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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Best Food That will Keep Active throughout the Day

It is a fact heard that foods that contain antioxidants have many health benefits . These antioxidants help to slow the aging process , prevent disease and help you live a healthy life. Energy giving foods should be taken to keep you energetic throughout the day.

Drinking green tea in concentrated form is said to be an excellent way to increase your antioxidant levels . To take full advantage of all you have to do is pour a little concentrated in pure water or juice and take sips occasionally green tea.
We are all aware that high level of antioxidants present in green tea . But it is quite daunting to consume several cups of this tea a day will lead to a lot of fluid intake. If the daily dose of green tea is provided and portioned in advance , you can enjoy a good cup of tea and as happy as you are getting your daily dose of antioxidants . Along with this, you must also take foods that keep you active throughout the day.

Antioxidants protect the body from being damaged due to environmental factors such as sun and pollution and vigorous exercise . To avoid this, you can munch blackberries with your morning cereal or during lunch because they contain a lot of antioxidants and vitamin C. You should also eat foods rich in proteins that are good for your metabolism.

Omega 3 fatty acids which is very good for the brain and the heart is present in fish. These omega -3 fatty acids help fight against depression and also help in the prevention of cancer and reduces arthritis pain. It also contributes to the prevention of Alzheimer's disease .

Almonds are actually a seed of a fruit and not a " nut " as assumed by everyone. It contains high levels of vitamin E and magnesium . Almonds contain monounsaturated fats and powerful antioxidants that are good for the heart . They also contain calcium which promotes healthy strong bones and reduces blood pressure.

Bananas contain high levels of potassium and vitamin C and B6 . Lack of vitamin B6 may make an irritable and suffer from insomnia and fatigue person . Potassium helps regulate blood pressure , and the muscles in the body to function well during the year.

Please note that if you are on a low carb diet , so avoid bananas because they are high in carbohydrates. You can replace it with another fruit.

Lentils contain high dietary fiber. They help maintain blood glucose levels and contain vitamin B and a number of minerals. They are good for the heart and cholesterol and they are a food that releases energy and is rich in iron, they help carry oxygen to the cells.

Oats are the best foods for breakfast because they are very fibrous and rich in potassium , magnesium and calcium and are full of vitamin B complex which is necessary for a healthy nervous system. It lowers cholesterol and helps fight against anxiety and depression.

How to Use a Tandoor

Probably the global approach of cooking , the barbecue is found in regional variations around the world . It blooms in the form of the tandoor . In these parts of the world , the tandoor is the standard form of crickets. The term " Tandoor " is used to both the cylinder clay-based oven used for food preparation and baking and explain the method of cooking itself .

The Tandoor is claimed , have traveled to Central Asia and the Middle East together with the Roman people . The attractiveness of the tandoor in India continued during the period of the Islamic ruling in South Asia to this day, as the chicken tikka masala predominates in restaurants all over the world.

Tandoori dishes have a distinctive smoky flavor , which is produced as a result of clay-based design oven. Heat in a tandoor is from coals glow at the base of the furnace produces . As the food to cook in it , its juices fall on these slags produced pleasantly flavored smoke that is the signature of the Tandoor . The heat for the Tandoor is usually of a charcoal or wood fire in the tandoor itself burns created . The temperatures near Tandoor could come to 900 ° F, and it is not uncommon for them will continue illuminated for long periods of time in order to maintain the high temperature.

The common foods in the Tandoor are prepared are certain types of Iranian , Pakistani , Indian and Afghan dishes such as tandoori chicken , chicken tikka and bread varieties like tandoori roti and naan . The Chicken Tikka is a South -east recipe by grilling small pieces of poultry that have been seasoned with spices and yogurt prepared. It is traditionally prepared and boned on the Tandoor skewers. It may be like a kebab consumed with green chutney , or it could be made ​​use of to prepare the curry chicken tikka masala.

The various other beloved Tandoori chicken is a fried delicacy that came from India . The chicken is seasoned in yogurt and seasoned with Indian spices such as common ginger , garlic , cumin , paprika , garam masala, turmeric extract and for the red color . Generally in the clay-based furnace is prepared, it can also be done on a grill.

As the grille itself , the search for the Tandoor inexorably , with Indian and Pakistani dining establishments dish out tandoori specialties , many visitors around the world . Continue to greatly increase the tandoori collection on all types of meat , fish, poultry , vegetables or even fruit and cheese and its beauty part of everyday life away .

Usually it is difficult to find an exact replacement of a tandoor , but we have a few alternatives . Crickets could be quite good, especially when the food preparation can be a barbecue , food juices skill to run into the burner or coals are out . The result is not only that the tandoor , yet the resulting taste is a good approximation .

You can choose a traditional oven tandoori recipes to cook. The similarity here is that both the oven and the Tandoor have a closed area was caught in the heat , but not to produce the oven the brand smoky flavor of the actual tandoori dishes . This method is the best choice for baking tandoori bread, when a tandoor is not readily available because the bread is limited by heat .

A barbecue can when cooking dishes like lamb chops or chicken tikka , although the idea of ​​barbecue cooking is really the opposite to be used by the tandoori food preparation. A grill is not over a limited range of components and food is heated from above. However tasty dishes can still be achieved . The grill benefited quick meals .

Heart Frindly Diet - Veg or Non Veg Delight

The vegetarian diet has gained popularity all over the world recently. People are attracted to vegetarianism due to various reasons. Many people go for this ethical and religious grounds . Others go because of belief in health-related , or in favor of animal rights . Whatever the reason , but it is certain that more and more people resort to vegetarianism . If a vegetarian diet has an advantage over non- food - vegetarian is questionable.
Being vegetarian does not mean eating only foods of plant origin. Although vegetarian diets are of different types:
Lacto- vegetarian --- Includes dairy products and vegetables - diet.
Ovo - vegetarian --- Includes eggs but not dairy products.
Vegans --- People who are strictly vegetarian, do not use animal products , not even leather for clothing.


It is a proven fact that vegetarian diet is low in saturated fat and cholesterol that are found mainly in animal products. Vegetarian diet is rich in fiber which leads to improving the health of stools and the fight against colon cancer . Vegetarians tend to be less at risk for obesity , heart disease , hypertension , diabetes and some forms of cancer. But not all vegetarians enjoy these benefits that many of them are engaged in the consumption of high -fat cheese , chips and hamburgers, pizzas etc. So it is certainly possible to be a vegetarian and still be at risk of disease heart related .

In addition , consumption of white meat like fish and chicken is not the causative factor for heart disease . But when these foods are fried in partially hydrogenated oils , they become the most powerful heart disease that these oils contain trans fatty acids cause. Even vegetarian diet is responsible for trans fats and processed fats and oils and are those associated with heart disease . So both vegetarians and non- vegetarians can actually lead to obesity , heart disease and diabetes.

It is true that the consumption of fruits and vegetables helps in detoxification of our body. But most plant foods are loaded with pesticides and chemicals . Many components of products derived from animals support the detoxification system of the body such as iron in the meat , the amino acids in the bone broth and vitamin A in the liver .

Vegetarian food has an additional advantage that it is cheap and can be eaten raw , so the loss of nutrients is less during cooking. Nuts, seeds and dark green leafy vegetables are an excellent source of folic acid and magnesium which helps calcium absorption . Vitamin C and antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables boost immunity and fight against cell damage . Phytochemicals in plant foods help to prevent and heal the body from cancer.

Do not forget non vegetarian food is rich in proteins of high biological value , vitamin B12, iron and readily available vitamin D outside of several vitamins and minerals. It has all the essential amino acids that our body needs for growth and repair of cells. Thus, it gives more benefits to our body if consumed in moderation, with plant foods and cooked the right way.

All processed , packaged and baked foods are high in salt content , whether vegetarian or non- vegetarian, therefore , they should be avoided if a person has a heart related illness .

The fact is that both vegetarian and non- vegetarian diets can help us achieve optimal health , prevent nutrient deficiency and other heart related diseases . Therefore, the two systems do no harm to the body condition of choosing the right quantity and quality of exercise and adequate .

Beef and Steak Recipes

Beef Fajitas:
Servings:
6-8

Cooking Time:
Prep: 70 minutes (1 hour for marinade), Cook: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

    1 (16 ounce) jar chunky salsa
    ¼ cup vegetable oil, divided
    2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
    1 tbsp chili powder
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    ½ tsp ground cumin
    ½ tsp salt
    1 pound sirloin steak - cut into 2 inch strips
    1 cup red bell pepper strips
    1 cup green bell pepper strips
    1 cup sliced onion
    8 (6 inch) flour tortillas
    ¾ cup sour cream, for topping

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, combine the salsa, 2 tbsp of oil, cilantro, chili powder, garlic, cumin and salt. Mix together well, stir in the beef strips, cover.
Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
After the meat has marinated, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Place the red bell pepper, green bell pepper and onion in the oil and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the onion is slightly golden and the peppers are tender.
Stir in the beef mixture and sauté for 7 to 8 more minutes, or until the meat is no longer pink.
Serve in the warmed tortillas and top with sour cream.

Flank Steak Adobo:
Servings:
4

Cooking Time:
Prep: 30 mins - 6 hours (marinade), Cook: 14-20 minutes

Ingredients:

    2 pounds Flank steak
    1 tbsp Garlic, minced
    1 tbsp Cumin
    2 tbsp Creole mustard
    2 tbsp Olive Oil
    3 tbsp Red wine vinegar
    1 ½ tsp Oregano
    1 ½ tsp Paprika

Instructions:

Mix the garlic, cumin, mustard, oil, vinegar, oregano and paprika in a large bowl.
Add the flank steak and marinate for at least 30 minutes (6 hours preferably), turning often.
Place the steak on the grill.
Baste with the marinade and turn the steak after 7-10 minutes.
Cook to the desired temperature.
Thinly slice across the grain of the meat.

Roast Leg of Lamb with Rosemary:
Servings:
6

Cooking Time:
Prep: 15 Minutes, Cook: 80 Minutes

Ingredients:

    ¼ cup honey
    2 tablespoons prepared Dijon-style mustard
    2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
    1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    1 teaspoon lemon zest
    3 cloves garlic, minced
    1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
    5 pounds whole leg of lamb

Instructions:

In a small bowl, combine the honey, mustard, rosemary, ground black pepper, lemon zest and garlic.
Mix well and apply to the lamb. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
Preheat oven to 450° F (230° C).
Place lamb on a rack in a roasting pan and sprinkle with salt to taste.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Reduce heat to 400° F (200° C) and roast for 55 to 60 more minutes for medium rare.


Marinating the lamb overnight is the key to flavor!


Szechuan Grilled Flank Steak:
Servings:
4-6

Cooking Time:
20 minutes (not including marinade time)

Ingredients:

    1 & ¼ to 1 & ½ pounds beef flank steak
    ¼ cup soy sauce
    ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
    2 tbsp Oriental sesame oil
    4 cloves garlic, minced
    2 tsp minced fresh ginger
    ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
    ¼ cup water
    ½ cup thinly sliced scallions
    2 to 3 tsp sesame seeds, toasted (4-5 minutes at 400 degrees)


Instructions:

Combine soy sauce, vinegar, oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper in a small bowl. Marinate the flank steak with the mixture in the refrigerator for 3 hours, turning once halfway through.
After the marinade time, drain the steak, saving the marinade in a small saucepan. Prepare and pre-heat your broiler or outside grill.
Place steak on the grid (if on a BBQ grill) or on a drainable broiling pan, and cook for 14-18 minutes for medium. (Cooking time may be less [12-15 minutes] in an oven-broiler) Turn the steak once halfway through the grilling time.
While the steak is cooking, add the water to the marinade you saved in step 2. Bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Transfer the steak to a cutting board and slice across the grain into thin slices. Arrange in a fan pattern on the plate and drizzle some of the sauce overtop. Sprinkle the scallions and sesame seeds over top for a wonderful garnish.


Remember to peel the fresh ginger with a vegetable peeler before mincing. Use a paring knife to chop the ginger. You'll need about a 1 inch square piece of ginger for 2 teaspoons. Also, the sesame seeds are, of course, optional, although it does add a nice touch.