Food

Classic and delicious Malaysian breakfast food

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 11:05:00 +0000

: Nasi Lemak with banana leaf

If someone were to ask me what is the best thing you can find in Malaysia? I would say it’s “Food”.

Malaysian food is unique in the World. It’s a mixture of exotic cuisine brought over by the Indians, Javanese, Thais, Chinese and Portuguese. But of course Malaysians love their ‘fish & chips’ and beefburgers too. Which they cordially call “western food”. A reminder of a time when Malaya was a British colony.

Finding food in Malaysian is a galore. Everywhere you go you’ll find food – in the alleys, by the road side in the neighborhood, in shop houses, prestigious malls and morning or night market (pasar tani and pasar malam respectively).

Nasi Lemak

What do a typical Malaysian have for breakfast? “Nasi Lemak”.

I must have been about 7 yrs old when I first savored Nasi Lemak. Nasi Lemak is served with ‘sambal’ (hot chili sauce) so you must be of an age whereby your palate is tolerable to hot food.

When I was little girl, vendors came to your house to sell their delightful food. You can hear them calling out “Nasi Lemak!!”, or what ever they are selling. I remember a little girl and her sister (she was my age and her sister is a little older) They carried the Nasi Lemak in a rattan basket. She had a strong voice. I can hear her calling out a yards away. Her mother (God bless her) whom later became a family friend cooked the best Nasi Lemak on the planet.

My father who was an officer and a gentleman would order a dozen packets wrapped of Nasi Lemak in banana leaves. Then he would take us all for a picnic at the Lake Garden park in Kuala Lumpur. The best part before you could savor the contents was when the banana leaf wrapped packet was opened up. The first thing that hit you was the combined aroma of the pandan leaves, banana leaves and coconut milk. It was heaven. I’ve never forgotten the earliest memory of my first Nasi Lemak experience.

Nasi Lemak is a simple dish, but it must be cooked with just the right balance for it to be perfect.

What is Nasi Lemak?

Nasi Lemak is rice cooked in coconut milk, made aromatic with pandan leaves (screwpine, Pandanus amaryllifolius) and ginger root. It is served with Sambal Ikan Bilis (fried dried anchovies cooked in a dry chilli paste) and garnished with fresh cucumber slices, hard boiled egg and roasted peanuts. Traditionally packages are wrapped in a banana leaf. The dish is usually eaten as hearty breakfast or for supper after a late night clubbing.

Nasi lemak to die for

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:02:00 +0000

A makeshift stall at the centre of Kampung Baru in Sungai Buloh is making a name for itself with its speciality

Kampung Baru in Sungai Buloh has been receiving some media attention recently but for all the wrong reasons. But here’s a piece of good news.

There is a makeshift stall at the centre of the small village that sells “nasi lemak pandan kukus”. Frankly, I am not a big fan of nasi lemak but I will allow myself a plateful of the sambal, anchovies and curry sotong now and then.

So when I cruised past this stall in the middle of the Kampung Baru town, my “co-navigator” exclaimed “stop, looks like great nasi lemak”. Since I was in no mood to argue with a hungry person, I brought the car to an abrupt halt.

The guy in charge called himself Tok Mat but he doesn’t really look that old to be called “Tok”. He looked liked someone in the late 50s or early 60s. Tok Mat was a jovial guy who was talkative and funny at the same time.

He humbly admitted he was not in charge although he seemed to be giving orders to his daughter and a guy who looked like his son. “She’s the manager,” he laughed, pointing at his daughter.

“I just help to fry the chicken. One can’t simply put the chicken in the wok with oil and be impatient about it. Otherwise, the chicken would look nice on the outside and still a bit raw on the inside,” he commented.

How true, I thought. Here was a man who knew his fried chicken. He happily added that he used to carry out his business in Kota Damansara but that didn’t work out. Business was slow there.

Then he mentioned another kampung nearby. There, too, the going was discouraging. Finally, he took a chance with Kampung Baru, Sungai Buloh.

Suddenly, his business took off. “The Chinese here love my nasi lemak. To them, money wasn’t an issue. So long as the dish is excellent, they will pay,” he said confidently.

Seven variations

Altogether Tok Mat had seven variations of his home-cooked nasi lemak. Beginning with “nasi lemak kukus biasa” which costs RM1.50, Tok Mat also took great pride in promoting the “nasi lemak kukus dengan ayam berempah”.

That nasi lemak special costs RM4.50. It didn’t even come close to be labelled as expensive, at least not in my books. The big container of nasi lemak had a wonderful aroma. Embedded in the rice were pandan leaves.

While we were having a nice buddy conversation, Tok Mat was eyeing his chicken in the wok. We had earlier said we wanted really “fresh fried chicken”. So he gave us a rundown of what it was like to produce fried chicken of the finest quality.

Then Tok Mat imparted some sound advice against consuming too much “kari kambing” because it might be too much for those who were prone to gout. He jokingly said that if a large portion of this particular dish was taken, within an hour, the person could feel a “twitching in his big toe”.

Both of us had a good laugh. He must have had some experience with that, otherwise he wouldn’t be so graphic about that ailment.

Since it was not the time of day to sit and eat, we just ordered a couple of takeaways and kept our fingers crossed about the much acclaimed nasi lemak as advertised on the banner.

An hour later at home, we sat down to have our first taste of Tok Mat’s speciality. True to his word, the nasi lemak pandan kukus was easily the best I have tasted in the last five years.

Looks like I have to re-establish rapport with Tok Mat soon. I now know the short cut to that place.

“Nasi lemak pandan kukus dengan ayam berempah”is right at the top of my agenda. I am sure Tok Mat will be happy to see me again.

I simply love a man who loves to eat and knows how to make great nasi lemak. Thank god, there are still people like Tok Mat out there. They are a vanishing breed.

Best Nasi Lemak & Milo Dinasour @ Village Park Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:58:00 +0000

Know where to get the best nasi lemak in town?

Head down to Damansara Uptown, located near one of the corner, is a new joint (ok, not so new) called Village Park Restaurant.

I've heard a lot of raving reviews of the Nasi Lemak here, so I decided to check it out one day.

We ordered each a Nasi Lemak with Fried Chicken. At RM6.80 per plate, it's one of the pricier mamak Nasi Lemak you find these days.

But oh god, it's so worth it.

The fried chicken was one of the crunchiest and tastiest fried chickens I've tried in a long time. KFC was so below par compared to this.

The key ingredient however, in my opinion, was the sambal. Not too spicy and rather sweetish, it blended too well with coconut milk rice and fried chicken drumstick.

I topped it off with a heavy drink, hailed from Singapore culture - Milo Dinosaur.

Priced at RM4.90. It was rather pricey for a Milo drink. But if you look at it as a ice blended chocolate drink, it's really quite reasonable, and definitely sharable between two people.

Normally Milo Dinosaur is just Milo mixed with condensed milk and topped with a generous tablespoon of Milo powder. I first heard and drank such drink was in Singapore two years ago.

But the one in Village Park served the drink ice blended. Thick, rich, icey cold and chocolate-y. What more can one ask for?

Try it. It's worth the visit.

Though the restaurant can get really packed during lunch hour, then it's much faster to self service and queue order your own Nasi Lemak from the counter.

Food Rating: 4/5
Overall Rating: 3/5

Village Park Restaurant (Damansara Uptown)
5, Jalan SS21/37,
Damansara Utama,
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Tel: 03-77107860
Open from 7 am to 8pm daily, 7 am to 6 pm on Sunday/Public Holiday

Nasi Lemak Cilibilis at Gurney Drive Hawker Center, Penang

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:54:00 +0000

One will find numerous hawker stalls serving a wide array of local delights at Gurney Drive Hawker Center in Penang. Nasi lemak lovers should try the all-time favourite at Nasi Lemak Cilibilis. The stall specialises in nasi lemak kukus (steamed rice in coconut milk).

The rice, cooked with ginger, coconut milk and pandan leaves that give it an amazing aroma, is steamed on the spot on large metal trays in a giant steamer.

Rice and egg steamed in the premises itself

Once cooked, the fluffy rice is transferred and kept warm in a wooden tub. They will repeat the entire cooking process once the supply runs low.

A plate of nasi lemak cost between RM2 and RM4. The basic set comes with a half hard-boiled egg, cucumber slices, sambal, deep-fried ikan bilis and fried peanuts. The sambal is not too spicy and is slightly sweet. Together with the ikan bilis, it gives a good balance with the rice.

Simple tasty meal of Nasi Lemak with fried egg cost RM2.50

Deep-fried chicken and crunchy peanuts and anchovies

Nasi lemak goes well with Ayam Goreng (deep-fried chicken). The well-marinated succulent chicken with crispy skin makes an excellent accompaniment. The chicken is replenished with a new batch constantly by the workers.

This stall also sells Santan Pulut. The glutinous rice steamed using fresh coconut milk is eaten with either durian or mango.

The pulut durian looked delicious and I had one packet on the go. The sticky rice comes with a generous amount of durian and a small packet of fresh coconut milk. The whole concoction was delightful, a burst of creaminess and sweetness. However, this mouthwatering sticky dessert is only available when the owner has the fruit.

The stall faces directly opposite Sunrise Mc Donald. If you are looking for hawker food in Gurney Drive, do consider dropping by Gurney Drive Hawker Centre. It is an idyllic place to sample the range of Indian, Chinese and other Malay hawker fare. Click here for the Map Location.

Nasi Lemak CiliBilis
No 1 Gerai Kawasan Penjaja Gurney Drive
Padang Kota Baru
Pulau Pinang

Tel: 017 4928848

Business Hour : 5pm to 10pm

Closed on Sunday

The Nasi Lemak Adventure went to CountryPatch Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Tue, 31 May 2011 10:53:00 +0000

A personal journey and my foodie adventure started a few weekends ago. The idea was to find the best Nasi Lemak dishes in Brunei.

Yesterday I went to CountryPatch at Kiulap. Easiest way to get there, use the road heading to Express at Kiulap. Its right behind it. If you still can't figure it out, look for Twelv Cafe, it's on the same building. If that fails and you own an iPhone and so happen to have the 'OhMyFood!' App, you can look it up there, just type 'Countrypatch'.

My wife and I used to go there often for the carrot cake or to settle a scone craving. To my surprise it has expanded, well kind of. The once open space is now closed with beautiful white panels and a sliding door and from the look of it can still be converted to an open space if the weather permits.

I remember @yasminpatera asked me about the NL there and to my recollection, CP only offers Chicken NL.

So come lunch time, my wife and I went there without making a reservation and was lucky enough to get a table for two. Place was packed so that is a great indication that business was going well.

The vintage walls and pictures have always impressed me about the place. A nice, small, cozy cafe with great food.

Download full size (1363 KB)

First thing that stuck me was the menu. They had revamped the menu and I saw some very interesting sandwiches and pasta dishes. However my mission was to try their NL.

My wife settled for one of the sandwiches, unfortunately for me I had forgotten to note the name down. But it was a chicken sandwich with a balsamic vinegarette spread with grilled marinated chicken and fresh lettuce and a small helping of fries.

I remember trying out the NL before or I might have seen someone else order it.

At first glance the presentation had a striking resemblance to Sapphira's. But this one was on a smaller plate and it was very neat and well placed.

A pandan infused rice and topped with a sunny side up on one corner. The fried chicken thigh next to it and opposite the two were the sambal and the fried anchovies and peanuts. Looking at it, all I wanted to do was dig right it.

Verdict: You might be lucky. I was not very happy with my dish. It was rather unfortunate that the anchovies and peanuts were over fried and was very difficult to chew. The chicken too was over cooked, it was too dry and had a funny after taste. I did not lodge a complain to the waitress and perhaps I should have. I would like to point out here that my humble opinion should not discourage you from trying this dish. On the plus side, the sambal was very nice, but if you like it spicy this might not give you that extra 'kick'. The absence of any greens also disappointed me because I am after all paying $4.50 for this dish. A few slices of cucumber wouldn't hurt. Again, I would like to stress that you might have a better experience than me when you dine there. Also remember that this is of my own personal experience and am not trying to bad mouth the business. This is only an account of someone who wants to look for the best Nasi Lemak's in our beloved Brunei.

If it so happens that the owners of CountryPatch were to read this, I hope you do not take offense. I do love your establishment and I believe you serve one of the best Carrot Cakes in Brunei.

Food Trip in Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Sat, 28 May 2011 08:52:00 +0000

Thai food is definitely one of my major weaknesses. The right mix of salty, sour and spicy flavors cooked with generous servings of meat and vegetables create an explosion of tastes that take any food lover to greater heights.

The unique and simply irresistible Thai cooking is so good it has become a global phenomenon. In any country you visit, chances are there's a Thai specialty restaurant just around the corner.

In college, there was a small Thai kitchen inside the UP campus run by a certain Mama-Thai and Papa-Thai. The food was so good and it was pretty cheap too, enough reason to have a strong following among students, rich kids and budget-conscious alike.

When our family moved to our new home in Malate in 2003, I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that there was a small but pretty expensive Thai restaurant called "Sala Thai" less than a block away, which caters mostly to rich patrons and tourists.

For years, that restaurant has been my favorite hangout whenever my mom decided to serve something I hate (I only eat chicken, pork, seafood and a few leaf veggies). The restaurant however, closed shop in 2008 as tourists visiting the Malate area dwindled. In fact, other popular pubs and bars in the area closed down soon after Sala Thai served its last meal.

You see, my love affair with Thai food has a long history.

That is why, on my first-ever visit to Thailand in 2009, I saw to it that I will indulge in the mouth-watering dishes that this country has to offer.

I consumed my fair share of pad thai served at 40 to 50 baht and of the mango and sticky rice that was so good, I ate three servings in one seating.

I also enjoyed the curry dishes, the prawns and the spicy chicken cuisines. At night, I decimated more than enough bottles of Chang beer, along with my staples Heineken and Carlsberg.

But while traditional Thai dishes certainly satisfied me, I was also up for some challenge.

Dared by some Belgian friends I met, I threw all my worries and munched a local delicacy, deep fried grasshoppers, which locals say actually served as aphrodisiac.

I was dared to try the worms and the larvae but these, I just couldn't take. Well, my Belgian acquaintances were more adventurous and finished entire servings of each delicacy.

Looking back, I can honestly say that such food trip was one of the highlights of my first Thailand trip. Although I felt weird towards some of dishes, I still savored the chance to enjoy some authentic Thai cooking.

And now that I am set to make yet another visit to this amazing country, I can't help but share these dishes that really made my maiden Thai adventure all the more memorable.

Exotic food in Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Fri, 27 May 2011 08:50:00 +0000

These are fried edible insects. I haven't really dared tasting them but if you are up for a real food challenge, why not grab one of these exotic food?

Honeymoon Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Thu, 26 May 2011 08:49:00 +0000

Ingredients of Thai Cuisine

The probably most noticable ingredient of Thai cooking is: chili. Even though it’s not an primary Thai ingredient – it has just been introduced to Thailand a incorporate of hundred years ago by Portugese traders who brought it from South America – it’s hard to imagine Thai cooking without chillis nowadays.

Fortunately for you, most Thai citizen nowadays know that Westerners prefer a milder taste and often have a hard time dealing with primary Thai spiciness and will get ready dishes “mai ped” (not spicy) if cooking for European or American visitors.

Coconut milk is other beloved ingredient. It’s being made by pressing with flesh of coconuts with water, and gives a meal a nice, mild, soft, round note that counterbalances the spiciness.

Lemongrass is also a generally used ingredient because it makes a dish taste pleasantly fresh. Separate sorts of herbs like Thai basilicum, ginger, galangal, tumeric and cilantro are also generally used. Note that in Thai cuisine, herbs are practically all the time used fresh, not dried. This is partly because fresh herbs tend to cool the body down in comparison to dried herbs, which often have “heating properties”.

Eating in Thailand: A Shared Experience

There is a positive incompatibility between the eating habits of Thai citizen and citizen from European or American descent. Western citizen tend to order isolate dishes, even when eating together. Thai citizen on the other hand order some dishes which will then be positioned in the middle of the table. Every person gets his own plate of rice, and then Every person eats from these foodladen plates. It is not tasteless to load your own food on your own table. Instead, you all the time take other spoonful from the shared plate, mix it with some rice, and eat it, and take other spoonful from the shared plates. Loading up food on your on plate is considered impolite for Thai people.

Vegetarian Food in Thailand?

Many citizen are under the impression that Thailand is a country where there are lots of vegetarians. However, this is not the case. Even most vegetarian dishes (like fried mixed vegetables) are ready with either fish sauce or oyster sauce (both of which are made from either fermented fish or oyster essence). If you characterize that you are vegetarian however, they will get ready vegetarian food for you, but you should then learn to characterize that in Thai before arriving in Thailand.

Beancurd is most often also just other condiment in a dish, and seldom the main ingredient. Even though it is generally used in Thailand, it most often is just added to a dish that contains meat for bigger variety.

Highlighting the Thai Fishery Industry "quality, variety, freshness" at THAIFEX - World of Food Asia 2011

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Wed, 25 May 2011 08:43:00 +0000

The Thai fishery industry plays a significant role in the development of the Thai economy. Hundreds of thousands of people are employed in the Thai fishery industry which includes fish and food processing, cooling, freezing, packaging, ice making, shipping etc.

Thailand is one of the major seafood suppliers in the world today. Fishery products for export include fresh and frozen prawn (black tiger, white, pink, fresh water), processed shrimp (boiled, frozen breaded, stretched shrimp, and shrimp stick), squid, cuttlefish, fish filet, surimi and fish in the form of fresh, chilled frozen, and processed food.

Photos by Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA)

Over the years, Thai seafood has gradually gained worldwide recognition. And Thailand is now the largest exporter of shrimp, chilled fish, and prawns. The Thai seafood industry is one of the largest in the world in terms of production and trade. Thailand is the world’s number one exporter of canned tuna and shrimp products. The main export market is the United States, European countries, Japan, Korea and many other countries.

In 2010, exports of shrimp, squid, and fish yielded nearly 135 million baht (US$ 4.2 billion) with shrimp products being the largest contributor representing 70% at the total.

In conjunction with THAIFEX – World of Food Asia 2011, the Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA) will organize its own mini-exhibition called Thailand Frozen Food & Seafood Zone at the Challenger 1 Hall 1. This year there will be more than 40 suppliers occupying 224 booths.

This will further emphasize significant roles in the business that generates over 100 billion baht worth of export revenue for Thailand every year. The exhibition will highlight the reasons why frozen food products from Thailand are widely popular around the world.

An exceptional and initiative service, Business Matching, is also provided for international buyers who visit the fair and would like to meet exclusively with members of TFFA. Please click here if you are interested in business matching with Thai Frozen Food Association members. All you need to do is provide us with information about your requirements and we will provide you with this for free service. This is one-of-a-kind service for your sourcing of frozen seafood from Thailand.

About Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA)

Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA) is a private non-profit organization founded in 1968 under the Thai Trade Association Act. The original name was Thai Marine Products Association, then changed to Thai Fishery and Frozen Products Association in 1983 to cover the frozen products industry.

Finally, the present name of Thai Frozen Foods Association was adopted in 1994. The name clearly reflects the overall scenario of frozen products as food item, as well as expands the association’s supervisory role beyond marine products to cover many other food categories.

TFFA runs by Directors elected from its members to a 2 year-term. The main business of its members is processing and exporting frozen foods. TFFA derives its income from annual membership fee, as well as service provided such as sample analysis, arranging seminars, sales of forms and documents. It now has more than 213 member companies, with an office located at

Address :
92/6 6th Floor, Sathornthani Building 2
North Sathorn Road, Silom,
Bangrak , Bangkok 10500,
Thailand
Tel. ( 662 ) 235-5622-4, (662) 636-9001-6
Fax. ( 662 ) 235-5625
Website: www.thai-frozen.or.th E-mail: thai-frozen@thai-frozen.or.th

Thai sea food – Sea food restaurant in Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:42:00 +0000

Thailand is a country that covered by a long shoreline located in south East Asia. That’s why this country can get a lot of benefits from sea foods.

Sea food in Thailand can help to people in the local area and also can export to sell in the international market. They take those sea foods to steam, baked, curry, fried, stir, with soup. The way that Thai people prepare sea foods for their meal is quite different from other countries in the world because they like to use lots of herbs and spices which can get from the local farm.

Some sea foods are preserved by processing into salted fish. They can do it both in the farm and in the factory and then export to abroad such as United States.

There are two ways to breed Ikan bilis fish. First is to catch them from the wild seas and the second is to bred in fish farms. But mostly fresh wild fish are much more expensive and easy to sell to the market than those that bred in the farm. The fish need to breed and mangrove is the best natural place for their breeding.

The fishermen who can get lots of fish from their fishing are so enthusiasts proudly to bring their catches to home for their family and income. They can sell those fishes directly to the market with a reasonable price. During their fishing, they need boats to go out at night to where the fishes take place. There are so many people are doing this business for their family, hence the fishing industry has played main role for the income of country. And people can improve their standard living as well.Not only sea fish, but other crustaceans such as crabs and prawns are also popular resources for people in Thailand. They like to eat them for their daily meals. And others sea foods such as oysters, cuttlefish, squid, octopus mussels are very delicious for them.

When you visit Thailand, you can find seafoods restaurant in Thailand in many place. They served you lots of kind of seafoods as i describe above. So enjoy your time there and let’s test with those amazing test.

The Best Food for a Young Athlete

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Sat, 21 May 2011 01:15:00 +0000

Here’s a revelation: eat the least processed food you can find.

Right, that’s not a revelation. You’ve heard it before but it’s not an easy thing to do when feeding the typical American teenage athlete. But it can be done, especially if you try to stick to the 80/20 rule that I’ll outline below.

There are a lot of different diets and recommendations around but the number of choices is very confusing, and frankly, I’m not sure all of them are safe for young athletes. What we’re trying to do with a young athlete is make them as healthy as possible to improve their sport performance -- but more importantly I believe that we can set them up with good habits for a lifetime of healthy eating.

What I’m talking about here is eating as close to natural and minimally processed foods as possible. Some nutritionists call this “eating close to the ground” and other call it “eating clean,” etc., and it means stepping back to the old days of eating the most nutrient-packed and least processed foods you can find.

It means shopping on the edges of the grocery store and not down the middle of the store in the pre-packaged frozen foods section. The nutrients, vitamins, and minerals found in natural foods will almost always lead to an improved health profile, improved performance, decreased body fat if the child is overweight, and increased energy levels.

  Examples of good food choices for the young athlete
It’s hard shopping for young athletes because they can be pretty set in their ways and are heavily influenced by their friends -- who may be eating poorly. Here are just a few examples of what you should aim for in the food choices:

  Fruits and Vegetables

Apples, bananas, berries, kiwis, oranges
Dried fruits as snacks
100 percent fruit smoothies from places like Jamba Juice
Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collard
Beans and lentils
Avocado

Meat, Fish, Nuts, and Dairy

Lean meats: chicken, turkey, lean beef
Fish: tuna, salmon
Nuts: almonds, walnuts, macadamia, pecans, cashews
Dairy: low fat milk, low fat yogurt, eggs

  Bread, Cereal, and Grains

Bread: 100% whole wheat or whole grain, rye, sourdough
High fiber cereal such as Kashi or Cheerios.
Oatmeal
Couscous

Let’s get real, kids will be kids: the 80/20 rule 
The guidelines above represent the ideal situations but the practical matter is that it’s impossible to have a young athlete follow these suggestions all the time. That’s where the 80/20 rule comes into play.

The 80/20 rule means that 80 percent of the time you stick with the healthy eating rules and 20 percent of the time you’re allowed to “cheat” and stray from the ideal. When one of your teammates has a birthday and cupcakes are the post-game “snack”-- go for it and enjoy it with your friends! Having a (very) occasional burger, fries, and soda? OK, then do the best you can with your other meals that week.

Be realistic and do the best you can, when you can. You’ll live a healthier life for the effort and it will allow you to perform at your best during games.

Advice to decide on the best pet food for your dog.

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Fri, 20 May 2011 01:11:00 +0000

In making a choice on what to serve your pet dog, it’s important to choose the best brand among all the dog foods in the market, because your devoted dog deserves only the best dog food. You cannot be totally confident that the ingredients in most supermarket supplied dog foods are healthy for the dogs. The quality cannot be guaranteed because it’s been sitting on the shelves for a long time already. Therefore, the question for caring dog owners will be, what is the best brand of pet food and where is this available?

Always Get the Freshest
Dogs also need to be fed with recently made dog food, and so sensible per owners should put this in top priority. The best way to get fresh dog food is to obtain it directly from the company that makes it. Dr. G’s pet food provides you with some of the freshest and best dog food currently available on the market. You can be confident that the dog food is fresh when you consider that they only make it after you place your order. Delivery follows soon after. The reality with most dog foods in the supermarket is that you don’t actually know how long it’s been sitting on the shelf.
The very best Ingredients

To make sure that your favorite canine is getting the best dog food is by making sure it contains the best ingredients. what is the best dog food that you can feed to your dog?? The good news is that Dr. G’s pet foods for dogs is rich in all the essential nutrients that is best for all dogs. The contents of Dr. G’s holistic dog foods comprise of a mix of low-gluten whole grains, chicken protein, some fruits and also marine lipids. In order for your favorite pet to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the key ingredients that are needed in their food should contain amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and natural insulin. It must also have Omega 3 fatty acids to complete the essenti.

Basic safety in Manufacturing
When searching for the proper food for your dog it is critical to consider the safety of the food. The method of preparing the food is what Dr. G’s dog foods is best recognized for. The process in Dr. G’s pet foods is that it is dealt with and made right after the order and then it is quickly delivered right at your home, unlike the other dog foods that are made in bulk and are stored in the factories and supermarkets for long periods of time. Dr. G’s dog foods always prepare healthy foods for dogs because it does not contain any preservatives and harmful ingredients. The end product is a completely holistic dog food that is healthy with only natural ingredients. Through this you can be assured of your dog’s health and safety.

Who is the Man Responsible for Dr. G’s Pet Foods?
Dr. G’s dog foods is better among all the dog foods in the market because of the distinct reputation of the founder. The creator is Dr. Martin Glinsky who has degrees in pet nutrition and nutritional biochemistry. He initiated his own pet food company in 1980, in accordance with his knowledge of what types of nutrients animals need. His dog food has the best holistic components that cannot be found in any other dog food in the market. It incorporates only fresh ingredients in every batch made. All pet owners can certainly be guaranteed that they’re giving the best dog food to their pet with Dr. G’s dog foods.
Most of the dog foods located on the shelves in supermarkets are of course not fresh and even contain harmful ingredients, and yet this is what some pet owners feed their dogs everyday.. The best choice in providing fresh and quality dog food is to order online from Dr. G’s pet foods. Your pet dog deserves only the best, and with Dr.G’s Fresh Dog Food, you are guaranteed of quality everytime.

The Best Vegetarian Chili EVER!

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Thu, 19 May 2011 01:08:00 +0000

Historically, my husband has always been a bit skeptical of vegetarian chilis. I think this is because he used to eat meat (he turned veggie at age 15) and probably never got used to the non-meat flavor in veggie chili. (I could probably ask him why he didn’t like it but it’s more fun for me to speculate on this blog hehe). Anyway – I recently came across a really flavorful veggie chili recipe on Kath Eats and convinced my husband to try it. It was a total SUCCESS! He LOVED the chili so much he went back for seconds I made a few modifications to Kath’s recipe – but overall stayed pretty true to it because it was so good! Thanks Kath for a great recipe!

Ingredients

1 can Kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Navy (or pinto) beans, drained and rinsed (I used pinto beans because I like them better)
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen okra (I actually omitted this, and substituted 1 cup of chopped red pepper)
1/2 cup frozen lima beans (or canned) (I omitted this too, and substituted 1/2 cup chopped red onion)
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 cup vegetable broth (or chicken broth) To keep it veggie friendly, I used veggie broth of course
3 garlic cloves (I probably used closer to 4-5 to up the flavor)
1 heaping tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp Ghirardelli cocoa powder (unsweet) (This is totally the secret ingredient in the recipe! Makes the chili super smoky and gives it a wonderful flavor!)
2 sprinkles garlic powder (This ended up being about 1/2 tsp for me)
1 sprinkle cayenne pepper (This ended up being a little less than 1/4 tsp for me)
3-4 glugs Worcestershire sauce (Worcestershire sauce has anchovies in it, so I actually used soy sauce as a substitute and it worked great!)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
A few grinds of black pepper

Directions

Chop the garlic, onion, and red pepper. Saute lightly over medium high heat in 1-2 tsp olive oil
Add everything else into the pot! Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 30 min or longer as needed
Top with cheese, sour cream, and serve with tortilla chips!

Nutritionals

This makes 12 ladles of soup. Each ladle has ~135 calories; 8g protein; 8g fiber! Talk about a nutritional powerhouse in a one pot dish!

Pictures of the Ingredients I used…

The chili is almost done cooking…

Dinner is served!

Now topped with the cheese for the final touch – yummyyy

This chili really was the best veggie version both me and my husband have ever had. It had a great smoky quality about it, was super hearty with all the beans and veggies, and was amazingly easy to make! Thanks again Kath, you saved Sunday night dinner for me!

Top 5 food blogs for parents

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Wed, 18 May 2011 01:03:00 +0000

My Daddy Cooks is a fabulous video blog made by Nick Coffer featuring his gorgeous toddler Archie. In it they cook fresh, creative and varied food together on camera in their tiny kitchen. After adopting a “baby led weaning” approach to solids when Archie was 6 months old (no purées or mushes, just eating and enjoying the same food together round the table as a family), Archie loves food and cooking and these videos really show this. Nick has his own radio show now and his first book out on May 26th and was recently on the vanessa show…he is that good! he is also really clear and makes you feel you can cook too even with kids!

Annabel Karmel

At the moment Annabel’s blog is all about her new show Annabels Kitchen where she cooks with 2 madcap penguins and really engages kids with food. It’s been on CiTV if you missed it and there is a great book to go with it. My 3 year old keeps ‘reading’ it and showing me pictures of clown sandwiches and the like! Annabel Karmel know s a lot about baby, toddlers kids and food she is also the best selling parenting author int he UK. She gets that kids like things to look good but that parents want good nutrition. Do take a look at her blog she often post recipes and ideas up hat may really inspire you.

Any Lane - Cooking, Cakes and Children

The wonderful Amy Lane has recently published her fabulous fiorst book The Baking Pocket Bible which is an absolutely brilliant resource for loads and loads of need to know baking ideas. A book to pass on indeed! She also writes a tremendous blog called Cooking Cakes and Children where she shares recipes and muses on cooking with kids. She also owns an online shop called cake shop corner where she sells yummy cake balls! There is no end to this ladies talent …do check her out.

English Mum

English mum is a blog written by Becky, an absolute lover of food. She writes about markets, shares tons of gorgeous recipes, reviews cook books and just embraces and adores food stuff! She once wrote me an amazing post on The budget birthday cupcake

Every childs idea of heaven (oh and mine!) Do take a look at her wonderful blog.

Frugalicious Food

This fab blog is written by Jen (who also blogs about family life The Madhouse) and Cass (who blogs at The diary of a frugal family) about frugal family life. Both women are absolutely comminted to providing healthy food for their children but are on strict budgets. Here they share lots of ideas around frugal and delicious food with recipes, mealplanners and reviews. Frugalicious Food is perfect for baby budgeters!

Well these are my top 5- just to point you in a few different foodie directions. Of course this is just my view. Would you like to share your top foodie blog or share some info on yours?

The Sangria Cake, a DIY Desserts event, learning from your mistakes and a note about my Saveur’s Best Food Blog Nomination

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Tue, 17 May 2011 00:59:00 +0000

Last month, at 18 Reasons (a non-profit organization dedicated to the building community through food) I co-hosted the DIY Desserts event with my friend Melanie. DIY Desserts is an evening where bakers from all walks of life (from fancy schmancy pros to down home beginners) bring a dessert that they made centering around themes. April’s theme was boozy desserts, like happy hour in baked good form. And boy were they awesome. My contribution: The Sangria Cake!

The evening wasn’t super crowded, but the people that showed up were all Quality (with a capital Q). My cohost Melanie showed up with mouthwater Mucho Margarita Cupcakes, that were vegan no less! Sweet, soft and ever so slightly tart, the cupcakes were a perfect way to start off the evening and get the juices flowing.

Heather of Souffle Days presented her gorgeous Bourbon Carmelized Pecan Tart. Every bite was sweet chewy nuttiness. I’m bummed that she’s moving to Prague in a month, because I’ve only just gotten to know her as she’s come to the past couple of DIY Desserts but I’m super excited for her and can’t wait to read about her new adventure on her blog.

Jo showed up with an awesome Bread Pudding with Brandy Sauce. I adore Jo and I adore bread pudding. So, clearly, I was going to adore her dessert. I took a big helping and then took an even bigger helping home, to enjoy afterwards.

But the most impressive dessert was brought by Joyce, who brought a Guiness Chocolate Cake with Jameson Ganache and Bailey’s Italian Meringue Buttercream. Rich, dense and beautifully decorated with gold luster dust and gold leaf, it was Joyce’s first time at the DIY Desserts and I can only hope she’ll come back.

As for my dessert, I’ll be honest with you. The cake I brought wasn’t my top form. An obviously first attempt at a new recipe I was developing, sadly the fruit that I lovingly layered in the batter, soaking in homemade sangria, all sunk to the bottom of the pan. It looked rather like a total hot mess when I unmolded my cake.

Whoa. Hello sinking fruit and cake stuck to my pan!

Luckily a lot of fruit and glaze help to rescue the way it looks

But I rescued it (somewhat), and made it presentable. And in the end the people at DIY Desserts and 18 Reasons were nothing but gracious about it. There were many things wrong with it, but Melanie ate a bite of it and then turned to me and proclaimed “It’s like rich people having brunch!”

Which, of course, made me love her all the more.

Note the awesome way I filled some of the "holes" of the cake with fruit, like that raspberry.

So here’s the thing. Not every dessert I make is perfect, gorgeous and stunning. Not every dessert is show stopping delicious. But, like most all food bloggers, I tend to self edit, putting on my blog my best desserts – it’s just human nature to do that. I so rarely show you the mistakes or the blunders. But they happen. Oh do they happen. And this cake wasn’t even close to the worst things that I have come out of my kitchen. But we all learn from our mistakes. We learn how to patch up a cake, cover it with fruit, glaze or powdered sugar or worse case scenario, we learn to love the fact that here in San Francisco we can compost – and send our mistakes back to the earth.

My friend Nina once looked at me in amazement when I told her that I make horrible things in the kitchen all the time. She didn’t believe me. But it happens. And all you can do it pick yourself up, shake the flour off your shirt and start again.

So I did. I knew I could do better. I was going to a picnic this past weekend, so I radically revamped the recipe (and made it simpler in the meanwhile) hoping to nail it for this blog post. I brought it along with a few other desserts. And you know what? EVERYONE there proclaiming the cake a winner. Some people going so far to say it was the favorite of the three desserts I brought with me (don’t worry, the other two desserts, which had their fans, are going to be popping up on this blog too).

So I present to you my new and improved, blog worthy Sangria Cake. Just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Enjoy. My friends did. They demolished the cake by the end of the day.

DIY Desserts is moving to the first Thursday of the month at 18 Reasons. Please join us on Thursday, May 5th for our next event. Everyone is welcome. Bring a dessert around the theme of Mom’s Best, a nostalgic dessert that conjures up your mom (or dad, or grandpa or grandma) that sends you back to childhood with every bite. If you aren’t a baker, but love to eat, drop by and just partake of the goodies. We need eaters too!

Top 10 Easy Finger Foods

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Sat, 14 May 2011 02:42:00 +0000

Got a crowd to feed, but don’t have the time to whip up complicated hors d’oeuvres? Some of the tastiest finger foods are also the easy finger foods.

It’s not how hard you work to make them, but how smart you are about pairing the right ingredients. So forget the complicated, multi-step appetizers and fall in love with these simple, but scrumptious, treats.

Here are my suggestions for the top ten easy finger foods:

10. Sliders

Proving that good things come in small packages, mini slider burgers are just as fun to make as they are to eat. You can make your own mini hamburger patties or buy them pre-made to really keep things simple. Little bison burgers give your cocktail party a high-end attitude. Grill your mini burgers on medium-high heat for two to three minutes a side and place on a platter. Set out mini buns (lots of bakeries off these now), along with an assortment of the usual condiments. If you want to get fancy you can offer a flavored mayonnaise or two. The really great things about sliders is they’re heartier than most finger foods, so two to three per person should be plenty.

9. Quesadillas

Keep them traditional with cheese, onions and chillies, or put a fruity twist on an old favorite by spreading the shells with cream cheese and filling them with thinly sliced apples, pears or other similar fruits. Once assembled, place the quesadilla in an oiled frying pan on medium-high heat and warm for three to four minutes. Flip and repeat on the other side. Cut the heated quesadilla into small, pie-shaped pieces and serve with either sour cream and salsa, or a caramel dipping sauce.

8. Cream cheese wontons

Sometimes the best easy finger foods are the ones that pair unlikely ingredients. In this case, wonton wrappers are filled with softened cream cheese and fried for a crispy, yet creamy, mouthful of bliss. Simply place a small dollop of the softened cream cheese onto the center of the wonton wrappers. Moisten your finger with water and run it along the edge of the wonton wrappers. Press firmly to close and pop those bundles of joy into a heated deep fryer. Remove when they turn golden brown and serve immediately.

7. Cucumber finger sandwiches

Finger sandwiches: who doesn’t love them? These are the original easy finger foods because absolutely no cooking is required. Just mix up 4 tbsp. of softened butter with some chopped dill, diced scallions and 1 tbsp. of prepared horseradish. Mix together thoroughly, and spread on four pieces of white bread (cut the crusts off first, if desired). Spread a layer of thinly sliced cucumbers over the butter mixture and cut into four equal sections. Top with a little garnish if you’re feeling fancy.

6. Easy bruschetta

With the help of your barbecue, this version of bruchetta is ready before you can say, well, “Where’s the bruchetta?” Heat your barbecue to medium heat. Meanwhile, cut a baguette in half, lengthwise, and spread store-bought pesto on both halves. Place both halves, crust side up, onto the grill. Let the bread grill for two minutes, then remove. Spread ricotta cheese over the grilled side of the bread and sprinkle with chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Serve hot and enjoy.

5. Stuffed cherry tomatoes

These little gems look impressive, but take very little effort to make. With a small pairing knife cut the tops off several cherry tomatoes and gently scoop out the seeds. In a small bowl mix together some ricotta cheese, finely chopped chives and a dash of salt and pepper. Fill each tomato with the ricotta mixture. You can serve them cold, by refrigerating them for at least half an hour before serving, or bake them for eight minutes at 350 F and serve them hot. Grow your own delicate cherry tomatoes and these will be a regular offering at your cocktail parties.

4. Date and prosciutto wraps

Tickle your taste buds with these savory, yet easy, finger foods. Take a dozen slices of prosciutto and spread a thin layer of mascarpone cheese onto the meat. Lay a single, fresh basil leaf, horizontally, across the top of each slice of prosciutto. On top of the basil lay a fresh, pitted date. Roll the prosciutto around the date until completely wrapped and slice the roll in half, vertically, to make two bite-sized rolls. The combination of sweet and savory will have your guests begging for more.

3. Star puffs

Here is an easy finger food that lets you be creative. You’ll need two sheets of puff pastry (the pre-rolled logs are the easiest to use) and a star-shaped cookie cutter. Lay out the puff pastry, while it’s still a bit cold, and cut as many star shapes as you can out of each sheet. Place the stars on a cookie sheet and top with whatever strikes your fancy. Grated parmesan cheese, garlic butter or dried herbs work well. Bake at 350 F for 15 minutes, or until the pastry has puffed up and the tops are slightly golden brown. Serve hot or at room temperature.

2. Chicken wings

If fussing with the preparation of little finger foods just really isn’t your thing, the tried and true chicken wing has got your back. This crowd favourite is as simple as placing store-bought wings on a baking sheet and baking them for 20 minutes at 425 F. If serving spicy chicken wings, serve with a blue cheese dressing as dip. If you went the sweet route instead, try a honey or citrus-based dip instead.

1. By the dozen

Sometimes the classics are the best. As long as there are no seafood allergies to worry about, why not try the king of all easy finger foods: oysters on the half shell. Sure, you’ve got to shuck them first, but once you get the hang of it even that’s fairly simple. To protect your hands wear heavy-duty kitchen gloves and use a small, sharp knife. Insert the tip of the knife into the shell, just beside the hinge. Now run the knife along the edge of the shell until you reach the other side of the hinge. Pry the shell open with the knife and remove the top shell, being careful not to spill the delicious liquid. Run your knife under the oyster to cut the connective tissue holding the oyster on the bottom shell. Lay your open oysters on a bed of crushed ice (a large platter or roasting pan works great) and set out a bottle of hot sauce and lots of lemon wedges.

Organic Foods Diet regime – Operating?

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Fri, 13 May 2011 02:38:00 +0000

Ingesting raw food items can be natural. Our systems thrive on everything can be fresh new along with vital. Any uncooked food diet (or perhaps improving the amount of uncooked food that you just take in) is likely to deliver a sense elevated well-being.

Natural food eating plans derive from whole and also raw place foods, if possible organic, such as a various fruits along with vegies, insane, seed, cereals, dried berry, refreshing fruit juices as well as purified water.

Why Uncooked Food?

Essentially a new veggie diet regime, your organic foods eating habits helps bring about meals ‘living’ meals. Living foods as well as fruit juices retain the greatest volume of fibre present in uncooked develop, dietary fibre that can be misplaced in processing. These kinds of food items are often metabolised and usually are lower in calorie consumption than the regular eating habits.

Home heating meals earlier mentioned 116?F ruins digestive support enzymes throughout food that will help with digestive system plus absorption of foodstuff, decreasing its vitamins and minerals.

Benefits of an Uncooked Food Diet

A diet of at the least 75% natural food presents quite a few health benefits, including greater vitality, increased pores and skin appearance, better digestive system, weight reduction and lowered risk of significant health problems just like coronary disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer malignancy.

Any organic foodstuff diet regime consists of minimum saturated fats, is actually lacking in sea salt, loaded with potassium, the mineral magnesium, folate as well as fiber.
Uncooked food diet plans are also outstanding cleansing diet plans. Different combinations of uncooked, living food items along with state of mind can be utilized for colon cleansing, lean meats cleansing, kidney purifying and also skin cleaning.

The Basics of an Uncooked Foodstuff Diet

Just about any fruits, fruit and vegetables, whole grains, seeds, beans, crazy, legumes, youthful coconut dairy : perhaps seaweed — might be food selection pieces of a new raw meals diet regime. Picking a food might depend on the advantages for going on a diet, by way of example:

* sprouted darkish grain slows down blood sugar intake and also improves the metabolism

– cabbage supports wholesome cellular operate; radish results in work as a great anti-oxidant, as really does Shitake mushroom

-carrots are a good source of a vitamin in addition to stimulating balanced eyesight plus a balanced cardio-vascular technique

You can use a sprouter including the Easy Green programmed sprouter for you to sprout seed, grains, espresso beans – actually wheatgrass. Plants sprouting up might be termed as a ‘super food’ : natural and organic seedlings contain massive numbers of proteins, supplements, minerals, trace minerals, chlorophyll hues along with digestive support enzymes, and are the best organic supplement.

Sprouts can be utilized throughout salads as well as soups, as well as may be juiced. Refreshing fruit drinks make the perfect prepared vitality offer and a high quality juicer, including the Kempo Greenpower juicer, makes dwelling fruit drinks which can be full of important nourishment.
A great juicing recipe to check any organic foodstuff meals are carrot veggie juice with spud, fennel and also apple company. Merely juice 4 moderate peas, Two oatmeal, One modest spud along with A single tiny stalk involving fennel.
Fennel may decrease and control irritation associated with joint disease, the idea spreads mood fluctuation as well as depressive claims and contains the uncommon nutrient called manganese, additionally zinc oxide as well as vitamin B complex.
Your nutritional value involving grains along with seed can be remarkable. That they consist of almost all of the supplements – specially The, N, and also E. They’re also amazing natural options for unsaturated efas along with lecithin, and an exceptional method to obtain protein.

You may also employ soy whole milk designers (for example SoyQuick) to produce non-dairy beverages coming from different pinto beans, almond, crazy, plant seeds along with whole grains to own along with breakfast every day. If you would like one thing a tad bit more large compared to soya whole milk you possibly can make the tofu (or, obviously, search for a good health cafe).

Basically, the thought of a new raw food diet is to eat whole food items for about 75% of times. In the event the notion of organic food isn’t very appetising for your requirements, you are able to cozy the foodstuff just a little providing the meal isn’t warmed earlier mentioned 116?F.

Cautionary Note

As with all major alternation in diet regime, it’s wise notion to refer to your doctor before you begin a particular diet. This is especially valid for children, expectant women, you are not anemia as well as you are not a pre-existing problem.

Actually organic food items can discord along with particular drugs, thus remember to request your doctor or even pharmacologist when you’re taking any prescription medication.

Just because an uncooked foods weight loss program is cleaning some people suffer a mild detox effect which includes slight head aches, feeling sick and also cravings. These symptoms may well are many nights as well as you’ll read more entertainment from your organic food diet plan if you eliminate things like meats, glucose and coffee weekly or so prior to commencing the diet plan.

Last And not Least.

The organic food diet is definitely a good way to enhance your overall health as well as wellness. Such as anything at all worth it it takes period, power and also commitment. Since lots of the food items for this specific form of diet regime are produced from scratch there is some preparation time required. There are several wonderful items available which can help you ready your individual existing food along with help you save a while as well.

Joined with regular exercise, a new organic food weight loss program is in addition an outstanding weight-loss approach. If you’ve already been experience ‘a little off’, or perhaps need a pick-me-up and a few further energy, then this organic foodstuff diet is certainly a sensible way to go.

To Lose Weight, Eat Some Foods More

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Wed, 11 May 2011 02:36:00 +0000

We all know that some foods make us fatter than others, but new research suggests eating more of certain foods can help keep the weight off.

The New York Times reports that one study done at Purdue showed that just half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper mixed into tomato soup helped diners eat fewer calories at their next meal and also increase their metabolism, burning a modest 10 calories on its own. A small dietary change like this could help people who are struggling to lose weight naturally suppress their appetite, but the study showed it may best affect people who don't regularly eat a lot of spicy foods—and perhaps only until they become used to eating them.

Other studies cited by the Times suggests adding pureed vegetables to bulk up dishes or eating soup or salads before your entrees to reduce the amount of calories you eat per meal. Mixing the pureed vegetables into your favorite foods may be the best option, shaving 200 to 350 calories per meal.

It might also not noticeably change the flavor of the dish if you plan it well (pureed cauliflower and summer squash in mac n' cheese is one example). You can also combine this approach with the spicy foods method for added effect. So eat up, and please pass the hot pepper.

4 Top of Vitamin D Rich Foods

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Tue, 10 May 2011 02:34:00 +0000

Who said that getting vitamin D Rich Foods is difficult. Many of my friends ask me how to get the best vitamin D Rich Foods. And I Said: well first you will need an organic plants that contain vitamin D Rich Foods.

This tremendous Vitamin D wealthy food items are incredibly essential for the general well being. Vitamin D Rich Foods plays two essential roles. 1 element assures optimum mineralization of bone throughout development, but in addition all through their lives for his or her renewal. One more facet modulates the intestinal absorption of calcium and contributes towards the balance of calcium within the blood and tissues.

Vitamin D is vital for us to soak up calcium and maintain bones and teeth wholesome. It enables the intestinal absorption of calcium and lowers the elimination of it by means of urine. It regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolic rate. Vitamin D meals seem to assist inside the remedy of psoriasis and improve our resistance to tuberculosis. Additionally, it safeguards towards cancer of breast and colon.

Our pores and skin includes a precursor of vitamin D: 7-dehydrocholesterol. This precursor, below the action of sunlight, is converted into cholecalciferol (which includes a construction comparable to cholesterol). Vitamin D Rich foods items are discovered in two types: ergocalciferol, that is discovered in plants and cholecalciferol, which originates from animal goods. Though vitamin D belongs towards the group of fat-soluble nutritional vitamins, it operates as being a hormone.

As you know in order to create vitamin D Rich Foods, two actions are required to create vitamin D energetic when acquired via nutrient wealthy meals. The 1st happens inside the liver exactly where it acquires a hydroxyl group . The next transformation happens within the kidney exactly where the molecule gets a 2nd hydroxyl group. This complicated process of the molecule shaped is calcitriol, the energetic type of vitamin D. For that final phase, parathyroid hormone is necessary.

So the important question is: What is the main source of vitamin D Rich Foods? You can find the best vitamin D Rich Foods in the following items:

Vitamin D Rich Foods in mushrooms (great for vegetarian)
A lot of vitamin D Rich Foods in fatty fish and fish oils
Wheat germ is also the best choice for vitamin D Rich Foods and suitable for vegetarian
Sunlight, this is the great source, but you can’t stay a long time to heat your skin and maximum only 10-15 minutes per day is enough. Surely you don’t want to get a skin cancer.
Nutritional Yeast is also great source of vitamin D

Taking the vitamin D Supplement in order to get vitamin D Rich Foods is good. But you must remember of the doze of its label and choose only has organic certificate for minimum 5 years to ensure that supplement doesn’t contain any chemical that may harm to your body.

Organic Buying Guide

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Sat, 07 May 2011 10:45:00 +0000

Foods to buy organic; foods to stop worrying about.

From sprouted whole-grain sandwich breads to eco-friendly organic onesies, nearly a quarter of American shoppers now buy organic at least once a week, up from 17% in 2000. Since 2005, sales of organic foods rose over 20% with another comparable rise expected this year alone. And yet, for many parents just the mere mention of the word "organic" is capable of inspiring stress-level-elevating, conventionally-grown guilt. You got sticker shock and went with the regular strawberries last week. Can your kid be saved? Those eggs weren't cage-free? Shame!

But what with all the labels and promises and complicating factors, it can be hard to figure out which way to go. Is it a given that everything your kids ingest has to be certified organic? Do you go with the grass-fed, humane-raised steak or the organic one fed with grain? Does saying a fish is organic actually mean anything? Are all those evil old inorganic foods, even the ones at the local farmer's market, necessarily BAD? You need a PhD to decipher those labels of honor that now adorn virtually every product, even the ones that can't possibly be all that good for you. Here's our guide to the bottom line on going organic. — Allison Pennell

Foods With Benefits

The verdict on whether or not conventionally grown foods are going to kill us all is still up in the air. Despite many studies, scientists have yet to agree definitively that all those scary sounding agricultural chemicals and pesticides found on produce do indeed cause cancer. But, according to the NIH and the Academy of Sciences, ongoing exposure to pesticides renders kids in particular more vulnerable to health problems, with a risk of neuro-developmental damage in particular.

A recent yearlong study of pesticides and children published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that kids eating conventional foods had a family of pesticides in their systems related to nerve agents used in World War II. Okay, that really doesn't sound good. But here's the good news, when the same kids switched to organic fruits, veggies and juices, the pesticides in their system disappeared within a day.

And research published last fall in the Journal of Agricultual and Food Chemistry (we read it so you don't have to) showed that organic produce contains more nutrients and higher levels of vitamins than their conventional counterparts.

Locally Grown vs. Organic

So how do you choose between the organic apple that's been in a truck for three days and the non-organic one on the farmer's tree in the next town over? For a growing contingent, going "locavore" is the newest, crunchiest way to eat well. Allen Zimmerman, the produce guru of the Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn, NY, says he wouldn't hesitate for a minute to eat anything at local farmer's markets even if it wasn't organic. "You know the food hasn't traveled long distances to get to you. It's seriously fresh. And getting an official organic label is expensive as well as especially difficult on the East Coast so many small, local farms forego the certification but raise food as minimally treated as possible."

Decoding Badges of Virtue: What do the eco-labels mean?

100% Organic. Completely free of antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, bioengineering and chemical fertilizers.
USDA Organic. At least 95% free of all the above scary-sounding stuff.
GM-Free. Free of genetically-modified ingredients.
Made with Organic Ingredients. At least 70% virtuous.
All-Natural. Doesn't contain synthetic or artificial ingredients (flavors, colors, chemical preservatives). With the exception of USDA-approved meat and poultry, there is no organization to verify this manufacturer's claim.
Free-range. Poultry that has "access" to the outside, per the USDA. No guarantee of lower salmonella rates or that they have freedom to roam.
Certified Humane. Raised humanely with ample space, shelter, fresh water and feed with no added hormones or antibiotics from birth through slaughter (that part's not so humane).
Grass-Fed. Pasture-raised and free-roaming rather than fed at high-grain feed lots with higher pesticide and saturated fat rates. Certified organic beef is more often than not grain fed unless specified as grass-fed.
Cage-Free. All that the name implies, a better guarantee of healthy conditions than the label free-range.
Hormone-Free. Mostly relating to dairy products produced without the synthetic hormone (rBGH), linked by some to health problems.

For explanations of every eco-label under the sun, log onto Consumer Report's greenerchoices.org.

12 Foods to Buy Organic

Apples
Bell Peppers
Celery
Cherries
Grapes (that means raisins and juice too)
Lettuce
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Spinach
Strawberries

Plus: eggs, meat, poultry, dairy, baby food, rice.

According to research by the Environmental Working Group, you can reduce pesticide exposure by 90% by eating organic varieties of these 12 fruits and veggies.

12 Foods You Don't Need to Worry About

Asparagus
Avocado
Bananas
Broccoli
Cabbage
Eggplant
Frozen Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Mango
Onions
Pineapples
Watermelon

Plus: highly processed foods like pasta, cereal, oil, canned fruits and vegetables, bread, as well as fish, which is never certifiably organic.

For a downloadable pocket guide to reducing pesticide exposure you can take along when you shop, log on to organic-center.org.

Rule of Thumb: The thicker the skin, the less likely a food is to have high pesticide levels. Anything with a soft skin or that you eat skin-and-all, go organic. (And keep in mind: even peeling an apple doesn't mean there aren't pesticides that have penetrated the flesh.)

Keeping it Cost-Effective

Food coops, buying clubs, farmer's markets, Trader Joe's, and CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture programs) have sprung up all over the country and are a good way of buying organic without going broke. If you want to pay less, buy what's in season, buy local and shop smart. The organic label means nothing when it comes to fish, for instance. And grass-fed beef that's not necessarily organic can be healthier than one that carries the organic label alone. For coupons, look under "organic" at either of these sites: shopnatureoasis.com or couponmom.com.

Organic Buying Guide

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Sat, 07 May 2011 10:45:00 +0000

Foods to buy organic; foods to stop worrying about.

From sprouted whole-grain sandwich breads to eco-friendly organic onesies, nearly a quarter of American shoppers now buy organic at least once a week, up from 17% in 2000. Since 2005, sales of organic foods rose over 20% with another comparable rise expected this year alone. And yet, for many parents just the mere mention of the word "organic" is capable of inspiring stress-level-elevating, conventionally-grown guilt. You got sticker shock and went with the regular strawberries last week. Can your kid be saved? Those eggs weren't cage-free? Shame!

Foods With Benefits

Locally Grown vs. Organic

Decoding Badges of Virtue: What do the eco-labels mean?

For explanations of every eco-label under the sun, log onto Consumer Report's greenerchoices.org.

12 Foods to Buy Organic

Apples
Bell Peppers
Celery
Cherries
Grapes (that means raisins and juice too)
Lettuce
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Spinach
Strawberries

Plus: eggs, meat, poultry, dairy, baby food, rice.

According to research by the Environmental Working Group, you can reduce pesticide exposure by 90% by eating organic varieties of these 12 fruits and veggies.

12 Foods You Don't Need to Worry About

Asparagus
Avocado
Bananas
Broccoli
Cabbage
Eggplant
Frozen Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Mango
Onions
Pineapples
Watermelon

Plus: highly processed foods like pasta, cereal, oil, canned fruits and vegetables, bread, as well as fish, which is never certifiably organic.

For a downloadable pocket guide to reducing pesticide exposure you can take along when you shop, log on to organic-center.org.

Keeping it Cost-Effective

5 Strategies to Cut Healthy Food Costs

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Fri, 06 May 2011 10:41:00 +0000

Have you noticed prices have jumped up since last year?

Not only is how milk and bread gas more expensive, but food prices are steadily on the rise. Instead of paying $2 or $3 for a gallon of milk, expect to pay up to $5 for some brands.

There are ways to still eat healthy while on a budget. Here are my top 5 ways to outsmart the rising cost of food.

1. Shop In-Season

Fresh produce is cheapest when in-season since larger quantities can be produced. An added bonus is that in-season produce tends to have more flavor.

2. Know Before You Go

Make a list, and decide on what you will purchase before you head out to the grocery store. This will prevent you from buying last minute purchases that you may not really need. This technique will also help to shrink your waistline. When you see that chocolate dessert at the end of the aisle, you will be less likely to buy it because it's not on the list.

3. Buy the Basics

Beans
Legumes
Eggs
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Pasta
All Natural Peanut Butter
Frozen Vegetables and Fruits

These are just a few of the low cost items at the store. When you stick to whole, simple foods you can shrink your food cost and improve your nutrition.

4. Cook at Home More

Be prepared to make some meals at home. Steer clear of ready-prepared items which can cost up to five times more than the simple raw ingredients. Do the work yourself, and your wallet will thank you.

Eating at home instead of grabbing fast food items will also help you to cut your calorie intake and improve your health. Processed foods are higher in sodium, and artificial ingredients like most preservatives.

5. Clip Coupons

Don't be afraid to look over the store ads and newspapers, or check online for coupons at your local store. An extra five minutes of coupon clipping could save you $10 at the grocery store. That could add up to an extra $40 per month!

Healthy food is not too expensive even when food cost is on the rise. Cheaper healthy eating just requires some planning ahead.

What are the Healthy Food Consume during Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Thu, 05 May 2011 10:36:00 +0000

If you feel that it is tough to maintain a balanced diet during early pregnancy, then you are not alone. There are pregnant women who will always eat and eat whilst the rest having problem in taking foods. So, either they gain some weight or lose weight.

Pregnant women must start putting into their menu a healthy well-balanced diet which is important for them and their baby. They must prevent themselves from suffering of malnutrition and dehydration which is the most important factors during early pregnancy.

Calories is the most important component for pregnant women. They have to consume an extra of 300 calories more than before they become pregnant. Eat when you are hungry, that my advise to those pregnant women. When you are eating, eat as many foods as possible but do not over eat. Remember, you are now eating for two ie you and your baby.

Calcium intake is a must as it will supplement your bones density and developing bones for your baby. A 1,500 milligrams of calcium is required daily by the second trimester of your pregnancy. This translate into a quart of milk consumption. Can’t take it ! You can substitute it with other calcium –based foods such as dairy products , calcium fortified or even calcium tablets.

One of the common problems faced by pregnant women is constipation. Therefore it is imperative for them to include fiber-based food in their diet . Whole grain, fruits and vegetables are known of its fiber-rich foods.

If you are not a vegetarian, you don’t have any problem in taking protein-based food which could be largely found in meat.

Iron deficiency is normal for women whom just started being pregnant. Pregnant women should not neglect iron-based food where it can be found in dark leafy green vegetables and meats. Avoid iron supplement as it may establish internal sickness such as cramping, diarrhea or constipation.

Vitamin is all you need and has been taken in your diet but you may consider to seek doctor advise on the prenatal vitamins required. Folate is one of the most important components and if you are getting enough of it then rest assured that you may ignore vitamins but again always refer to your doctor for clearance.

The Salad Bar @ Damansara Uptown – Indulgence Can Be Good, Sometimes

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Wed, 04 May 2011 10:35:00 +0000

If you’re screaming and running away in agony from the sight of fresh, healthy greens, then SHAME on you!

The dust has settled, after some serious bouts of bingeing. First it was Christmas, then the New Year beckoned with more merry-making, then Chinese New Year came and left a trail of devastation …. piling on the unsightly pounds where the sun doesn’t shine. No thanks to the endless supplies of new year cookies, rounds of ‘Lou Sang’ and then there would be the senseless nights of mahjong + groundnuts + beer.

Intoxicating ensemble of sins and gluttony.

Spicy Salad – Look at the abundance of sunflower seeds!

But then again, salvation comes at the right moment. Salad Bar in Damansara Uptown has actually been around for one year; almost exactly. This charming, no-frills outlet prides on their creation of colourful and tasty salads without compromising on the flavours and of course, nutrition. So much so that we found our way back again and again after the initial visit …..

This, is THE Salad Bar.

Slightly late to be introduced this gem of an eatery surrounded by heavyweights in Uptown; namely a very famous nasi lemak outlet (voted the best in Klang Valley, what else do you expect?), various cafes and bistros, as well as hawker fares good enough to warrant repeated visits.

Salad Bar brought forward a really novel concept. In Malaysia at least, we are well known for our food (specifically hawker fares), but none that really excels in the nutritious and wholesome department. I mean, come on … Char Kuey Teow, Roti Canai and Nasi Lemak combined can probably destroy your diet regime instantly!

Of course, we were skeptics prior to the visit. A salad bar that serves nothing but salads, and a few pastas and sandwiches? Erm, a little too mundane and salads have always been relegated to sides anyway, like sidekicks to the superheroes in a comical nature; the heroes being your slabs of steaks, plentiful of rice and maybe even a pot of hearty stew or two.

Tropical Fruit Salad – Zesty, meat-less portion of salad to reduce the guilt with caloric-laden foods.

But of course, we relented since the time is nigh for even food bloggers to take heed and jump on the “eat right, eat healthy” bandwagon. And Salad Bar promises and delivers. They have various combination of salads; namely “Supersalads” where you get to choose from the fixed combination of greens, toppings and dressings. OR you can be picky and choose a DIY salad; where you choose your greens (four types available), toppings (countless, seriously…. Go up to the counter and get dizzy from the selection!), and dressing of your choice. By the way, no fanciful mayonnaise or thousand island. ONLY healthy homemade choices to go with the salads.

High Energy Superman – More proteins and carbs than the others; but all the good ones, no worries.

A brilliant introduction to their salads would be the Spicy Salad; incorporating spicy strips of chicken teriyaki and a piquant spicy vinegar dressing. There goes some meat to soften the transition from your usual carnivorous cravings to a more subtle fibre-rich repertoire. Another equally tasty selection was the High Energy Superman that comes with pumpkin, raisins, and chicken sausage. This would get the kids going ga-ga over salads, for a start. A slightly creamier dressing accompanied this combination, providing sufficient proteins and carbs for those on a body-building regime, perhaps?

If you’re converting from a meat-rich diet to a meat-free one, the Tropical Fruits Salad with plentiful of pomelo and mangoes would appeal to your tastebud. Tangy, refreshing with a touch of zest from the dressing, this salad alongside Fruits & Nuts (no meat) and B.L.O.G (go figure … no meat as well) can be consumed by vegetarians, and they also have an onion and garlic free option for strict vegans.

Spicy Chicken Pasta

Dory Carbonara Pasta

What if you’re not in the mood for salads? Say, the craving for carbs on days when you’re feeling really, really hungry? Then go for a serving of their pasta (about 5 or so choices) or the sandwiches would be just as satisfying. They do a fantastic sandwich with grilled pumpkin and capsicum, and they only use good wheat pasta to reduce the sinful calories.

Food aside, Salad Bar does a commendable effort in serving only fresh juices; with some startling combination like celery + cucumber + carrot (detox alert?!), and the safer choices like orange and apple. Rest assured that they do not use sugar in their juices, thus you get pure, concentrated refreshing liquid to replenish your body’s hydration status.

100% Fresh Fruit Juices. No holding back on the wholesome image.

Dried Cranberries on the Homemade Yoghurt with Honey

For dessert, of course we don’t see cakes, pastries or pies in their menu. Duh. Those will defeat the purpose, no? Instead, they only have one type of dessert; and it’s a darn good one. Homemade yoghurt with honey, and a topping of your choice. You can also opt for extra toppings for minimal charge, if you’re feeling peckish and browsing the vast range of toppings (fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts, etc) got you indecisive. Go for the walnut, or sunflower seeds if you’re looking for some bites, or the dried cranberries for a tarty, sweeter finish.

If you’re crazy enough like this gal, then go for additional toppings in a separate bowl to load your yoghurt with colours and flavours.

If you’re serious about changing your lifestyle to a healthier one, yet would not compromise in paying an arm and a leg for health food, or can’t be bothered to buy every single ingredient and cook in the kitchen, hop over to Salad Bar for an eye-opening experience. They offer individual sets from RM9.50 onwards, and be warned that a half portion salad can easily satiate your hunger. Full portion is meant to be shared, but at only RM11.90 each (for the Supersalad range), you’d be tempted to indulge.

The Salad Bar

No.41G, Jalan SS 21/60,

Damansara Utama,

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 47400

Mon – Sat: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm

Sun: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Telephone : +60122011883,+60377312228

Fax:+60377221742

Save money on food

noreply@blogger.com (hadinetworks hadi) — Mon, 02 May 2011 10:55:00 +0000

Food is so expensive, especially if you enjoy sitting against fast food restaurants to eat. On the other hand, it is so convenient, just go eat when you thaw something or feel you do not feel like cooking and cleaning. Eating is probably my biggest downfall of the money. When I get home after 17.30 clock is the last thing I want to do, go straight to the kitchen and spend time cooking a big meal. The other night I decided I was at the ranch house dressing that would be called for mayonnaise, mayonnaise and I decided, because we do not. Ha. I was fine until I followed the recipe and added too much lemon juice and vinegar combo and broke it. I was crazy.

I hate cooking because it seems you spend an hour and then cook it takes 10 minutes to eat. Not a very good relationship exists. Unfortunately for me, I like to save money, and that outweighs me be lazy. I know this is not financially possible for us to eat dinner every day. I did find a plan to make dinner easier for me. Here are some of my ideas to facilitate and reduce our dinner in restaurants.

Make and freeze meals before. It would be nice for the days when I really do not feel like cooking, but would not be so good for the nights that I forget to take something from the freezer. That sounds like a lot of work for me, but it would be a good weekend project. I was even a couple of different meals that I do cook, and could in the ranks.

-Remember to make meals simple and easy, like breakfast for dinner. Meals not much time for cooking is done for me! I like eggs for dinner.

"Looking for more slow cooker meals. I have not ventured into this area before, but it would be good for us! Of course, now that summer is just around the corner, I do not know how to respond will be hot meals.

Grid. Buy chicken or steak grilled with vegetables as a side dish. Light and healthy!

-Getting to meal planning. Meal planning to do such a pain that I despise, so I turned off. I need 10 or so meals I know that we love to get their ingredients, and then a shopping list from it. This allows me to save time, money and nerve! This is probably the best idea.

I feel a little better. I will have to work, but I know it is certainly