Vegetarian Means Vegan, Right?

Actually vegetarians tend to differ from what Vegans consider themselves to be. The exact reasons for why, evade me at the moment.

I eat plenty of vegetables but also enjoy eggs so I think this means I may be a vegetarian but I am not a vegan because eggs are not on their menu. I need to watch my calories and weight.

Veganism, if I may, seems to be more like a religion than just a healthy eating regime. I think the term is applied to not only eggs but even to wearing things that may have once been alive, like leather.

I have no feelings on this one way or another and think our life choices are just that, our life choices.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Cake Is Great For After Dinner

By Chris Lee

Virtually everyone in the world enjoys a piece of cake now and then. When was the last time you allowed yourself to indulge in a slice of German Chocolate Cake? Cake is the most popular after dinner dessert in the world. While most people in the world still indulge in the traditional dessert, many have opted to forget about cake. Cake, no matter what type, offers just the right amount of sweet to satisfy that sweet tooth, while still having the ability to be healthy.

Believe it or not, there are many cakes that can be very good for you. You can find cakes and cake recipes that contain healthy ingredients. Depending on your personal taste, you can find many healthy cake recipes. Carrot cake is a favorite for dessert. You can also indulge in a traditional chocolate cake every now and then. Most people love chocolate cake. But, just because you love decadent chocolate cake does not mean that you are not eating healthy. Many recipes for chocolate cake are perfectly healthy. Chocolate is actually considered to be much healthier than some other cake ingredients. Now you really can have your cake and eat it too.

There are actually four different categories of cake. Yeast cakes are first and include many delicious recipes. Certain pastries like stollen are considered to be yeast cakes. Although yeast cakes are generally not terribly sweet, they are still considered to be an excellent dessert choice.Of course, everyone knows what cheesecakes are. Everyone loves a nice piece of cheesecake now and then. They do not use flour and are often very sweet.

Sponge cakes make an excellent dessert for after dinner. They are made from beaten eggs and flour and are sweet yet have a spongy texture. These cakes typically take egg whites and are considered to be healthier than traditional sweet cakes. Finally, you have butter cakes. These are the traditional cakes such as birthday cakes and that luscious chocolate cake from above. This cake is very sweet and makes an excellent dessert to be served with coffee.

Butter cakes contain eggs, flour and butter or oils in order to make them moist. No matter which of these cakes is your favorite, you can enjoy any of them after dinner. Serve cake with coffee or milk and you have the perfect ending to a wonderful meal.

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Homemade Lobster Clambake

By Sherry Shantel

The origin of the clambake started in Plymouth, Massachusetts where settlers witness the Native Americans cooking seafood over seaweeds and hot stones. The method of cooking is now called the popular New England clambake which is not only a tradition in the specific area but has also become popular all over the country. Thanks to the Internet, you can now order Maine live lobster for your Lobster clambake anytime, anywhere.

The main stars of the clambake are of course, the lobsters. They come in many sizes - the smallest kinds which weigh around 1 - 1.25 pounds are called the chickens, 1.25-pound lobsters are called Quarter, and 1.20-pound are Half lobsters. Those people who have small appetites will be glad with chicken types to be served with another main course. However, for those who prefer to have a hearty meal, they'll be happier with Quarter or Half lobsters.

There are also different types of shellfish and clams. But you don't have to worry as any type of shellfish will go well with lobster bisque. But if you want your clambake to be truly authentic, you might want to go with New England steamer clams. These types have soft shells and larger sizes. For every person, about 1 pound of clam is recommended.

Corn on the cob and red bliss potatoes add to the delicious distinct flavor and yummy presentation of authentic New England clambakes that would be surely hard to resist. Both can be boiled, steamed or even grilled just like you do with the lobsters and steamers.

Clambakes have historically been cooked in holes dug in the sand with seaweed and hot stones. While this makes a nice presentation, the truth is that our typical ovens and pots do a much better job. The recommended way to cook live lobsters is to have them steamed. You're going to need a large pot, a steamer basket, and some salt.

Next, pour 1 and inches of water to the large pot and for every quart of water, add an approximate 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring it to a boil and then put the lobsters and steamer basket inside the pot.

One-pounder lobsters should be cooked for approximately 12 minutes. A pound and a half lobsters should be cooked for around 15 minutes. Check the pot periodically to ensure that all the water has not boiled off and add more water while the lobsters are cooking if needed. Remove the lobsters and pull off one of their small legs. Break open the leg and test the meat to ensure that it is already cooked.

For a more wonderful and tastier feast, you can opt to add mussels, shrimp, and clam chowder to your clambake. Add fresh vegetables for a more healthy presentation. Your homemade lobster clambake is now ready to be enjoyed by you and your loved ones.

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Resveratrol and Youth

By Jane Soreau

Oprah Winfrey is known for providing her viewers with expertly researched advice concerning the latest advancements in medical advancements, particularly as they relate to the concerns of an aging American population. Recently, Oprah featured the Turkish-American cardiologist Dr. Mehmet Oz. According to Dr. Oz, the recently discovered antioxidant known as resveratrol may be the key to slowing or even-in some cases-reversing the aging process.

Fight Toxins, Fight Aging

Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances that protect the body from oxidants-toxins that damage the tissues of the body, causing the visually evident wrinkles on the skin, as well as the less obvious damage to the body's internal systems. Antioxidants help to defend the body, particularly its organs, brain cells, and the nervous system. Moreover, they help to remove the oxidants and even repair damage caused by the aging process.

What is Resveratrol?

Among antioxidants, resveratrol is one of the (if not the most) powerful found by our scientists and doctors. As a catalyst, resveratrol sends out a kind of "call to action" to one of the protectors of our immune systems: "Sirtuins." Sirtuins are durable genes that assist in stopping cellular decay, allowing other cells to rejuvenate themselves. An aging individual who ingests resveratrol regularly-in large enough doses of course-will therefore notice that he or she has more energy, reduced fatigue, and a healthier appearance, complete with softened wrinkles and lines.

Hence there are a multitude of benefits generated by ingesting resveratrol on a regular basis. Resveratrol has been found to both fight against, and protect the body from, cancer. It can also protect the body if it is exposed to certain types of radiation and, of course, assist in weight loss.

Still, this is only the tip of the iceberg! Studies concerning resveratrol are still in their infancy, and GlaxoSmithKline has already invested almost a billion dollars to further our knowledge of this seemingly miraculous antioxidant.

A Naturally Occurring Substance

Did you know about resveratrol before you began reading this article? Did you know that you may have already consumed some today? It's true! Used consistently for years and years in Asia as a remedy for a multitude of ailments, "ko-jo-kon," as resveratrol began to be called in 1962, is found in Japanese Knotwood. This Knotwood is so vivacious that it has not only crossed the Pacific, but is known in many parts of the United States as a weed that has the ability to kill and overrun other plants quite quickly. Its capacity to do this is directly correlated to the vast quantities of resveratrol that Knotwood has within itself. In fact, Knotwood contains large enough amounts of resveratrol to be grown for profit by companies that have begun manufacturing resveratrol supplements. Other people simply use it rather than rhubarb in numerous tasty recipes.

Peanuts-ordinary, everyday peanuts, available in bulk at your local grocery store-are another source of resveratrol. Indeed, though they appear to be high in fat, studies show that people who ingest peanuts on a regular basis actually have a lower body fat percentage than the average person.

Do you drink red wine? If so, then you are drinking resveratrol. Back in 1992 scientists discovered that grapevines contained copious amounts of resveratrol. Thus drinking red wine is a heart-healthy choice for many of us. Even so, it's important-given all the benefits that resveratrol has to offer us-to remember that a single dose of a resveratrol supplement contains the equivalent of almost one thousand bottles of red wine!

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Fresh Seafood Combo Meals are a Great Money Saver

By Shannon Linnen

When you don't live right on the coast, it can be difficult to find good fresh seafood. Most of what you'll find at your local grocery store is frozen and over priced, and what they have that's 'fresh' is old and so expensive, you couldn't buy it anyway. Do you with that you were able to make a fresh cod fillet, or fry up some delicious fresh bay scallops, but feel like you're never going to find them? Well think again. Looking online for a fresh seafood combo meal will help you to find just what you're looking for, at a great low price.

When you love fresh fish, you're likely to love all kinds of it. That's why a fresh seafood combo meal is such a great deal. You'll be able to either get two, three, four or five or your favorite types of seafood, or try something totally new. It's a great way to share your love of cooking seafood with friends and family, without breaking your budget. You'll also know that all of the seafood that you're getting is guaranteed fresh, which means you'll also know that it will have the best flavor and texture available.

Seafood in a restaurant is usually way too expensive, and often over cooked. Who wants to pay 40 dollars for a tuna steak that's over done? No one does, which is why it makes sense to make it for yourself. But finding a quality tuna steak far away from the coasts can be a daunting task. That's where a seafood combo meal comes in. You're able to get a fresh, flavorful tuna steak, and pair it with another luxury fish, like lobster tails, making it the perfect dinner party combo.

You can also try many new things when you're cooking at home. Have you ever thought about cooking fish on the grill? It may seem like a crazy idea, but with a tuna steak, you can throw it right on their, searing it just right so that it's still raw on the inside, but has the great grill flavor on the outside. For other types of fish, try wrapping them in a tin foil steaming packet with some fresh vegetables for a great low calorie meal.

If you love to cook for your kids, and want them to try lots of new types of fish, a fresh seafood combo meal is a great way to introduce them. You can try flaking off some pieces of each type of fish to make exciting fish sticks, much better than that processed stuff. Either lightly bread and pan fry, or bake for more of a healthy option. If your kids are more adventurous, try baked fish chunk skewers.

Fresh seafood combo meals are a great way to introduce your family to new types of fish. It's also a great way to add some great protein to your diet without breaking the bank!

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