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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”

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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”

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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”

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Corsica – An Island For Foodies

The island of Corsica is odd-shaped, think of a bunch of grapes held by the stem at the top. The wild and stunningly beautiful Cap Corse forms the stem. The balance of the cluster, is reflected by the enormously varied topography, mountain peaks (120 summits reaching over 2000 meters), river gorges, sandy beaches and lush plains. My husband and I were told by some friends that Corsica is like a mini-France, offering a bit of everything in a small space. Unquestionably, the island offers the traveller a rich and tasty experience within its’ 1000km coastline. The Corsican population is fiercely proud of their locally produced food and beverage products, we felt it our duty to sample a wide variety of the available goods during our stay.

The following are the ABC’s of Corsican offerings for the hungry and parched traveller: Continue reading “Corsica – An Island For Foodies”

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Tips for Adding Herbs and Seasoning to Pasta for a Healthy Snack

Pasta can be a healthy inclusion in a balanced diet. The pasta itself will not contribute to an unhealthy meal but the sauces we choose to make can if we do not make good choices. Sauces that are heavy with thick cream are not good for those individuals on low fat diets. Consider using healthier olive oils and mixing it up with different flavours and spice blends for a tantalising taste of flavours from around the world.

I personally only eat gluten free pasta and I try to limit this to once a week. I do not follow a low fat diet as I believe good fats are actually beneficial in assisting with weight loss and maintaining a healthy body. So when I cook pasta as a main meal I then use the leftovers for snacks (when there are any leftovers!)

I like to try out different flavoured olive oils as a very simple sauce for my pasta. For example you could try these three flavours:

1. Thai Inspired Olive Oil – Thai-inspired extra virgin olive oil with lemongrass, garlic, basil, lime and chilli. Continue reading “Tips for Adding Herbs and Seasoning to Pasta for a Healthy Snack”

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Superfood: Olive Oil

Olive oil, the keystone food of the Mediterranean diet, helps prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, inflammation, skin aging, and cognitive decline. The powerful protection of this oil reduces the causes of death and the effect of aging. It an essential ingredient for this longevity diet.

Olive oil is certainly not new to us, but the health benefits increase if we completely eliminate butter and related products and increase the use of this oil. This is especially true for the first press of extra virgin oil that has higher polyphenols which in turn combat inflammation. Why is inflammation bad? Its present with and worsens chronic diseases which is correlated with premature illness and death.

Continue reading “Superfood: Olive Oil”

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Best Diets (Ranked)

The best diets are ranked by doctors, nutritionalists and dietitians for U. S. News and World Report(1) annually. There are many factors that go into the ranking like its heart and diabetes ratings, weight loss potential, ease of following and best plant based diets. These different ratings are combined to afford its overall rating.

One of the first things you notice reviewing the list is how the trendy diets are near the bottom. Here is a list of the top and bottom five diets:

The Worst:

The Fast Diet–weak on dietary guidance when not fasting

Atkins–good for weight loss, not for nutrition or heart health Continue reading “Best Diets (Ranked)”