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!

The first think you will notice about this book is the high quality images of the desserts. I love this. When you are making desserts for a party or BBQ, you want them to have that WOW factor. When you have such high quality images you can tell which desserts will have people drooling as soon as they seem them.

I guess another thing you have to make sure is the book is completely Vegan. This might seem ridiculous since Vegan is right in the title, but you would be surprised what you find in some of these other “vegan” cookbooks. If they are calling for butter or eggs, then obviously the cookbook is worthless. Every ingredient in here is vegan, so that is a great start.a Continue reading “Are You Sure That’s Vegan? Review”

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 Edge brownie pan or the Simple lasagna pan.

For those who don’t know, the Edge brownie pan is designed so that every piece of brownie has at least two edges (since many people prefer eating the corners of conventional brownies), and the Simple lasagna pan is designed to make lasagna that is crispy around the edges, evenly cooked, and doesn’t lose its shape when sliced. Continue reading “Baker’s Edge Does Vegan Meatloaf Good!”

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 increasing age has warned me against sticking to my normal habits, especially in relation to food.

Some years ago my leaning more towards vegetables and fruits made me plan my garden to accommodate numerous fruit trees and patches for growing them. The exercise in performing duties to maintain these things has added to my regime.

Lately, however, I spend far too much time sitting and writing, especially now it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere. This has taken its toll on my body and being aware that lack of exercise is a recipe for cancer and other health problems my mind is made up. Continue reading “How Good Is a Vegan Diet?”

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 and causing us to lean less on unhealthy “comfort” foods. With that in mind, check out these funny food quotes and remember them the next time you spend some time in your kitchen. You can also register to receive jokes and other funny stuff by e-mail from our team here at Recipe4Living.

Share these quotes with your loved ones, sneak them into lunchboxes, and write them on unsuspecting chalkboards and whiteboards everywhere. Laugh it up!

In my experience, clever food is not appreciated at Christmas. It makes the little ones cry and the old ones nervous. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Continue reading “Funny Food Quotes”

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 will keep for about 2 weeks.

A Little History…

My research reveals that the cubbarda was introduced in Sicily by the Bizantines. Their name for this treat was “pastifeli”. Like so many Italian desserts from Sicily, this nougat also has a name given to it by the Saracens, called “qubbayt” in Arabic. The almond nougat, Minnulata, is made all over the island of Sicily. It was originally made with 100% honey as the sweetening agent but when the Saracens introduced sugar to the island, part of the honey was replaced with sugar. This confection is very popular because it is easy to make and takes only minutes to prepare. The recipe that follows is a fairly simple one and there is a variation to it as well. Continue reading “Torrone Cubbarda E Minnulata – Sicilian Nougat”

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 indistinguishable sounds, some highly musical, others peppery expletives. I recall the phrase, “mah’lay-bonz” which I think meant; “you’re a pain in the stomach. ” Similar to this phrase was “doo-zee-pots,” which now, as an adult who speaks Italian, I have come to know is a corruption of “Tu sei pozzo,” “You are crazy.” There was also the phrase spoken to babies, “Doo – zee – pee-zhad,” which meant, “You wet your diaper.” There was also the call “Aye… why-yoh,” that was addressed to any young man. I still have no idea what that means. One of the most curious aspects of the Southern Italian dialect is the way it doubles consonants at the beginning of words. This consonant doubling is not just a question of spelling. Continue reading “Ndunderi – Story of an Italian Dumpling”

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 me to Sicilian desserts and from there I landed here.

Bread pudding dates back to prehistoric times and has had its place in every era and every country since that time. My research has revealed that bread pudding, both sweet and savory, was first developed by ancient peoples. It seems that there has always been a tendency for frugal cooks to avoid the waste of stale bread and so this confection came into being. Continue reading “The History of Bread Pudding – Part 1”

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 and potatoes may have been swimming in a rich, creamy white sauce and butter. Take away the sauces and you are left with a plain dish that can get old quickly.

Let’s face it, vegetables from the can night after night can be boring at best and not all that nutritious. Personally, I prefer frozen or fresh vegetables; however, time constraints and budget often pull me to the pantry to grab a canned vegetable to heat quickly for dinner. Here are a couple of ways dress up those plain vegetables without adding a lot of calories and fats. Continue reading “Quick Healthy Recipes: Dressing Up an Old Standby”

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 all breeds have, even border collies. What you must know is that it’s absolutely normal for a border collie to lick, because it’s his way of greeting you, although not everyone thinks the same. That’s why you should never punish him for this.

Border collies use their tongues in order to investigate the environment they live in. That’s the reason why this part of their body is vital to them. They use it to taste food, discover new animals and people and show their love. But, sometimes a border collie licking can be rather annoying when he suddenly comes out of the nowhere and starts showing his affection.

For this reason you should start understanding your border collie licking habit. Most of the times it means that he’s affectionate, but the meaning is not always the same. It could also be the sign of various behaviors. You just have to observe its licking and figure out the cause.

As stated before, a border collie would normally lick because he wants to be affectionate and show his commitment and love. You can realize this because his body is relaxed and he has a happy and joyful mood. The dog could also lick because he’s anxious or stressed. In case he feels unhappy because of a certain problem, he can be obsessive with such behavior. To help him get rid of this habit you can take him out to do more exercise or you can pay him more attention. In some rare cases the dog can also lick people because he’s spoiled.

A border collie licking can also be the cause of some health problems. This may happen because you don’t give him enough water or the food you give him didn’t have enough nutrients. Try to include more vitamins in his diet and always provide him fresh water on a daily basis. He may also have ticks or worms. This often causes skin irritations that make him lick others. To avoid this you have to always give him worming treatments. For some people, not precisely the owners but the visitors or friends, a border collie licking can be quite disgusting. They often think that the dog’s bacteria can easily be transferred to them and thus get certain diseases. That’s why you should try to change his behavior. You cannot stop him from licking, but you can limit this habit. That depends of course, on the reason.

What you can do is come home a little earlier or just find some free moments to give him some play time, grooming and exercise. In case the border collie licks you because he’s happy let him do it and don’t punish him. But,if you really don’t like it you can change your body language and the dog will immediately understand. For example, you can walk away or you can say a “No” command every time he wants to lick you. Be calm, don’t shout and have patience until your border collie finally understands.

So, anytime you get annoyed by your border collie licking, you have to remember that this is their natural behavior. However, if he is licking you much more than the usual try to figure out the reason and then solve the problem.

Source by Nelly Katz

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 changing of the seasons and the days that will become short before becoming long again. The shortest day, not necessarily falling on Christmas, is Winter Solstice which happens also to be a Pagan, agricultural holiday to mark the changes is the seasons. Most simply, we celebrate Christmas across the world as inspiration to imitate ethical behaviors of Christ who unconditionally loved all men and women regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds.

Americans and Italians provide countless, special holiday games and activities for their children both at home and at school. Santa Claus, who is “Babbo Natale” in Italy, brings children surprises on Christmas Day. Almost every child receives some gifts on Christmas Eve and/or on Christmas Day. Children open up their packages or empty their stockings as family members enjoy watching them be joyful about the surprises. Children’s gifts range from candy to stuffed animals to other more sophisticated toys. Continue reading “Christmas in America Compared to Christmas in Italy, Two Pleasurable Holiday Destinations!”