Barbecue, BBQ & grilling, BBQ food, Breakfast, Drinks, Family, Fish, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy eating, Italian, Light meals, Main Course, Mains, Meat, Meat & fish, Nutrition, One-pan recipes, Quick & Easy, Quick fixes, Recipe Roundup, Salad, Sauces & condiments, Seasonal, Seasonal produce, Sharing, Side Dish, Snacks, Summer, Summer Drinks, Uncategorized, Vegetable sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Oil of Oregano – Nature’s Tonic, Antibiotic, and Fountain of Youth

Oil of Oregano is one essential oil that just about everyone should have in their pantry. It has been used or hundreds of years in the Mediterranean world, and has recently been gaining popularity in the western world as well.

Oil of Oregano is extracted from the oregano plant. This plant is related to mint plants, and it is often used in Italian food like pizza and tomato sauce. The Greeks also use oregano in much of their culinary creations. The origin of the plant is most likely Mediterranean, however it is used around the world as a spice, and increasingly, as a medicinal tonic of sorts.

Oregano has several properties, one is that it is a powerful antioxidant. This is the likely source of the widespread belief of the health benefits of oregano oil. The two compounds Carvacrol and Thymol are the components of oregano oil that generate its antioxidant properties. Continue reading “Oil of Oregano – Nature’s Tonic, Antibiotic, and Fountain of Youth”

Barbecue, BBQ & grilling, BBQ food, Breakfast, Drinks, Family, Fish, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy eating, Italian, Light meals, Main Course, Mains, Meat, Meat & fish, Nutrition, One-pan recipes, Quick & Easy, Quick fixes, Recipe Roundup, Salad, Sauces & condiments, Seasonal, Seasonal produce, Sharing, Side Dish, Snacks, Summer, Summer Drinks, Uncategorized, Vegetable sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Top 5 Anti-Inflammatory Foods (Best List)

One of the most overlooked causes to some of the most common diseases plaguing our society today is inflammation. Here are the top recommended Anti-Inflammatory Foods List and Anti-Inflammatory Diet.

When we pour through the statistics, we can see that high blood pressure, asthma, heart disease, and arthritis all have one cause in common and that is inflammation.

The good news is inflammation can be managed simply by making a few changes to your diet. In this article we will look at the most highly recommended anti-inflammatory foods and how they can be used to treat and even prevent diseases.

The Essentials. Let’s start off by looking at what makes anti-inflammatory foods effective and how this can be used to your advantage.

Anti-inflammatory foods can mostly be found in an old-school diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, with little to no red meat. Mainly, we are going to look for these three characteristics when considering what foods are a good match: Continue reading “Top 5 Anti-Inflammatory Foods (Best List)”

Barbecue, BBQ & grilling, BBQ food, Breakfast, Drinks, Family, Fish, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy eating, Italian, Light meals, Main Course, Mains, Meat, Meat & fish, Nutrition, One-pan recipes, Quick & Easy, Quick fixes, Recipe Roundup, Salad, Sauces & condiments, Seasonal, Seasonal produce, Sharing, Side Dish, Snacks, Summer, Summer Drinks, Uncategorized, Vegetable sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Grilled Lamb With Provence Herbs and Summer Vegetables

For people following a high protein diet, such as weight loss surgery patients, grilled lamb is an excellent protein source that is low in fat and rich in minerals and nutrients. Marinating the lamb early in the day before grilling yields a flavorful and savory protein the whole family can enjoy.

Lamb is the most widely consumed animal protein in the world. In fact humans have spent the last 1,000 years getting the seasonings and cooking technique just right. Lamb is a staple in the southern hemisphere, most famously New Zealand. Africa, India and the Mediterranean countries all have signature methods of preparing and enjoying lamb. According to George Mateljan at The World’s Healthiest Food, “Americans eat a fraction of the amount of lamb consumed in many other countries in the world. And that is too bad since this red meat is very healthful and extremely delicious, having a very tender and buttery quality.” Continue reading “Grilled Lamb With Provence Herbs and Summer Vegetables”

Barbecue, BBQ & grilling, BBQ food, Breakfast, Drinks, Family, Fish, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy eating, Italian, Light meals, Main Course, Mains, Meat, Meat & fish, Nutrition, One-pan recipes, Quick & Easy, Quick fixes, Recipe Roundup, Salad, Sauces & condiments, Seasonal, Seasonal produce, Sharing, Side Dish, Snacks, Summer, Summer Drinks, Uncategorized, Vegetable sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Melaleuca – An Essential Plant For a Mediterranean and Dry Climate Garden

When it comes to choosing the ideal garden shrub, a Melaleuca has to be a primary candidate in a Mediterranean climate. Melaleucas are handsome in form, virtually pest and disease free, and while modest in their water requirements, they tend to grow quickly. They also associate well with many other water conserving plants.

The genus Melaleuca from Australia contains some 140 species mainly of large bushes but also includes some trees and low growing shrubs. There are a number of species and varieties that fulfill various design functions, but all are evergreen and typified by a fine, feathery texture. The large shrubs such as M.nesophila and M.armillaris are excellent as informal screens, while the green/gold foliage of M.bracteata, “Revolution Gold” supplies interesting color variation in a shrubbery. Continue reading “Melaleuca – An Essential Plant For a Mediterranean and Dry Climate Garden”

Barbecue, BBQ & grilling, BBQ food, Breakfast, Drinks, Family, Fish, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy eating, Italian, Light meals, Main Course, Mains, Meat, Meat & fish, Nutrition, One-pan recipes, Quick & Easy, Quick fixes, Recipe Roundup, Salad, Sauces & condiments, Seasonal, Seasonal produce, Sharing, Side Dish, Snacks, Summer, Summer Drinks, Uncategorized, Vegetable sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Using Quinoa As a Staple Food

There are certain food items that are regarded as staple foods. Here in England it is almost a crime to have dinner without potatoes. We eat potatoes with anything. We boil them, we roast them and we chip them. We also make them into waffles, croquettes and mashed potato. When we run out of ideas for the potato it will be a sad day.

Another staple food is rice. Whilst not a flexible as the humble potato it can be cooked and used in many ways as a main meal or a dessert. So what about quinoa? Is using quinoa as a staple food a viable option. Is it easy to use in lots of different types of foods and recipes? Having written 2 books on the subject I am bound to say yes. But let me explain a number of easy ways you can include quinoa in your diet today.

As An Accompaniment To A Meal. Continue reading “Using Quinoa As a Staple Food”

Barbecue, BBQ & grilling, BBQ food, Breakfast, Drinks, Family, Fish, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy eating, Italian, Light meals, Main Course, Mains, Meat, Meat & fish, Nutrition, One-pan recipes, Quick & Easy, Quick fixes, Recipe Roundup, Salad, Sauces & condiments, Seasonal, Seasonal produce, Sharing, Side Dish, Snacks, Summer, Summer Drinks, Uncategorized, Vegetable sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

What Is the Difference Between Sweet and Savory?

We are hearing so much that some foods are sweet and some savory, but what is the difference? Is there any truth that savory foods are an aphrodisiac? And can a dish be both sweet and savory? Basically sweet foods have a sweet taste usually from sugar, or honey, chocolate, or natural sugars found in fruit. Examples include candy, cakes, cookies, fudge, pasties, puddings, and chocolate bars.

Savory foods have no focus on being sweet. Their primary flavor would come from the combination of herbs and spices making the dish appetizing, pleasant and agreeable to the senses like a Mediterranean inspired chicken cooked with cumin and turmeric, or a garlic and paprika roast beef. Meat, vegetables, finger foods are usually savory because they are prepared with a minimum of sugar and no focus on a sweet taste.

Continue reading “What Is the Difference Between Sweet and Savory?”

Barbecue, BBQ & grilling, BBQ food, Breakfast, Drinks, Family, Fish, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy eating, Italian, Light meals, Main Course, Mains, Meat, Meat & fish, Nutrition, One-pan recipes, Quick & Easy, Quick fixes, Recipe Roundup, Salad, Sauces & condiments, Seasonal, Seasonal produce, Sharing, Side Dish, Snacks, Summer, Summer Drinks, Uncategorized, Vegetable sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Should You Drink Coffee Daily?

The experts now agree that coffee is good for us, as long as it is drunk in moderation. Four espressos a day is fine, apparently. Just as well for Italians, who thrive on the stuff!

It seems that coffee protects our livers from cirrhosis as well as improving our blood circulation. It can also help protect us from certain cancers, particularly those of the prostate, the pancreas, and the bladder, to name just a few.

It also protects our teeth from decay and it is a wonderful source of antioxidants which protect us from the free radicals in our bodies that can cause cancer. Of course, we also get antioxidants from fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as other foods, but coffee contains 600 times the antioxidants than fruit.

Antioxidants can delay the aging process, giving our skin its youthful elasticity. They can help combat wrinkles and the crows feet that form around the eyes as we age. Continue reading “Should You Drink Coffee Daily?”

Barbecue, BBQ & grilling, BBQ food, Breakfast, Drinks, Family, Fish, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy eating, Italian, Light meals, Main Course, Mains, Meat, Meat & fish, Nutrition, One-pan recipes, Quick & Easy, Quick fixes, Recipe Roundup, Salad, Sauces & condiments, Seasonal, Seasonal produce, Sharing, Side Dish, Snacks, Summer, Summer Drinks, Uncategorized, Vegetable sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

A Taste of Cyprus

Islands are the stuff of fantasy and romance, places to find solitude and a sense of calm. The beautiful sun kissed Mediterranean island of Cyprus is a must visit, but what can be expected within its unique cuisine?

You may have heard on the grapevine that the Mediterranean people live a long and healthy life. It used to be said that Cyprus invented the art of good living and the island has developed a reputation of luxurious lifestyles for both humans and Gods. The fresh produce is a clear indication of why the elderly Cypriots are still skipping down the streets in their eighties!

Global Influences

Cypriot cuisine has many different influences due to its neighbouring countries and location: Greece, Turkey and the Middle East. Such flavours inject a unique culinary experience for visitors. Herbs and spices are an ingredient within every dish, the most common being parsley, oregano, basil and mint. The hotel that you might be residing in could in fact have its own herb garden! So your meal in its restaurant will deliver a fresh local taste every time. Continue reading “A Taste of Cyprus”

Barbecue, BBQ & grilling, BBQ food, Breakfast, Drinks, Family, Fish, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy eating, Italian, Light meals, Main Course, Mains, Meat, Meat & fish, Nutrition, One-pan recipes, Quick & Easy, Quick fixes, Recipe Roundup, Salad, Sauces & condiments, Seasonal, Seasonal produce, Sharing, Side Dish, Snacks, Summer, Summer Drinks, Uncategorized, Vegetable sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Eating Through Time: Part 1 – The Tudors

As a self-professed ‘foodie’ with a thirst for historical knowledge, the evolution of our dining table has always fascinated me.

Throughout this series of blogs, I will be delving into the best and worst of our culinary past, seeking out historical recipes, and the eating habits of time gone by; from the gorging banquet halls of Henry VIII to the famine of the French Revolution.

Come with me as I take you on an edible journey through time, exploring the customs and traditions of the day.

The Tudor Period

We are starting our Time Series with the Tudor period; or specifically the reign of Henry VIII.

Continue reading “Eating Through Time: Part 1 – The Tudors”

Barbecue, BBQ & grilling, BBQ food, Breakfast, Drinks, Family, Fish, Fruit, Healthy, Healthy eating, Italian, Light meals, Main Course, Mains, Meat, Meat & fish, Nutrition, One-pan recipes, Quick & Easy, Quick fixes, Recipe Roundup, Salad, Sauces & condiments, Seasonal, Seasonal produce, Sharing, Side Dish, Snacks, Summer, Summer Drinks, Uncategorized, Vegetable sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Top Five Restaurants in Downtown Norfolk, Virginia – Part I

Downtown Norfolk offers the casual and fine diner a multitude of culinary options – every cuisine from Asian to Mediterranean, steak to vegetarian. The proximity of downtown Norfolk to the Elizabeth River and the stylish MacArthur Center provide for a leisurely post-dinner stroll as well, completing any romantic night on the town. Whether celebrating an anniversary or other landmark, or looking for a place to eat before a movie, the restaurants of Downtown Norfolk have a table waiting.

So get ready to have your taste buds tempted while we chart five of the top places to toast a friend and split an appetizer.

Vintage Kitchen – 999 Waterside Drive – This exclusive eatery is open for lunch daily but only for dinner Monday through Wednesday. The rest of the week, it’s appointment only, but well worth it with a menu of eclectic small plates and succulent entrees like aged tenderloin and duck breast. Continue reading “Top Five Restaurants in Downtown Norfolk, Virginia – Part I”