How to Make an Authentic Greek Salad

The Greek salad is the quintessential Greek lunch enjoyed sitting in the sun at gingham laid tables overlooking the turquoise waters of the warm Mediterranean Sea. It evokes the senses: pleasant memories of warm sunshine, fresh herbs, tasty tomatoes and cheeky but handsome waiters.

Greek food is renowned for its simplicity, and the authentic Greek salad is no exception. It is simple to prepare, using simple fresh ingredients. But how can you recreate the authentic Greek salad when you are back home? It’s worth doing, because this simple dish is tasty, healthy, and evokes those memories of vacations by the sea. But it’s important to get it right.

So let’s do it! Continue reading “How to Make an Authentic Greek Salad”

Things to Do in Malta – Unique Maltese Traditions

This article provides information about Malta and its strongest traditions; pottery, glass-blowing, filigree and lace-making, folk music, Maltese food and the traditional market.

Malta is an island of traditions, each of which stem from its exquisite history. Here, ‘tradition’ is taken to include several aspects such as crafts, food and music – which are still present in the Maltese islands. Recently, new efforts have been injected into the revival and protection of certain dying Maltese traditions such as lace-making; not only because they provide great souvenirs for tourists who visit Malta, but because of their cultural and artistic values.

Handmade Crafts in Malta Continue reading “Things to Do in Malta – Unique Maltese Traditions”

5 Distinguishing Characteristics of Spanish Cuisine

There is little doubt that the world truly has a lot to offer when it comes to culinary goodness. Whether it may be in your home town or a totally different country, there will always be an abundance of really delectable food that will have you begging for more. One of the most sought-after cuisines these days is Spanish food. It is often labeled as the “people’s cuisine”, mainly for the reason that it possesses a down to earth goodness, and is also generally very easy to make. What makes it even more popular with a lot of folks is the fact that its ingredients can be obtained either regionally or locally.

One may notice that every region in Spain has its own unique brand of signature dishes. This is because of the fact that it was difficult to travel from one region to another until the late 20th century. The area is filled with mountains which run in different directions, making it somewhat of a challenge to cross over to another area. This caused people to concoct their own recipes for foods we know now recognize as Spanish cuisine. Even up to now, a lot of the recipes are still cooked very much the same way they were several hundreds of years ago, while there are some which have notable influences from other cultures, say American, as well. Despite all this, there is little question that the food in Spain will always be tasty and delicious. Below are some of the unique characteristics which best describe Spanish cuisine: Continue reading “5 Distinguishing Characteristics of Spanish Cuisine”

Benefits of Tomatoes – The Natural Fat Burner!

Discover the incredible weight loss benefits of tomatoes, how to best prepare them and how much you should eat to get maximum benefit from tomatoes – one of nature’s amazing fat burning foods.

The vegetable that is grown more than any other vegetable in the United States is the tomato.

Botanically, tomatoes are fruit, but they are considered vegetables because they are not as sweet as other fruits.

Tomatoes are divided into four basic types according to their size. Continue reading “Benefits of Tomatoes – The Natural Fat Burner!”

Detoxify Your System – 3 Unlikely Foods that Detoxify Your System

You might think of detoxification as a harsh procedure that is disruptive to your social life. Here is a more delicious idea. Day by day eat foods that constantly detoxify your systems – like the colon, liver, and circulatory system and keep you in tip top shape at the cellular level where disease and aging starts .

Natural, fresh, as yet inexpensive and definitely bearing gifts, here comes parsley.

Parsley detoxifies your body at the cellular level. It is high in Vitamin C which supports and cleanses the immune system. This gives chemo- protective rescue from internal damage at the cellular level where most illnesses are conceived. It has chlorophyll that cleanses the bowels, liver and lungs. Chlorophyll also has anti-inflammatory properties, which means less aches and pains.

It is a misuse of parsley to use it only as a garnish. To get more food benefits make parsley pesto. Use a food processor or blender. Blend parsley with other enhancing and cleansing foods like lemon juice, pine nuts or walnuts, garlic and olive oil. To detoxify your system use it regularly as a sauce, as a snack spread it on bread or just stir it into cooked rice or pasta. Continue reading “Detoxify Your System – 3 Unlikely Foods that Detoxify Your System”

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”

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)”

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”

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”

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”