It is Really A Great Bubble Milk Tea Recipe

One of my favorite drinks ever is boba (a.k.a. bubble tea or tapioca milk tea), and coming from California (where boba stores magically appear on any street corner when a craving hits), I never realized how strong my addiction was until I moved to New York, where the ONLY good boba shops are in Manhattan Chinatown or Flushing Chinatown.

Bubble Milk Tea Recipe
 
Here's what you'll need:

• Black tea or green tea (I prefer black tea)
• 2% milk (you can use 1% or fat free but it doesn't taste as creamy)
• Condensed milk (optional)
• Sugar syrup (recipe below)
• Tapioca balls (can be bought in any Asian supermarket or online)
• Any type of fruit (optional)

Sugar Syrup: Boil one cup of water, then mix in 1/2 cup of white granulated sugar and 1/2 cup of brown sugar. Stir until the water syrup boils again, then turn off. You only need a few spoonfuls per drink (to your taste), then refrigerate the rest.

Tea: Use pure loose black tea or green tea leaves. Put three to four times as much tea leaves as you'd normally use for drinking. The tea needs to be super strong or it will lose its flavor once the other ingredients are added. I usually make about 16 ounces of tea and refrigerate what I don't use.

Tapioca Balls: There are two sizes. The larger ones are standard for boba drinks and take longer to boil. Typical large tapioca balls need to be boiled in a large pot with the cover on for about 25 minutes, then allowed to sit in the hot water for another 25 minutes. Once done, rinse out the tapioca, drain, then allow it to sit in some sugar syrup. It will absorb the sweetness. There are also 5 minute tapioca balls but I've tried them and they don't taste as good.

Fill the bottom of a tall glass with tapioca balls. Add about 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup. Add tea to about 1/3 of the remaining space in the glass. Add about 1 tablespoon of condensed milk. Fill the rest of the glass with milk. Mix and taste. Add more tea, sugar syrup, and/or condensed milk to taste.

Fruit: If you want a fruit flavored boba drink instead of the usual milk tea, blend the type and amount of fruit you'd like with the milk and add it to the finished drink.

The Top 6 Ingredients Used In Low-fat Mexican Recipes

Low-fat Mexican recipes need not be an oxymoron! Ditch the salt, cheese and cream, and get more of these super-healthy ingredients on your plate.

Beans: They lower bad cholesterol, nourish the brain, regulate digestion and have been found to protect you from certain cancers. Combined with rice, they form a complete protein, comparable to that in meat or dairy. Kidney beans strengthen bones, thanks to their Vitamin K, calcium and manganese content.

Salsa: Besides boasting a wonderful freshness, salsa is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. The addition of extra virgin olive oil to a combination of tomatoes, lemon juice and peppers not only deepens the flavor but has heart-healthy benefits. For fresh ideas with salsa, click here.

Avocado: It's the best fruit for sourcing your Vitamin E, which improves overall immunity. Studies show that the oleic acid in avocado prevents breast cancer. Then there's folate, which plays a key role in keeping the heart healthy. So, go for the guacamole! And find exciting avocado recipes here.

Jalapeno: the capsaicin in them is anti-inflammatory, heart-healthy, helpful in battling headaches and sinus infections, and known to play a role in preventing certain cancers. It's thermogenic, too, which means it burns away calories and assists in weight loss! Here's interesting take on how to cook healthy with jalapenos.

Cilantro: my favorite herb, cilantro boasts a wonderful fragrance, refreshing flavor, and comes loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Corn: A number of key nutrients combine in corn to give it a high rating on the health-o-meter. Corn is chewy, so it helps you consume less while getting more satisfaction. It's got fibre, to help you digest your food better.

Cooking Famous Chicken Katsu Is Also Easy With This Recipe

Chicken katsu is a lot we encounter everywhere. Many fast food outlets serve food and serve it with mayonnaise sauce or variations. However, the most convenient if the sauce remains primarily to Japanese tastes. Go food Recipe will explain how to easily make this chicken katsu.

  
Ingredients:

• 4 pieces of chicken breast filet 150 g
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
• 100 g bread flour
• Cooking oil to taste
• Marinade, mix until blended:
• 2 tablespoons shoyu / soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons mirin / sweet orange juice
• 2 cloves garlic, grated.
• 1 teaspoon pepper powder

Sauce:

• 100 ml dashi / broth fish
• 4 sedndok eat mirin / sweet orange juice
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons grated ginger
• 2 teaspoons grated horseradish, if any
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Complement:

• 100 g green cucumber, cut into thin matchstick shapes
• 50 g lettuce, thinly sliced
• 50 g carrots drawstring

How to make:

1. Mix the chicken with the marinade. Let stand 30 minutes until, to allow the flavors to infuse.
2. Beat the eggs with a fork until blended. Add green onions and stir well.
3. Roll the chicken with bread flour, dip into beaten eggs evenly. Roll again in bread crumbs until blended. Store in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours in order to dry lining.
4. Sauce: Mix dashi / broth, mirin / replacement, soy sauce, grated ginger, grated horseradish, and cornstarch and stir well. Cook until boiling, remove from heat.
5. Heat the cooking oil over medium heat, chicken fried layered bread crumbs soaked in oil until browned on both sides dry, remove and drain.
6. Serve with sauce Chicken Katsu. Include cucumber, lettuce, and carrots.

Kung Pao Chicken Is Really Exquisite

Kung Pao chicken is a very popular Chinese dish. It traditionally consists of chicken, vegetables, peanuts and dried chili peppers. Beef, pork, shrimp or tofu may be used instead of chicken. In this recipe, the diced chicken is first marinated and then stir-fried with garlic. The vegetables are separately stir-fried in seasoned oil and then combined with the chicken. The dish is finished off with the sauce and peanuts. The result is a moist, flavorful chicken dish with sauce that has a tangy kick to it.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 small dried red chilies, for mild or 8 dried red chilies for spicy
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• ½ red bell pepper, diced
• 1(8oz) can sliced bamboo shoots, drained
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
• 1/3 cup roasted peanuts

Sauce:

• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• ¼ chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
• 2 teaspoons sugar

Instructions:

1. Combine oyster sauce and cornstarch in a bowl. Stir to coat chicken well. Let stand for 10 minutes.
2. In another bowl, combine all sauce ingredients. Set aside.
3. Place a skillet or wok over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil, swirling to coat sides. Add chilies and cook until fragrant, about 10 seconds.
4. Add chicken and stir-fry for 3-5 minutes or until no longer pink. Transfer into a plate and set aside.
5. Using the same skillet, add remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add garlic and cook, stirring until fragrant, about 10 seconds.
6. Add celery, bell pepper and bamboo shoots; stir-fry for 2 minutes.
7. Return chicken and chilies to the skillet; stir-fry for 1 minute.
8. Add sauce and bring to a boil. Add cornstarch solution and cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens. Add peanuts and stir to coat.
9. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with steamed rice.

There Are The Top 5 Types Of Chinese Noodles

Chinese noodle diet is broad and profound, the category is numerous. To summarize Chinese five big noodle diet, they are Shanxi sliced noodles, Sichuan noodles with peppery sauce, Beijing noodles with soybean paste, Hubei hot-dry noodles, Shandong i-fu noodles.

Chinese Noodles: Beijing Noodles with Soybean Paste

Beijing noodle with soybean paste is one of the most extremely unique traditional noodles in Beijing. In the hot summer, a bowl of noodles with soybean paste, with various pickles, not only very delicious, the nutrition is also very rich. But the content of oil and salt is too much, the patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol should eat less soybean paste.

Chinese Noodles: Shanxi Sliced Noodles

Sliced noodles is originated from the 12th century of Shanxi, Taiyuan, the noodle is soft and smooth, easy to digest. Sliced noodles seasonings are also various, there are ketchup, meat fried bean sauce, lily fungus egg halide, etc., with cucumber silk, Chinese chive flower, mung bean sprout, boiled soybean, leeks, and some drops of at the end of a vegetable-based main course, etc, and then drop on some Shanxi Vinegar, very delicious.

Chinese Noodles: Shandong I-Fu Noodles

According to legend, 300 years ago, the cook in the fuss put cooked egg noodle into the boiling oil, the cook had to remove the egg noodle from the oil and soak it in soup, brought it out and placed on the table to serve customers, but unexpectedly won praise in chorus. The cooking way is to fry the cooked egg noodle in hot oil for easy storage. The color is golden, when matched with different ingredients, the noodle was called the earliest instant noodles in the world.

Chinese Noodles: Sichuan Noodles with Peppery Sauce

As early as 1841 year, in Sichuan Zigong, Sichuan Noodles with Peppery Sauce is deeply loved by people. Because this kind of snacks is made by a carrying pole on the shoulder for whole making process, so the name of this kind of noodle is "Dan Dan Noodle". The seasoning of Dan Dan Noodles is particularly rich including lard oil, sesame oil, sesame paste, mashed garlic, red oil pepper, Chinese prickly ash noodles, vinegar, monosodium glutamate, etc.

Chinese Noodles: Hubei Hot-Dry Noodles

Hot-and-dry noodles making process includes boiling, cooling and frying oil, then, drizzle with sauce made by sesame paste, sesame oil, balsamic vinegar, chili oil and other seasonings. Noodles are smooth and strong, sauce is fragrant which can stimulate your appetite.

How To Cook The Most Delicious Strawberry Pie

One of my all-time favorite pies is strawberry pie. It is very simple to make if you are lucky enough to get ripe and plump strawberries. Thanks to modern supermarkets, strawberries can be obtained most of the year.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white sugar,
• 3 tablespoons corn starch,
• 1 pint strawberries,
• 1 12oz can of 7-up
• Whipped cream

Directions:

1. In a heavy bottom saucepan combine the sugar, cornstarch, 7-up until creamy. Cook the 7-up mixture over a medium to a medium high heat until the mixture becomes thick.
2. When the 7-up mixture becomes thick, cool to room temperature and add a couple drops of good quality red food coloring.
3. Wash and cut the fresh strawberries into quarters or smaller depending on how large they are. Sprinkle a teaspoon or two of sugar on the freshly cut strawberries and place them into the shell.
4. Pour the cooled 7-up mixture over the strawberries. Allow the pie to set for a few minutes. Serve with plenty of whipped cream around the edges.

It Is Really An Amazing Fresh Apple Yogurt Cake Recipe

Does it matter what kind of apples you use in a recipe? I think so, yes, since apples have different textures, skin and taste.

My first visit to a u-pick apple farm this year yielded two types of apples ready for harvesting – one sweet and one tart. Sweet and tart apples are a perfect combination for this easy Fresh Apple-Yogurt Cake.

FRESH APPLE YOGURT CAKE

Ingredients:

• 1/2-cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 scant cup granulated white sugar
• 5.3-oz. to 6-oz. container of yogurt
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 T. skim milk
• 2-1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2-tsp. salt
• 1 pound (about 4 small) apples, peeled, cored and chopped
• (optional) confectionery sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit. If using a glass baking dish, set the temperature to 325 and adjust the baking time.

2. Cream butter and sugar

3. Beat in yogurt, egg, vanilla and milk until fluffy.

4. Combine dry ingredients, then stir into creamed mixture.

5. Mix in apples.

6. Spoon into lightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish and spread. The batter will be fairly thick.

7. Bake 50-60 minutes or until insert toothpick near center and it comes out clean.

8. (Optional) Sprinkle with confectionery sugar.

Tips:

*Use a bit less sugar if the apples are very sweet

*Personally I like a combination of sweet apples and tart apples in a cake recipe such
as this one.

*The original recipe I found called for plain vanilla yogurt. I’m a big fan of Greek yogurt and happened to have a container of it with “pineapple on the bottom”. This gave the cake an appealing, underlying hint of pineapple.

*I like to mix all-purpose and whole wheat flour. In this case, I added 2 cups of all-purpose flour and 1/2-cup of whole wheat.

It Is Always Not Easy To Buy Red Wine Without These Knowledge

It can be confusing when presented with the enormous variety of red wine available today. There are so many options to choose from, it is not always easy for one to buy red wine without having knowledge of wine in general.

  
Choosing The Intensity

The first step is determining what type of red wine you are interested in. You may be looking for a wine that is dry and intensely flavored, or one that is lighter and fruitier. The more intense red wines are Cabernet sauvignon, Shiraz, and red zinfandel. The lighter red wines include Chianti, Beaujolais, and red table wines.

Finding The Right Vintage

When you set out to buy red wine, it is important to know these wines get better with age. Generally, wine experts agree that red wine reaches its maturity after three years, so look for wines that were bottled at least three years ago.

Experiment With Wine From Different Regions

While browsing through wine choices, you will notice that there are varieties from all over the world. It used to be that most of the wines available were either French, Italian, or from the Napa Valley. However, today it is easy buy red wine from places such as Chile, Bolivia, Australia and South Africa, and they are readily available in most stores. Try some from each region in order to get an idea of the subtle differences in flavor.

Ask For Recommendations

Don't be afraid to ask for recommendations from salespeople. Most major supermarkets these days have their own wine buyers and employ knowledgeable representatives in the store who can help you make your choices. If you are shopping at a wine store, there are sure to be experts available there to answer any questions you have.

Healthy Vegetable Soup Is Also A Kind Of Very Important Investment

Health is our biggest investment nowadays. It is important to monitor our physical well being and promote good health by exercising and eating healthy foods. Although it is hard to be consistently munching on the good stuff, we should at least try to have a healthy meal every now and then. Make a Healthy Vegetable Soup for dinner probably?

If you decide to do that, you need not go anywhere because we have a nice tasting healthy vegetable soup recipe just for you. All you have to do is list down all the ingredients and head to your nearest farmers market or grocery to get them. Don't worry about the procedure. I guarantee that it can be as easy as cooking instant noodles.

The vegetables listed below is only our recommendation, there might be other vegetables that you like to add such as spinach, cabbage, brussel sprouts, and many more. Deciding on the vegetables that you will use is entirely up to yourself.

Healthy Vegetable Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped broccoli florets
• 1 cup sliced yellow squash
• 1 cup sliced zucchini
• 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup green beans, sliced into 1 1/2 inches length
• 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
• 5 to 6 cups vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Procedure:

1. Pour vegetable broth in a large cooking pot. Let boil.
2. Add the onion, cook for a minute.
3. Put-in the broccoli, yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, and red bell pepper. Allow the liquid to re-boil and then cook for 5 to 7 minutes. (Note: do not overcook the veggies. You can turn-off the heat if you think that they are already cooked.)
4. Add salt and pepper to taste if necessary.
5. Transfer in individual serving bowls.

The History of The Peking Roast Duck

The history of the Peking roast duck can be traced back to as early as the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) when it was listed among the imperial dishes in the Complete Recipes for Dishes and Beverages, written in 1330 by Hu Sihui, an inspector of the imperial kitchen. Details regarding the cooking process were also described in this early cookbook.
The famous Peking Roast Duck is the best way to sample the tantalizing Chinese cuisine and also to understand the culture, customs and the vivid history of Beijing and China.

The Peking Roast Duck can be compared to the European traditional ware of roast goose and it is believed that the recipe originated from the culture brought to the East by explorers such as Marco Polo- with which the tradition of offering roasted poultry to one's guests began way back during the Yuan Dynasty. Other facts lead us through a different history as records indicate the actually recipe was used in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420 – 589) and that it was a popular recipe in Jinling, now known as Nanjing. And it is believed that the as the Yuan Dynasty moved their main city to Beijing the recipe followed to become a popular dish in the capital, with the added flavours of the city itself.
The ideal bird roasted in this manner features a delectable shining reddish coat – a crispy outer skin and tender textures inside. And most of the eateries in town offer an All Duck Banquet, the mains being the roast duck and side dishes being complimenting accompaniments made with duck stock – a complete meal.
The original recipe, after being transformed in to the imperial delicacy, required for a special breed of bird. With the main ingredient being the White Beijing duck new methods of preparation were also introduced. Today, the established method of preparation involves roasting of the bird, which is primed by essentially cleaning and plucking, filing the body cavity with water, air drying and brushing the skin with sugar, in a large oven. The roasting is done using smokeless hardwood fuel and the poultry is frequently turned to ensure even roasting.

Do You Know These Benefits Of Red Wine

Do you enjoy drinking a glass of wine each evening to wind down after a long day of work? Do you sometimes feel guilty about it or wonder if you could be harming your health in some way? Well, no fear, research shows that drinking a glass of red wine every day has some pretty amazing benefits associated with it. The benefits of red wine include better cardiovascular health, immune system maintenance, reduced stress, and cancer prevention. The key is to drink it in moderation rather than to excess, which will lead to health issues rather than benefits.

Cardiovascular health: Red wine contains a substance called resveratrol, derived from the skin of the grapes during the fermentation process. Research has shown that resveratrol provides benefits to the cardiovascular system by increasing the levels of HDL or good cholesterol. In fact, new research points to resveratrol as offering life extension benefits by preventing many age related diseases. This substance in red wine is thought to be the reason why the French, despite their diet high in saturated fat and wine, have a very low rate of diseases of age, including heart disease. In order to get the full benefit of resveratrol, the wine should be sipped slowly to enhance absorption in the mouth.

Stress reduction: No one can argue that a glass of wine, sipped slowly, provides almost instant relaxtion and because the benefits of stress reduction on overall health are immense, drinking red wine can be beneficial to health if you drink in moderation.

Immune system health: Research showed that both red and white wine have anti-bacterial properties against streptococcus. Red wine is also the only alcoholic beverage that doesn’t suppress the immune system.

Cancer prevention: According to The National Cancer Institute, the very same substance in red wine, resveratrol, that provides heart health protection also helps prevent cancer. Although the research is in early stages, they initially found that resveratrol prevents tumor formation in animals. In addition, research published in the October 2011 issue of the FASEB Journal found that the magical substance in red wine, resveratrol, actually stopped breast cancer cells from growing.

Enjoy The Delicious Food In The World

Food is a primary need, different types of food one goal for a lot more appetizing meal that tastes especially delicious and tasty, almost in every region has a typical food of course the hallmark of a different flavor and appearance. The following is a list of delicious food in the world:

Food Pizza is one food in the world play, this dish comes from the Italian State. In addition to many Italian restaurants scattered throughout the world, Italian cuisine is characterized according to the region came from. Each region in Italy has a taste different cuisines. For this reason many restaurants that specialize according to the taste of the cuisine in Italy. Such as dishes from Northern Italy, with his trademark use butter rather than olive, and cheese.
One of Indonesia’s famous restaurant in the Northern Italian cuisine is the Porta Venezia at Hotel Arya Duta. The restaurant serves typical home tried to present a fine Italian dining. There are seven regular menu mainstay ordered by customers. Starting from penggugah taste appetizers, Ai Frutti Di Mare Insalata. His name was not very friendly on the ears, but it could be thumbs up.
The combination of red snapper, salmon, shrimp, and squid are processed using flowers Capers, olives, and tomato sauce, and served with sauteed spinach is a very suitable combination. Sweet and sour, all the seafood was cooked to perfection so as to leave an impression in mouth juicy.
Cuisine of Lebanon is one of the world play food, food of the Mediterranean, rich in vegetable, little meat, and rich in flavor. The most famous around the world are appetizers, mezze, which is a mixture of dip, pickles, salad, and pieces of Arabic bread. These foods also contain plenty of fruits, fresh fish, seafood and little animal fat. The country is also famous for its Arab sweets. Tripoli is often referred to as the “Sweet Capital” of Lebanon.
Spanish Cuisine Spanish Cuisine is a lot of meat and fish contain varying, and also vegetables. Spanish cuisine is also influenced by sea foods are available from the seas surrounding Spain. This dish also uses the most oil than the cuisines of Central and Western Europe. One of the famous drinks in Spain is very tasty national dish is served with sangria, a drink made of wine and fruits.

Due To Its High Nutritive Content, Tahini Is Available In Many Health Stores

Tahini is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine. However, due to its high nutritive content, this product is available in many health stores. It is also referred to as sesame butter. It is a light colored paste made from the kernel of crushed sesame seeds. The outer case of the seeds is removed before the seeds are ground into a thick paste.
　　
Sesame oil rubbed on the skin may soothe a minor burn or sunburn as well as help in the healing process.
　
It's not unusual to encounter fantastic claims attributed to a single food. Sesame seed oil is said to remove wrinkles when applied to the skin in a facial massage. If this news gets out, there won't be a bottle left on the grocery shelves!
　　
Eat some sesame seeds to relieve constipation and to remove worms from the intestinal tract. They're an aid to digestion, stimulate blood circulation, and benefit the nervous system. Sesame oil makes ideal massage oil because of its excellent emollient properties.
　　
Applied topically, sesame oil is thought to aid in healing chronic diseases of the skin. With its vitamin E content, it's also a benefit to the heart and nervous system.
　　
Cardiovascular Health Sesame butter is a good source of phytosterols. Research has shown that these naturally occurring compounds in plants reduce bad cholesterol in the blood. Sesame seeds also contain special fibers known as sesamin and sesamolin. These have the capacity to lower cholesterol and prevent high blood pressure. The seeds are a good source of magnesium which helps to relax blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. This improves blood circulation and supports cardiovascular health. Essential fatty acids in ground sesame seeds help in the formation of a special hormone known as prostaglandins. This hormone helps to reduce hypertension. Essential fatty acids also lower the risk of blood clotting which improves heart health.
　　
Brain HealthOmega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids improve the health of the brain. They support healthy development of nervous tissues. They also optimize cognitive functions and emotional health. Omega-3 enhances clarity in thought processes and improves memory. Research has established that essential fatty acids can help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Sesame paste is a good source of manganese which supports nerve functions. It also supports optimal brain performance. Inadequate intake of manganese can inhibit memory functions and result in severe memory loss.

Lemon Tea Is A Very Refreshing And Invigorating Drink To Consume

Different countries around the world have developed their own unique ways of preparing and consuming tea, and lemon tea is easily one of the more popular recipes. Lemon tea benefits are quite numerous and varied in nature and as a result many people choose to drink this choice of concoction. In comparison with soda or coffee, tea carries a lot more health benefits, and lemon is also known as nature's antiseptic. So it's not hard to see why lemon tea is so popular, as the various lemon tea benefits provide the drinker with a lot of health benefits.

The different methods of taking tea have evolved over many years, and different countries have developed their own preferences. Russia is on of the countries that absolutely loves lemon tea, and the origins of this can be traced back to the arrival of tea with fruits in it from China. The Chinese soon eradicated this custom, but it stuck with the Russians. Even today, the Russians are the main propagators of the many lemon tea benefits that are known.

When you squeeze a bit of lemon juice into tea you will immediately notice a drastic change of color. This effect is known as the bathochromic shift, and it makes the tea taste a lot better than before. Along with the lemon juice, some other ingredients like ginger and honey can also be added to the mixture. All these ingredients improve the taste of the drink, as well as bring more benefits for the drinker. Honey lemon tea benefits and ginger and lemon tea benefits are enough to make one want to drink this mixture more often.

Benefits of Lemon Tea
There are various benefits of lemon tea, and all these are centered around cleansing the human body systems. The lemon tea acts as a purifying agent and helps resolve a lot of health problems that may arise. The best time to drink lemon tea is in the morning, as soon as you wake up. Doing so, freshens you up for the rest of the day, and improves your metabolic rate considerably. The best part about hot lemon tea benefits is that it really drives any drowsiness and fatigue away, and it changes your mood instantly. If you develop a habit of drinking lemon tea every morning, it will serve you very well in the long run, and it will also provide you with all the benefits of doing so.

It is also claimed that drinking hot lemon tea every morning greatly reduces the risk of developing cancer. There is not much medical proof and analysis to substantiate this claim, but we wouldn't be surprised if it were actually true. Apart from that, another lemon tea benefit is that it clears up the skin as well. If these are not reasons enough for you, here are some more lemon tea benefits that you must be aware of.

• Mental freshness: This is achieved by clearing out the toxins in the blood. Thus, a person will feel less lethargic and more active after drinking lemon tea.
• Blood Cleanser: The lemon tea also helps clean up the various body systems and clears up the skin due to the flushing out of the toxins.
• Cancer: Lemon is very rich in Vitamin C and is a strong natural antioxidant which is a help in neutralizing free radicals.This same reason implies that the risk of cancer is lesser in an individual who regularly consumes lemon tea.
• Digestive System: Lemon tea also plays a stabilizing role in the digestive system of a person, and helps clear it out.
• Antiseptic: Lemon tea also acts as an antiseptic and helps prevent various infections and illnesses.

Seeing all these diverse lemon tea benefits, it's no surprise that many people willingly consume this drink on a regular basis. Remember, the benefits will be stronger only by drinking it regularly. If you drink lemon tea once a week or less often, it's fair to say that these lemon tea benefits will not be applicable for you.

Delightful Crab Rangoon Recipes That You Can Check Out

Crab rangoon is the most popular appetizer, especially in North America. It is considered to have originated in America as an Asian treat. It is commonly served at the American Chinese restaurants as a staple appetizer. Crab rangoon is made by a unique combination of four basic ingredients namely crabmeat, green/spring onions, cream cheese and wonton wrappers. Various seasonings used for crab rangoon include garlic, onion powder, season salt, soy sauce and steak sauce. You can also use a combination of dark soy sauce and sesame oil or Worcestershire sauce, which is a mixture of dark soy sauce, tamarind and vinegar for additional flavor. All the ingredients are mixed together and a spoonful of mixture is placed onto the prepared wonton wrapper. The wrapper is folded in the shape of a triangle or a flower, and deep-fried, until golden brown. Traditionally, crab rangoon is prepared by deep-frying. But, if you are conscious about high calories, then you can bake the filled wonton.

Crab rangoon can be made in several different variations. If you have shellfish allergies, then you can skip the use of crabmeat and use only seasoned cream cheese. You can use egg roll wrappers instead of wonton wrappers. Crab rangoon is usually served with different dipping sauces such as soy sauce, sweet and sour sauce or hot mustard sauce. While making the crab rangoon, always use fresh, cooked crabmeat. Bring the cream cheese to room temperature before use. If the filling is emerging out of the wrapper while frying, then you can seal the wrapper with water and cornstarch mixture or egg white. Well, now you must be very eager to try this mouth-watering dish. Isn't it? Just check out the following easy-to-prepare crab rangoon recipes.

Recipe# 1

Ingredients
1 can (6½ oz.) crabmeat, drained and flaked
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 package wonton skins
2 green onions, chopped
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
½ tsp soy sauce
¼ tsp garlic powder
Vegetable oil for frying

Directions
In a medium bowl, combine together crabmeat, cream cheese, chopped onions, garlic powder, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and mix it well. Place about 1 teaspoon of the mixture at the center of wonton skin wrapper. Fold it to form a triangle. Moisten its edges with water and press it to seal. Heat vegetable oil to 375 degree F and deep-fry the filled wontons, until golden brown. Serve with hot mustard sauce or sweet and sour sauce.

Recipe# 2

Ingredients
1 lb crabmeat, shredded
2 packages (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 package (14 oz) small wonton wrappers
3 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tsp minced fresh ginger root
½ tsp dried parsley
½ tsp chopped fresh cilantro
1 quart oil for frying

Directions
In a small mixing bowl, combine together crabmeat, cream cheese, parsley, garlic, cilantro, ginger and soy sauce. Put one teaspoon of this mixture onto the center of the wonton wrapper. Fold the wrapper over the stuffing in the shape of a triangle or half moon. Moisten and seal its edges. Deep-fry the wontons in the preheated oil, until golden brown.

With the above discussed recipes, you can make delicious, crunchy appetizers for weekend parties and get appreciated for your culinary skills by your friends and family.

Serve Mop Sauce As A Side Dish To Complement The BBQ Meat

Mop sauce adds flavor and juiciness to all kinds of meat, especially if you are cooking them by barbecue method. Unlike other sauce, it has a thin consistency, nearly similar to that of water. Most food lovers who crave for roasted dishes are already aware of mop sauce. It will keep the meat moist, even if you consider slow cooking it on an open fire for a long time. It is called mop sauce because a mop-like, thin cotton cloth is used for applying the sauce.

Mop Sauce Recipes

If you are preparing ribs in the Memphis Style barbecue recipe, you will need rib mop sauce for basting. And while using it for barbecuing meat, remember to use an aluminum foil below the meat. This will collect the dripping sauce from the meat, which otherwise will fall in the flame. Coming to recipes for classic mop sauce, the main ingredients are vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, along with seasoning spices. The following are some recipes, which you can try out for making delicious BBQ meat.

Barbecue Mop Sauce

Ingredients

• ½ cup canned tomato sauce
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• ½ cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup strong black coffee
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Directions for Preparation

Take a saucepan and add all the ingredients - tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, butter, black coffee and sugar. Heat the mixture over medium high heat and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat to low setting and simmer for some time. As it cools down slightly, you can use BBQ mop sauce for brushing burgers, steaks and chicken. Also, you can serve it as a dip sauce to your barbecue meat.

Mop Sauce for Pork Ribs

Ingredients

• ½ cup vinegar
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne
• ½ cup water

Directions for Preparation

Mix all the ingredients - vinegar, olive oil, yellow mustard, garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne and water. If time permits, mix well the concoction and let it chill in the refrigerator before using. Or else, heat till the mixture turns warm and use it directly. You can make pulled pork mop sauce in the same manner with additional spiciness. For that, add 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes as a substitute for chili powder in this recipe.

Texas Mop Sauce for Brisket

Ingredients

• 2 cups vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 bay leaves, crushed
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 cup olive oil
• ⅔ cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 lemons, pulped and cut in half
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• ½ cup water

Directions for Preparation

In a medium large saucepan, add all the above listed ingredients - vinegar, minced garlic, crushed bay leaves, paprika, chili powder, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, lemon, hot sauce and water. Heat it over high heat setting, and wait till the concoction reaches boiling temperature. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover lid and keep it warm. With this, your brisket mop sauce is ready. You can use this sauce for basting beef cuts after every 20-30 minutes.

Mop Sauce for Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 quart cider vinegar
• 1 can beer
• 16 ounces barbecue sauce
• ½ cup hot sauce
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt

Directions for Preparation

In a saucepan, combine together the chicken mop sauce ingredients - cider vinegar, beer, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, black pepper and salt. For increased flavor, allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Just before grilling chicken, you can remove it from the fridge and use for basting chicken, after every hour.

As per your taste preference, you can alter the seasoning spices used in the mop sauce recipe. Prepare the sauce ahead of barbecuing the meat and keep it in the refrigerator. And instead of using barbecue sauce during cooking, serve it as a side dish to complement the BBQ meat.

Lowering Of The Antioxidants That Impart The Health Benefits To Decaffeinated Green Tea

Is decaffeinated green tea actually good for you? Before we explore this question and look at the benefits of green tea, let us look at the process of decaffeination itself. Decaffeination is the process wherein the caffeine contained in foods, such as coffee and tea, is removed. So, a cup of coffee would have only a few milligrams of caffeine in it. This is a great way for all the tea lovers to enjoy the natural flavors of the beverage without having to deal with the harmful caffeine side effects. Moreover, green tea is in itself quite beneficial to the health of a person as it is not only one of the least processed teas but also provides antioxidant polyphenols known as a catechin. Also, called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), this catechin is believed to be responsible for most of the health benefits linked to green tea such as a decreased risk of cancer and heart disease.

Methods of Decaffeination

Carbon Dioxide Decaffeination: Known as supercritical fluid extraction, the carbon dioxide method of decaffeination involves soaking the tea leaves in a carbon dioxide solution. This helps in releasing the caffeine. Once the tea leaves are separated out from the solution, then the caffeine is removed by using charcoal. The tea leaves are then immersed back into the filtered solution, to allow the absorption of the nutrients. It is believed that this process of decaffeination retains polyphenols and catechins which impart the benefits to the green tea.

Ethyl Acetate Decaffeination: This method of decaffeination is often used synonymously with "naturally decaffeinated" process and is the most commonly used decaffeination process. This process involves soaking the leaves in water. Once the tea leaves are removed, the caffeine is removed by bringing it in contact with ethyl acetate. Post this, the tea leaves are again immersed in water to reabsorb the nutrients.

Decaffeinated Green Tea Benefits

Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that are the primary forces that destroy the free radicals and environmental toxins in the body. Free radicals in the body cause modification of the cells, tampering with the DNA and cell death. This not only causes a number of health problems but also results in the speeding up of the aging process. The neutralizing antioxidants in green tea help fight off diseases such as the coronary artery disease, high cholesterol problems and even cancer. Here is a list of green tea benefits.

• Lowers the cholesterol levels
• Improves digestion and bowel regularity
• Fights signs of aging
• Helps prevent atherosclerosis
• Protects against cancer including bladder, breast and ovarian cancer
• Controls blood sugar
• Boost metabolism and burns fat to promote weight loss.

In addition to these benefits of green tea, decaffeinated green tea also helps reduce the symptoms of an overdose of caffeine that is present in normal tea. This caffeine often gives rise to gastrointestinal problems and nervous system side effects like depression and fatigue. It is important to keep in mind that the effects of this tea on pregnancy have not been explored and is thus best avoided during pregnancy.

Decaffeinated Green Side Effects

While green tea does have a range of benefits, it is also important to keep in mind the side effects of this natural tea. It is observed that the green tea or the green tea extracts can inhibit the function of medications such as adenosine, antibiotics, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, propranolol, and metoprolol and certain blood thinning medications. Moreover, the decaffeination process itself results in a lowering of the antioxidant catechins in the tea, thus robbing it of its most potent health benefits. The presence of ethyl acetate compounds in the tea can cause a number of liver problems as well.

Green tea is rich in antioxidants and the decaffeinating process does affect the naturally healthy components in it. However if you just cannot tolerate the caffeine in natural teas, then decaffeinated green tea is a great option for you.

Healthy Diets For Men Provide Necessary Energy

We grew up listening to our moms insisting that we eat a healthy diet. What we didn't like back then, we didn't eat. We now realize why it is necessary to follow a healthy diet. Following a healthy diet is not difficult. Little changes in eating habits can go a long way to help maintain a healthy body. This article will center around healthy diet, where I will write about the good diets for men. These diets for men are not very difficult to follow. If you follow the diet given below and couple them with some exercises, I am sure you will lose excessive fat. Keep reading....

Healthy Diets for Men

What is a good diet? How do you decide which diet is good and which is not? A well balanced diet is a good diet. As you know, there are various nutrients that are required by the body. Whatever you eat, it must provide you with necessary minerals, proteins, fat, carbohydrates and calcium. When your diet is rich in these nutrients, it is a good diet. For example, a low cholesterol diet is one of the good diets for men. The following paragraphs will throw light on the other good diets for men, several of which are easy diets that work fast.

High Protein Diet
Men require a high protein diet if they want to shed off excess fat and replace it by muscles. Experts believe that men require more protein than women because they are taller and weigh more. It is necessary to calculate the amount of proteins needed by men with the help of a formula. For every kilogram of body weight, the protein requirements are 0.8 grams. This formula makes it easier to understand the daily requirements of protein and you can choose eggs, milk, turkey, legumes and many more foods from the protein rich foods list. A high protein diet could be one of the good diets that work fast. In addition to the above list, there are several other high protein diet foods which can be consumed in various meals of the day.

Low Carb Diet
Yes, carbohydrates are important in the diet to make it balanced. Carbs should be consumed so that your body receives energy to carry out its functions properly. There are two types of carbs; simple and compound. Simple carbohydrates are better, as they are easily broken down by the digestive system, while complex carbohydrates are not so easily digested by the body. Hence, a low carb diet is recommended. However, it is essential to know which carb foods to include in the diet. Walnuts, hazel nuts, seeds, are some foods from the low carb foods that you can consume. Apart from these foods for weight loss, include huge servings of fruits and vegetables to the low carb diet plan for men. Other meat like goat, deer, duck, pheasant, can also be included in good diets for men. However, while eating meat and fish, ensure that the portions are smaller.

Low Sodium Diet
With the world craves for fast food, you are not an exception. However, what you do not realize is that fast food contains too much of sodium. True, sodium is required by the body to function properly. However, too much of sodium is not good for anyone's health. If you consume too much of sodium, it gets accumulated in your blood. This increases blood pressure. Chances of heart stroke and heart diseases increase due to the increase in the blood pressure. The kidneys start working overtime, meaning they are under pressure too. Hence, it is better to follow a low sodium diet plan. In all the good diets for men, it is necessary to reduce the amount of salt.

Weight Loss Diets For Men

I am sure there might have been plenty of guys who have been on plenty of weight loss diets. Some work, while some do not. There are certain tricks to be followed, in order to make weight loss programs for men, successful. Following a low calorie diet works, where you consume foods that are low in calories but are sufficient for daily activities. Several low calorie diets that you can follow are mentioned below.

1000 Calorie Diet
If you are in a hurry to lose weight, then you could also follow the 1000 calorie diet menu. You need to include loads of fresh raw fruits and raw vegetables, reduce the consumption of dairy products and red meat, reduce the use of butter and other fats, and at the same time, reduce the consumption of sweets. Eating small but frequent healthy meals is another weight loss tip for men. If you crave for any of these forbidden foods, try to control yourself, rather than giving in to your cravings.

1200 Calorie Diet
The 1200 calorie diet is another low calorie diet that promises to decrease your weight if it is followed correctly. This is a popular diet and is recommended by experts too. This diet is said to be adequate for human needs and is said to be excellent for weight loss.

1500 Calorie Diet
A 1500 calorie diet is good for those who want to lose their weight without starving themselves, and without facing the side effects of dieting. In a balanced and a healthy way, this diet can be of use for losing weight and looking fit and healthy making this diet the best diet to lose weight. With fruits and vegetables, in addition to dry fruits and healthy dairy products, this diet can work wonders when followed judiciously.

Other Low Calorie Diets
There are several other low calorie diets like the 1600 calorie diet and the 1800 calorie diet. It is recommended that you consult a nutritionist and your doctor, as they will be able to give you the right advice on which diets to follow.

Additional Tips

In addition to the above easy diets that work, there are certain diet tips that you can follow. These tips will help you in reducing and maintaining your weight and converting your good diets into the best diets for men.

Food and Beverages
There are several foods in the list of superfoods for weight loss, which can be included in the daily diet. Oatmeal diet for weight loss is also one of the tried and tested diet and helps in weight loss. Protein shakes can be included in the diet with some delicious protein shake diet recipes for weight loss. Make your daily diet interesting with these ideas.

Frequent Meals
Instead of eating a lot in one meal, it is always advisable to eat small frequent meals. Not only will small meals not pile up weight and calories, they will also help in acting as metabolism boosters.

Calorie Count
While eating your meals, try to count your calories. Stop when you feel that you have exceeded the required amount of calories. Take the help of a nutritionist to understand how many calories you need throughout the day.

Exercises
Diets cannot become good diets for men unless they are accompanied with exercises. Any form of exercises are important. Cardio exercises and fat burning exercises will help you remain fit and healthy. Establish a gym workout routine for weight loss and follow it.

I hope this article has helped you in your quest of good diets for men. With the help of this article and your nutritionist, draft a diet plan for yourself. Follow it strictly for a month and see the difference in yourself. If you are in a hurry to lose weight, you could go for crash diets for men. You will be able to find diets that work for men by making subtle changes in your existing diet. A trick to remember - do not 'think' that you are on a diet, as it will make you crave more for food. Just follow the plan and exercise without stressing yourself. This will give you better results.

Millet Bread Provides The Health Benefits Of Whole Grains

Millet is widely cultivated for the purpose of harvesting food grains and fodder for livestock. In the list of most important cereals in the world, they rank sixth, and serve as a staple food in many regions of the world. In fact, millet forms the major food crop in areas that are prone to prolonged drought spells. There are two ways of consuming millet, as whole grains and millet flour. Here, we shall focus on millet bread nutrition and making bread with millet.

Millet Bread Nutrition Facts

Nutrition wise, millet is a rich source of proteins, vitamin B, iron, calcium, potassium and other minerals. With protein content coming to about 11 percent of grain weight, its nutrition facts are nearly similar to wheat. However, unlike wheat, millet is free of gluten, thus making an important part of the gluten-free diet. Consuming millet will provide the health benefits of whole grains, while minimizing the risk for allergic responses. If you do not like the taste of steamed millet or cooked whole grains, try soft millet bread prepared with millet flour.

In baking millet flour bread, most people prefer to add other types of flour for better texture and taste. The point is nutritional value of millet bread will vary according to the bread ingredients used and serving amounts. On an average, serving one slice (36 g) of bread made from millet flour yields 110 calories, of which 27 calories are contributed by fats. The same serving amount provides 5 g protein, 4 g dietary fiber, 2 g sugar and iron in large amounts. In short, the nutritional value of millet breads is highly impressive.

Healthy Millet Bread Recipe

While millet bread is available in nearly all baking centers, you can also try making homemade bread by using millet flour. Also, people who are sensitive to wheat and alike grains, or are diagnosed with celiac disease can make gluten-free millet bread. The baking method remains the same with other bread recipes. However, remember that this flour type is not suited for making raised bread. Instead, you can try flat bread recipes with millet flour. The following is a basic method on how to make millet bread from scratch.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup lukewarm water
• 2 ½ tablespoons yeast
• 2 teaspoon cane sugar or honey
• 1 cup millet flour
• ½ cup fine cornmeal
• 1 cup potato starch
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 egg yolks
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 egg whites, slightly beaten
• ½ cup millet
• Parchment paper for lining loaf pan

Directions for Preparation

For baking millet bread, preheat oven to 375 °F, and line the loaf pan with parchment paper. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine together water, yeast and natural cane sugar (or yeast). Allow the mixture to set for 8-10 minutes, or until yeast is dissolved completely. By the meantime, sift and add the dry ingredients - millet flour, cornmeal, potato starch, baking soda and sea salt in a large saucepan. Take another mixing bowl and whisk together egg yolk, butter, buttermilk and yeast mixture. To the saucepan containing flour mixture, gently add wet concoction, while stirring continuously.

Work well to make a smooth dough with no lumps. But, do not overdo it, or else you will not get a fluffy bread. Make the dough into the shape of a loaf. Then, lightly brush the surface of the loaf with egg white. Sprinkle millet grains on top and sides of the bread loaf. Bake it in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until your millet bread is done. You can check for doneness by inserting a toothpick, if it comes out clean, your bread is baked well. Allow it to cool down in the cooling rack for 5-7 minutes, before slicing.

In a step towards healthy eating, dietitians suggest substituting white rice and its products with millet and millet flour. And to create variety, you can experiment different recipes of millet bread with your favorite nuts or fruit extracts. What about making orange flavored millet bread? If it sounds interesting, you can bake it with fresh orange juice and orange rinds. Accordingly, reduce the water quantity used in making bread dough, and follow the same baking directions.

You Don't Ignore A Craving For Thai Fried Rice

Thai fried rice is known as Khao Pad or Khao Phad and is a variety of fried rice, that is typical to Central Thai cuisine. To translate Khao Pad, khao stands for rice and pad is something related to being stir fried. However, it should not be confused with Chinese fried rice, as apart from the different sauces, spices, etc. the variety of rice used to make Thai fried rice is also different. To make Thai fried rice, the regular long grain rice is not used, instead a variety of rice called Jasmine rice is used. The ingredients, that are used to make this rice are chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, crab, egg, etc. Out of these Thai shrimp fried rice and Thai fried rice with crab is very popular. We will now see some of the Thai fried rice recipes, but before that do read on Thai herbs and spices.

In Thailand, fried rice is served at lunch and is often served with cucumber and a wedge of lime. The unique taste of the Thai rice comes from a mix of fish sauce, soy sauce, chili peppers and lime. The rice is decorated with cilantro and a dusting of freshly ground pepper. When you make fried rice it is good to use a little dry rice, so that the rice does not stick.

Recipe # 1
This is the recipe to make Thai fried rice with chicken. Read on pad Thai recipe.

Ingredients

• Jasmine Rice (cooked) 1 cup
• Onion (sliced) ¼ cup
• Garlic (finely chopped) 1 ½ tsp
• Scallions (both the green as well as white parts) 2 tbsp
• Tomato (diced) ⅓ cup
• Chicken Meat (small pieces) ⅓ cup
• Salt ½ tsp
• White Soy Sauce ½ tsp
• White Sugar ¼ tsp
• Black Soy Sauce ¼ tsp
• Cooking Oil ½ tbsp
• Egg 1
• White Pepper Powder ¼ tsp

Method

• Chop the tomatoes into medium-sized pieces and make thin strips of onion. Chop scallions finely.
• Heat the oil on high till the oil is hot.
• Add onion to the pan and stir well.
• When the onion softens up, add garlic to the onion and stir a little.
• When the garlic becomes brown add the chicken pieces.
• Continue to flip the chicken, until it is white on all the sides.
• Now is the time to add rice to the pan, stir well and then add diced tomatoes and mix well.
• Move the rice to one side and pour little oil on the pan.
• When the oil heats up crack an egg on the oil and let the egg solidify a little.
• When the egg is solid flip rice on top and mix well.
• Add both the soy sauce, sugar and salt to the rice, stir well and turn off the heat.
• Remove the rice in a plate and garnish with scallions and pepper powder.
• Serve with lime wedges, cucumber slices and a small bowl of fish sauce.

Recipe # 2
This is one of the most popular methods to make Thai fried rice, as it is the Thai fried rice with shrimp recipe. You may want to read on authentic Thai food recipes.

Ingredients

• Olive Oil 2 tbsp
• Garlic (minced) 1 ½ tsp
• Green Onions (thinly slices) ½ cup
• Jalapeño Chilies (minced with the seeds) 4 tsp
• Cooked Jasmine Rice 3 cups
• Sugar 1 tsp
• Soy Sauce 2 tbsp
• Fish Sauce 2 tbsp
• Shelled and cooked Shrimp 1 ¼ cups
• Fresh Cilantro (chopped) 1 cup
• Fresh Basil Leaves (1 cup)
• Toasted Sesame Oil 1 tsp

Method

• Pour oil into a wok or a pan and let it heat over medium heat.
• Add garlic, onions, jalapeño chilies to the oil and stir often for about 4 minutes.
• Now add rice, sugar, soy and fish sauce to the onions and stir well.
• Reduce the heat to medium and stir the rice often, till all ingredients are well coated. This will take about 3 to 4 minutes.
• At last add shrimp, cilantro, basil, sesame oil and stir well again for about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Serve hot with cucumber slices and lemon wedges.

Bottled Cocktails Are The Perfect Chioce For You

So you are having a party and you want to serve mixed drinks, but you don't want to be behind the bar all night and your budget precludes the hiring of a bartender.

One possibility is the serving of bottled cocktails. This is not those RTD (ready-to-drink) beverages that you get at the grocery store. Bottled cocktails are simply a large batch of a mixed cocktail that is pre-mixed and chilled in a bottle.

Bottled Cocktails were first written about by the Professor himself, Jerry Thomas in How to Mix Drinks published in 1862. In his book he explains how to make a bottle of brandy cocktail and proclaims that cocktails are generally used on fishing and other sporting parties, although some patients insist that it is good in the morning as a tonic. His recipe is as follows:

Bottle Cocktail
2/3 Brandy
1/3 Water
1 pony-glass of Bogart’s bitters
1 wine-glass of gum syrup (simple syrup)
1/2 pony-glass of Curacoa

So what cocktails can we serve as bottled cocktails? I would say any cocktail that does not call for some type of carbonated ingredient would be a candidate to be bottled and served at your party. Cocktails with carbonated ingredients would most likely go flat because they are not being stored under pressure. The process is fairly simple…

First find a clean bottle. This can be a used liquor bottle, coke bottle, or just any plastic container. Next fill the bottle with water and then pour out the water into a measuring cup to figure out how many ounces or milliliters the bottle holds. For our example lets say it measured to be 25 ounces.

Now let’s say you want to make a bottled Manhattan. The following are the ingredients for my recipe for a single serving of a Manhattan:

2 oz Bourbon
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
2 dashes of bitters

At first glance you might think, “Okay just pour in twice as much Bourbon than Vermouth in the bottle, chill it, and I’m done.” But if you did this you would be missing a major ingredient… water. This is because we are not putting the ingredients in a mixing glass, stirring it, and getting the melted ice water in the drink. Instead we are just chilling it in a cooler. So, we have to add the water to the recipe.

Depending on how strong you like your drinks 1/4 to 1/3 of mixed cocktails are comprised of water. See this article for more information about water in cocktails:

So, in our 25 ounce bottle 8 ounces will be water. (25 x 1/3). That leaves us with 17 ounces for the other ingredients (25 – 8). Of the 17 ounces 2/3 is Bourbon and 1/3 is Sweet Vermouth.

Now for the bitters... Because the recipe calls for 2 dashes it is difficult to scale it up in the same way. So, what I do is think about how many 6 oz servings the bottled cocktail will make. In this case about 4 (25 divided by 6). So I will add 8 dashes of bitters to the recipe (4 x 2 dashes).

All this calculation has gotten us to the following recipe for a 25 oz bottled cocktail:

8 oz Water (25 x 1/3)
11 oz Bourbon ((25 – 8) x 2/3)
5.5 oz Sweet Vermouth ((25 – 8) x 1/3)
8 Dashes of Bitters ((25 divided by 6) x 2)

Pour ingredients in a 25 oz bottle, cap the bottle, shake a few times to mix up the ingredients, and put in a refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours.

You can double check your math by adding up all of the ounces. They should total close to the size of your bottle, minus some rounding. This same process can be repeated for just about any cocktail you would like to serve at your party. Just use the same ratio of ingredients and don’t forget about the water.

Now that you have one or two different chilled bottled cocktails in the refrigerator and your guests are due to arrive soon… The last piece of the puzzle is presentation and you will be ready for your party.

One idea is to fill a large tub with ice and then place your bottled cocktails in the ice and then arrange your cocktail glasses upside down in the ice. This will cool your cocktail and you glasses for your guest.

Now your guests can serve themselves and you can enjoy their company without having to mix a drink every 10 minutes.

Another party option is to mix a punch, but that is a post for another day.

Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seeds of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for hundreds of years in Mexico, Central and South America. Chocolate has become one of the most popular food types and flavors in the world. Gifts of chocolate molded into different shapes have become traditional on certain holidays. 

 

 

Even though chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potentially many health effects, both negative and positive. Chocolate is rich in phenolics especially flavan-3-ols (catechins) and flavonoids. Dark chocolate's health values are because of its highest percentage of phenolics and flavanoid antioxidants.

1. Cocoa or dark chocolate may positively affect the circulatory system. This is mainly caused by a particular substance present in cocoa called epicatechin. Dark chocolate, with its high cocoa content, is a rich source of epicatechin and gallic acid, which are thought to possess cardioprotective properties. It reduces blood pressure, improved blood flow, and anti-clotting effects that may help prevent plaque formation.

2. Limited amounts of dark chocolate appear to help prevent heart disease.

Dark chocolate has also been said to reduce the possibility of a heart attack when consumed regularly in small amounts. Cocoa possesses a significant antioxidant action, protecting against LDL oxidation, perhaps more than other polyphenol antioxidant-rich foods and beverages. The oxidation of LDL cholesterol is considered a major factor in the promotion of coronary disease. When this waxy substance oxidizes, it tends to stick to artery walls, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

3. Prevention of premature ageing and cancer.

The study regarding antioxidants report direct correlation in prevention of premature aging and cancer.

4. Many researches found that cocoa-based prescription drugs could potentially help treat diabetes, dementia and other diseases.

5. Brain stimulator.

Chocolate is a mild stimulant mainly due to the presence of theobromine, the primary alkaloid in cocoa solids and chocolate. A specially formulated type of cocoa may be nootropic and delay brain function decline as the people age.

6. Muscle recovery.

Post-exercise consumption of low fat chocolate milk provides equal or possibly superior muscle recovery compared to a high-carbohydrate recovery beverage with the same amount of calories.

5. Prevention of cough.

As a cough suppressant, theobromine was found to be almost one third more effective than codeine, the leading cough medicine.

7. Antidiarrheal effects. 

Flavonoids can inhibit the development of diarrhea, suggesting antidiarrhoeal effects of cocoa.

8. Aphrodisiac.

Romantic lore commonly identifies chocolate as an aphrodisiac. It has been found that methylxanthine, an active biological substance found in chocolate, competes with adenosine, a presynaptic inhibitor modulator, and blocks its receptor that leads to arousal. Phenethylamine, an endogenous alkaloid sometimes described as a 'love chemical' is quickly metabolized by monoamineoxidase-B and does not reach the brain in significant amounts.

The Benefits Of drinking Wines

One of the most controversial issues is whether or not drinking of wine is beneficial for health. The response is equally yes and no. Study tells us that there are certain health advantages of drinking wine, especially red wine. In spite of this, it must be observed that excessive amounts of anything will always lead to harmful effects. Wine when ingested within limits coupled with a healthy diet is of great benefit.

Wine contains anti-bacteria agents and something called procyanidins that both work in wonderful ways in your body to help improve your health. Wine also, being an alcohol, helps to thin blood and let it flow more smoothly through your body. These factors create many benefits that you experience just from drinking wine.

Good heart health. Wine is good for the heart because it helps to thin our blood which allows the heart to work a little less. Additionally, studies have shown that people who consume wine in moderate amounts have lower occurrences of heart disease and other heart problems then people who do not drink wine.

Lowers risk for stroke. Just as wine helps with heart disease it helps prevent stroke. The thinning of the blood helps to prevent clots that lead to stroke.

Lowers risk for cataracts. Studies have shown that wine helps to prevent cataracts. More studies are needed to determine why, but it has been shown in study after study that people who drink wine regularly have a lower occurrence for cataracts.

Lowers risk for diabetes. Studies have shown that drinking wine helps to reduce the risk for developing diabetes. The make up of the wine and its alcohol base help to extend the function of the pancreas and sweep glucose from the body, allowing a person to avoid diabetes onset later in life.

Wine has been shown to help lengthen your life. With all of the health benefits it is no wonder that drinking wine will help you to live longer. Wine has been shown to help slow down the aging of the brain and therefore allow better brain function longer.

Wine lovers will rejoice when all these studies are completed and finally prove that wine is good for you. The one thing, though, that should be noted about the benefits of wine is that these benefits have only been shown to outweigh the negative effects of alcohol consumption when wine is drank in moderation.

Grape Is The Queen Of All Fruits

Grapes are one of the most valuable fruit that is known to revitalize our entire system. They are delicious, highly nutritious and very easily digestible.

Grapes can be eaten fresh or dried (raisins) or can be consumed as a grape juice. Although seedless grapes are highly sought after for table grapes, the absence of seeds does diminish the phytochemical content of the grape. To receive the maximum nutrients from grapes, it is recommended that the seeds are also consumed.
Many of the health benefits attributed to red/purple grapes are due to the pigments that are concentrated largely in the skin and seeds, which have about 100 times higher level than the pulp of the grape.

Grapes are rich in content with water, protien, fat, minerals (calcium, phosphorus, iron) and vitamins (Vitamin C, Vitamin A and P). Due to its rich content of sugar which is formed of glucose, they are easily absorbed in the body soon after its consumption thus supplying heat and energy within a short time.

 Health benefits are massive and can be illustrated as follows:

1. Cancer:
Grapes seem to be very good cancer fighting fruit. (They are an excellent source of health promoting flavonoids. Usually, the stronger the color of the grapes, the concentration of flavonoids are found higher.)
Grapes are also rich in ellagic acid, a potent flavonoid that helps fight cancer. Besides there is a substance found in the skin (not flesh) of grapes, called "resveratrol". Researchers reported in a study that resveratrol is converted in the body to a known anti-cancer agent that can selectively target and destroy cancer cells.
Besides, red grape skins and seeds contain recently isolated compounds shown to reduce the size of estrogen-dependent breast cancer tumors.
Still more interesting fact is that grapes acts as a preventative agent in prostrate, lung, liver, and breast cancer.

2. Heart Disease:
Grapes are abundantly useful in the treatment of heart disease as they tone up the heart and are effective in cardiac pain and palpitation of the heart. Besides grape juice is highly valuable for a person who is suffering from a heart attack which will avert serious consequences and by reducing the pain and palpitation.
Also eating fresh grapes may prevent the accumulation of harmful oxidized cholesterol as well as the development of atherosclerotic lesions. According to the study, as reported in the Journal of Nutrition (vol. 135, pp. 722-728, 2005.), naturally occurring antioxidants in fresh grapes known as polyphenols are believed to be responsible for this beneficial impact.
The flavonoid compounds found in grapes called resveratrol appear to decrease the risk of heart disease by:
-Reducing platelet clumping and harmful blood clots
-Protecting LDL cholesterol from the free radical damage that initiates LDL's artery-damaging actions
-Boosts good type of HDL cholesterol
They are also known to keep heart flexible and healthy.

3. Blood Pressure:
The intake of grapes regularly in our diet reduces the risk of hypertension.

4. Alzheimer's disease: Resveratrol, a beneficial polyphenol present in grapes reduces the levels of amyloidal-beta peptides in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Studies suggest that grapes can enhance brain health and stall the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.

5. Constipation:
As grapes are a laxative food, it is valuable in relieving constipation. It tones up the stomach and intestine and relieves the most chronic cases of constipation. When fresh grapes are not available, raisins soaked in water can be used.

6. Dyspepsia:
Grapes constitute a light food that eliminates indigestion and irritation of the stomach and, is valuable in dyspepsia.

Red Wine Is Good For Our Skin

Most women like to drink a glass of red wine before the sleeping,it is right,because the red wine is good for our body and skin.

“There is overwhelming data showing the human body needs physical activity, but for some of us, getting that activity isn’t easy,” said Gerald Weissmann, editor of the journal that published the latest research.

“Resveratrol may not be a substitute for exercise, but it could slow deterioration until someone could get moving again,” he added.

To study whether resveratrol has similar effects on the body to exercise, French researchers devised an experiment in which rats experienced the weightlessness more usually associated with astronauts in space, reports the Daily Mail.

The ‘astronaut’ rats given a daily dose of resveratrol stayed in good health, the study found.

But in those kept in weightless conditions and not given resveratrol, bones became brittle and muscles wasted and weakened.
Red wine is a type of wine made from dark-coloured (black) grape varieties. The actual colour of the wine can range from intense violet, typical of young wines, through to brick red for mature wines and brown for older red wines.

The juice from most black grapes is greenish-white; the red colour comes from anthocyan pigments (also called anthocyanins) naturally present in the skin of the grape; exceptions are the relatively uncommon teinturier varieties, which produce a red colored juice. Much of the red-wine production process therefore involves extraction of colour and flavour components from the grape skin.

Made in China 长安一号 (Beijing) -

As mentioned in an earlier post, after several Peking Duck adventures of mine during a short work stay in Beijing, I've come to the conclusion that some of the most raved about ducks there, or for that matter even those being trashed by the media or bloggers alike such as Quanjude 全聚德 , turned out to be rather more of the same in the end. Sure Made in China 长安一号 may be often mentioned on everyone's lips as the no.1 Peking Duck in Beijing or in the world. But Dadong 大董烤鸭店 with their super-lean roast ducks naturally can't agree with this generalisation before putting up a fight. And then there are some existing establishments or late comers also in the scene. My duck served in Made in China was not entirely roasted nor sliced to perfection in the end. In fact, their sister restaurant in Macau's Beijing Kitchen 滿堂彩 made me a more crispier yet moister, flavourful duck than here and that was carved better! Which is the other way around with Jason Bonvivant's visits of the same restaurants, so it shows they must all have a consistency problem of some sorts?! This rating is therefore purely of this particular visit. May be on another day, it will fare better?

                                    Entrance

                       

Fruit Wood open oven for roasting Ducks,

as is expected in most duck shops in Beijing

 

Pu-Erh Tea -

Very good, Made in China really takes care of their connoisseur's tea selections ~ 8/10

Appetizer of Young Vegetables -

Very good for cleansing effect ~  8/10

Appetizer of White Beans -
A bit boring, don't understand it's role here ~  3/10

Open Kitchen -
..seems to be the theme in most Hyatt's I've visited. 
Here, pastry chef is making my next pancake dish.

Black Truffle and Scallions Pancake -

To be honest, I really regretted ordering this.  It is dense, has little truffle taste (and if any, it's only truffles paste).  I also wonder where the scallions went.  Totally forgettable and I should have ordered another dish to try ~  3/10

Chef Carving away on my Duck -
fresh from the fruit wood roasting oven

 

                    Duck Plate #1 / 3 -  Skin from the Belly
Nouveau style Peking Ducks, served in Macau, Hong Kong or Beijing, are often recommended to be sliced up into 3 ways.  Firstly, the crispy belly skin should be dipped into caster sugar and eaten by itself.  This was more crunchy than crispy, but quite fat.  Overall, pretty good ~  7.5/10

                              Condiments -

Cucumber, Beijing Winter Leeks, Minced Garlic, Hoisin Sauce, Sugar.

The stand out was the Hoisin Sauce, which was not overly sweet but slightly smoky

with depth.The sauce served with Peking Ducks, is sometimes what distinguishes it between it and its competitors, and this was definitely within Top 3 I've tried  ~  8/10

 

 Mandarin Crepes -

Fairly dry and floury, a little thick.  Almost like a Tortilla.
I don't mind both chewy or doughy types of crepes, but this was so dry, you can see it has curled upwards in a funny manner.  Definitely could be improved ~  5/10

 

 

Duck Plate #2 / 3 - Pure Meat & Duck Head
This is meant to be eaten alone dipped into the garlic mince and hoisin sauce, or could also be put into the wraps.  Unfortunately sigh, this was quite dry, even though this was carved from a Whole-Duck rather than from Half-a-Duck.  It was also quite bland in both duck or marination taste.  I was quite disappointed with this outcome ~  6/10

 

Duck Plate #3 /3 -  Meat from Mostly Duck Back and Part of the Thigh

This fared slightly better than above, but was still dry and didn't taste much of anything. It was also sliced way too tiny compared to every other restaurant, which exacerbates the dryness even more.  The skin wasn't very crunchy nor crispy either.  Look, I'm nit picking here, this was probably acceptable, but when touted as the top Peking Duck in the world, I think it failed to deliver.  It is certainly not within the Top 3 Ducks I've had in say Macau or Beijing or anywhere in the world.  May be Top 10 at most   ~  6.9/10

 

 

Pancake Crepe with Fillings 

 

Lovely Interior -

Pity about the Duck and the food on this visit