the spirit of this modern cuisine. Whether it is because of the recession or a genuine desire to downsize and simplify, minimalist cooking has become extremely popular.  Everything from expensive and hard to acquire  ingredients to rarely used, specialized utensils and equipment have been pared back to the bare minimum. Less is definitely more. Many photographers have noticed this change, either consciously or intuitively and are evolving and adapting their techniques to suit. The old sumptuous saturated glistening overfilled image just doesn't seem to be a good match for this new approach to cooking and food in general.

The photographers who get this and have a feel for the subject have started to utilize a few specific techniques which serve to emphasize the subject matter but in a much more understated way and this article will lay out a few of these basic techniques. It is not intended to be a comprehensive photography primer and most of the techniques will not require expensive equipment. It needs to be stated though, that even a basic dSLR camera will be capable of much more flexibility than even the best point and shoot due to the amount of control available to the operator. This does not mean however that perfectly acceptable results cannot be achieved with the point and shoots, just that the range of possibilities is smaller.

Food Techniques

Simplicity is the Key

When composing the shot keep things very simple, plain white plates and brushed steel or plain counter tops work very well. If the image needs a bit of additional color, a sprig of a fresh herb such as sage is more than enough. Shoot on a level with or just a few degrees above the food. We are used to looking down on food and, in photography, offering a fresh perspective is always a good idea as it wakes the viewer's brain up. It also adds interesting possibilities for lighting but more about that later.

A blurred background is generally a good thing as this emphasizes the subject. This can be achieved by either using a long lens e.g. a 300ml with a wide aperture from a few feet away with a dSLR or by utilizing the macro setting on a point and shoot and getting in really close, normally within a foot of the subject. Both of these approaches have the added benefit of giving a very narrow depth of field. This means that only a small proportion of even the main subject is likely to be in focus. This concentrates the viewer's attention even more. 

The Tripod

The only piece of equipment that is essential for taking high quality food photographs, other than a camera of course, is a tripod. It may not be required for every single shot but not having one would rule out a lot of potentially good shots. The choices would be between a small  tabletop model, probably best with the smaller point and shoot camera. This would enable the tripod to be set on the same surface as the item being photographed, very useful when the camera has to be close to the food. There is a small tripod available that has flexible legs enabling it to be wrapped around objects such as  tree branches and signpost poles. This type of support would come into its own for say, picnics or barbecues. The bigger dSLR cameras tend to be too heavy for the smaller tripods  and generally require a normal sized model. The advice usually given to photographers is to buy the most expensive tripod that they can afford. I would say buy the tripod that will do the job without breaking the bank.

Whatever tripod is used always either release the camera's shutter remotely or use the timed delay function built into just about every camera now on the market. Pressing the shutter causes the camera to vibrate so doing this off camera or giving the camera time to settle down before the shutter release makes for a much sharper photograph. This leads us to the main reason for using a tripod: the photograph can be taken in natural light, i.e. flash isn't essential. As a rule of thumb good natural light is always preferable to artificial if the choice is between one or the other but often the best photographs use a combination of the two.

Lighting

While the above applies to food photography in general  there are specific lighting approaches that give a more minimalist feel. The use of a very strong  back light is one such approach. The best source is a window that occupies the entire background. This will give a very bright background with any colors reduced to pastels and objects such as trees, cars or other buildings reduced to abstract shapes. Now if this were the only light source used the food itself would be silhouetted and appear far too dark so a little fill light is needed. This is a blast of light from the camera's flash that is not as powerful as it would be if there was no ambient light but is powerful enough to illuminate the main subject. Point and shoot cameras generally have a setting that automates this process while a little more experimentation may be required with dSLRs and flashes.

A couple of quick points about lighting that applies to all photography. Direct light is harsh and produces heavy sharp shadows. I think that it is safe to say that in all minimalist food photography this is a bad thing so we need to soften the light. This applies to both natural and artificial light. With expensive off camera flashes a small diffuser that fits over the bulb is usually enough. In the case of smaller cameras with built in flashes a little ingenuity goes a long way. If the flash can be covered with a piece of semi transparent clear plastic or even a piece of greaseproof paper results can be improved dramatically. The worse light source for photography is the small built in flash units on cheaper cameras. As for natural light, direct sunlight is to be avoided which is why a North or south facing window is best. If direct sunlight is the only option then a semi transparent plastic shower curtain attached to a frame of plastic piping makes for a great diffuser.

The Computer

Of course the process does not end with pressing the shutter. Once the session is finished, or even during the session, the images are uploaded to a computer and edited. Usually the editing consists of little more than a bit of sharpening, a slight color correction or a minor crop. It is possible to use the computer for just these technical chores but, with a little imagination, the computer, can become a creative tool in it's own right. A minimalist approach to photography requires an awareness of what is essential to the image and what is incidental. It is often possible to lose information by increasing the exposure at this stage, often an increase of two thirds to a full stop can really make an image pop. Part of the reason that this is so effective is because it makes dull and off  whites bright. This effect is often used in fashion photography but works equally well with food. 

Technique and Eye

There is no great mystery regarding what makes for great minimalist food photography. The best advice, as with all types of photography, is to find images that you like which were taken by others, see which techniques were applied, then practice. Hopefully a combination of good technique and a practiced eye will produce something unique. The following techniques work well for me: diffuse natural light from behind the subject and fill flash to fully illuminate the subject; a low point of view, get close to the same level as the food; blur the background and aim for a small depth of field; on the computer, sharpen the image a little, crop and color correct if required. Above all, experiment and have fun. One day I may be practicing and writing about a technique that you have discovered.

Food Photography Techniques for Capturing Minimalist Cooking

Thursday, November 3, 2011

straightforward Baby Food Recipes

Homemade baby food is the best option when it comes to feeding your baby. Baby food recipes are so easy to make and are far healthier than buying jarred baby food. Make a large batch and store it in the fridge or freezer. Listed are a few recipes for simple, healthy, homemade baby food.

Almost everything your baby will eat in the first 6 months of their lives will be pureed. Purees are so straightforward and very health for your baby as they are fresh and only need one or two ingredients. Fresh food for your baby can be as straightforward as mashing a ripe, peeled banana or throwing it into a blender with a bit of breast milk to give it a smooth consistency. This is far great for your baby than purchasing jarred banana baby food. Your baby deserves the best, so take 2 minutes and whip up the healthier version for them to enjoy.

Food Recipe

When your baby is ready to enjoy more textured foods there are several easy recipes to try.

Cook fruit such as pears or nectarines in boiling water. Once soft drain the fruit, put it in the blender and add rice or oat cereal to thicken the aggregate and add texture.

Babies loved mashed potatoes and there are so many things you can add to make them a bit more enchanting and nutritious for your baby. They are also a great way to disguise some foods your baby may not like on its own. Boil potatoes until fully cooked. Puree in a blender with a little bit of butter. Serve them plain or add green beans, broccoli, cooked egg yolk or even add meat such as chicken or beef. There are many things you can add to mashed potatoes that will be good for your baby and add nutritional value. Experiment with different foods to see what they like.

Another great recipe for babies is to blend plain yogurt with fruit and add a little bit of cinnamon. Cinnamon is so good for you - it's a bit strong on its own but the flavor will blend nicely with yogurt and fruit. You can mix any fruit with yogurt, anything your baby likes. This is an easy and healthy alternative to serving store bought mixed yogurts to your baby, which are filled with added sugar.

Once your baby starts to eat meat there are a few things you can try. Puree skinless, boneless chicken with avocado, cooked broccoli or sweet potatoes. Or you may want to add rice. Add ½ cup cooked chicken and ¼ cup cooked rice with 2 tablespoons of milk to a blender and puree. This is a great alternative to jarred chicken and rice baby food which likely has added salt and doesn't taste nearly as good. Make a larger batch and freeze in small sections. When ready to use again take it out of the freezer with sufficient time to thaw. Reheat and serve to your baby.

Homemade food is far great for your baby. It's nutritional, fresh and so easy to make. There are endless recipes to try when making baby food. Baby food recipes are so easy when your baby is under a year as most recipes need only a few ingredients. As your baby gets older try dishes with more collection and introduce your baby to as many healthy, nutrient packed foods as possible.

straightforward Baby Food Recipes

Friday, March 26, 2010

Let's make Cheesy Bread for Party

Ingredients

• 4 cups cheddar cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• Green onion, finely chopped
• 4 oz. mayonnaise or ranch dressing
• 3 or 4 minced garlic cloves
• 4 oz. soft butter
• A loaf Italian or French bread

Instructions

1. Mix the mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese and chopped green onion (to taste) in a small mixing bowl. Add the mayonnaise or ranch dressing, and stir it until the mixture is blended.
2. Place the minced garlic, Italian seasonings and butter in a separate bowl and mix it together until it's smooth and creamy. Add the garlic mixture to the cheese mixture and blend.
3. Slice the loaf of bread in half lengthwise. Evenly spread the cheese mixture over each of the two halves.
4. Preheat the broiler and put the cheesy bread under the broiler for about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the bread when the cheese melts and the bread turns golden brown. Check the bread often so it doesn't burn.