Wednesday 2 November 2011

Sweet Potatoes also called yams

Sweet potato is a staple that is grown here in Jamaica as well as several other countries in the world. It was one of those root crops grown by the Arawak Indians who inhabited the Island at the time when Christopher Columbus first set foot on the island. There are several varieties of the staple presently grown here. The three most commonly grown ones are white, yellow or deep orange when cooked.

Sweet potatoes are extremely versatile; as such they are consumed in many ways. The potato can be eaten by simply peeling away the skin and boiling with a pinch of salt. It can be diced, boiled and used to make a sweet potato salad or it can be added to soup to help enhance the flavour, in the meantime adding body to the soup.

Another very popular way to use the sweet potato is to make a ‘candied’ dish. In fact this is a holiday delight for most families. The sweet potato could also be blanched, that is after peeling and putting the slices in a pot of boiling water for about 5 minutes, they are quickly removed and paced in some cold water. These blanched pieces of sweet potato having been properly drained can be fried lightly.

Sweet potatoes can be baked as a whole. Usually, a really large size potato is ideal for baking. After peeling the baked potato, it could be eaten as is or by adding a little butter.

To be used as a snack the sweet potato could be peeled, sliced thinly and deep fried. Sweet potato chips are delectable and are always a welcome treat included in family gatherings, business meetings and any other social event.

Added to all the uses mentioned above is the sweet potato pudding. This is a pastry enjoyed in Jamaica, and a number of the islands in the Caribbean. Unlike the other uses of the sweet potato in the ideas previously advanced; in making the sweet potato pudding, the potato is not cooked, Instead it is peeled and grated.

Like most things there are several variations of the sweet potato pudding. Among these are, sweet potato with yellow yam and cornmeal, sweet potato with cornmeal and flour, or sweet potato with coco. The real delight about the pudding is the combination of creamy coconut milk, with sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla with the grated sweet potato. The actual baking is no less delightful as the aroma which fills the air surely triggers all the excitement needed to get the taste buds going and the digestive juices in a state of anticipation.

Sweet potato pudding is a mouthwatering delight served in restaurants, sold in corner shops, school canteens, and dozen of pastry shops. For a recipes using the potato visit www.mouthwatering-recipes.com

Delightful Flavours in San Diego

San Diego is one of the Southern most cities in California. It is considered to be the seventh largest city in the United States and second in California. San Diego is a favorite destination because of its climate and beaches. Located along the blue Pacific coast, it enjoys a warm, dry climate that never fails to delight visitors. The glorious sunrises over the mountains and the beautiful sunsets over the Pacific serve as incredible natural attractions for the tourists. In such a beatiful weather you need some speciality food served with mouthwatering taste.

The city of San Diego brings you a wide range of grill and sushi restaurants which serves you with sushi and many more Sushi and Sashimi to suit your taste. Cleanliness is an integral part of the hotels' policies. The catering service ensures a sumptuous Whether seeking for some stylish place to meet your loved ones after a long tiring day, State St. Grill Restaurant is the best to spend some time together.

Amongst them the best is State St. Grill & Restaurant, conveniently located around SDSU campus in San Diego City. This first-class dining facility specializes in different types of cuisines, namely Japanes and American delicacies. More importantly, it serves delightful grilled specialties and sushi menus with bar. This restaurant offers tasty sushi starters, grilled seafood, Philly cheese steak, best burgers and other enticing treats. With Happy hours you can have memorable gastronomic experience like no other. There are plentiful appetizers to choose from. These include everything starting from the traditional sushi starters, salads, burgers, sake bombs, hot sake, pitchers, margaritas and more.

State St.Grill is also famous for serving USDA certified angus beef or grilled chicken breast. When it comes to sushi, any true sushi lover will tell you that you absolutely can't settle for less than the best. Some of the top sushi chefs in the United States create sushi that is truly a work of art. The same taste you will get at State St. Grill & Restaurant

Furthermore, it also provides catering as well as food delivery serivce to your home, office, class, wherever you want. State St. Grill catering makes every event a celebration. From weddings to business parties or cocktail gatherings, we offer catering packages to fit your taste, budget and group size. You can have your food delivered* upto 5 miles or hire our sushi chefs and servers to prepare and serve your food on site

Evolution of Cupcake Wraps and decorations for cupcakes

I remember when I was younger, my grandmother would always have a cute little cupcake waiting for me and she would lay out all of the decorations for cupcakes and let me decorate them when I arrived. My family get-together almost always ended up with white cupcakes, decked with lots of chocolate icing and sprinkles on top, as desserts. Today, the cupcake has evolved from the usual white cake flavor to the more elaborate forms, such as red velvet cupcakes, carrot cake cupcakes and many, many more.

While the housing and the flavor of the cupcakes have improved over the years, so have the accessories used in cupcake preparation and decoration-some new found, and some improved. These cupcake accessories have made the cupcake more interesting to cook and decorate.

Cupcake Wraps and Liners

Cupcake wraps and liners or round sheets of thin paper, such as parchment paper, are used to provide a thin barrier between the cake and the cupcake pan. The job of a cupcake liner is to keep the cupcakes moist and soft and also make it easier to remove the cupcakes from the pan after they have finished cooking and cooling.

White paper used to be the main style of cupcake liner available. Eventually manufacturers came out with plain colored cupcake liners that you could purchase for events such as birthday's and anniversaries. A couple of years later, colorful paper liners with designs that match your party theme were made available. If it's Spiderman or Hello Kitty you want, finding the paper liner that fits your needs is no longer a problem.

Not only have the cupcake liners evolved into works of art, the big trend is to now wrap your cooked and decorated cupcake with cupcake wraps. Cupcake wraps are the new chic in the cupcake industry. Cupcake wraps are easy to handle and can make even the most novice bakers' cupcake look like a designer cupcake out of a couture cupcake shop.

Cupcake Towers

Cupcakes used to be baked and placed on a platter or maybe even a cake plate for display. They weren't displayed long in my house, as I remember as soon as they were baked, they were eaten. There was no time for fancy decorations and displays.

Nowadays, cupcakes are the centerpiece of the dessert table for many events. In fact, the latest trend in weddings is cupcake wedding cakes. Cupcake trees and cupcake towers are being used as wedding cupcake stands in order to display hundreds of elegantly decorated cupcakes replacing the traditional wedding cake in many weddings today. The guests of the party can even take their own cupcake home with them in specially made cupcake containers.

Depending on how large the event may be, cupcake towers can have 3 to 7 tiers at an average. Most of them can be easily taken down, washed and stored for future use while others are disposable so the host doesn't have to worry about cleaning the cupcake tower and storing after the party. The disposable towers are usually cheaper than the reusable ones; however, if you plan on having several events during the year, it would be beneficial to invest in a little higher priced, reusable tower that would really save you money in the long run.

Conclusion:

Cupcakes have always held a place in my heart and remind me of the simple things in life I enjoy. With that said, cupcake accessories available on the market, make simple things, a little more enjoyable.

There are many places to get ideas for cupcakes online. You can find an online cupcake store or cupcake blog that will have information about baby shower cupcake ideas, novelty birthday cakes and decorations for cupcakes.

Remember, this day and age, you can find anything you would want to know about cupcakes online.

Coffee machines at home – are they a waste of time?

Once a status symbol for the ultra-glam; now a commonplace household appliance - coffee machines have slowly crept their way into kitchens around the world. With over 400 million cups consumed per year in the United States alone*, it is unsurprising that many enthusiasts are attempting to recreate their favourite brew at home - but are the benefits of owning a machine enough to ensure their regular use?

Avoiding the dusty appliance shelf

Owning a coffee machine has many advantages – many of which are wasted in a lazy or overly busy household. Preparation and/or brewing time should be taken into account prior to purchase, as these can vary considerably depending on the type of machine being used. Traditional espresso machines requiring filter coffee are much more ‘hands-on’ than their automatic capsule-powered counterparts, and generally require more effort to use and maintain (although the quality is arguably higher). Adequate care must also be taken to clean the machine and equipment after use, as the quality of each cup decreases noticeably without regular cleaning.

Changing daily habits

Making café-quality coffee at home is easy if it becomes a habit. However, for those who race out the door in the morning, grabbing a cappuccino on the way to work is often considered something of a ritual. For the time-poor, simply turning on the coffee machine before showering can save a few precious minutes in the morning. Alternatively, the time saved from not needing to queue at a café can be better used making a cheaper – yet equally invigorating – latte at home.

Practice makes perfect

A common complaint for new owners of coffee machines is that their coffee never turns out the same as a brew from their local café. This can happen because of a number of factors, including the type of machine used, the type of coffee, and the cleanliness of the machine. Capsule machines for example, can be quite limited, and will maintain a similar taste throughout the life of the machine. However, in some cases this problem can be attributed to an inexperienced barista. Coffee-making is regarded as an art by many, but it is a skill that almost anyone can learn with a little practice – and once learned, it is an enviable asset when entertaining guests.

5 Great Websites for Grill Recipes

You have found the perfect grill, selected the tools you want to use when grilling and chosen a reason to fire up your new grill. The new burning question on your mind is “What should I cook?” There are many, many websites on the internet that have barbeque recipes and searching through all of them is time consuming. Listed below are five fantastic websites that you will find yourself going to time and time again for culinary inspiration. Peruse the sites yourself and add them to your favorites. You will not be sorry that you did.

1.www.foodnetwork.com

This particular website has a specific tab located at the top of the home page that concerns all things grilling related. Alton Brown offers a crash course on barbeque basics, including a video called “How to Grill Like a Pro.” If you are already familiar with the basic aspects of cooking on a grill, you can skip that part and head right to Bobby Flay’s section that includes his ten best recipes. The website includes different toppings for hotdogs and choosing vegetables that are in season to keep your meals fresh and interesting. If you are tired of the same old pasta salads that you have been making for years, the site offers 100 pasta salad recipes as well. Food Network’s site is full of fun and inspirational techniques and recipes to keep you grilling all year long.

2.www.womansday.com

There is a tab at the top of the homepage that is labeled “Food and Recipes” If you click on this tab, you will be brought to a page that has a search box for the recipes. Typing “Grill” into the search section yields 78 results. The recipes include everything from chicken to grilled banana splits. This is a versatile site that is user friendly.

3.www.goodhousekeeping.com

At the upper right hand side of this site there is a search engine. You can choose to search the whole site or simply the recipes by clicking on the recipes tab over the search box. Simply typing the word “barbeque” into the search field yielded 584 recipes. Paula Deen has recipes on the website as well as the Barefoot Contessa. There is also an advanced search option that allows the user to select the different ingredients that they want to use. For example, clicking on the boxes for “beef”, “all vegetables” and burgers brings up 19 results to choose from. This is a great way to use what you already have to prepare a fun meal.

4.www.bbqrecipesecrets.com

This website is run by “Barbeque Bob” Quinn and is brimming with information on all things barbeque. There are sauce recipes, food recipes, articles and videos. This is a fantastic page and includes recipes such as a tomato less barbeque sauce, barbequed duck and many other inventive and interesting recipes.

5.www.recipes.com

This is a recipe search engine that will direct you to many other sites online. They are sponsored websites so the results of the search word “grilling” will bring you to sites such as Hebrew National and Kraft as well as specific websites devoted to grilling. This is a great site to use to add to your recipe collection, but to find what you want may take some time due to having so many choices of links to explore.

Wherever you begin your search for the perfect barbeque recipes, you will definitely find a plethora of options on any of these five sites. The most difficult part will be which technique to try first.

Wholesale Sweets

What to consider when buying wholesale treats

Buying wholesale sweets must be one of the most fun purchases you can make. If buying sweets is fun, buying large quantities in wholesale sweets is triple the fun. Whether you need to purchase wholesale sweets for your business, special occasions such as kids’ parties or just to have in stock for the whole family, buying wholesale sweets is easy and economical. When buying in bulk you can enjoy the savings in costs as well as still having a huge variety of wholesale sweets to choose from. This is a great solution if you just would like your own personal stash on hand for whenever the mood strikes or to hand out fun treats to the kids if they pop by. Also, when you buy wholesale sweets you get to enjoy free delivery and saves you carrying them home.

The benefits of purchasing wholesale treats

There are huge benefits to purchasing wholesale sweets. Firstly when you buy large quantities, you usually enjoy substantial cost savings. Also free delivery is often included in your purchase of wholesale sweets if you buy over a certain amount. This saves travel time and unnecessary costs in travel or petrol. Probably the biggest advantage when buying wholesale sweets is you typically have access to a wider variety of sweets than you would by going to small specialist shops.

Where is the best selection of wholesale sweets available in the UK today?

For the best selection of wholesale sweets available in the market today, go online and visit www.sweetsandtreatswholesale.co.uk for a huge variety of sweets and treats all at great prices. They specialise in pre-packed wholesale sweets and are the cheapest sweets available anywhere. Check out their pick and mix stands of wholesale sweets for amazing low prices which can be shipped anywhere in the UK.

African Mango Extract

African mango is the latest superfood that is taking the US health and weight loss market by storm.

Researchers have stated that the African mango might possibly be one of the greatest breakthroughs in the health and diet industry in recent years.

Contributes to significant weight loss
Proven to lower cholesterol levels
Reduces blood sugar levels after meals
Stops hunger and cravings

What Is In African Mango?

African mango is derived from the seeds of the Invingia Gabonensis tree which is found in western Africa. Locally, it is known as ‘bush mango' or ‘wild mango'.

Each capsule contains 600mg of pure African Mango

The African Mango diet is one the hottest and newest trends in weight loss today. African mango is a weight loss supplement that specifically targets belly fat. The supplement helps users burn fat and cleanse their systems thoroughly. It's know to purify the blood and eliminate bad enzymes within the body. It stimulates metabolism accentuation and gets the body moving fast and burning fat regularly. Mango's grown in Africa has distinct qualities and the ingredients are unlike any other mango found on the planet.

It looks like every single few months a brand new wonder weight loss pill hits industry, the most recent getting the particular African Mango Diet Pill. Are these kinds of tablets well worth that, or even are they the newest way to consider your hard earned money and obtain your desires upwards prior to causing you to be no more healthy before you decide to got all of these? Let us take a look. The facts?

Statistical figures about obesity are quite shocking. Everyone knows that obesity has attained epidemic proportions in the U.S. Surveys show that over 1.7 billion people in the world are overweight. Moreover, there are billions of people who need to lose the extra pounds to stay in the range of normal weight for their height. Fad diets have proven to be disastrous for many dieters. Now is the time to take action. Take a look at the natural weight loss supplements that work and choose a suitable one for you.

Effective Natural Weight Loss Supplements

Bitter Orange: The plant named Citrus aurantium is commonly known as bitter orange. It carries several medicinal properties and the extracts of its flowers and leaves have been a part of traditional Chinese medicines. These days, the plants are grown in California and Florida. Manufacturers of the weight loss supplement claim that 'bitter orange weight loss supplement' works as natural, herbal appetite suppressant. By reducing your appetite, the supplement helps reduce weight. Whatever studies were conducted, showed that the supplement led to increased metabolism and weight loss. Some studies showed that octopamine and synephrine from bitter orange can affect heart health seriously. So people diagnosed with heart diseases should stay away from bitter orange. Overdose can result in life threatening side effects like stroke, blood in stools, diarrhea, chest pain or blurred vision. Many diet pills contain bitter orange, so one should read the labels carefully and follow the instructions strictly.

Irvingia Gabonensis: Irvingia gabonensis or African mango or bush mango is native to the West Africa and Southeast Asia. The tree produces mango like fruits which are being consumed by the local people since hundreds of years. The seeds of these fruits are useful for weight loss. This supplement is one of the latest natural weight loss supplements that work. The seeds of this plant were used as medicine by the local inhabitants. Manufacturers claim that irvingia gabonensis extract helps lower cholesterol levels. It also reduces fat deposits. The extract is obtained from the nuts (seeds) of African mango. The nuts are rich in soluble fiber which helps remove cholesterol from the body. The supplement prevents growth of fat cells. It is believed that the supplement helps stabilize glucose levels and hence, is good for diabetics. More studies are required to prove the benefits for diabetics. Those who want to take this supplement, should stick to a low calorie diet and a good exercise regimen. Following the instructions regarding the dosage is essential, otherwise you may suffer from side effects like flatulence, headaches, sleep problems, etc. Browse through another article 'safe and natural weight loss supplements' on buzzle for more information.

Green Tea: The extract from green tea boosts your rate of metabolism and promotes natural weight loss. Green tea is an important Chinese medicine. In China, green tea has been successfully used to control weight. It is used in some diet pill formulas. The element 'Epigallocatechin Gallate' (EGCG) from green tea makes it a perfect ingredient for natural weight loss supplements for men and women.

Whey Protein: Whey powder is produced from milk and it is the best source of high quality protein. It keeps you energetic and fit. You can add whey protein powder to water or milk. Whey protein keeps you healthy and active. It keeps you satiated for a long time and curbs your food craving. Whey protein thus helps you maintain a good body mass index ratio. Besides, the immunoglobulins present in whey protein help strengthen your immune system. It promotes the production of glutathione, an antioxidant which helps reduce the effects of free radicals on the body.

Ayurvedic Supplements: Trifala, Guggul extract, Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Shilajit, aloe vera, gotu kola, trikatu (black pepper, ginger and pippali or Indian long pepper in correct proportions), barberry, etc. help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and also help improve your digestive health. You may also like to read through some of the best ayurvedic medicines for weight loss that you could adhere to.

While taking weight loss supplements, maintaining a positive and healthy mental approach to food can make a lot of difference. You should also find out the reason behind excessive weight and try to remove the cause. Understanding and analyzing the underlying causes of unhealthy eating habits can help solve the problem of obesity. Good eating habits and regular exercise can help maintain your weight and they can also improve your overall physical and mental health.

A healthy low calorie diet complemented with exercise has to be followed religiously, if you want to see the effects of weight loss supplements. Natural weight loss supplements that work also expect you to follow a balanced diet and perform regular exercises. Kids, pregnant and nursing women should not take these supplements. Those who want to take these supplements need to discontinue them after a month or so, to avoid possible side effects. Consulting a physician regarding the dosage and, possible uses and side effects of a supplement is always safe. You should consult your health care provider before opting for any weight loss supplements.

It is recommended that 2 capsules are taken per day, preferably first thing in the morning with breakfast.

African Mango comes in bottles of 60 capsules, sufficient for one month's use.

…
The Research Behind African Mango

Although African Mango has long played a nutritional and medicinal role amongst the people of west Africa, research into its powers as a weight loss aid did not commence until very recently.

What has been discovered, is that African Mango helps weight loss (20x higher than a placebo group), improves cholesterol levels and balances blood glucose levels. The test group also showed a reduction of 6.3% in body fat over the trialed period.
Click here for more information on African Mango diet pills.