Do I Have a Choice?

Do I have a choice? Man, there’s a question that’s been bugging me for years. And I know it’s been bugging many of you, as well. It’s a question closely related to the matter of confidence. Because confident people have a mindset of abundance, possibilities and proactivity. Whereas non-fident people have a mindset of scarcity,

6 Reasons Why People Become Vegetarian

While there is no one single form of vegetarianism, what all forms have in common is a lifestyle that abstains from the consumption of meat, fish, and poultry. One the more moderate end lacto-ovo-vegetarians eat both dairy and egg foods and products. On the other extreme there are the vegans who do not eat or

Weekly Meal Plan – Low-Fat Raw Vegan

Complex combinations of food and raw food recipes are time consuming to prepare and extremely difficult to digest, so I choose to keep my diet very simple. I enjoy a low-fat, raw vegan diet consisting mostly of monomeals, so the following meal plan may seem a bit bland for you. As you progress on your

Broccoli Chatpata, a Healthy Way to Cook a Tasty Dish

Broccoli is very healthy in terms of nutrition. It has got vitamin C, one of the important vitamins that we require in our day to day nutritious diet. It is rich in fiber and also posses some anti cancer properties. In short it’s very healthy vegetable that’s available in market. I would say no other

Vegetarianism – Is it Really a Big Deal?

I have been a vegetarian since birth if I can say and so are thousands of people who were born in Brahmin community like me. In Hinduism, we are divided into different groups originally based on profession. Brahmins were typically the educated ones and were expected to teach others and were also priests. As the

Vegan Chocolate Chunk Muffins

Over the summer, I got serious about getting healthy and losing weight. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. A few minor changes, and I’ve lost almost 20 pounds since June! Yet, slowly but surely, as the holidays creep up, I have abandoned some of my healthy habits. So, in an

Vegan Chewy Overnight Oats

If you would like a heartier, chewier overnight oats, then the secret is in the type of oats you select. In this case, you should choose steel cut oats! Steel cut oats are the least processed of the oat groat so that it retains the bran. Rolled oats are much more processed which makes for

Vegetarian Celebrities Opt for Cruelty-Free Living

As it turns out, some of your favorite celebrities may also be vegetarians. Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney, Alicia Silverstone, Moby and Andre 3000 of Outkast are among the many vegetarian celebrities who decided to stop eating meat because of the harm that factory farming does to animals, our health and the planet. Former Beatle Paul

A Vegan’s View of Star Trek

The first passion I ever had in my life was Star Trek. That show with the silly costumes and the weird aliens contained so much intelligence that people were able to go beyond the 60’s hairstyles and the flashy uniforms to get to the message. It helped me when my parents were fighting, gave me

The Vegetarian’s Survival Guide to Christmas

Christmas is a time of indulgence. For some this seems to be about consuming as much meat as possible. Whenever I read through Christmas cookbooks, I notice an inordinate amount of recipes that seem to include cooking every animal under the sun. So if you are a vegetarian, this time of year can be tricky

Vegetarian Gourmet Recipes – Meatless Makeovers

Three years ago I decided to go “meatless.” It wasn’t a difficult decision as I wasn’t a voracious carnivore to begin with, however there were a few dishes that I missed that contained meat and wondered how I was going to live without these favorites. Rather than resign myself to the notion that these dishes

Are You Sure That’s Vegan? Review

Are You Sure That’s Vegan? is a vegan cookbook produced by Claire Gosse. I have had an early copy for awhile and have been testing out some of it’s recipes. I want to let everyone know I am not Vegan and am very picky. If these desserts taste like cardboard you will hear about it!

Baker’s Edge Does Vegan Meatloaf Good!

On my last visit to the States, despite shopping for 2 weeks for vegan ingredients and kitchen gadgets not available in Japan, there was one thing I neglected to buy. As a frequent baker, I was excited to try out the innovative baking pans from Baker’s Edge, and was torn between whether to purchase their

How Good Is a Vegan Diet?

Come with me as I explore the benefits of going all out vegetarian rather than sticking to the traditional diet of meat and vegetables. Lately concerns have emerged after my sister died of pancreatic cancer a couple of years ago and a cluster of cysts was found on my pancreas. Some unexplained pains and my

Funny Food Quotes

In my opinion, a good laugh is just as important to personal health as eating right and exercise. In fact, if I had to list the top three healthy habits, they would be green tea, broccoli and laughter. Laughter improves our overall state of mind and sense of satisfaction with life, raising our energy level

Torrone Cubbarda E Minnulata – Sicilian Nougat

Welcome back. Today, we’re going to talk about Sicilian Nougat, or “Torrone” – ” Cubbarda e Minnulata”. This is an Italian dessert that is made with honey, sugar, sesame seeds, toasted almonds and orange or lemon zest. It is a very tasty confection and is quick and easy to make. When properly stored, the torrone

Ndunderi – Story of an Italian Dumpling

If you have and Italian American background, chances are that your ancestors came from South Italy. If you remember hearing your grandparents or great grandparents talk you know that they did not “speak” Italian, they “sang” it. Italian phrases that I remember from childhood are not distinguishable as individual words. They were a flow of

The History of Bread Pudding – Part 1

Welcome back to the Italian Desserts. This post is the beginning of another diversion of sorts. Over the new few postings, we will be discussing bread pudding history and some recipes along the way. I am digressing again because my research into the world of Italian desserts has taken me WAY back in time, took

Quick Healthy Recipes: Dressing Up an Old Standby

Caring for our family and others includes finding ways to give them good nutritional meals and that can be a challenge. What are you to do when they will only eat familiar vegetables from childhood: green beans, peas, corn and potatoes? Green beans were often cooked in bacon grease and laden with bacon pieces. Peas

Excessive Border Collie Licking

I’m sure it happened to go see a friend and as soon as you opened the door a dog came out and started licking your face like crazy. Or maybe you yourself have a dog that has to lick you every time you come home or when you pet him. This is a habit that

Christmas in America Compared to Christmas in Italy, Two Pleasurable Holiday Destinations!

There are similarities and differences between Christmas in America and Christmas in Italy. The Christmas holiday originated with the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25, a day around the shortest day of the year. Therefore, the main reason we celebrate the holiday is to celebrate Christ’s birthday. Another reason for celebrating Christmas includes the

Farfatelle, Wandi, Guanti – Different Names, But Same Delicious Treat

We’re walking down sidewalks of Biscotti, along streets lined with Cannoli through neighborhoods with rows and rows of Tiramisu – now we notice the lovely clumps of Farfatelle that dot the lawns in the neighborhoods. Though a simple dessert, these delightful love knot / bow tie shaped cookies make such pretty arrangements. The sugar sprinkled

Vegetable Medley

Summer is the best time of the year to eat fresh vegetables. I like to mix a variety of vegetables together to make a vegetable medley. I prefer leafy greens, but I love carrots, squash and zucchini. Zucchini and squash are great alone or paired together making a lovely arrangement of colors. As a matter

Three Great Greek Vegetarian ‘Mezes’ (Little Dishes)

When I first met my American Greek husband, he had his American food lover head on: (excuse my punctuation – I’m used to writing recipes). Sandwiches with thick slices of meat between thick slices of crusty white bread Lots of crab, other shellfish and fish Salads Barbecues Italian food Of course Greek food – his

The Best Way to Ask Single Women Out on a Date

The way you ask for a date with single women can make a big difference in whether she accepts or declines. Also, it’s very important that you feel confident in advance that she is going to accept your invitation to get together for a date. Whatever you do, don’t expect a “no” answer in advance

DeLonghi EC701: 5 Must Know Facts about the DeLonghi EC701

Manufactured in Italy – Most people will overlook this; but when you have owned a real Italian espresso machine like I have, you learn to appreciate the Italian manufacturing process more than you appreciate your plastic coffee maker. I used to use a black and Decker coffee machine, and I would just run the coffee

Go Slow in Tuscany

I was interested (and I must admit, a little surprised) to read recently that Italy is the European leader in organic farming. Living here in Tuscany, it’s clear that there is definitely a growing culture of farming and eating more organic food, but I somehow expected wealthier, seemingly more “progressive” countries (such as Germany) to

Settebello: A Sought After Italian Experience

We pre-checked out Settebello one night after seeing it across the parking lot from our frequent coffee spot and children’s play place, Kinderland. Its dim lighting and modern rustic styling were just our taste. From the doorway, we saw a private liquor room and a burning hearth just past a bar. We took their high-quality

Top Secret Never Tell Neufchatel Alfredo

This alfredo sauce has it all; it’s low fat, tasty, and easily made in 20 minutes, SHUSH don’t tell. After all, it took quite a bit of thought and time for me to finally divulge the secrets you now see listed. product marketed as a healthier low-fat alternative to cream cheese. It is not identical

Amazing Sweet And Sour Brisket

Growing up on BBQ, there were times that I just couldn’t find a good place for brisket. In fact more and more, you can’t find it anywhere. This is when I started to just make it at home. The only problem was that I didn’t always like to fire up the smoker. One day, a

The Perks of Using Fresh Pasta

One of the reasons I enrolled myself in cooking lessons is my desire to serve authentic Italian cuisine to my family. We are all lovers of anything Italian, most of all Italian food and as you may expect, our favourite is pasta. However, I found that the best chefs do not use dried or store-bought

Lasagna: Then and Now

Lasagna must be one of the most delectable dishes in the Italian repertoire. Lasagna, however, unlike most Italian dishes is not a simple preparation. Lasagna is a carefully planned assembly. While the individual ingredients of lasagna are rather straightforward, the assembly of those ingredients is very complex; and, depending it what you chose to include

The Most Lucrative Dissertation Defense

“Desperate University” is a college at the foot of a canyon in the Great Plains between Interstates 85 and 212 in South Dakota. The school includes undergraduate and graduate degrees for poor students with very little money. Founded in 1901 by an archeologist who got lost in the desert, apparently seeking old Spanish ruins. According

5 Tips to End Emotional Eating

If you are struggling with emotional eating, you’re not alone. I still catch myself doing it – just the other day I sat down in front of my computer and opened up a bag of Terra chips and started shoveling them in. I stopped myself before I ate the entire bag because I became aware

World Pasta Day

I just can’t believe it! A “World Pasta Day” actually exists! A day when the entire world has reason to rejoice. You can probably already tell that I like pasta. In fact, I’ve never met a pasta I didn’t enjoy. Whether it’s served with tomato sauce that’s simmered for hours, or a sauce that’s thrown

John’s Pizzeria, NYC – Not to Be Missed

Last night we discovered John’s. It first opened its doors in 1929 on Sullivan Street in Greenwich Village. After losing its lease, owner John Sasso dismantled the brick oven and moved it to it’s currant Bleecker Street address when it still turns out the renowned and legendary pizza. In 1984 John’s opened a branch on

Can Acid Reflux Cause Weight Gain?

I wouldn’t necessarily say that acid reflux causes weight gain, but I would say that there are foods that most people eat every day for years that cause both acid reflux and weight gain. So it might seem like the acid reflux is causing the weight gain, but in reality, eating the wrong foods and

Italian Herbs Are Hearty And Healthy

Italian cuisine happens to be my all-time favorite! As a matter of fact I love it so much that I decided to plant my very own Italian herb garden right in my own kitchen. That way, each time I whipped up any of my delightful recipes all I needed to do was stroll over to

The Hazards of Soy

For years I have purchased soy milk, stocked it on my shelf, told myself I should open it and include it into my diet. After opening it though, it just sits in the refrigerator for a month or two. Then, of course, it’s too old to drink, so I throw it down the sink and

Chicken Recipe for Baked Ziti

It’s not necessary to have a party or celebration to cook something special for your family. Though everyone is really busy these days, it is worth having something that you will enjoy eating. For instance, Italian food: I picture a scrumptious cheesy, creamy meal that will leave a lingering smile on the faces of many.

Healthy Trans Fats vs. Unhealthy Trans Fats Revealed

I’m going to talk about something today that most of you have probably never heard…that there is a distinction between good trans fats and bad trans fats. There is some evidence that the good trans can help you with fat loss, muscle building, and even cancer prevention, while the bad trans fats have been shown

The Secret Ingredient to a Healthy Life

While in college studying nutrition, my friend heard from a teacher that it is easier for a person to change their religion than to change their eating habits. But necessity is the mother of invention. When my dad got sick and was hospitalized for cancer, I started researching to learn how to protect ourselves and

Superfood Splendor for Your Blender

The term “superfood” has been thrown around recently to describe many edible items that may not necessarily fit the bill. An unfortunate example of this occurred on a well know street where a big yellow bird and disgruntled trash dweller have occasionally been spotted. Yes, sunny day, sweeping the clouds away, on my way to

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Fudge Recipe

Chocolate Lovers Look No Further! Doesn’t sound like a healthy treat does it? So Is ‘Low Fat’ Really Healthy? Recent research is uncovering that ‘low fat’ actually means more sugar. Start reading your food labels carefully. There is nothing healthy about increased in sugar content or artificial sweetener! So if you are like me and

Graves’ Disease Diet Tips You Probably Don’t Know About

Before I discuss some Graves’ Disease diet tips that can help restore your health back to normal, let me first tell you that not only am I a licensed healthcare professional, but I was personally diagnosed with Graves’ Disease. And nutrition definitely played a huge role in restoring my health back to normal. I will

Healthy Diet for Hemorrhoids Prevention

Following a healthy diet for hemorrhoids prevention is not only great for colon and digestive health, but astounding for one’s entire body inside and out. People that eat a healthy diet feel fantastic inside while their outer appearance looks radiant. It will improve your overall quality of life. Unhealthy fatty junk food and processed foods

You Don’t Need Food Supplements to Stay Healthy

Are you taking food supplements? Why? If you answer “To stay healthy,” then you are off the mark. I take Kirkland’s Mature Multi because my daughter insists that I should (and pays for it, too). Otherwise, I would go with Dr. Donald McCormick, Ph.D. and Emory University professor emeritus of biochemistry who said, “A lot

How to Lose Weight With a Foreman Grill

If President Obama made me his food czar, I would require everyone in the country to purchase a George Foreman grill. Besides making ole George Foreman a billionaire, it would trim inches from your waist and make you the envy of every Weight Watchers client. This fat zapping machine cooks up just about any hunk

How to Get Ripped and Shredded 8 Pack Abs – The Simple Way

8 pack abs have become the latest ‘in thing’ when it comes to a ripped and shredded abdominal section. This is because of the rise of celebrities like twilight star Taylor Lautner and the number one fitness model Greg Plitt. With the rise of such celebrities, it was only natural that people’s desires to acquire