The Exquisite Flavor of Mexican Vanilla
By Scott Davis
Not too many people know that vanilla hails from Mexico, well, save for vanilla aficionados and the bulk of gourmet chefs who prefer to use vanilla to enhance the taste of the scrumptious dishes they prefer. But in actuality, vanilla does hail from Mexico; moreover, Mexican vanilla is still very popular amongst consumers and aficionados alike.
For centuries now, even dating back to the time of the Aztecs, vanilla has been consistently used to flavor all sorts of dishes. Interestingly, and not too many people know this, vanilla actually remained quite the coveted secret amongst the native Mexicans. That is, up until the expeditions of Christopher Columbus and the rest of the Spanish explorers started arriving on Mexican soil. Throughout the history of Mexican vanilla, people have always believed that it was of superior variety because these beans do come with a relatively higher concentration of the substance known as vanillin. Vanillin is actually the natural compound that you find in vanilla, which is responsible for its aroma and flavor. Mexican vanilla is believed to contain more vanillin than any other vanilla bean in the whole world.
The seedpod known as the vanilla bean is actually the produce of the orchid known as the vanilla planifola. Indigenous to Mexican soil, these orchids are viney in nature and should be pollinated to promote the production of this special fruit. Melipone bees and a certain kind of hummingbird deal with the pollination portion of the production process. Since these animals live only in Mexico, then the flowers need to be hand pollinated in other portions of the world for fruition to be achieved. However, it would be so much better to have the beans naturally pollinated because this way, the produced flavor would be at its tastiest.
Traditionally, Mexican vanilla was used in xocoatl, a known Aztec drink. This drink is actually comprised of ground cocoa beans dipped in extremely hot water that is flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, and spicy peppers sometimes. Today’’s Mexican hot chocolate is served with the above mentioned spices, giving the beverage its trademark aroma and flavor. Mexican vanilla is also used in the usual baking of ice cream, custard, as well as other baked products.
In the global perspective, the production of Mexican valley constitutes just a small portion of vanilla production worldwide. Moreover, growing popularity of the vanilla orchid has led to its exportation to Madagascar and the Bourbon islands - and this has directly affected the market of Mexican vanilla, even leading to its incessant shrinking. Still, true Mexican vanilla imparts quite a deliciously rich vanilla flavor that is unique all on its own. This makes Mexican vanilla strong enough to contend in the global market, despite its shrinking capacities.
Make sure to purchase genuine Mexican vanilla and not those synthetic varieties. Some of these synthetic varieties actually come from coal tar as well as the Tonka bean, which is known to be toxic. Thus, you need to purchase Mexican vanilla extract with extra caution. Make sure to go for the real thing from reputable dealers, and not one of those synthetic varieties prepared just about anywhere.
About The Author
Mexican vanilla is believed to contain more vanillin than any other vanilla bean in the whole world. Give it a try! If you are looking vanilla powder or for other vanilla extract, visit Vanilla Importers (http://www.vanillaimporters.com).
How To Become An Exceptional Cook
By Obinna Heche
Actually, a good cook is not necessarily a good woman or a man with an even temper. A good cook is a peculiar gift from the gods. One of the toughest things when you are learning how to be a good cook is to decipher cooking terms and cooking techniques that may be unfamiliar. The art of a cook is to provide a wholesome and satisfying dish to suit any occasion. While it may seem a mundane talent, a good cook is every adventurers best friend. But it is really important to remember that cooking is serious stuff.
Remember to always ask permission from your mom or dad or any adult in charge before you begin cooking. Efficiency will save you lots of time in the kitchen and to accomplish this, learn to do more than one thing at a time. Increased preparation time before cooking is another way to become a faster cook. Read your recipe before starting, this will save you many headaches like getting a dish ready and finding out you need bat wings and you do not have any.
For sure, i do not stock bat wings in my kitchen either but you get the idea. Do get everything you will need together, follow the order they are used in the recipe, this allows you to be sure that you have everything you will need. Once you are sure you have everything, measure out the ingredients according to the recipe. Organize all of your ingredients on one side of the work area as you use something, move it to the other side lessens confusion as to whether you used it or not.
Use the cutting board for all of your non meat items first, this avoids cross contamination. If you have to prepare the meat first, wash the cutting board thoroughly before using it for any other food items. Keeping a sink of hot soapy water will help clean up later on. Just drop used utensils in the water and allow them to soak. Sometimes it is better to use your hands to mix something than it is to use a utensil. It also saves time washing up later.
I do love making mud pies when i was a child, the only difference is the mud is now hamburger and the crushed leaves are now herbs. Salads are always mixed more evenly if they are tossed with your hands. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly, inexpensive plastic gloves will help if you do not like playing in the mud. Coat measuring cups, spoons and molds with non stick spray before putting anything sticky in them. To prevent having to clean a burned sticky mess from your boiler pan, line the pan with foil and spray the rack with non stick spray.
It is a fact that it takes more than ingredients and technique to cook a good meal. A good cook puts something of himself into the preparation. He cooks with enjoyment, anticipation, spontaneity and he is willing to experiment. A good cook is like a sorceress who dispenses happiness. The qualities of an exceptional cook are akin to those of a successful tight rope walker. An abiding passion for the task, courage to go out on a limb and an impeccable sense of balance.
Resealable plastic is great for marinating and coating foods with flour or cornmeal. When you become a good cook, you become a good craftsman. However, planning in advance can save you a lot of time in the kitchen opening up your evenings to spend more time with your family and even friends.
About The Author
Obinna Heche. Los Angeles - California
He is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more info on cooking by visiting..
Restaurant Guides: How to Find a New Favorite Restaurant
By Billy Kite
Looking to try something new and exciting the next time you eat out at a restaurant? Instead of going to the same old places, look to a local restaurant guide to find the best dining options in your area. It is a great way to find a new favorite place to dine in your area.
People fall into habits when it comes to mealtime. If you and your family keep frequenting the same tired pizza parlor or Chinese takeout, spice up your lives with a little variety.
Go online and find some new before you go out to eat next time. Your wife will be delighted and your kids will jump for joy.
Not only can you look at the numerous types of food that are available in your area, you can also often make reservations or place your order online. Other users discuss their experiences at the restaurants you are considering.
They will often recommend what dishes on the menu are a hit. More importantly, they also state which ones are less than stellar so you don”t waste your hard-earned money on them.
Just as important as the food, restaurant guides will also tell you about the service. Avoid angry waitresses and long waits when you”re hungry.
Skip out and find a place that is better suited to your needs before you even leave your house. Gone are the days of driving from place to place, making your husband jump out of the car to find out if there’’s a wait. Simply go online, give them a call and make your plans ahead of time.
A local guide is handy because it collects all the information about your area in one convenient website. Instead of having to look for individual menus that are scattered all over the web, a guide collects everything neatly into one place. This makes it easier to choose your destination when you”re hungry and time is of the essence.
Not only can you read the reviews of other people on an online restaurant guide, you are also welcome to participate. Once you”ve tried a new place to eat, share your experience with others.
Write your own review and let the world know what you thought of the new steakhouse in town. Better yet, tell everyone about your favorite business. If you get them some new customers, they might just slip you a free dessert the next time you stop in.
Are you a big fan of a particular type of food? Perhaps there is a Mexican addict or a pizza junkie in your family? Some guides will go so far as to notify you whenever a new dining establishment that serves your favorite food opens up in your area.
If you ever find yourself unsure of where you want to go for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack, just browse the menus online until something tickles your fancy. Instead of being pressured to make your meal decision while fussing with the baby or talking to your husband, you can make your decision before you even leave the house. Then, you”ll be free to enjoy a nice conversation with friends or family without the pressure of picking your meal.
Take the stress out of dining and spice up your life with a new dining destination. Do some research online and try a new place to eat. Variety makes life interesting, so try a new option the next time you enjoy a meal away from home.
About The Author
Billy Kite is a researcher writing on behalf of I Must Eat. Offering the consumer an extensive restaurant menu guide for best dining in Chicago Restaurants , Houston restaurants and beyond.
Cooking with Whole Wheat Kernels
By Scott Davis
Wheat kernels are the simplest form of whole wheat. Each plant produces one seed or kernel (also called a wheat berry) that can be used in cooking, or eaten alone. Many folks don”t know where to go about finding wheat kernels because heading to the store for a loaf of whole grain bread seems easier.
Truth be told, wheat kernels can be found in food-coops, health food stores, and in the bulk isle of chain supermarkets. You may have seen wheat kernels in a salad bar, and overlooked them for more tasty accessories to your lettuce like bacon bits. If you buy raw wheat kernels they must be soaked for eight hours, and cooked for one before becoming edible.
Wheat berries can be used in so many ways! Fancy a blue berry pie? Or how about a hearty winter grain soup with one of the main ingredients being cups full of raw wheat berries? If you have a recipe that has white flour as one of the main ingredients, you can easily substitute that with a whole wheat substitute; one thing to keep in mind however, is that whole wheat can be a bit more dense, so take it slow when measuring out your whole wheat and if you realize you”ve used too much whole wheat, milk is a savior! When you”re dealing with whole kernels, using a slow cooker can be a huge help; you can cook your kernels on low/warm all night, and have them ready to eat in the morning.
If you need a healthy filler for chilies, and baked goods, ready to use wheat kernel is an excellent substitute. Wheat berries can also be added to salads, like wheat berry Waldorf salad, to give them extra crunch. Wheat is one of the oldest grains to boot, and yet it’’s still used today!
When storing wheat berries you should always try to keep them stored in a cool, dry place. Wheat can go bad very quickly if it is stored somewhere warm. Additionally, when storing your wheat kernels it is best if they are kept in an air-tight container. This prevents any foreign contaminants or pests from getting into your wheat. A metal container or a food storage bucket both work great, and if you are keen on purchasing in bulk you could also consider freezing the kernels you don”t plan on using long term. Wheat berries can last a long time, and storing them properly will ensure that the wheat keeps its full nutritional value.
About The Author
Whole wheat is something everyone needs more of in their diet and nutritious whole wheat pancakes or whole wheat muffins can be a great way to start the day. When made from organic wheat berries they can be both healthy and delicious.
Is Green Tea Really a Miracle Drink?
By Shawn Wilson
Tofu, yogurt, olive oil, apple cider vinegar… it seems like there are always a few “miracle products” out there that a thousand experts claim will transform your life and your health. The biggest of them all? Green tea. It seems like you can”t visit a health-related website or read a magazine without seeing a mention of the how this ancient drink can improve your health.
But is green tea all it’’s cracked up to be? Or is this drink more about hype than helpfulness?
Green Tea and Your Health
The short answer to this is… yes, it looks like green tea does what the experts say. And maybe more. The medical community only began to confirm the beneficial effects of green tea about ten years ago. And as more studies are made into the effects of this tea, more health benefits have been uncovered.
The active ingredient in green tea, called EGCG, works to help prevent or reduce the effects of a huge range of different disorders and diseases, including:
Alzheimer’’s: The EGCG in green tea decreases the production of a protein that contributes to the clogging of the brain see in Alzheimer’’s patients. Drinking over two cups of green tea a day can reduce by half your chances of developing dementia.
Cancer: The statistics show that cancer rates are lower in countries where a lot of green tea is drunk. Why? Because the EGCG in green tea helps to prevent the growth of cancer cells and restrain carcinogens from activating. In particular, green tea helps to prevent bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, and breast cancer.
High cholesterol: Green tea helps to lower cholesterol levels because it inhibits cholesterol’’s absorption into the body. Green tea is also effective at helping the body to rid itself more quickly of the cholesterol that’’s already in the blood stream. To see the cholesterol-reducing effects of green tea, you”ll need to drink five or more cups a day.
Liver disease: Green tea helps to protect the liver from damage due to substances like alcohol and other toxins. It also helps to reduce the amount of fat in the liver by up to 55%.
Green Tea and Weight Loss
While the health benefits of drinking green tea are attractive, the weight loss benefits may even be more so. Green tea assists with weight loss in a variety of ways. First, it speeds up the body’’s metabolism, allowing you to burn more calories more quickly. It also helps keep the body from storing the calories that you do eat as fat, and it naturally reduces your appetite.
The best way to lose weight with green tea? Replace as many of your daily liquids with green tea as possible. In order to see much weight loss from drinking green tea, it’’s key to drink at least 4-5 cups a day. And since plain green tea has no fat or calories, you know that you are always drinking something healthy for your body that won”t get in the way of your diet.
Green tea really is all that the experts say– and the limits if its health benefits haven”t even been reached. While you do have to drink plenty of it in order to see its benefits, it’’s worth it to drink as much green tea as possible. You never know what you might improve… or even prevent.
About The Author
This article was written by Shawn Wilson, a member of the customer support team at Datepad, where internet dating is always free. Datepad has a massive directory of informative dating articles along with a great list of dating site reviews on their dating blog.
Pelham House in Lewes Opens New Restaurant
By john mce
Pelham House is a beautiful 16th century building, with 30 stylishly contemporary bedrooms, located in the heart of the lovely old market town of Lewes in East Sussex. Pelham House brings a fresh modern interpretation to the old fashioned concept of hospitality at a fair price.
Food and drink are served in two of the most historic rooms of the House, the Panelled Room and the adjoining Garden Room. Both are elegantly and comfortably furnished, and diners can enjoy beautiful views over the gardens and the South Downs.
The restaurant offers a varied and changing menu of simple but delicious food sourced from the best local suppliers and cooked by two chefs with ambition and flair, in a setting devoid of pretension and affectation. Starters include Seared Scallop with Black Pudding, and a Terrine of local Game with spiced winter Berries and stone-ground Sourdough. Main courses feature a memorable Pan fried Rib-eye Steak, and Fillet of Bream in a Leek, Potato and Baffron broth. Not to be missed is the signature dessert, Butterscotch Parkin pudding with a Prune and Armagnac compote.
Peter Winn started his career cooking in hotels before setting out to sample food around the world. He came back to England and worked his way up in the 2 Rosette vegetarian restaurant Terre a Terre in Brighton, where he became Head Chef. Simon Raynor trained at Gidleigh Park, the 2 Michelin starred hotel restaurant in Devon. After that he cooked in Georgio Locateli at Zaffarano, the Michelin starred restaurant in London, before also moving on to Terre a Terre in Brighton. The two chefs have been friends for over ten years.
The restaurant is open to the public every day from 12 pm for lunches and from 6.30 pm for dinner.
If you”d like to make your visit a longer break, you can stay in out hotel. Pelham House offers 31 Romantic Boutique Hotel style bedrooms, each of which has been individually designed for maximum comfort whilst preserving many original historic features of the building.
All the bedrooms are fitted with contemporary handmade oak furniture, remote controlled TVs, phones and high speed data points and have en-suite baths or luxury showers, a range of natural toiletries and comfortable beds with crisp white linen. Most overlook our pretty south facing garden, with views beyond to the South Downs.
Our team of experienced hotel and event professionals will aim to ensure that your stay is a memorable and relaxing (or romantic) experience.
For additional information about the Pelham House Restaurant, or for a copy of this press release please contact:
Pelham House St Andrews Lane, BN7 1UW
01273.488600
About The Author
John Mce writes for Pelham House Pelham House is a magnificently restored 16th Century town house based in the heart of the beautiful Sussex countryside
