Unique Vegetable Soup

 By Artem Lebedev 

Photo: 4.bp.blogspot.com
 
You are probably wondering about the perfect food that is quick and easy to prepare, has myriads of choices of ingredients, benefits you with better health, and is cost effective to make? Then, the answer to all your questions is vegetable soup.
Why is vegetable soup so important?
For starters, this soup is very easy to prepare. With just few easy steps, anyone can prepare it.
There are plenty of soups recipes available. You can try out different vegetables every time you prepare it.
Although for most recipes, the method of preparation remains the same, it may vary a little depending on the ingredients you choose.
You may not have adequate vegetables in your diet at the moment. For instance, most American diets have a lesser vegetable content. So, with vegetable soup, you can boost your vegetable intake to meet your five-a-day recommended portion.
Consuming this soup is advantageous to your health, as vegetables reduce the chances of heart disease, hypertension, Diabetes, it protects you against specific type of cancers, and, in general, it leads to an increase in the body's resistance against many diseases and aliments through improving the body's immune system.
If you are weight conscious, vegetable soup acts like a diet soup, which limits unwanted calories and fat build-up in your body unlike other foods. It can help you reduce and maintain the required weight.
If you are sick, vegetable soup acts like a healthy soup that improves your health by providing you with the necessary nutrients.
Here are some ingredients to prepare vegetable soup:
50 grams each of any two vegetables. They can be carrots, onions, potatoes, cauliflower, etc. They can be scraped and chopped depending on your choice.
200 grams of tomatoes.
20 grams of butter.
1 tablespoon of oats
2 teaspoons of ginger and garlic paste
50 milliliters of fresh skimmed milk
2 teaspoons of oil
1 tablespoon of flour (all purpose)
1 teaspoon of pepper powder
Salt as per your taste
1 - 2 green chilies
5 - 6 cups of water
5 - 6 neatly chopped Coriander leaves.
Method of preparation of vegetable soup:
You have to ignite or switch on your stove, and place a pan on it.
Put 5 - 10 grams of butter in the pan, and heat it. You have to let the butter span across the pan as it melts.
Put the ginger and garlic paste into the pan, and fry it for 2 - 3 minutes, stirring it so that it does not stick to the pan.
Put in the vegetables and tomatoes into the pan.
Put in 5 - 8 cups of water, and let it boil. Time is dependent on the flame intensity.
When you feel the vegetables are cooked, you can sprinkle some pepper powder upon it depending on your taste.
Now, you have to mix milk, flour, and oats in a jug, and then add the mixture to the pan.
Now, you can decrease the flame intensity to a simmer.
Fry oil with a mixture of the Coriander leaves and green chilies for about 1 - 2 minutes in another pan, and then transfer it to the vegetable soup pan. Take care to protect yourself from the oil if it spurts when you transfer it to the soup.
Simmer for 2 more minutes, and stir the contents well.
Now your vegetable soup is ready.

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Fish Salad - A Memorable Dish in Danang

 By Jayce Castillo 

Photo: chef-a-gogo.com
 
If your Vietnam Tour adventure brings you to Danang, then you're in the right place. Not only was it an educational and commercial center of Central Vietnam, it also lies within 100 kilometers of the best sites and places you can visit in this country. Several UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the ruins of My Son, Hoi An Old Town and the Imperial City of Hue are easily accessible from this natural transportation hub which you will visit one by one on your booked Vietnam Tours.
But perhaps, the most memorable experience you can have in this fabulous city is a taste of their exotic dish called "Goi Ca" or fish salad. You might have heard of this when you have booked your best Vietnam Tours package and you might even have a taste of it back in your accommodation. But if you have tasted a fish salad that features sliced tomatoes all mangled with lettuce leaves that are already flaccid; and served with a few slices of tuna and some small prawns all swimming in mayonnaise, then you haven't tasted the real thing! Fact is you have tasted the commercial offerings which you can safely call the "Westernized" version. If you want to taste the real Vietnam Goi Ca, then go to Man Thai Beach along Son Tra Peninsula in Danang.
Lined along the beach front where the fishing boats are moored, on the brick side walk itself are several vendors of real Danang style fish salad. These vendors only sell "Goi Ca" and it will taste a lot better than the one you can order at most restaurants lining the beach in Danang. The first reason is that it's the only thing they do. The second one is they only use the freshest ingredients available.
True to Vietnam's style of food preparation, local ingredients that Danang fish salad vendors use are fresh mint and herbs in abundant quantity, onions, carrot, galangal, green mango and squids; and fish newly caught by local fishermen. With this variety of natural ingredients, prepare your palate on a complex taste of Asian salad that is anything but bland. The color of the fresh ingredients is really enticing. No fancy food garnish is needed to make your mouth water with anticipation. Just imagine the arrangement of lush green mint leaves, yellow green of fresh sprouts, red of pepper and yellow galangal. Set it on the white of the squid and fresh fish meat and what you get is a festival of colors. The texture of the taste is incomparable, spicy pepper and galangal, sour green mango, salty sweet seafood and the bittersweet taste of fibre on the leaves makes for some real mouth-watering indulgence. Don't forget to wrap them in rice paper and dip in locally prepared sauce before you take a bite to have that mouth full of bursting flavors that no words can describe.
If you want to also feast your eyes as well as your taste buds, grab a couple of fish salad and head down south on the beach road towards My Khe Beach. As you continue your Vietnam Tours adventure this way, you will be amazed at the fantastic view of Son Tra Peninsula as you glaze at the Big Buddha situated on the opposite side. And as you savor the lingering taste of "Goi Ca" in your mouth, take a couple of pictures of you and your friends with the magnificent East Vietnam Sea in the backdrop.
Welcome to Danang, the city with the best culinary adventure of the entire Vietnam Tours vacation.

Jayce Castillo is totally charmed by the beauty of Indochina. He paid his very first visit with Vietnam tours before heading for Cambodia. You can find the destination in Vietnam package tours.

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Tips to Make Easy Citrus Chicken

By Dee Power  

Photo: trialx.org
 
Chicken is one of those entrees that can get boring quickly. How many chicken rice and mushroom casseroles can you eat anyway?
The advantages of chicken include it's relatively cheap, tastes good, and cooks quickly. Here's a recipe that is adaptable for any season. The tang of the citrus brings out the best in the chicken. The herbs add a fresh note and more flavor. If you don't like garlic, use scallions instead. Change the citrus and herbs and it's a brand new dish. Here are tips to make easy citrus chicken.
4 Chicken breasts, 8 thighs or 8 drumsticks
1 orange
2 lemons
2 limes
1 pink grapefruit
4 slices of citrus fruit
1/2 cup chopped herbs, sage, cilantro, parsley or tarragon
3 cloves chopped garlic
salt and pepper to taste
This dish includes all four citrus fruits. However, you could use only one fruit and herb, such as lemon and tarragon for a French dish, limes and cilantro for Southwest flavor -- add a 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes, or Orange and sage.
Zest the fruit, leaving the white pith. That's bitter and won't add any flavor. Squeeze the citrus fruit until you have at least 1 cup of juice. Add the zest, garlic and chopped herbs. Reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade.
Pull the skin away from the chicken but don't remove it. You want the marinade to bath the chicken meat. Add the marinade. Push some of the herbs, zest and garlic under the skin. Refrigerate for a minimum of four hours up to overnight.
Now you have your choice of cooking methods. Pull the skin back over the chicken meat. The skin keeps the meat moist. Brown in a skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil over high heat. Lower the heat and let simmer for 30 to 45 minutes until the chicken is cooked through, the juices run clear and the meat is no longer opaque. Or brown the chicken then transfer to a slow-cooker with the marinade. Add enough chicken broth to cover the meat. Cook for four to eight hours depending on your slow-cooker.
Or put the chicken straight from the fridge into a baking pan. Add the marinade. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
Serve with couscous or rice. Add the reserved marinade to the rice or couscous during the last five minutes of cooking. Actually with the couscous add the boiling water, stir then immediately add the marinade. Cover for five minutes then fluff with a fork.
Plate the chicken adding a slice of the citrus fruit on top as a garnish. This dish is good with peas, fresh string beans or asparagus.
Make a double batch. Use the leftovers for chicken salad adding 1/4 cup of the citrus juice you used for the marinade, 1/4 cup of mayonnaise, 1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 cup of chopped celery and one small can of mandarin oranges.
Now you know how to make easy citrus chicken.

Find more recipes such as pork and apples Dee is the author of several nonfiction books and the novel, Over Time. She likes to share her grilling secrets.

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Recipe: Baked Taco Salad Bowls

By Betsy McGuire  

Photo: whatscookingamerica.net
 
A few months ago, my daughter saw a TV ad for a kitchen tool that makes taco salad bowls out of tortillas. You've probably seen it. Essentially, it's a pan shaped like a taco bowl. You put in a tortilla, shape it to the pan, and bake it. Let me tell you, it was love at first sight for my daughter, and she's been asking for it ever since - I was not as impressed. The thought of another dish, small appliance, or contraption taking up space in my kitchen did not leave me wanting to pick up the phone to order.
Ironically, a few days later I stumbled upon an answer to end the begging. This is so clever and I just have to share. It's quite simple really. Just flip a muffin tin upside down and press the center of a tortilla into the crevasse in the middle of the pan. Gently put the rest of the tortilla around the muffin cups so it looks like a bowl. The tortilla will actually just sort of shape itself. Hit the tortilla with a spritz of olive oil from a mister or cooking spray and bake at 350º F for about 8 minutes or until crisp. Viola! Taco salad bowls using a pan you already have. They aren't deep fried like in a restaurant, but neither would they be if you bought the special pan from the TV commercial.
I baked a few of these up ahead of time then put out some lean taco-seasoned meat, black beans, lettuce, onion, tomato, reduced-fat cheese, and sour cream for "make your own taco salads". This is just a simple way to turn something as routine as taco night into something a bit more interesting.
My daughter's idea (and I believe the real reason she wanted this pan) was to sprinkle the tortillas with cinnamon before baking and fill them with dessert (pudding or ice cream, etc.). We haven't tried that one yet, but I can already see the possibilities.

Betsy McGuire invites you to visit http://www.chickpeawellness.com/ and sign up to receive her mind, body, and spirit blog the day entries are made. You can also "like" Chickpea Wellness on Facebook and receive new articles on your wall.
Copyright 2012 Chickpea Wellness, LLC

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Why Does Salmon Taste So Fishy?

 By Chris Cliff 

Photo: img.ehowcdn.com
 
The AHA (American Heart Association) recommend eating fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times (two servings) a week. Fatty fish include one of my favorites, salmon. But what do you do if you have been getting salmon and can't stand the fishy smell and taste?
This time around we will talk about what causes that fishy smell, and at least one thing that you can do about it.
Why do salmon or any other fish smell fishy in the first place?
As an angler that at least from time to time pulls salmon out of the water in the morning and has them for dinner that night, I can tell you that salmon should not have a fishy taste or smell. But, if you leave that nice fresh salmon in the fridge for a few days, it starts to smell 'fishy'.
The reason for this is a chemical called trimethylamine N-oxide that scientists believe act as an anti-freeze and to protect a fish's cellular proteins under the pressures they encounter in the deep. The problem starts after a fish dies.
After a fish has ceased to be, trimethylamine N-oxide starts breaking down into Trimethylamine. It is this chemical that causes the characteristic fishy smell you probably have experienced in a fish market before.
Prevention is key to avoiding stinky fish!
Now that you know that the fishy smell comes from a chemical that is too long to pronounce breaking down into one moderately more pronounceable, the key element in avoiding it is obvious.
Buy fresher fish!
Even the freshest fish at the store has had to undergo the process of being caught, processed, frozen, thawed and displayed at your local grocers. Under the best circumstances it has been at above freezing temps for only a few days, but that is still long enough for trimethylamine N-oxide to start breaking down and stinking up your otherwise beautiful fish.
Find the busy fish markets and avoid ones that look questionable. Don't be shy about asking to smell your salmon or other fish before you buy it. If it smells fishy now, then it won't be any better by the time you take it home.
Take care of your fish before you cook it!
You know how the meat counter is usually one of the first stops when you wander through a grocery store? How might that affect your fish? I suggest making the stop at the fish counter your last stop before you check out. You may even want to bring along a small cooler with a cold pack in it do keep your fish in on the ride home.
Too psycho for you? Considering that the fishy smell we are trying to avoid is the breakdown of chemicals, the colder we can keep our fish, the slower that process will be and the less fishy smell your salmon will have.
Lastly, try and buy fish the same day you are going to cook it. At most I would buy it the night before and keep it in the bottom of your fridge where it is coldest.
What can you do to eliminate that fishy smell?
If after all this, you can't avoid some of the dreaded fish smell, one thing you can do is drizzle it down with lemon juice. Lemon juice is acidic and actually converts the volatile chemicals in the amines to a much less volatile salt. The effect of this is to bind up the stinky chemicals into form you don't smell and taste as much.
I hope this article has been useful to you in realizing that salmon should not be fishy tasting or smelling. Good fresh salmon tastes sweet and quite honestly, like salmon. There is no other way to describe it. So shop more carefully, smell fish before you buy it and store it right to avoid 'stinky fish syndrome'.

Looking to find out more about salmon and other fish? Want to learn how to catch your own salmon and taste it as fresh and clean as you possibly can? If so, I invite you over to our fishing blog to share in our fishing adventures, read our product reviews, try out our fish recipes and have a few laughs at our expense.
Drop in today! The address is http://www.fishingwithcliff.com/ and the door is always open and the beer is usually cold!

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Top 7 Energy Boosting Foods

 By Stephan W McCabe 

Photo: images.idiva.com
 
A fast-faced lifestyle is very tiring and undeniably most people are into it. It is actually a must for every individual with a fast-faced lifestyle to stay awake when needed particularly in attending to their daily job. However, there will surely time that your body becomes tired and you may not be able to stay energized the whole day. It is really tough to fight those midday yawns and sleepy eyes each time you're at the brink of falling asleep while at work. Of course, the best way to get the body energize is to take a nap, however this is not possible if you are at work. Therefore, you must know the right food to consume in your meals everyday to boost your energy level. These foods should help you stay energize until you fulfill your daily routine at the office.
As the day starts, you must already know how to revitalize your body if you get tired. Therefore, eating your breakfast is a must not only because it is the most important meal of the day but also because the foods that are served in your daily breakfast are energy boosting foods. Below are the top 10 energy boosting foods you may include in your daily meal.

1. Whole grain products -This is perfect for your daily breakfast. It is a fiber rich food which makes digestion easier. It also contains anti-oxidant which is good for your skin. In addition, it helps in reducing the risks of having cancerous cells, diabetes and heart ailment.


2. Oatmeal -The American Dietetic Association testified that oatmeal is one of the best suppliers of soluble fiber and when combined with raisins or low-fat yogurt gives it gives an individual jam-packed energy throughout the day. Oatmeal is among the perfect breakfast menu for diabetic people.


3. Fresh Clean Banana- As everybody knows, this fruit is not just yummy but it is also rich in potassium which is ideal for pregnant women and for people having muscle contraction problems. A piece of a fresh sweet banana a day helps thwart stiffness from sitting long hours at the office.


4. Sweet Orange Juice- This is not just energy giving fruit but it is also rich in amino acid or commonly called vitamin C. Vitamin C is important to boost our immune system. Once the immune system is at its best your body will surely have sufficient energy to comply all your daily tasks.


5. Pasta dish- Pasta dishes are loaded with carbohydrates. Most athletes today eat a plate of any pasta dish before going to the game. But you must also make sure that the pasta dish is low in calories, fatty acids and sodium to make it a perfect energy boosting meal.


6. Fish and salmon- Fish are abundant with protein, omega3 and vitamin B which are ideal for your cardio-vascular wellness.


7. Beans- These are loaded with several nutrients and vitamins needed by the body to fulfill its daily tasks. Consume beans in a creative way to make your every meal flavorful. You can add it in soup and pasta dishes. According to the America's Department of Agriculture, a person must consume 3 cups of beans weekly to revitalize her or his body.

The energy boosting foods listed above are just an example of foods that provides energy. There are more lists you can find in the internet or by asking your dietician. Dieticians can surely provide you the best lists you are looking for.

Stephan is a newbie in internet and network marketing. He also does SEO and Social Media Management. He loves writing articles about health and reading articles relating to fast food for sustained energy. Click here and find more about healthy living tips.

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Guide to Making Pasta - Chennai

  by: RickJonathan

Photo: static.in.groupon-content.net/

Everybody loves some good pasta; no wonder we all experiment with it in terms of shapes, sizes, sauces and more. PastaTraditional pasta makers prefer to roll out their own shapes using handmade dough whereas for others like you and me, the readymade brands come in handy. These, including the sauces, spices, herbs and cheese required for making pasta, are available in stores like Nilgiris, Amma Naana, Nuts N Spices etc in Chennai. So if you are planning to try some at home, this recipe from Chef Elangovan Karthikeyan who has over 16 years of experience in Continental and Jamaican cuisine and now works at The Pasta Bar Veneto in Chennai, is for you.

Pasta Primavera

4 cups of mixed vegetables (you can use vegetables of your choice)

1 carrot, peeled and cut into strips

1 medium zucchini, sliced

1/2 small eggplant, sliced

1/2 red onion, sliced in two

1/2 bell pepper, any color, cut into thin strips

3 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning or Herbes de Provence

Sprinkling of garlic salt

1/4 cup of spaghetti, marinara or tomato sauce

1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 pound pasta (use rice pasta for wheat-free version)

grated parmesan (optional and usually used for seasoning)

Method

Heat oil in a large skillet on medium high heat. Add the vegetables, stir to coat with oil. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring only occasionally, until vegetables are just cooked. Turn off heat, but let the pan stay on the burner. Add 1/4 cup of the spaghetti, marinara, or tomato sauce to the vegetables, along with 1/4 cup of water to thin the sauce. If you are using readymade spaghetti or marinara sauce, you don't need to add much seasoning; just 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning or herbes de Provence, a few sprinkles of garlic salt, and salt and pepper to taste. If you are using a plain tomato sauce, you might want to start out by cooking a minced clove of garlic first, and then adding the vegetables with a bit more of the seasoning (to taste). Spaghetti and marinara sauce are already seasoned.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (for your pasta). Add the pasta. Once it is ready - cooked but still a bit firm, or al dente - drain the pasta and run cold water over it. Put it directly into the skillet with the vegetables. Adjust the seasoning. Add more sauce if needed. Gently mix in the cherry tomatoes.

This recipe serves four. Serve with some freshly grated Parmesan, if you like. A little bit of chopped fresh basil would go nicely with this as well. You can also toast bread with a bit of garlic paste with some Italian seasoning and serve.

Tips

• To flavor the pasta, you can also add coarsely chopped Leeks/ Celery, Carrot, Bay leaf, few pepper corns and few cloves of garlic in the boiling hot water when cooking.

• Use rock salt if possible, though ordinary salt will also do.

• Ensure that you follow the instructions with respect to timing on the packet of pasta. Each one can be different depending on how dry it is.

• The Pasta should be ‘Al Dente’ (cooked just right). A common test is to bite the pasta. If it is white from the inside, then it is not done.

• Watch the pasta while boiling and add some olive oil as it is being cooked to prevent it from sticking together.

• Wash it in cold water when you take it out if you plan to eat it later, as this will prevent it from getting pasty and sticky.

• Recommended herbs for pastas are Basil, Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, Bay leaf, Parsley, Lavender, Leeks and Celery.

• Keep a paste of roasted bell peppers, garlic and zucchini that you can add to the sauces. This is to add more taste and flavor to the existing sauces.

Bon appétit!

About The Author
Samyuktha Anbunathan is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Chennai City information. Please visit the website to get all possible information about Chennai Shopping & more.

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