Posts Tagged ‘Cooking’

Are Shirataki Noodles Good for Weight Loss?

January 3rd, 2010

Are Shirataki noodles good for weight loss or not?

You be the judge. Shirataki Noodles are made from the konjac plant. The konjac plant is a tuber , grown only in the Orient, and full of fiber. Also known as glucomannan, that is sold in the United States in health food stores as a weight loss supplement.  So you can take a pill or create a wonderful dish with Shirataki Noodles. Your choice.

The Shirataki noodle is sold packed in water and the shelf life is more than a year. There are many ways to use the noodles. The Japanese use them as a side dish, just plain.These thin, chewy  noodles are almost translucent and have a different texture than regular wheat flour noodles. I have found, that since the Shirataki noodles have no flavor of their own, you may add any spice, sauce or flavor you like. The more flavor you add, the better the taste. But the more ingredients you add to the Shrataki noodles, the more calories are added.

At  Shirataki noodle recipes we have 101 great recipes. Some are definitely Asian, but many are flavored with spices and sauces from around the rest of the world. We have recipes for mac and cheese, or casseroles, such as tuna or lasagna. There are vegetable soup recipes, chicken dishes, beef dishes, salads, pork dishes, seafood, turkey dishes and vegetarian dishes. I think anyone will be able to find something they like.

The Shirataki noodle, in and of itself, have NO fat, NO net carbs, NO calories, NO sugar, NO protein, and NO gluten and are rich in fiber!!    Shirataki Noodles are great for diabetics.  And they keep you very full -they are a great food to use as an appetitie suppressant.

So?   Are Shirataki noodles good for weight loss? I beleive they are, if you watch what ingredients you add to them. But, you can be the judge!

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Gluten Free Cooking

December 16th, 2009

Many people are allergic to gluten and some dietary restrictions may apply to people allergic to gluten. Gluten is a substance found in flour products and gluten free cooking is an absolute must to those allergic to gluten. Unless posed with such a situation, many of us take for granted the many different varieties of food available. For those allergic to cooking, it becomes difficult to enjoy the normal food varieties available.

Many restaurants and fast food joints are recognizing the need for gluten free cooking. Gluten free cooking is a challenge because it is tough to find new and tasty food every day with ingredients that do not contain gluten. With the growing need of gluten free foods, there are many resources available to help one with gluten free cooking. You will also find pre-packaged foods that can be bought off the shelf from grocery stores that are free of gluten. In addition, you can cook gluten free recipes, such as good gluten free bread very easily.

If you wish to stay gluten free, the best way to start is with natural foods. Most packaged and artificial foods have gluten as an ingredient. Gluten is in fact added while processing the natural food items into packaged food. The breads, pizzas and pastas need to have gluten because of the way they are processed. There are many natural foods like rice, potato flour, soy, rice bran and arrowroot that are gluten free.

Gluten free cooking does not necessarily mean tasteless cooking. You can make many delicious foodstuffs at home, which are gluten free. You can search the Internet for gluten free cooking recipes and try out many varieties at home. There also the normal packaged foods that is now available gluten free. You need to check the label before you buy to ensure that they do not contain any gluten. Get started at home with gluten free cooking and have healthy and hearty meals.

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Vegetable Steamers

November 22nd, 2009
steamer
Image by pulluptheroots via Flickr

Vegetables are one of those things that you can eat tons of while you are on a calorie controlled diet. In order to get the full value out of your vegetables you should use a vegetable steamer. Vegetables are packed with a lot of the essential nutrients that you need to keep yourself healthy. Vegetables are the ultimate nutritional food, although many of the macronutrients in each vegetable is going to depend on the type of vegetable, they are typically a high in fiber and low in fat and protein. By steaming your vegetables you will help to maintain as many of the vitamins, nutrients, and minerals in the vegetables as possible.   Steaming vegetables is also the best way to make super nutritious baby food.  A vegetable steamer will cook just about anything including potatoes, all different types of vegetables, chicken, and fish. There are many different types of vegetable steamers on the market, they come in many different shapes and sizes, many color schemes to suit your other kitchen appliances, and there are many different places where you can buy them.

Firstly, there is the microwave vegetables steamer. As the name suggests, this appliance will steam your vegetables while they are in the microwave. Because the heat in a microwave is different to that from your stove, this type of steamer is going to work very differently. Most vegetable steamers for the microwave are made of plastic with plastic lids, often resembling the shape of a cake pan. You steam your vegetables by placing a small amount of water in the bottom of the vegetable tray. The vegetables should not touch the water; it is the steam which is going to cook your vegetables. Depending on the type of microwave that you own, cooking times will vary.

You can also purchase an electric vegetable steamer. These are very simple to operate and most come with a removable bowl to place your vegetables in. In order to steam your vegetables in an electric vegetable steamer you must once again add a specified amount of water. As with the microwave vegetable steamer, the vegetables should not be sitting in the water itself. Most electric vegetable steamers will come with a timer which should be set as stated in the manufacturer’s manual.

Lastly, you can purchase a stainless steel vegetable steamer for steaming your vegetables on top of your stove. This is probably the simplest steamer available. Stainless steel vegetable steamers come with one, two, or three tiers, each for cooking a separate item. You place the water in the bottom part of the vegetable steamer and set it on your stove top. Keep an eye on the water level because it is very easy for the pot to run dry.

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Learn to Cook

November 12th, 2009
Cooking Knifes
Image by nickwheeleroz (on holiday) via Flickr

 

If you have never cooked before and you are trying to learn to cook then you will have a wonderful journey in front of you. Cooking is not just a way of feeding yourself, although this is the primary aim. It is an art form at best.  You can take a trip to your local supermarket and find so many different ready-made meals which will do the job perfectly well. Learning to cook properly is all about being adventurous, trying something new, getting a taste of fresh vegetables, organic meats, and fresh produce from different parts of the globe that you have never tasted before. It is an experience which will challenge your taste buds, it will challenge your stamina, and to learn how to cook will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your lifetime.

There are many ways for you to learn how to cook. If you start off small, with meals which are not too adventurous, it is perfectly possible for you to learn to cook at home with the help of a home study course, recipe books, or the help of a good friend. Firstly you should learn the basics of cookery. Learn how to measure ingredients properly. Then learn how to chop and slice, how to heat a frying pan, and some of the basic essentials such as heating up a dinner plate before serving.

For the more advanced and adventurous cook the challenge is to learn to cook like a chef. There are so many television shows these days about famous chefs and good cooking in general. Anyone who is really interested in cooking must want to emulate these great chefs, especially trying to cook some of the fabulous dishes that they have created. If you are trying to learn how to cook like a particular chef, the best thing that you can do is either find some of their recipes on the internet, or take a visit to your local book store and see if you can purchase one or two books that the particular chef has written.

Although cooking is all about feeding yourself, it’s also about having fun in the process. Not only should you be enjoying the fabulous food that you are cooking, you should also be enjoying the process of putting together a menu or a meal idea, gathering the ingredients, and cooking those ingredients into your finished dish. When you learn to cook you give yourself a gift which you can take anywhere.

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Easy Cooking Tips

November 11th, 2009
A cook sautees onions and peppers.

Image via Wikipedia

It’s so easy it is to head out to your local fast-food restaurant or your local delicatessen to buy something easy and convenient to eat. Or, you can head down to your local supermarket where you can buy a whole range of pre-cooked or ready for the oven/microwave food that always look delicious on the promotional photograph but might as well have been made out of the box. It’s not that difficult to learn how to cook yourself.  Here you will learn  some cooking tips to make it easier for you to get started.

Everybody knows somebody who can cook well. This is one of the first places where you can go for tips on cooking. Watching somebody else cook, especially somebody that you know and trust, is one of the easiest ways to learn. You will pick up some easy cooking tips by looking carefully at what they are doing and asking plenty of pertinent questions. Speak to them about their favorite recipes, about how hot a frying pan should be before starting cook, or ask them to show you the best way to chop up vegetables. Ask them anything that comes to your mind, the more questions that you ask at this stage the easier it will be later on when you are attempting your own cooking.

You should always start simple. One of the best tips for cooking is that there’s no point in trying to cook a three course meal for a dinner party full of guests on your first try. Start by trying out a simple breakfast for yourself, or maybe even go for the more adventurous evening meal for yourself and your partner. If you keep it within the family, any disasters can be quickly learned from, and all your triumphs can be celebrated properly.

Head down to your local book store and pick up a couple of simple cookbooks. Ask for assistance here if you are not sure. You are looking for helpful cooking tips which are not going to be too complicated. Another great place to look for cooking tips and tricks is on the Internet. There are so many websites devoted to cooking which have sprung up in the last few years. You can certainly find many websites offering cooking tips for the beginner. But, no matter what your skill level, is one of the best cooking tips is to enjoy yourself, relax and have fun.

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The Diversity of Asian Food

November 11th, 2009

Asian food is one of the most diverse types of cuisine that is available throughout the world. There are so many regional variations to Asian foods for you to choose from. It spans the whole variety of flavors from the mild to hot curry flavors, sweet and sour flavors, to some of the delicate flavors of the Philippines and Indonesia. The Asian food recipes that are cooked in many restaurants in the US, and indeed through the western world, are basically catering to western tastes and therefore may not taste exactly the same as they would in the indigenous countries.

Almost every major city in the western world has an Asian food store where you can buy the ingredients for your own home-cooked Asian food recipes. Although, nowadays you can find almost any ingredient you want with a quick search online. Online shopping is increasing year by year, and this is especially so when it comes to sought-after ingredients which are hard to find. Asian food supplies sometimes fall into this category, especially if you want to delve into realistic Asian cookery.

Japanese cuisine is some of the healthiest food in the world. To make authentic Japanese cuisine, you must source your ingredients very carefully. A lot of them are not going to be readily stocked in your local supermarket. But, if you are willing to go the extra mile to source your ingredients you will find that the end product will give you great satisfaction. Japanese foods tend to use a lot of rice or noodles as a base and they also are great believers in using fresh vegetables and raw fish. The Japanese have a culture of preparation which is very meticulous, the attention to detail in Japanese cooking makes it feel almost ritualistic, and it is as much about form as is any French cuisine.

Chinese cuisine is another form of food which we are all used to seeing in our towns and cities. Yet, it is again heavily modified towards the western palate. Also, there are many distinct regional variations throughout Chinese cookery, as there are throughout the Asian food market. Every region in China seems to use it own ingredients and its own cooking processes.   Like every other respectable cuisine in the world, the best Chinese cuisine only utilizes the ingredients which are available at the time and which are in season which makes it very healthy. This makes Chinese food, as well as Asian food in general, some of the most popular in the world.

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