With summer now well under way, many of you have probably mapped out your remaining summer travel plans — and you may have even started planning for the fall, but have you figured out how (and what) you’re going to pack and the type of luggage you’re going to take on your trip? After all, fall is just around the corner once we’re past the Fourth of July…

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Juicing vegetables and fruits provides significant health benefits, but how most juicing machines work can reduce the benefits of juicing.  Most machines remove the pulp, where much of the nutritional value resides, and most juicers are very hard to clean, resulting in a lack of use.  This product is different, and I have personally benefited from a health standpoint.

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The post Review of the Hurom H70 Easy Clean Slow Juicer appeared first on Pratesi Living.

Plant-based diets have been all the rage recently, with everyone trying to eat less meat and include more plant proteins in their meals. Just take a look at all of the meat substitutes in the refrigerated and freezer cases these days. In our home, we’re trying to eat a Mediterranean-style diet with less red meat and more seafood and vegetables, but sometimes, you need inspiration. That’s why I was interested in this book. Many plant-based recipes I tried in the past weren’t something I would make again. Some were not very satisfying and others weren’t good enough, so I wanted to see if this book could change my mind.

The Complete Plant Based Cookbook gives recommendations and ideas for stocking a plant-based pantry and includes successful substitutions for things we’re used to and okay with eating, but others may want to remove from their diet, such as egg whites. Did you know that the liquid from canned chickpeas, known as aquafaba, can be whipped like egg whites or give texture and structure to dishes and baked goods? Cashews have also become a widespread substitution for cream and dairy products in vegan recipes, but how about jackfruit in place of shredded chicken or pork? This book helps build a plant-based meal from menu suggestions and what they call “Building-Block Recipes” that will be your go-to for many recipes in the book if you’re only eating plant-based foods. These include ways to prepare a fish sauce substitute and “Cheez” Sauce.

However, if you’re like me and want to add more veggies and eat less meat, and are fine with the other ingredients (like fish sauce), there are options for almost all of the recipes to use dairy products, such as regular milk instead of soy milk and regular cheese instead of vegan substitutes. If you’re counting calories, carbs, and proteins, they also include nutritional information at the back of the book. With everything from baked goods, to salads and soups, to main dishes and desserts, this book could become a bible for people on serious plant-based diets and others wanting to eat healthy meals without meat.

We enjoyed many recipes from this book, including a few salad dressing recipes, but I’m going to give cauliflower the spotlight for my two choices. The first pick is Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup. I love Asian-inspired flavors with curry, ginger, lime juice, and coconut milk (my husband and I both do), so I first opted for this recipe. And it did not disappoint. It was rich and creamy (blended in the Wolf Gourmet High-Performance Blender). I liked the contrast in texture with the browned florets to finish the soup, along with the crunchy green onions and drizzle of oil. It was elegant and satisfying enough for a meal, so we didn’t have anything other than a green salad to go along with it. This soup would also make a lovely starter for a dinner party with an Asian-themed menu.

Everyone loves a good pasta dish, so I also chose to include Campanelle with Roasted Cauliflower, Garlic, and Walnuts. I enjoyed the textures and flavors in this dish with the curly pasta, roasted heads of garlic (two whole heads), and roasted cauliflower. Both of these roasting techniques lent an extraordinary but subtle sweetness to the pasta. A lot was going on in the final dish that’s finished with chopped parsley, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and chopped toasted walnuts. We also liked extra grated cheese to finish, using imported Parmigiano Reggiano in place of the vegan substitute. I added a little more red pepper flakes than suggested, as we prefer dishes with a little more kick. The pasta was a beautiful and satisfying dish, and we didn’t miss the meat a bit. It would be a lovely recipe to serve to guests for the main dish or side dish. It also held well and made excellent leftovers the next day.

The post A Review of America Test Kitchen’s The Complete Plant Based Cookbook appeared first on Pratesi Living.

It is pleasant to have been to a place the way a river went. ~ Henry David Thoreau

European River Cruises

While we enjoy driving a car or traveling by train through the European countryside and stopping in the quaint villages and towns along the way, we have found that moving from place to place and packing and unpacking can be inefficient and exhausting. European river cruises offer a more relaxed and cost-effective approach to travel.

River cruises are an excellent way to visit several destinations, especially in Europe. While the market has been increasing in popularity, it’s become even more attractive since the pandemic. The demographics have also changed, with younger cruisers interested in active offerings and excursions, such as hiking and biking tours. They also enjoy the intimate hotel-like atmosphere and the opportunity to visit several countries within one itinerary.

Cruising Europe’s waterways allows you to experience the stunning scenery while stopping in some of the oldest and most iconic European destinations. You can unpack once and enjoy the unique towns and storybook villages that at one time were only accessible by car. River cruises are not just about the destination but focus on the “joy of the journey.” Each itinerary immerses the passengers in the region’s history, culture, cuisine, and wines.

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The post On board AmaLegro with AmaWaterways – Paris to Normandy, France appeared first on Pratesi Living.

Whether you’re ready to hit the open road, fly away to far-flung destinations or sail on the high seas, you’ll want to check out these top picks for packing up your clothing and gear this busy travel season.

With many destinations already seeing record-breaking numbers of tourists over spring break, late spring and summer of 2023 are shaping up to be one of the busiest years yet for travel. Experts say the number of travelers is higher than pre-pandemic levels – despite rising prices for airfare, hotels, cruises and other related travel expenses.

With this increase in travel, you’ve probably seen many ads touting the latest and greatest travel-related accessories, carry-on luggage, and comfy clothes and shoes specifically designed for long-haul flights. Some gear is designed to simplify the packing process, maximize your luggage space (especially if you’re trying to fly with only a carry-on bag) and make your overall travel experience more pleasant.

Travel can be stressful, especially when flights are full and popular destinations are packed with tourists wielding selfie sticks. Anything you can do (or anything you can pack) to make your experience a smoother – and more memorable one – gets my vote. If you can do it in style, that’s even better.

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