Speed up that old metabolism!
August 12, 2009 by BB
Filed under Food & Drink
It’s not only important to eat healthy, it’s also important to eat smart and if you’re trying to loose weight or just maintain your weight, the way you eat will determine the outcome. There are some interesting points in the following article.
10 Foods That Speed Up Your Metabolism
Author: Xylene Belita
Are you in search for foods that speed up your metabolism? Then, continue reading and I will you a list of foods that speed up metabolism. But you should know that all foods really help speed up your body’s metabolism.
However, if you want a higher rate of metabolism, then you should take in foods that are rich in carbohydrates and protein. It is noted that food rich in protein burn as much as 25% of that food’s calories when going through the process of digestion and absorption.
However, you have to pay attention also that although protein speeds up metabolism, taking foods rich in protein alone will not suffice the need of your body. Supplementing your protein diet with other vitamins and minerals will not cope up the other nutrients needed by your body which can be found only in foods.
The wisest thing to do is to eat proportionate meals habitually. These foods must contain of course protein, fats, carbohydrates and non-starchy vegetables. Following this diet plan can regulate fat production at the same time keep your blood sugar on regular height that helps in burning fat and building muscles.
Here is the list of foods that speed up metabolism. These are 10 specific kinds of foods that are proven to help speed up metabolism and burn fat:
Whole grain bread
Chicken
Salmon
Eggs
Fresh Cheese
Green Beans
Summer Squash
Cabbage
Asparagus and other non-starchy vegetables
Meats rich in protein
Drinking cold water can temporarily speed up your metabolism by at least 30%. However, there are also some factors that may inevitably affect your metabolism such as age, sex, and even any medical condition.
Though you can choose to eat the kind of foods that speed up your metabolism, losing weight can be best achieved if you eat a regular and healthy meal and pair it off with physical exercise. Concentrate on foods and physical routines that can help build muscles since it burns calories faster.
About the Author:
Seriously, when you do exercise regularly and eat with proper diet like a good amount of protein, non-starchy vegetables, fats and carbohydrates, results can be seen in a matter of time. Find out more foods that speed up your metabolism so you can plan your diet program. Visit website for more tips: http://www.weightlossreviewed.info
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – 10 Foods That Speed Up Your Metabolism
Summer Goodness Fresh Asparagus
July 6, 2009 by BB
Filed under Food & Drink
Here In New Jersey it’s all about fresh vegetables in the summertime. You go to the farm market and fill up your basket with tomatoes, corn, peppers, and how about some asparagus. Asparagus is one of those vegetables many people aren’t too sure of. Maybe because they’ve never had it cooked right. Here are some tips and instructions for preparing Asoaragus the right way and you’ll love it.
Cooking Asparagus The Fun And Easy Way
Preparation is the key when you’re going to cook asparagus. There are several methods of cooking boiling, grilling, steaming, or roasting. The microwave is also a good option when cooking asparagus. Cut the asparagus into sections and you can use it in stirfries you can also blanch the asparagus and use it in vegetable dips. Of course, there’s nothing like steamed asparagus with butter, salt, and pepper.
When buying asparagus make sure that it is fresh, the asparagus will taste much better and can be kept for two to three days when properly stored. Once you get the asparagus home and ready to prepare, you’ll need to trim it. The easiest way to trim asparagus before cooking is to simply do it by hand by bending the stock until it breaks. If it will not break but only bends, it is probably old and will not be as fresh as you would like it. Some cooks prefer to peel the bottom of the stocks this is not really necessary but sometimes helps when the stocks are a little woody. Contrary to popular belief the thicker asparagus is actually more flavorful than the pencil thin variety that most people want to buy.
An easy way to peel asparagus if you decide to go that route, is to lay a stalk on the counter or a cutting board and use a vegetable peeler. Starting at the top of the asparagus peel all the way to the end. The main reason anybody would peel asparagus, as I mentioned above, would be to make the asparagus more tender. You don’t need to completely peel the asparagus either, simply peel down one one side to allow moisture to enter the asparagus while it is cooking.
If you want to steam the asparagus here is a simple method. After you have timmed your asparagus to the size you need, and optionally peeled it, place them in a saucepan and about an inch of water. Another steaming method you can use when cooking asparagus is to stand them vertically. Make sure you tie the bundles at the bottom and the top so they don’t fall over in the pan. They should steam for approximately 5 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness.
Boiling is a great way to cook asparagus also. You want to use just enough water to cover the asparagus but make sure all the stems face the same direction and are covered with water. The asparagus will take between four to six minutes to cook completely, but again that depends on the size.
One method I really enjoy is using the grill. Cooking asparagus on the grill either directly over the fire or on skewers gives a great smoky flavor. Depending how you like them, cook the asparagus for anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Another great way to cook the asparagus is to wrap them in foil with a little bit of olive oil and salt and pepper and cook them on the grill for 10-20 minutes. You’ll have a great treat.
On those winter days when you really don’t want to cook asparagus on the BBQ, another great option is roasting. Simply heat the oven to 425° F, and lay the asparagus flat on a baking sheet lined with foil. You can put any seasoning you want on the asparagus when roasting; salt, pepper, lemon pepper or any other spice that you have on hand are good. You will be rewarded with a nice tender stalk with a roasted flavor in about two to three minutes.
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About the Author
Jon Griffin has been playing music since he was 7 years old. He is also an avid cook and expert in beer, brewing and other beverages. He owns salsablanca.com and learningaboutstuff.com He went to Grove School of Music where he studied songwriting and composing and arranging (yes it was fun doing a big band chart every week!).
Rare Kopi Luwak Coffee Bean
May 22, 2009 by BB
Filed under Food & Drink
The 411 on the Rare Kopi Luwak Coffee Bean
If you have had an ear open to the media lately, then I am sure that you have heard of the rare Kopi Luwak coffee bean that originates from Indonesia. This is renowned as being one of the most unique and special coffee beans that is harvested worldwide, and it is named after the Luwak tree cats that are found in Indonesia in the coffee harvest areas. This specific species of tree cats actually are attracted to Java, Sulawesi, and Sumatra coffee beans and the ripest parts of those coffee cherries. What basically happens is that these tree cats will eat these delicious coffee beans and then excrete them in the same form because they are unable to digest them. After that point, Indonesian locals will actually collect these beans from the excrement, wash them, and roast them into a delicious coffee blend. Are you surprised? If this is something that turns your stomach, then just know that the astounding flavor profile of these beans comes from 
the Luwak tree cats enzymatic digestive track in combination with their stomach acids that makes a customized fermentation system to result in the famed Kopi Luwak roast.
The coffee itself actually has a dark and rich flavor with caramel and nutty low notes within the flavor profile. This is something that can be easily described as exotic, especially when you note where it came from and how it came to be in your coffee cup. The texture of the coffee itself is actually on the thicker side, and it is heavy and smooth as it goes down. This is great for any avid coffee fan like yourself who actually wants to branch out and try the best of the best. It may be 
wise when you are sampling this roast with your family and friends not to tell them the origin of the beans until after they have become a believer. It is something that you truly have to try and see for yourself. Just to add a little insult to injury, Kopi Luwak is currently the most expensive coffee worldwide, and the price per pound ranges from $100-$600. Two of the prime importers for these type of coffee beans are actually the US and Japan. The reason behind all of this is due to the fact that supplies are limited because of the unique and intense fermenting process, so there are only around 1000 pounds that are marketed per year. You do the math.
If you want to sit back and truly enjoy this exotic treat, then you can travel to Queensland, Australia, where they have Kopi Luwak on the menu at one particular coffee shop at $33 per cup. They sell about 4 cups a week, so they are famous all over Australia. There must be some reason that this particular coffee bean is so in demand, so I urge you to try it and see for yourself. This is something that is completely valuable to a coffee connoisseur or coffee sommelier, so please enjoy the roast, but don’t try this at home!
Author: Bethany North
About the Author:
Chuggin McCoffee is a coffee enthusiast and expert who has dedicated his career to researching and discovering the optimum flavors and tastes in all coffee beans and varieties. His site offers an unlimited amount of coffee supplies and commercial espresso machines at http://www.thecoffeebump.com/ for the true coffee lover in you!
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The 411 on the Rare Kopi Luwak Coffee Bean
Top Ten Coffee Drinks
April 24, 2009 by BB
Filed under Food & Drink
Coffe Drinks are more popular than ever. Here is a list of the top 10 specialty coffee drinks probably available at your favorite coffee house.
TOP 10 COFFEE DRINKS
Author: wegotcoffee
This is our list of the most popular coffee drinks you can get in coffee shops.
1. Coffee – Just a regular coffee, or Tall as Starbucks calls it.
2. Espresso – ‘condensed’ coffee brewed by forcing water through coffee grinds.
3. Cappuccino – 2 parts espresso, 1 part steamed milk, topped with milk froth.
3. Cafe Latte – 1 part espresso, 1 part steamed milk and very little milk froth.
4. Cafe Au Lait – 2 parts espresso, 2 parts hot milk.
5. Cafe Americano – 1 part espresso and 3 parts hot water.
6. Macchiato – 1 part espresso and topped with milk foam.
7. Cafe Con Leche – 1 part espresso and 1 part steamed milk plus 1 tsp. sugar
8. Cafe Mocha – 1 part espresso & 2 parts steamed milk with 1tsp. cocoa powder.
9. Cafe Breve – 1 part espresso 1 part steamed half and half.
10. Espresso Con Panna – 1 part espresso – topped with whipped cream.
That is our list of ten popular coffee drinks found in coffee shops and bars like Starbucks. These are the drinks you most often see sold. Most good coffee shops can make any one of these drinks. We recommend trying them all, either at home, or in a cool coffee shop.
To make these at home you need:
A basic coffee brewer (auto drip is fine)
An espresso maker (Macchinetta is best, and cheapest)
A basic coffee frother (looks like a French Press coffee maker)
Brought to you by WeGotCoffee.com
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Top 10 Coffee Drinks
Using the Old Crock-Pot
March 31, 2009 by BB
Filed under Food & Drink
Crock-Pot Cooking Tips
Crock-pot cooking can offer some very tasty meals and desserts however some basic rules should be followed when using a crock-pot to cook with. You should be careful not to over stir their food while it’s cooking in a crock pot. Taking the lid off during cooking causes vast amounts of heat to escape, therefore the food should only be stirred if it is clearly stated in the recipe.
Some elements can only be added at the end of the cooking time. When using milk and sour cream be sure to wait until the last fifteen minutes of cooking time before adding these ingredients. Unless the recipe states otherwise, seafood only needs to be included during the last hour of cooking time.
Pasta and rice cook requirements are quite different for crock-pot cooking. For the best results with pasta, cook in boiling water until just tender, and then add the pasta to the main dish during the last thirty minutes of cooking time. You should also try to use long grain converted rice for the best results. If the rice does not appear cooked completely through, you can add another 1-1.5 cups of liquid per cup of rice. Always boil beans before adding them to the crock-pot for cooking.
Frozen foods can be used in crock-pot cooking. When cooking frozen means you should use at least one cup of warm liquid along with the meat. When preparing these types of meals you should all for and additional four to six hours on low temperature or two hours on high.
Contrary to popular belief, cooking raw meat in the crock-pot is very safe. During the cooking process, the meat’s internal temperature reaches approximately 170 degrees in beef and 190 degrees in poultry. Two important things to remember however is to always cook the meat for its complete time recommended in the recipe recommend time. Secondly, do not remove the lid on the slow cooker. There is no requirement to brown meat beforehand unless the you prefer the look and taste of browned meat.
When cooking in a crock-pot the best flavors will come from whole herbs and spices. Crushed herbs and spices rapidly lose their flavor during the long cooking time, but whole spices keep their flavor during the entire cooking time because they take longer to let go of their flavor.
Crock-pots can be used to make desserts and baked goods as well. You should be sure not to over beat breads and cakes; and should always follow the recommended recipe guidelines. Never add water to the crock-pot unless it specifically says to do so. Always allow cakes and breads to sit and cool for five to seven minutes before taking them out of the pan.
Vegetables like potatoes and carrots should be cut no larger than 1″ thick, and put in the bottom of the pot, since they require more time to cook. Crock-pot cooking can be delicious for both meals and desserts when some basic guidelines are followed.
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