Posts Tagged ‘food’
What is in a Typical Mexican Meal?
Mexican cuisine is known for its colorful presentation and healthy qualities. Home to the Aztecs, Mayans and Zapotecs, Mexico developed a strong agricultural civilization early. They grew many foods like avocados, peppers, beans, corn, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash. They hunted for deer, turkey, rabbit, and quail. Chocolate is grown in Mexico, and was originally served as a drink to Aztec royalty.
When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, they brought their favorite foods with them. Pork, beef, cheese, and cream were added and combined with the native foods. The Spanish brought sheep, chickens, wheat, and sugar. Three hundred years later when Spain finally gave up control of Mexico, their influence on Mexican food was well established.
Corn is a major part of Mexican meals. Cornmeal, known as masa, is made into a dough that can be formed into tortillas, empanadas, or tamales. Corn is also added to soups, stews, and other dishes. Tortillas made of flour are more common in northern Mexico. Chili peppers are also a main part of the Mexican diet. Jalapenos, poblano, and Serrano chilies are just a few of the common choices in the Mexican household.
Beans also provide a good source of protein in Mexican meals. Pinto beans are found in the north, while black beans are popular in the Yucatan peninsula. There are many different varieties used throughout Mexico to make dishes like frijoles (refried beans).
Beans are not the only food that is regional. In the hot, dry north, beef is eaten a lot because there is plenty of room for grazing. The Pacific coast offers excellent coffee and corn stew. On the Gulf coast, tropical fruits and vegetables are served with fish and seafood. The Spanish influence is very strong in Central Mexico, as this is where they settled. On the Yucatan Peninsula, seafood, eggs, black beans and corn are common food items.
When making a typical Mexican meal at home, there are many recipes you can try. Mexican chicken enchiladas recipe can be easily replicated at home, and it uses many of the most common ingredients found in Mexico. Once you have tried making them at home, you will see how tasty an authentic Mexican meal can be.
Jump right in and try something new. Maybe you will try a variety of bean you have not tasted before to add a new texture or flavor. Add some simple tortillas and salsa to any meal, or add some seafood to citrus juice and make ceviche on a summer day. Tacos and quesadillas are easy enough for the kids to try.
You can also add Mexican cuisine to any meal. For breakfast, try mixed tropical fruit or scrambled eggs mixed with salsa. Top a tortilla with a fried egg and add some ham, tomatoes, chilies, and cheese. Add a side of refried beans and you will have a breakfast that will break up the normal routine.
Tags: cooking, diet, eating, Family, food, food and drink, health, Home, home and garden, lifestyles, mexican food, mexican recipes, recipe, recipes
What you need to know about the History of Chocolate
The delicious origins of the sweet chocolate we know are linked to a bitter drink first created by early Mesoamerican residents. The Classic Period, which consists of the era between 250-900 AD, is when people began using it in their religious and social lives. The beans had to be harvested from rainforests around the Mayan built gorgeous cities. The English translation of the Mayan word for chocolate (“xocoatl”) means “bitter water”. The beans were fermented and then roasted to form a paste. In order to complete the spicy chocolate drink, water, chili peppers, cornmeal, and a variety of other substances were added to the paste.
Additionally, the Aztecs adopted the cocoa when they began their domination of Mesoamerica, and they used beans as a type of currency. Eventually, chocolate became an integral part of the Aztec way of life. Along with the rulers that the Mayans allowed to drink the beverage, the Aztecs also allowed it to be consumed by priests, honored merchants, and decorated soldiers.
One of the beliefs of the Aztecs was that power and wisdom came from eating fruit or beans. They were the first to believe that cocoa beans had aphrodisiac qualities. Amazingly, when Christopher Columbus returned to Europe and brought cocoa beans with him, it did not demand immediate attention. The desire to use the beans as a type of currency was something that took root for Westerners only once several trips had been taken to America.
Dumping the name of “xocoatl,” the Aztecs began calling their drink “chocolatl,” whose English equivalent is “warm liquid”. By 1519, however, Hernando Cortex Begin had a cocoa tree plantation, the very first. The plantation, which was created in the name of Spain, gave the Spanish King Charles the Fifth his first experience of spicy chocolate. The new delicacy gained even more revered status when Hernando began experimenting by blending the beans with sugar. Further additives, such as nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves were added to the bean as well.
During this time period, the drink continued to be reserved especially for the Spanish nobility, with the working class and other countries being excluded from its greatness. Spain made one tragic flaw, however, in letting their monks cultivate their beans, because those monks gave the outside world access. The popularity of chocolate rapidly spread throughout Europe, with many people enjoying its taste, or the ability to use it as a currency.
Undoubtedly, the great love for chocolate continued to spread over the world through the centuries, making it a quite popular dessert today. The item – which is far from being a treat only enjoyed by royalty, nobility, or the clergy – is now enjoyed by many and has greatly improved in the taste department. Continual research suggests that perhaps chocolate is an aphrodisiac, but it definitely concludes that dark cocoa is part of a healthy diet that can do wonders for the body.
Order Fresh Lobster Meat for a Great Meal
Are you a seafood lover who doesn’t have the food fortune of living near the ocean? For some fish, that’s okay, and you can still enjoy the great taste of fresh fish. But for other seafood, like crustaceans, if you don’t live near the ocean, you’re out of luck for enjoying their great tastes the way you like them. When you go to a restaurant, you have no idea of knowing how fresh their seafood is, no matter how much you’re paying for them. And if you go to the grocery store, you know that you’re getting one of two options. Alive, but old and tough, and not of the quality you want. Or frozen, and definitely not what you’re looking for. What you need to find is a way to get fresh lobster meat while you can still enjoy its delicious fresh flavors.
It sounds too good to be true, but you can really get fresh and delicious lobster meat sent right to your door, and for less then you pay now. So why would you ever want to get lobster any other way. But how does this work? It’s simple really. A fisherman brings in their haul of lobster for the day, and it is immediately boiled, cleaned, and packaged to be shipped to you. This means that you’re getting the freshest, healthiest lobster that you can possibly get, without having to go to the store. And you’re getting it for less than you would pay anywhere else!
Why is lobster meat so much less expensive when you get it delivered to you? It’s because you’re skipping all of the middlemen who are part of the normal process. This means you get your lobster for a much lower price.
When you order lobster at a restaurant, not only are you paying the fair market price for the lobster, you’re also paying for the overhead and profit margin of the restaurant, for the service you’re getting, and for any extras, like drinks. At the grocery store, you’re also paying that same type of overhead. Ordering direct, you’re only paying the same price the restaurant and grocery store are.
And lobster meat is so fresh and delicious that you’ll want to order it again and again. What can you do with fresh lobster? There are so many different possibilities. You can make a fresh lobster and spinach salad, for a heart healthy option that’s also high in protein. You can create a delicious lobster newburg to share with your family on a cold day. And for a quick meal, you can create a light and simple lobster pasta, dressed with oil. These meals are a delicious way to share fresh seafood with your friends and family who may not have been able to enjoy such fresh lobster in the past.
When you order lobster meat online, you’ll be astounded by how many different ways you can prepare and enjoy it. So order today, and see all the great and delicious ways you could have dinner tomorrow!
Tags: cooking, food, gourmet, Home, Lobster Meat, Lobster Meat Online, Order Fresh Lobster Meat, Order Lobster Meat Online, seafood
Baby Allergies – 3 Symptoms That May Be Caused by Food
In this article we will discuss baby allergies and 3 symptoms that can be caused by food. If you or someone you know suffers from any of the below symptoms, they may be caused by a hidden food allergy to one or many things.
1. Eczema: Connecting dry and itchy skin with an allergy to a food may seem weird, but it is actually very common to have eczema issues when you have a hidden food allergy. Wheat and dairy are common culprits but it is not limited to these two.
You can discover whether or not eczema is being caused due to this simply by eliminating and reintroducing foods and keeping track of how you feel. It may be possible to cure eczema by then staying away from a particular food.
2. Asthma: Asthma can also be caused by eating a food that your system doesn’t tolerate well. It can be somewhat difficult to determine which food is causing the problem, but allergy testing or food elimination diets can help you figure it out so you know which foods to stay away from.
You might even be able to stop taking allergy medications and/or stop using an inhaler by removing the food that is causing the asthma in the first place. Discuss this with your doctor before you do so.
3. Sinusitis: This symptom isn’t usually connected to having a problem with a food like dairy. Having outdoor or pet allergies are usually blamed, but hidden food allergies can cause the same types of symptoms and by determining if yours are caused by food you could cure your sinusitis. Determine what the real cause is, remove it from your diet and your symptoms will usually disappear quickly within a few days or weeks.
This article discussed baby allergies and 3 common symptoms that can be caused by food. Eczema, asthma and even sinusitis can be directly linked to problems with a particular food or foods. Even headaches can be caused by having an allergy to a certain food like wheat, dairy and more. Hidden food allergies are actually very common, so if your baby is suffering from any of the above symptoms, it might be happening due to an allergy to something in their diet.
Ready to learn more?
Tess Rainey, a mother of two, has created a website that can help you find a cure for eczema and even cure baby allergies. Her website, BabyEczema.ParentMeltingPot.com, has information regarding babies and allergies as well as food allergies babies.
Tags: Babies, baby allergies, baby eczema, Children, dry skin, Family, food, health, Home, kids and teens, nutrition, Parenting, supplements, toddlers
Some Interesting Tips About Food Photography
Were ever your focus you will see food photography. We are smothered in a sea of it. Open a magazine or newspaper and it will be there throwing its mouth watering images out at you moving your taste buds into action.
If you think that food picture taking is very difficult and that you could never snap like the pros you could surprise yourself. Like most types of other picture taking, a lot of the results come from technique which can be learned.
Light as always with photography is King. Get it right and you create magic. Get it wrong and we all know the result! Treat the food you’re photographing as you would any other still life subject and ensure that it is well lit. Most of the bad examples of food photography you will come across would have been drastically improved with adequate lighting.
Natural light is great for food photography supported by flash bounced off a nearby wall to remove strong shadows can work wonders.
If you are going to be doing a lot of food photography then think about creating a food light box to make your job simpler and quicker. This consists of a framed area covered in diffusion screens with lights behind on stands or attached to flexible tubes so you can move them easily into position. The food sits on a plain smooth single coloured background cover that is usually white so there is no background to remove with Photoshop later. Make sure the cover is easy to wipe in case of food splashes.
Slow is great with food so use a slow shutter speed which will allow time to capture the depth of the image. Put your camera on a solid tripod to inhibit movement and stop blurring and use a shutter release cable.
Use the right props with your pictures and they will bring your photos alive. We eat food literally with our eyes first so feed the eyes with lots of variety and colour.
Use professional equipment when you do food photography and you will see the results. Using good quality lighting and a high quality camera are the main equipment your will need. You have to use a SLR camera with food photography if you want to get the best results. You will need to be able to zoom in and control the shutter and aperture settings to capture the full depth of the image.
Find out more about the best Food Photographers who are also top in their field for Bridal Photography.
Tags: bridal photography, Family, food, food photographers, hobbies, photography, Singapore photographers, wedding photographer, wedding photography
How to Make Pancakes Fluffy
There are only a few simple steps to start making delicious fluffy pancakes. First get a recipe that you would like to try and make sure you have all the ingredients. This will keep you from falling behind. Gather the ingredients together and you are all set.
Step one, measure the dry ingredients correctly. If the recipe calls for sifted flour, make sure put it through a sifter as instructed. Make sure you measure out the right amount of the ingredients or you could end up with a mess in the end.
Now you will need to correctly measure out the wet ingredients. Again, precision is key. Use a liquid measuring cup to measure out all the wet ingredients including the milk and oil. Open up the eggs one at a time separately and break up the yolks.
Make two separate bowls, one for the wet ingredients, and one for the dry ingredients. Mix them each separately very well. Stir the dry ingredients with a spoon and beat the wet ingredients together so that they are completely incorporated.
Now pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients. Stir the entire amount until it forms a batter. Be gentle. Do not over-beat the ingredients or else the pancakes will be tough. You do not want tough pancakes. Just stir until combined.
Now you will need to retrieve your pan or griddle. I like to use a big electric griddle that I can plug in away from the stove. Use a little bit of oil or butter to lightly grease the pan. You could also use cooking spray for this step. Heat the pan to medium high heat.
Now pour some of the batter onto the pan. Use a ladle or measuring cup and measure out about a quarter of a cup. You can use more if you want bigger pancakes or less if you want smaller pancakes. Add a little milk to the batter if you want thinner pancakes.
Tiny bubbles will soon begin to form about a minute after pouring. Now is the time to flip them. Cook them on the pan for another minute or until golden brow. Serve warm with syrup and butter.
Tags: breakfast, cooking, food, Home, how to make pancakes, meals, pancake recipes, pancakes
When You Want a Warm Dinner, Try Lobster Bisque
On these cold and blustery nights of winter, there’s nothing better than curling up at home with a good book and a warm dinner. If you have a family to feed, this can be a huge pain though, because you can’t just curl up and have dinner ready, you’re the one that has to go out into the snow and wind and cold to get the dinner supplies, make the actual dinner, and most likely, clean up afterwards. That doesn’t sound very warm and relaxing does it? Home cooked dinners don’t need to be such a chore. In fact, they can be easy and relaxing for you too when you order lobster bisque online.
Lobster bisque is one of the best meals you can find for a cold winter evening. Creamy and decadent, it’s rich enough for a center piece, and subtle enough to be paired with almost any wintry meal. Who doesn’t love a rich cream based soup in the winter, filled with the great tastes of shallots and celery, a dash of paprika and the rich flavors of lobster stock and bouillon. Just thinking about it makes me want to run out and have a bowl!
The focus of any good lobster bisque is of course, the lobster. We make sure only to use fresh live lobsters, caught that day off the coast of Maine, in our soups. This means that the lobster meat you’re enjoying, and the lobster broth that your soup is prepared with, are as fresh as we can make them. If you’ve never had fresh lobster meat, then you’ve never really enjoyed lobster as it’s meant to be enjoyed. When fresh steamed, the meat holds a richness and flavor not found in supermarket lobster.
The other ingredients that we use to make our lobster bisque also meet high quality standards that assure the excellent taste that we strive for. We use only the freshest milk, cream and butter from dairies that treat their cows with respect, meaning that their milk is the best you can find. We also ensure that we have only the farm freshest vegetables, whether from the field of the greenhouse, which means that each of our soups has a strong and delicious vegetable flavor that compliments the lobster perfectly.
For those cold winter nights, lobster bisque is a great solution, and when you order online, you take a lot of the effort out! That means that all you have to do is open the container and warm your soup, leaving you more time to spend with family. And because no pots were dirtied, clean up takes only minutes!
Now’s the time to order lobster bisque for yourself and your family. It’s a great meal whenever you’re running low on time. And because it’s packaged fresh, it will taste great whenever you take it out of the freezer. So why not order some lobster bisque for your next late meeting night!
Tags: food, gourmet, Home, recipe, seafood
Make And Drink Your Own Wine, It’s Easy!
Making your own wine is a hobby that has grown a lot the past few years.There are some good reasons for this.
First, the information on how to make wine, and recipes for wine making have been easier and easier to obtain. Many books and how to manuals have been published just this past year.
Another reason is that it can be a real cost savings. Everything is getting more expensive these days, and so is wine. Many of our wines are imported, and with the rising fuel costs our favorite wines can become painfully expensive.
But my favorite reason is that it is just plain fun to make your own wine. There is something so gratifying to choose the fruit, choose the recipe and the type of yeast, prepare the must, nurse it, follow the fermentation… all the steps until you can uncork your own proudly made delicious and unique wine.
Home made wine can be a wonderful and one of a kind gift, of course in a beautiful bottle and with your own label. Having friends and family over for wine tastings of various wines you have made is another fun aspect of home wine making.
It is easy to get started even of you have never made wine before. There is no need to purchase expensive equipment or gadgets. You will need a few simple and inexpensive things such as a vessel to do the fermenting in. -that can be a five gallon bucket, and air lock and some tubing to decant the wine with.
There are basically three levels of home wine making.
1. Using a purchased wine kit. Just add water and follow the instructions.
2. Purchasing fruit juices from your local store.
3. Using fresh fruits and berries to make your wine.
Once you make your first batch of wine there is no going back. The satisfaction of sipping your own home made wine is simply delicious.
Tags: cooking, drink, entertaining, Family, food, hobby, Home, make wine, wine
The Storage Life of Mountain House Freeze Dried Food
The shelf life of your long term food storage is determined by four critical factors. You need to be aware of this four factors if you are starting a food storage program for your family, or even if you already have one. Knowing these things will help you obtain the longest shelf life possible.
The four factors are as follows. The temperature of the storage area, the moisture content of the food, the atmosphere in the storage container, and the storage container itself. Lets look at each of these factors.
1) Temperature of the Storage Area
The factor that has the most to do with how long storable foods will last is temperature. Food stored in a warm environment will last only a fraction of the time that it would last in a cool, dry place. Generally, you want the area to be as cool as possible, but certainly above freezing temperature. Another important consideration is that the storage area temperature be relatively constant. Frequent temperature changes will also shorten the food’s life.
The bottom line is that you want to store your food in a cool, dry place, where the temperature is relatively constant.
2) Moisture Content of the Food
Foods with a high moisture content can spoil in their containers. Generally, long term storable foods should have a moisture content of 10% or less. This is sometimes hard to achieve without specialized equipment.
Freeze dried foods are specially-prepared for this purpose. Their moisture content has been addressed in the preparation process.
3) Atmosphere in the Storage Container
Oxygen oxidizes many of the compounds found in food. There, foods packed in air will not store as well. Nitrogen is popular for storing food and it works very well. Another alternative is carbon dioxide.
Oxygen absorber packets are also a popular method of packing food. You place one absorber in the food container and seal the lid. The absorber will remove the oxygen in the container and create a vacuum seal. Obviously, your storage container must be strong enough to withstand this vacuum pressure and hold it for the term of the storage.
Food packed in nitrogen in #10 cans is a very popular choice for many manufacturers of long-term storable foods.
4) The Storage Container of the Food
You want your storage containers to have a hermetic seal, which means they are air-tight. Food-grade storage buckets and #10 cans work very well for this.
I’ll stress again, that a very important factor of storage containers is that they must be food-grade. There are many 5 gallon buckets made of food-quality plastic. Since #10 cans are popular, they often have an enamel lining which makes them suitable for food storage.
If you buy commercially-prepared food units, the second, third, and fourth factors are taken care of by the manufacturer. However, you still want to store you food unit in a cool, dry, dark place, in order to satisfy the first factor.
You can buy food-grade plastic buckets, add the food, and then seal them yourself. You will need to rent a nitrogen cylinder from your local welding supply company. When you pack the buckets with the nitrogen, the oxgen will be displaced.
Remember all these things when you are purchasing or creating a supply of food for your family.
Tags: Family, food, Home, mountain house freeze dried food, Preparedness
Mexican Culture, Holidays, and Food
Mexican culture is very interesting and combines features from the prehispanic past and the Spanish colonial period. Mexicans are justifiably proud of their culture, history, and ethnicity.
The country has actually changed quite a bit in the past century and contemporary Mexican life is more like European or North American life. Eighty five percent of Mexicans live in big cities and there are more Spanish speaking people in Mexico than in any other country. The Mexican government does recognize another sixty-two indigenous languages as Mexican languages though.
After Brazil, Mexico is the second biggest catholic country in the world. Ninety five percent of Mexicans are catholic and the Spanish colonists introduced the religion.
Mexican Holidays and Celebrations
Every village, city, and town holds a party to honor their patron saint each year on different dates and Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on September 16. The people will pray and burn candles during the religious celebrations and they will also use colorful flowers and utensils to decorate their churches. Fireworks, parades, parties, and dance competitions are all common during fiesta time and football, bullfighting and cockfighting events are also held.
No Mexican party is complete without a hanging piata and these paper mache people, animals, or fictional characters contain candy and toys. The kids take it in turns to hit the piata, while wearing blindfolds, and when it breaks and the goodies fall out, the kids share them.
Mexican Food and Drink
Mexican food can be described as a perfectly balanced and flavorful blend of European and indigenous foods, including Mayan and Aztec influences. Popular Mexican foods are known all over the world and these include enchiladas, pozole, tamales, mole sauce, and tacos. Unfortunately, more people probably know about Mexican fast food joints rather than authentic Mexican restaurants but nothing beats using authentic Mexican recipes to make your own Mexican food if there is no traditional Mexican restaurant near you.
Beans, chicken, maize, beef; potatoes, tomatoes, avocados, guavas, and peanuts are used in many Mexican dishes. Mexican drinks include cinnamon flavored hot chocolate, fruit juices, mescal, Mexican beer, and tequila. There are also several award winning Mexican wineries that produce wine and export it all over the world.
Chili and corn are both essential ingredients in a Mexican kitchen and you can get Mexican soup, stews and salads as well as the better-known dishes. Mexican desserts are very good and they combine sweet and hot elements to create flavor bursts in the mouth.
Chili is often used to flavor Mexican candy and corn flavor candy is well liked. Calaveras de Azucar are the sugar skulls made for the Day of the Dead fiesta.
Herbs and spices are cleverly combined with fresh produce to make traditional recipes. Quick authentic Mexican recipes are a great idea if you want to make something different for your family and there are certainly plenty to choose from. By enjoying home cooked Mexican cuisine, you will really appreciate why these foods are so well loved around the world.
Tags: cooking, diet, eating, Family, food, food and drink, health, Home, home and garden, lifestyles, mexican food, mexican recipes, recipe, recipes
