The niçoise salad is one that until recently I hadn't tried. This is a salad that is more than filling enough to be a main course, particularly if one eats it with a side of bread, or has it with a starter and a desert. This salad is full of ingredients; Parmesan, bacon, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, eggs and sometimes anchovies. This salad debunks the myth that salads are light. This salad is heavy in a good way.

I couldn't fail to mention the Caesar salad, could I? Well I might have done if not for the discovery of this twist on the traditional. I recently ate a chicken Caesar salad with the additional ingredient of chili prawns. Prawns are not often eaten with chicken, which made this meal particularly interesting. This gave the salad an entirely different taste, but it is one I will gladly try again if offered.

Balsamic beef and asparagus salad. This salad is perhaps the one in the list that looks and sounds like it might not be a salad. But it is. The beef steak is marinaded in balsamic vinegar, olive oil and chili before being fried for as long as to suite individual taste. The asparagus is steamed and five minutes is all that it needs. Watercress, sugar snaps and avocado can be added for more favours, but this warm salad is one that can be as simple or as varied as one likes.

This choice is the one that surprised me most of all. It surprised when I saw it in a recipe book, and I was again surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The duck and pear salad, which, of course, is a Chinese style salad. The duck is seasoned with Chinese five-spice after slashes have been made in the duck breasts, and the dressing is made from honey and balsamic vinegar.

Another salad that is more than filling enough to be a main course by itself is the smoked salmon and mustard potato salad. New potatoes are used in this salad and they are generally the better option when choosing to have potato in a salad. Broad beans, which have been blanched, are added to the potatoes, as is the smoked salmon. The dressing for this salad, and for other salads too if one wishes, is made from mustard, lemon juice, olive oil and créme fraíche.

Article by Iren Parusheva

License: Creative Commons
Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11121568@N06/2380333595

What you need is to buy some ingredients that you know will go with whatever dish you decide to prepare, some one-size-fits-all foods that go fantastically with absolutely anything. But where might you find a list like that?

Funny you should ask...

Capsicum Peppers (any Colour)

Capsicum peppers are a gift to the lazy cook. Add them to any dish, rice, pasta, chicken, noodles, you name it, and the dish will seem just a little bit fancier than before. It’s fantastic in everything from curries to pie.

What’s more, they’re a great visual addition to any dish as well. With red, green and yellow peppers to choose from, they’re a great way of balancing out the colours in any dish, whether it’s looking a bit brown and you want a splash of green in there, or if you want your salad to seem a bit more lively.

Pesto

Pesto is God’s way telling people who make sandwiches that he loves them. Whatever the sandwich, the addition of a bit of pesto gives it just that little bit of extra kick. Likewise, it’s a great way to turn a bowl of slightly dull looking pasta into a taste bonanza, especially if you’ve also got some cherry tomatoes sitting around.

It also goes great with chicken and pork, and can even be used to liven up a plain old cheese and tomato pizza.

Limes

Lime gives a little bit of zing to any dish, and is perfect if you’re looking to give something more of a summery taste. Not only is it great with meat, pasta and salads- it can also be a fantastic addition to drinks. If you’ve got nothing left in the booze cupboard but a bottle of tequila, a couple of ice cubes and a bit of squeezed lime juice will make everything right with the world.

Cashew Nuts

Cashew nuts are a great way to add a little bit of protein to an otherwise vegetarian dish. They’re fantastic in stir fries and pasta dishes, and are good for adding an extra, crunchier texture to curries or even soups.

Apples

Apples might seem like an odd one, but they’re surprisingly versatile. As well as being fantastic in desserts, going great in pies, with ice cream, or simply in a fruit salad, they also make a great accompaniment to savoury dishes as well. Pork and apple is a time honoured combination, with it regularly being used either as a sauce to accompany a pork chop, or even as an ingredient in sausages.

Apple sauce also goes with French toast (or “eggy bread” as we always called it in my house) or pancakes. It’s also a great ingredient in low fat recipes for curry.

And all of that is before you start thinking about mixing and matching these ingredients!

About the author:

Sam Wright is a freelance writer and whiz in the kitchen.

Image Source http://www.sxc.hu

What are organic foods?

Organic foods can confuse many people because they don’t see a difference when they compare it to traditional foods. For example, if you’re comparing a regular pear to an organic pear, it will be hard for you to notice anything unique about the organic one. The truth is, aside from having a higher price tag, you’re not going to be able to notice a difference between organic and traditional foods because it has nothing to do with appearance.

A food is deemed as organic due to the processes that were used on the farm where the food was grown. Organic farmers conserve water and soil and don’t use chemical fertilizers or pesticides on their foods. Instead, everything is done natural. Weed killers aren’t used in their farms and instead farmers are constantly plowing through to naturally remove the weeds. Chemical fertilizers are not used on their farms and instead natural fertilizers are used.

What’s the difference between organic and non-organic foods?

The farming of the fruits, vegetables and meats that are organic are different than those that are non-organic. Aside from not using chemical pesticides or fertilizers, organic farmers also don’t use antibiotics or hormones on their animals. Instead, they rely on organic feed and cleanliness to minimize disease.

Organic foods are also typically produced locally. For example, the non-organic pears that your supermarket sells may come from a farm in another state, which means that those pears are probably shot with preservatives or other chemicals or even freeze dried or frozen in order to keep them from bruising or rotting during transport. Because organic foods are all natural and do not use any chemicals, they are typically produced locally so that they can make it to your supermarket without bruising or rotting without the use of preservatives or other measures.

All organic foods need to pass a rigid set of standards by the USDA in order to be given the organic label. These standards regulate how organic products are grown, produced, processed and handled.

Some people have claimed that organic foods taste better than non-organic foods, but there’s no scientific evidence to prove this. In fact, most tests that have been have concluded that organic and non-organic foods tend to taste the same. Some people prefer to use organic foods because they lack pesticides, hormones, additives and other chemicals that could be harmful to your overall health, but choosing organic over non-organic is a personal choice. So if you want to know whether or not you should choose organic or non-organic foods, you need to determine if the growth and processing of the food is important to you.

Caroline Jones is a professional chef and health expert.  She enjoys sharing important information about organic foods and healthy eating.

Melon Puree: This is an amazing drink which can be prepared easily. Melons are rich source of vitamin c. If you crush melons instead of juicing, all healthy fibre stays within the drink. Slice honeydew melon into different pieces. Add little amount of water and if required, honey. You can even substitute watermelon or sweet melon in case of honeydew.

Cucumber Mint water: Though the combination sounds different, this juice helps you to stay hydrated all the time. To cold water, add a slice of cucumber and mint. You need to mix chopped mint and cucumber slices in a proper way.

Ginger cooler: If you want to have a spicy drink in hot temperature, ginger cooler would serve you best. Chop ginger into fine pieces; take few mint leaves, lime, and sugar or honey. Mix all ingredients in equal proportion and enjoy its taste.

Iced green tea with added lemon and mint: You can prepare this healthy juice without using a stove. You need to have a bag of green tea, water, mint leaves, lemon and sweet. Mix all these components and allow it to settle down for some time in hot sun light.

Coconut water: You cannot imagine the benefits of a coconut towards maintaining a good health. It contains electrolytes, potassium which are the best refilling components after you being exposed to sun for longer durations. Make sure that you get a green, young coconut. If you can’t find the right one, buy coconut water bottles from local food stores.

Basil lemonade: Lemonade is a sweet substance but you can limit this sweetness by mixing it with soda water. You need to combine one part of lemonade with soda water in a water jug. Add few leaves of basil into it. If you want ice add and enjoy the glass with basil juice.

Citrus soda: You can make this juice by combing few substitutes. Combine one cup of orange juice with grapefruit and soda water. Make sure to mix all the ingredients properly. Add ice cubes, mix it appropriately and start serving.

These are some of the healthy drinks which keep you hydrated in summer. When you are out of cash in the middle of a month and if your grocery shopping is pending, take same day loans which credit instant cash.

Author Bio: This is Gracie a Guest blogger from UK. I have written many guest posts on different categories like Home-improvement, Beauty, Health, Technology , Business and finance. At present i am doing research on same day loans. You can find more about me @financeport

Recent search terms:

Image source: flickr.com/photos/kthread/4874958200

Though the rumors have taken its round, saying that the spiced Indian food is bad for your stomach and disrupts digestion, the fact is that majority of the spices used in India have health benefits, which are more or less determined by the climatic conditions of the region where the cuisine belongs to. For example, you will find that there will be an abundant usage of hot red chilies in places like Andhra which basically help in dealing with the extreme heat of that region. The recipe of these dishes is designed in such a way, that they would lose their characteristic without the hot red chilies.

Each spice of India comes with at least one benefit which makes a dish health friendly when it gets used in the recipe, not to forget its functions of kicking up the taste. One of the most common Indian spices is turmeric, which is more or less considered as a standard ingredient in almost all Indian dishes. Almost all Indian curries and ‘dals’ use turmeric as a basic ingredient. Being a strong anti-oxidant, it has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerative properties. Thus, while adding slight flavor and a strong yellowish color to the curry it serves your health too. Turmeric while taken along with milk helps in curing any internal injury and also keeps cough and cold at bay. As per Indian tradition, if someone in the family gets injured, then he is given a teaspoon of turmeric with milk, to ease the pain and speed up recovery.

Fennel, another common spice, helps in digestion, curing respiratory disorders, rectifying menstrual disorders, and the list goes on. Some amount of amino acid found in fennel is remedy for anemia too. Water boiled with fennel, one of the most common drinks especially in any south Indian house hold, has an excellent cooling effect along with providing relaxation to your mind and body.

No Indian curry is complete without the addition of ginger garlic paste. Garlic, is internationally acclaimed for being anti bacterial, anti viral and anti fungal medicine. Considered excellent for digestion, it also helps in managing your cholesterol levels. Ginger, another spice that has topped in its medicinal values, acts as an exceptional anti inflammatory drug. It is excellent for all stomach ailments in addition to treatment of headaches, painful menstruation and arthritic pain. In hilly regions, when it gets freezing cold in the winters, people add a little of ginger to their tea, to keep their body warm.

Another major factor is that the spiced food helps in invigorating the brain cells, thus making your brain sharper and stronger. For example, some spices like turmeric helps improve the communication between brain cells and thus boosts your memory. Indian spiced food also helps in reducing weight by increasing your metabolism, which thus burns those extra calories. So just curry up, eat well and happily shed off those extra kilos while keeping your stomach full!

Author Bio

I am Francis Boyle, a research analyst at a video production firm in London. As a part of my job, I often have to do a lot of research about various products and services. I write blog posts related to Indian food.

Image source: flickr.com/photos/southpaw2305/4293240871

One scrumptious salad recipe is the ‘Beef and Horseradish Salad’. With just ten minutes needed to prepare it and twenty minutes for cooking, the beef and horseradish salad is quick and easy to make and tasty to eat. This recipe serves four people.

You will need the following ingredients:

• 650g of baby new potatoes which should be washed and halved
• 200g of trimmed green beans
• 2tsp of sunflower oil
• 550g of well trimmed rump steak
• 1 small bag of watercress, spinach and rocket salad
• 4 ripe wine tomatoes which should be quartered
• Half a red onion peeled and finely sliced

For the sauce, you will need the following:

• 1 tbsp of hot horseradish sauce
• freshly ground black pepper

Cook the potatoes in a large pan of boiling water for about 15 minutes until tender. In a medium pan boil the beans for 4-5 minutes until tender but crisp. Drain into a colander, and then cool under running water. Mix the horseradish and 3 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl until smooth. Season the steak. Heat the oil in a large non stick frying pan and fry the steak over a medium high heat for 3 minutes on each side for rare or until done to taste. Remove from the pan, cover with foil and rest for about 5 minutes. Drain the potatoes and thinly slice the steak. Divide the salad, tomatoes, beans, potatoes and steak between four plates. Spoon over the sauce. Sprinkle with red onions, season with freshly ground black pepper and serve. An important tip is that if you have leftovers from a roast beef dinners why not use them to make this quick salad?

And while you enjoy this delicious salad, why not log online to tastybingo.com for some good fun playing Bingo. Tasty Bingo has the best jackpots, prizes and promotions on offer to help you win some quick quid. If you are thorough foodie, you cannot help but love this brilliant Bingo site themed on food. All the promotions and offers have a foodie twist to them. Besides winning you can also check out some good recipes on the Tasty blog.

Image source source www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/144509138

Thai Classic Green Mango Salad

This Thai Classic Green Mango Salad is low in fat and calorie content. You can have this as your appetizer for most meals, but, you can also use this as a side dish. Another great thing about this classic Thai salad is that you can have this as a complete meal. You just have to add chicken, dried tofu or shrimp. You can even try anything on it according to your best culinary instinct and expect to gain positive reviews from your friends and culinary fans. Vegetarians or not, this salad will surely blow every person’s taste buds away!

Tossed Green Salad

This is another easy green salad recipe which only takes a few minutes to prepare. This recipe is perfect as side dish for any Thai curries as well as other recipes. Of course, this recipe is also perfect for everyday meals. Its salad dressing is creamy and delicious but is certainly low in calories and fats. You can even make it as spicy as you want. Just a tip, though, prepare more than what you need so that you can keep the extra inside the refrigerator. This way, you can always have a salad to indulge anytime you want.

Noodle Salad with Shrimp and Vegetables

With this recipe, you can use any type of noodles according to your preference. Some people would prefer to use egg, wheat or fettuccine noodles mixed with shrimp, herbs and vegetables. Be sure to mix it with a dressing that is oil-free. This salad will be yours to enjoy all throughout the week or even during your gourmet dinner. This is also good for quick lunches. Prepare an extra and keep it in the refrigerator so you can easily grab a delicious salad anytime you want.

Waterfall Beef Salad

The beef in this salad derived its name from the sound of its juices which keep on falling when it is placed on a hot grill. Thus, the name “waterfall” was coined. You can use either an oven-broiled or lightly grilled beef for this salad. The beef must be sliced thinly and mixed with fresh papaya and other green vegetables. Everything should be combined in a Thai dressing. You can have this eaten together with the main course. This waterfall beef salad contains high amounts of protein but low in carbohydrates.

These are just few examples of Thai salad recipes which you will find so irresistible. You may also check out the internet for further preparation or cooking instructions.

Hannah works for the cost assistance website, Howmuchisit.org. On her website, you see what thousands of things are going to cost.

The presence of salad on the dinner table indeed brings a special feel for a happening treat. So, if you want to leave your guests licking their fingers, go for the grilled steak salad recipe. Here are the details that can help you prepare it with perfection:

Ingredients:

• Garlic powder – ½ teaspoon
• Salt – ½ teaspoon
• Beef flank steak weighing 1 pound – 1
• Pepper – ½ teaspoon
• Sliced large sweet onion – 1
• Spring mix salad greens weighing 5 ounces – 1
• Drained and rinsed kidney beans weighing 16 ounces – 1 can
• Drained, sliced and roasted sweet red peppers weighing 7 ounces – 1 jar
• Dijon mustard – 1 teaspoon
• Fresh basil minced – 2 tablespoons
• Balsamic vinegar – 1/3 cup
• Virgin olive oil – 2 tablespoons

Instructions:

1. Take garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix them well and rub the mixture over the steak. With the help of long-handled tongs, you can take a paper towel and moisten it with cooking oil. Once done, coat the grill rack gently.

2. Start grilling the steak over medium heat taking 6 to 8 minutes per side. You can continue it till the meat achieves desired doneness. To remain safer, you can also use a meat thermometer.

3. Keep the onion slices covered in heavy-duty foil doubly thickened. Make sure that you wrap the foil around the onion so that it’s sealed tightly. Once done, kick off with the grilling process over medium heat and you will take not more than 20 minutes to get the onions softer. Unlock the foil in such a manner that the steam escapes properly.

4. Allow the steaks to stand for at least 5 minutes. On the other hand, blend the greens, red peppers, grilled onions and beans in a large-sized bowl.

5. Take basil, vinegar, mustard and oil and whisk them well. Get a small bowl, take ¼ of the mixture and pour it in the salad. Take the bowl and toss it well for coating. Once done, divide the mixture among four salad plates and thereafter get the flank steak sliced across the grain.

6. Start serving the steak salad on the plates.

These salads can be used as a regular meal or as an appetizer. The hot weather seasonal fruits can be enjoyed in salad form. These salads will not only give you the required nutrition value, but also help you in keeping healthy and fit.

In the summer I do like to get a big ball of salad and eat it in the front of my computer while playing a game of Cheeky Bingo.

Here are some easy and tasty recipes of juicy fruits and vegetable salads you can prepare in summer in no time.

Mango Apple Salad

Take 1 large sized mango, finely peeled and cubed.You should take one medium sized apple and peel and dice it properly.Take ¾ cup of cashew roasted and chopped into small pieces.Take half tablespoon of vinegar and one tablespoon of ground cinnamon.Take ¼ ts. Of ginger and grind it very well.Now mix the mango, cashew and apple pieces. Sprinkle vinegar and add ginger, cinnamon and salt to taste to this wonderful salad. If you want to add more taste, you can add a pinch of pepper too.

Chicken Salad with Walnut and Peach

It is one of the most wonderful summer salads.You need 2 fresh and finely cubed peaches, 1 cup of chopped boneless boiled chicken, and half cup of red onion finely chopped.Add a pinch of salt, some raisins and half cup of roasted and chopped walnuts.Mix all these things into a bowl and enjoy your summer with this delicious salad.

Grilled Vegetables Pasta Salad

You can also make your summer season more pleasant by trying this tasty and good for health vegetable salad.You need 3 carrots, peeled and chopped finely, 2 zucchini in green and yellow colors, 1 red and 1 yellow sweet pepper, ½ Spanish onion finely chopped and one cup of pasta.For dressing you need salt and pepper, 4 cloves of garlic thinly chopped, half cup of olive oil, ¼ cup of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of turmeric.Cook the chopped vegetables for 10 minutes to bring crisp in them. Boil pasta in salted water.Add pasta into vegetables and add dressing before presenting it.

Recent search terms:

It takes less than 5 minutes to prepare it. And you will be surprised by the way carrots and ginger go together. To get the best taste use fresh ginger and organic carrots. Also if you like spicy foods use a little chilly.

Linking up to: www.thirtyhandmadedays.com, bloomdesignsonline.blogspot.com

Recent search terms: