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Archive for the ‘food’ Category

In the News :

Michael Buble dominates 2010 Juno Awards Congrats !  🙂

I really love his music and he is such a nice person. I am glad to see him reaping the rewards after all his hard work .

One of my favorite Chefs has started a food revolution throughout the world trying to get people to think before they eat and make intelligent and fun choices. Be sure to check out his website and sign the petition ! Your body and your kids will love you for it 🙂

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution

Sign the Petition

My fiancee and I have decided to sell one of our cars and purchase a pickup truck. I am looking at doing some extra work on the weekends and the truck would be extremely handy. (She gets to keep the comfy air conditioned car) If you are looking for a fantastic family car check it out :

Car for Sale

One of the very first things I ever posted on the internet was this poster below on to a site I had at Stumbleupon. Growing up in the Oil patch of Northern Alberta was unique in that EVERYONE was from somewhere else. Only One friend was actually born and raised there. My high school class had kids from all over the Country and Globe. The U.K , Australia, Kenya, Jamaica, Saudi Arabia, Holland, India, China , just to name a few , as well as every Province in Canada. I absolutely loved learning about different cultures and thought it was so cool to be living in a place with such variety.

This is why it breaks my heart when fundamentalist groups do stupid acts which in turn just feed hate and racism. It’s something that should have ended many years ago but humanity is far too stubborn i guess.

The parade in Surrey with a float promoting known terrorists will no doubt cause quite a stir and will put a strain on the Sikh community in Canada. Instead of having a wonderful festival promoting their culture and building friendships some people just continue to destroy the bridges built by years of hard work.

Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable

Parade turned political  : you can read about the event here :

Controversial float and comments over safety of politicians tarnished public event

I am glad the good out weighed the bad today and I hope that people will continue to learn and more forward rather than live in fear and chaos.

Best wishes ; smile and hug someone today !

~  Namaste  ~  William

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How surprising—the wonderful smoky flavor of even a tiny chipotle pepper can pervade a thick, hearty bean soup loaded with vegetables. It’s the perfect counterpoint to the mellow black beans.
Origin: Reprinted from Moosewood Restaurant Daily Special, Copyright © 1999 by Moosewood, Inc., Clarkson Potter, publishers, New York.
Yield: Serves 4 to 6Yields 8 cups
Prep Time: Prep time: 20-25 minutes
Cooking Time: Simmering time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
● ¼ cup olive oil
● 2 cups chopped onions
● 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
● 2 cups peeled and diced carrots
● 1 ½ tsp. ground cumin
● 1 cup chopped celery
● 1 cup chopped green or red bell peppers
● 2 cups cooked black beans (two 15-ounce cans, undrained) (or cook 1 cup dried beans)
● ½ dried chipotle pepper, or 1 canned chipotle in adobo sauce (recommended)
● 2 cups chopped fresh or undrained canned tomatoes (12-ounce can)
● ½ cup orange juice
● ½ cup water
● salt to taste
● sour cream to top
● chopped fresh cilantro

How surprising—the wonderful smoky flavor of even a tiny chipotle pepper can pervade a thick, hearty bean soup loaded with vegetables. It’s the perfect counterpoint to the mellow black beans.

Origin: Reprinted from Moosewood Restaurant Daily Special, Copyright © 1999 by Moosewood, Inc., Clarkson Potter, publishers, New York.
Yield: Serves 4 to 6Yields 8 cups
Prep Time: Prep time: 20-25 minutes
Cooking Time: Simmering time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

● ¼ cup olive oil

● 2 cups chopped onions

● 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed

● 2 cups peeled and diced carrots

● 1 ½ tsp. ground cumin

● 1 cup chopped celery

● 1 cup chopped green or red bell peppers

● 2 cups cooked black beans (two 15-ounce cans, undrained) (or cook 1 cup dried beans)

● ½ dried chipotle pepper, or 1 canned chipotle in adobo sauce (recommended)

● 2 cups chopped fresh or undrained canned tomatoes (12-ounce can)

● ½ cup orange juice

● ½ cup water

● salt to taste

● sour cream to top

● chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

Warm the oil in a non-reactive soup pot. Sauté the onions and garlic in the oil for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent. Add the carrots and cumin and cook on medium heat, sitting often for a few minutes. Add the celery and peppers, lower the heat, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the beans chipotle, tomatoes, orange juice, and water, and simmer, covered for 20 minutes. If you’re not using canned beans, add ½ cup of beans cooking liquid or additional water.If you like a thicker broth, you can blend one or two cups of the soup until pureed, and stir it back into the remaining soup. Top with optional sour cream and cilantro.

http://www.moosewoodrestaurant.com/

I have had a few cookbooks from the Moosewoods restaurant, they are great for trying out new and interesting dishes ! My favorite is Sundays at Moosewoods

To keep track of my favorite recipes I have been using a cool Mac program called Yummy Soup, it is really easy to use, my only complaint is the lack of a Twitter button and other sharing options 🙂

Yummy Soup

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Yummy Bananas !

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas.. He said the expression “going bananas” is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

This is interesting.
After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again..

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet..

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers.. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance.. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

SEX: Men should eat three bananas before intercourse and, this will boost their erection for an hour!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe…polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

This was emailed to me today, I’ve read about Bananas quite a bit and agree that they are amazing !

Thanks for stopping by , now it’s snack time , go grab one 🙂

Namaste ~ william

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When it comes to cooking meals the one thing most Chefs agree on is to use fresh ingredients. All too many people these days have relied on convenience when it comes to cooking. Fast and easy , just hit the closest fast food joint or pop something in the nuker for two minutes and there’s your meal. It’s no wonder there are so many eating disorders and such.

Thankfully in the last few years there has been a resurgence of healthy eating and cooking. Led by Chefs from around the world people have started to actually enjoy planning and preparing meals again. Trying out different ingredients and styles and having a lot of fun.

One of my favorite Chefs these days is Jamie Oliver. He has some fantastic books , tv programs, a great and informative website as well as a cool new app for the iPhone ! The App is called 20 minute meals and is the perfect start for people venturing into the realm of exploring food. The recipes are quick and easy and provide a wonderful variety. There are all sorts of videos including a number on the basics in the kitchen. One of his best books for tackling the issue of this age is : Jamie’s Ministry of Food. The problem facing the UK is the same as North America and this book provides helpful ideas on eating healthier.

Links :

Jamie’s Ministry of Food

Jamie Oliver’s Website

Jamie on Twitter

20 Minute Meals App for the iPhone

American Road Trip

Sample Recipe :  fragrant thai chicken & noodle broth

ingredients

• 600ml chicken stock

• 2 chicken breasts, thickly sliced

• 2 large shallots, thinly sliced

• 1 x large piece galangal, finely julienned

• 2 green chillies, sliced

• 200g rice vermicelli

• 4 small heads pak choi

• Handful mange tout

• Coriander leaves, thai basil and sliced chillies, to garnish

Preparation :

1, Add the stock to a saucepan, bring to the boil, then add the chicken, shallots, galangal and green chillies and lower to a simmer for 8 mins, until chicken is cooked.
2, Add the rice vermicelli, pak choi and mange tout. Cook for 2–3 mins till the noodles are done. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with the herbs and extra sliced fresh chillies to serve.

fragrant thai chicken & noodle broth

Enjoy and have a happy week !

Namaste ~ william

//

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f_word_episode_12_recipe_ahero_01

Poached and sautéed chicken breast supreme ~ Gordon Ramsay ~ Healthy Appetite

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breast supreme, bone in, skin on
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 garlic clove, lightly crushed
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1pt chicken or vegetable stock
  • Olive oil
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the haricot bean salad:

  • 300g tinned haricot beans, drained
  • 300g baby spinach leaves, washed
  • 180g black olives in oil, (drained weight)
  • 2 tbsp chopped basil
  • 100ml extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

For the roast fennel:

  • 2 large fennel bulbs, trimmed and outer layers removed
  • Balsamic vinegar, to drizzle

Method: How to make poached and sautéed chicken breast supreme

1. Preheat the oven to 200˚C.

2. Cut the fennel bulb into sixths (or quarters if the bulbs are small). Place on a non-stick baking tray, lined with foil and drizzle over a little olive oil followed by an equal amount of balsamic vinegar. Roast for approximately 20 minutes until the fennel is tender and beginning to caramelise. When ready to serve remove from oven and drizzle with a tbsp of the vinaigrette.

3. In the meantime gently heat a pan of stock and add the thyme, rosemary, garlic and a pinch of salt. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and poach over a very gentle heat for approx 6 mins. Remove the chicken breasts and drain. Reserve some of the cooking liquor. Pat the chicken breasts dry and season.

4. Heat some oil in a non-stick pan and fry the chicken breasts until the skin is beautifully crisp and golden approx 4 – 6 minutes. Finally add a little butter and the thyme leaves to the chicken together with a ladleful of the reserved cooking liqueur. Baste the meat for the final minute of cooking to keep it tender. Remove from the heat, keep warm while resting.

5. Mix the haricot beans and the olives together. Pour the mustard vinaigrette over the haricot bean salad and toss to coat. In a separate bowl toss the spinach and basil with a drizzle of the vinaigrette.

6. Place a handful of the spinach on a plate, top with the fennel and beans. Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally and place on the top of the salad, spoon over a final drizzle of the vinaigrette and serve.

©Gordon Ramsay 200[8]. All rights reserved

A selection of healthy recipes from the F Word are available in Gordon Ramsay’s Healthy Appetite

This recipe was reprinted from Channel 4

http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/gordon-ramsay/chicken-breast-supreme-with-haricot-bean-salad-recipe_p_1.html

I picked up a copy of Healthy Appetite a short while ago and have been thoroughly impressed with it, be sure to pick up a copy at your local book store and remember think fresh , think local and have fun !

Namaste ~ william

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