Eat More Salads

A couple days ago, I read an interesting article on WSJ:  An average American eats a salad at mealtime only 36 times a year. Isn’t that surprising? If that’s the average number for American adults, imagine how much smaller the number would be for children. I don’t know why—and probably many parents don’t either—but children generally don’t like to eat vegetables and salads. I’d like to share a couple recipes to make delicious salads that kids will actually like. But another important thing is we all should start eating more healthy before we try to make our kids eat veggies and salads.

·         Spinach, spring mix or romaine

·         Sliced almonds

·         Chopped strawberries

·         Feta cheese

·         Raspberry vinaigrette dressing

Mix the greens with almonds and strawberries. Top it with feta cheese and dressing.

Blueberry Salad

·         9 cups mixed greens

·         1 cup fresh or thawed blueberries

·         2 TBS sunflower kernels

Dressing:

·         4 TBS Canola Oil

·         2TBS sugar

·         3 TBS cider vinegar

·         1 TBS orange juice

·         ½ tsp ground mustard

·         ¼ tsp salt

Waldorf Salad

·         2 red apples, cored and chopped

·         2 TBS orange juice

·         2 stalks celery, chopped

·         ½ cup chopped walnuts

·         ½ cup raisins

·         ¼ cup mayonnaise

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve.

These recipes are from http://www.raisehealthyeaters.com/2010/11/8-salads-that-will-get-your-kids-hooked/

They have more kid-friendly salads on the website so check it out if you’re interested.

Strawberry Surprise

Strangest Foods in the World

Take a step back from the familiar and take a look at some of the world’s strangest foods… today, catered especially from Asia. The first is the world’s most expensive coffee. Why not sit back and enjoy a cup? That’s right, isn’t that aroma just fantastic? But why, you ask, is this one of the weird delicacies of the world? Well, my friend… because it came out of an animal’s behind.

That’s right! Kopi Lawuk from Indonesia is harvested from the Asian Palm Civet’s feces, after it is partially digested, of course. The beans of coffee berries are first eaten by this “Toddy Cat” and then passed through its digestive tract. The beans come out retaining their shape and are then gathered, thoroughly washed, sun dried, roasted lightly and brewed. The coffee produced is aromatic, with much less bitterness.

Second, Balut in the Phillipines is almost as popular as hot dogs in America. Most likely sold by street vendors, Balut is said to boost the libido and is a hearty snack full of protein. It tastes like chicken because well… it is chicken. Or well, it could have been.

Balut are fertilized eggs boiled just before they’re due to hatch. They are cooked when the fetus is between 17 to 21 days, to your preference, apparently. You can have a chicken or duck egg.


Finally, Fried Tarantulas from Cambodia! Please, these are not for the weak at heart. These large arachnids are fried whole – legs, fangs, all. Tourists are surprisingly quite eager to get a taste of this Cambodian delicacy and it is a source of fame and fortune. Apparently, it tastes like crickets or scrawny chickens. Crispy on the outside with a gooey body on the inside!

Watermelon Cooler Recipe

Hot summer days are upon us and thirst-quenching drinks are called for. Why not enjoy a refreshing serving of watermelon cooler?

Ingredients:

4 cups of sliced seedless watermelon

1 cup of lemon sorbet

1 lemon, zested

1 1/2 cups of water

Directions:

Blend the sliced watermelon, lemon sorbet and zested lemon in a food processor until it is very smooth. Next, stir it with water and refrigerate until it is cold. And that’s it! Serve it with ice and add watermelon wedges or even mint as garnish, if you wish.

In case you don’t have lemon sorbet at hand, don’t panic. You can easily substitute it by making a mixture of: 6 lemons, 2 tablespoons of sugar and enough water for it to reach a cup.

Take care of the temperature, since it could change the flavor. For a tangy flavor, add grape or lime juice. Enjoy an easy-to-make summer drink!

Food styling

Food styling is becoming increasingly popular today. Not only the taste, but also the aesthetic of food has become an important part of dining. Today, dining is a part of entertainment, leisure and social activities. Instead of just eating to survive, people think of dining as a whole experience. As people consume their food, they also take in the atmosphere, the conversation, and the music. A positive dining experience can help people feel better and build relationships with their companions. This new trend created a huge demand for food stylists—professionals who are responsible for the visual aspect of food. It is likely that people will more enjoy food that looks delicious and fancy, compared to food that looks bland.

Food styling is especially important for high-end restaurants and in advertisements or magazine spreads. Restaurants need to create their unique atmosphere and tone through the aesthetic of their dishes, the interior design and the service. In advertisements and magazine spreads, it is essential that the food looks delicious in order to appeal to the viewers’ appetites and increase demand. Of course, the most important thing is whether the food is healthy and delicious; however, the visual aspect of food should not be overlooked as it provides a pleasurable experience for the consumers. Even simple decorations at home can change the family’s dining experience.

How to Prepare Korean Ramen

Looking for a delicious, instant food? Why not Korea’s popular spicy noodles?

First, you have to buy a packet of instant noodles, or “ramen” as it is called in Korea. The most popular brand is “Shin Ramyun” and, as can be seen in the picture, this packet will contain fried noodles, a package of soup base and a package of vegetables. Second, get a pot and boil two cups of water. Once the water is ready, put the noodles in. It’s better if you snap them in half before-hand since it will be easier to stir and boil. Next, empty out the two packages and continue stirring. You can add anything else to heighten the flavor, such as: eggs, spam, green onion and cheese.

Now, for a few tips: Crack an egg into a separate cup and stir before putting into the pot. Add things like sausages and spam early on to allow them to absorb the heat. Stirring is very important! But be careful not to do so in excess; it may bloat the noodles. Finally, take care of the water proportion. Too much water will lessen the flavor and too little water will make it too strong or even burn the noodles.

Once it is ready, serve it in a bowl and eat with a delicious side-dish of kimchi!

Food in Literature and Film

Food is an important component of life, no doubt. In some countries, such as France, Japan and Mexico, food is renowned and owns a unique taste. It is a part of culture and perhaps even history. But it is also a centric part of each person’s home, a cause for joy and memories, time to fill an empty stomach or savor a new delicacy. Food is, you will agree, something quite special. 

Sometimes, food even stars in books and movies. For example, Mexican writer Laura Esquivel’s “Like Water for Chocolate” is not just a story with some cooking recipes. It is life adapted to the cooking recipes, how each moment in Tita, the protagonist’s, life has a dish to fit. A moment filled with forbidden love and passionate desire deserves a deliciously cooked steaming chicken breast with accompanying hot rose petals sauce. A moment filled with hatred and frustration at a confined life deserves spicy fried chilies stuffed with assortments of spices and meat. Esquivel offers a recipe for each of the twelve months and takes the reader along to see how Tita becomes a gifted cook and how it ultimately keeps her sane in the injustice and cruelty of Mexican family traditions.

Food is often taken as an important theme in films. Off the top of my head, the most recent ones would include “No Reservations” and “Julie&Julia.” In the former, the protagonist is the head chef with an iron fist… and an iron heart. She has become such a perfectionist and taken such pride in her cooking that she allows no mistakes, no complaints and no enjoyment. With the arrival of her orphaned niece and a carefree cook, however, the protagonist begins to enjoy the food, the taste and the art of cooking. Likewise, in “Julie&Julia,” cooking has a healing quality. It helps the protagonist regain self-esteem and conviction that goals can be achieved. It is a journey to find oneself and, in a way, the meaning of life.

Food is so much more than simply eating.