Vegetarian Restaurants In Manhattan Kansas

Sometimes you have to look for vegetarian options.

Manhattan, Kansas, home to Kansas State University, has been dubbed "The Little Apple" because of its lively entertainment and varied restaurants and clubs. Surrounded by the Flint Hills, Manhattan, Kansas, has become a destination in itself for families young and old with lots of activity and almost 150 restaurants to choose from, including a couple of vegetarian options. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Vegetarian-only Options

The only restaurant in Manhattan that offers strictly vegetarian fare is the People's Grocery and Deli. The deli offers limited seating.

People's Grocery and Deli

523 S. 17th St.

Manhattan, KS 66502

785-539-4811

www.peoplesgrocery.biz

They offer the freshest of ingredients in their dishes, including tofu, tabouli, soups and salads. Many items are available gluten-free.

To Please the Whole Family

Salads are a popular choice.

The biggest concentration of eateries is at the Student Union at Kansas State University. The Food Court offers many vegetarian choices, including Subway and Quizno sub shops and the Garden Emporium, which offers a large salad buffet. There also are choices for nonvegetarians.

Contact information for the Student Union at Kansas State: union.k-state.edu/eat/

Have it Your Way

Vegetarians can usually find menu options that will satisfy their hunger and their desire to adhere to a vegetarian diet. Many restaurants will prepare meals specifically for vegetarians that aren't on the menu by substituting or omitting ingredients. Many times a deli is a great option because you can order exactly what you want, and Manhattan has several to choose from.

Panera Bread

315 Southwind Place

Manhattan, KS 66503

785-539-7500

panerabread.com

Rock-A-Belly Bar & Deli (several vegetarian offerings on menu)

718 N. Manhattan Ave.

Manhattan, KS 66502

785-539-8033

rockabellydeli.com/

The Pita Pit

1131 Moro St.

Manhattan, KS 66502

785-537-3995

McAlister's Deli

427 Tuttle Creek Blvd.

Manhattan, KS 66502

785-539-0610

Tags: Manhattan 66502, Kansas State, Manhattan Kansas, choose from, Grocery Deli, Kansas State University, People Grocery

Italian Restaurants On Rush Street In Chicago

Italian cuisine is ubiquitous on Rush Street.

Running northbound through the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast, Rush Street has been the center of Chicago nightlife for decades. It's packed with countless bars, clubs and restaurants that span less than a mile of city blocks. If you want Italian, Rush Street gives you numerous dining options. Some of the restaurants are not directly on Rush but easily within walking distance of the bustling boulevard.

Rosebud on Rush

Considered to be the "coziest" of the Rosebud chain of restaurants in Chicago, Rosebud on Rush serves Italian dishes in a renovated brownstone just a block from Michigan Avenue. Appetizers include traditional Italian sausage and peppers, bruschetta and fried calamari. On the greener side, try Rosebud on Rush's caprese salad and Italian Cobb salad (with crispy pancetta, provolone and genoa salami). Along with numerous pasta plates, the restaurant serves larger entrees such as "Costoletta Di Vitella" (double-cut veal chop) and "Filetto Portobello" (pan-roasted filet served in rich marsala wine sauce with portobello mushrooms). The restaurant also mixes a killer martini before you kick off your meal.

Rosebud on Rush

720 North Rush Street

Chicago, IL 60611

312-266-6444

rosebudrestaurants.com/rest3.php

Ristorante Quartino

Two blocks South of Rush Street on State, Ristorante Quartino serves "authentic" Italian pizza, several varieties of pastas (garganelli, linguini, and orecchiette) and lighter fare such as polenta fries and garlic bread to complement its wine bar. The restaurant also cooks up risotto dishes with aged acquerello rice from Piedmont. If you want something to snack on between rounds at the wine bar, Quartino also serves a foundue with cubed calabrese bread and apples, crudit s, or bresaola. For parties of two or more, consider the "Salumeria Tasting" platter that includes a selection of two salumi, two cheeses, three spuntini and an assortment of olives.

Ristorante Quartino

626 N. State Street

Chicago, IL 60654

312-698-5000

quartinochicago.com

L'Appetito

Just one-and-a-half blocks off Rush Street at the John Hancock Center, L'Appetito began as one of the first authentic Italian downtown delis in Chicago and has expanded into a full-service cafe. Along with a daily-changing menu of homemade pizzas and pastas, L'Appetito specializes in tostinos, grilled sandwiches such as the "Napoletano" (pancetta and mozzarella), the "Luino" (swiss cheese, genoa salami, and red peppers), and the "Milano" (smoked mozzarella and roasted eggplant). The caf also serves a large assortment of Italian cookies, pastries and gelato.

L'Appetito

John Hancock Center

875 North Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL 60611

312-337-0691

lappetito.com

Tags: Rush Street, Rosebud Rush, Ristorante Quartino, Street Chicago, Along with, also serves

Frugal Living Tips For A Travel Trailer

Live economically in your travel trailer.

It's the dream of many people: sell everything, buy a travel trailer and hit the open road. The trailer lifestyle may offer scenic vistas and great variety but this scaled-down existence holds its own set of restrictions. Your lack of basic living space means that you have to get by on the bare minimum sometimes, and everything you purchase must be in small quantities. Get creative and you can save money on just about every aspect of living in a travel trailer.

Laundry

Washing your clothes in a laundromat may be the convenient thing to do while living in a travel trailer, but it can add up to hundreds of dollars every year. Invest in a portable washing machine made for camping and dry your clothes the old-fashioned way on a clothesline. With the price of washing a load of clothes running 2 or 3 dollars, you will pay for the washer in just a few months. Many of the camping washers don't need electricity and can be stored in a very small space.

Reading Material

Save on space, weight and cost in your reading material by investing in an eBook reader. Basic readers can hold hundreds of books in a space the size of one paperback or smaller. Though less expensive than the printed version, for an even better bargain, become a member of a public library that is a member of the Overdrive Resource Center. Many public libraries are members, and offer current bestsellers and old favorites in eBook form for loan. Check out the book by downloading it and it will expire when it is due back to the library. Once you have the library membership, you can download books from anywhere in the country.

Seasonal Parking

Living a travel trailer life means that you have the ability and desire to move your living space on regular occasions. Research where the peak tourist seasons are at each time of the year and avoid those spots for cheaper prices. While you may not want to stay in northern Michigan in January, the weather in April is usually tolerable while the prices are still off-season. The same goes for other parts of the country, depending on their climate and tourist attractions.

Storage

Even though you are living within a smaller living space, you can still take advantage of bargains afforded with buying bulk products. Invest in some good-quality freezer bags. Buy large containers of laundry soap powder, snacks, crackers and other staples. Package each item into many smaller bags. It's often much easier to find room to store smaller bags here and there in your trailer than it is to store one large box or bag. Keep spare bags in overhead compartments or other out-of-the-way spots.

Tags: travel trailer, living space, living travel, living travel trailer, means that

Grow Chia

Grow Chia

Chia is an edible plant that most people know because the seeds are sold with the Chia Pets family of products. However, chia seeds can be purchased and grown in almost any location. The seeds grow quickly and resemble sprouts when fully mature. Chia comes from the Salvia hispanica plant and is native to Mexico. According to the Sprout People website, Chia seeds are mucilaginous, which means they produce a thick, gel-like mucus when wet. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Turn a plastic food storage container over and use the tip of a knife to create five to six small holes on the bottom to allow for water drainage. Turn the bowl over and set it on a plate or a shallow tray to catch water as it drains out.

2. Fold three to four paper towels in half or quarters so that they fit inside the container.

3. Apply 1/2 to 1 cup of water to the paper towels until they are completely saturated.

4. Sprinkle the chia seeds over the surface of the wet paper towel as evenly as possible. Try to allow 1/4 inch between seeds so that they do not touch each other.

5. Cover the container with a piece of clear plastic wrap to retain moisture, which will help promote chia seed germination.

6. Place the container in an indoor location that has a temperature of approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit and low light conditions.

7. Observe the seeds daily until you start to see green growth emerge from the seeds. You will not need to add water during this period, since the plastic wrap prevents it from evaporating.

8. Move the container near a window once you see the sprouts emerge. Remove the plastic wrap from the top of the container and start to water the paper towel once per day with 1/2 cup of water to keep it moist at all times.

Tags: plastic wrap, chia seeds, Grow Chia, paper towel, paper towels

Cook A Turkey Burger In A George Forman Grill

Nothing tastes better than a grilled burger in the summer. Now you can achieve a similar taste year-round, but have less fat, by using ground turkey instead of ground beef, and a George Foreman grill inside your kitchen. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Cook a Turkey Burger in a George Foreman Grill

1. Preheat your George Foreman grill by plugging it in.

2. Remove the ground turkey from the package and put it in a bowl.

3. Add your favorite seasonings to the ground meat.

4. Mold the ground meat mixture into patties, about 1/3 to 1/2 cup per patty.

5. Set one or two patties on the bottom part of the grill and close the lid to cook both sides at once.

6. Fully cook the meat. It will be a light brown on both sides and no longer pink in the middle.

7. Remove from the grill to a hamburger bun. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

8. Unplug the grill. Clean your George Foreman grill by using a wet paper towel to wipe off the grease.

Tags: George Foreman, George Foreman grill, both sides, Burger George, Cook Turkey, Cook Turkey Burger, Foreman grill

Instructions For Make Lyefree Soap

Homemade lye-free soap is easy and fun to make.Microwave-safe mixing bowl Soap base Plastic wrap Microwave Fragrance oil Spoon Soap mold Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle

Lye is a chemical ingredient often used in homemade soap making. Lye is a tricky ingredient to use, however, as it can cause skin irritation or even skin burns if handled incorrectly during the soap making process. If you are new to making soap or would just prefer to avoid using lye in your soap, there are plenty of ways to make soap without lye. Simple ingredients and a simple melt-and-pour soap making method is a completely lye-free way to create homemade soaps for you and your loved ones.

Instructions

1. Break the soap base up into small pieces (this can be done by hand) and place them into the mixing bowl.

2. Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap.

3. Place the mixing bowl into the microwave and heat the soap base on high for one minute.

4. Remove the bowl from the microwave and remove/discard the plastic wrap.

5. Add 15 to 20 drops of fragrance oil to the mixing bowl.

6. Stir the fragrance oil into the soap base to thoroughly combine the ingredients as well as to aid in melting any unmelted bits of soap base.

7. Carefully pour the soap mixture into a soap mold.

8. Spray any exposed soap in the mold with rubbing alcohol to prevent air bubbles from forming.

9. Allow the soap to harden in the mold for two hours up to one day.

10. Remove the soap from the mold and store in an airtight container when not in use.

Tags: mixing bowl, soap making, into soap, soap base, soap base, soap mold

Cook Fresh Collards And Other Greens Southern Style

Collard greens are easily replaced by kale or cabbage for similar recipes.

Collard greens come from the cabbage family and have a flavor and texture similar to both cabbage and kale. You can find them in the grocery store year-round, but they are freshest from January to April, according to What's Cooking America. This classic southern side dish is a combination of greens, ham hocks and spices. If collards are not available at the grocery store, cabbage or kale is a suitable substitute. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Thoroughly wash the greens under cool water to remove any dirt and grime. Drain them in a salad spinner or colander. On a cutting board, remove the thick stem that runs up the center of each leaf by cutting alongside it with a knife. Discard the stems. Collards that have a bendable stem are young, however; and you can eat their stems.

2. Cut the collards with a knife into 1-inch-thick pieces.

3. Fill a large stockpot with 3 quarts of water and place the pot on the stove top. Bring the water to a boil and add the ham hocks. You can get ham hocks from the grocery store meat counter or from a local butcher. Add the seasonings and reduce the heat to medium. Cook the mixture for one hour.

4. Add the collards and butter to the pot. Cook the mixture for 45 to 60 minutes until the collards become wilted and dark green in color. Drain the collards in a colander and place them on a platter for serving. Adjust the seasonings as desired. Top with red-pepper flakes for extra spice.

Tags: grocery store, cabbage kale, Collard greens, Cook mixture, with knife

The Use Of Chicken Manure

Chickens produce a lot of manure.

Chicken produce about a square foot of manure every six months. If you're a chicken owner, you might wonder what to do with it all. Chicken manure can be used as a garden fertilizer and as an animal feed. Chicken manure is high in nutrients for both plants and cattle. Does this Spark an idea?

Benefits

Chicken manure has long been used by gardeners and farmers as a nutrient for soil. Once composted, it can provide plants with plenty of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, as well provide organic matter that increases the soil's ability to hold water.

As cattle feed, chicken manure is used in the form of DPW: Dried Poultry Waste. Chicken manure provides minerals, protein and fiber in cattle feed.

Recyling Waste

Reusing chicken manure allows chicken owners to use the waste from their flock in a environmentally friendly way. The manure is recycled, using what might normally be considered odious waste into something that provides nutrients for produce and meat.

Manure in Gardens

Chicken manure cannot be used directly on a garden as it will "burn" and possibly kill the plants. However, if it is composted and allowed to break down, it will become excellent fertilizer. You will need to mix one part wood shavings or chicken litter with two parts manure. Sometimes a 1:1 ratio is fine because chicken manure is high in nitrogen.

Composting Manure

To compost manure, you need to mix the litter and manure and wet it down to the consistency of a wrung-out sponge. The compost mix needs to be stirred and allowed to heat from the chemical reactions at 130 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit for three days. Use a thermometer made for composting to check the temperature, and add more chicken manure and water if you're not getting a high enough temperature.

After three days, you'll need to stir up the compost, bringing the outside portions into the center and letting them cook. You'll need to do this for a total of three times.

Then, you'll need to let the compost sit for 45 to 60 days or until it looks like dirt instead of droppings and wood chips. You can then use the compost in the garden safely.

Cattle Feed

In cattle feed, poultry waste must meet fairly stringent guidelines, according to the Association of Animal Feed Control Officials (AAFCO): it must include no harmful organisms, drug residues, pesticide residues or parasites. DPW must have at least 18.0 percent crude protein and no more than 15 percent water content. It must also not have more than 15 percent crude fiber, 30 percent ash and 1 percent feathers. Other forms of DPW include Dried Poultry Waste-NPN Extracted (urea extracted) and Dried Poultry Litter (DPL) which includes the litter or wood chips with the waste.

Tags: Chicken manure, Dried Poultry, cattle feed, chicken manure, chicken manure, manure high

Cook Turkey All Night

Slow-roasting keeps the bird juicy and tender.

Slow-roasting your Thanksgiving turkey will bring more than smiles to the faces of your dinner guests. It also will bring rave reviews for many years. Roasting a turkey at a low temperature overnight will lead to a moist, tender and juicy bird that will impress even the pickiest of family members. To roast your turkey overnight, follow a proven recipe featured in the popular 1960s cookbook "Let's Cook it Right" by Adelle Davis. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Rinse the turkey in cold water and pat it dry using paper towels. Use disposable paper towels to eliminate the chance that you will cross-contaminate anything in your kitchen by setting a dirty towel down anywhere.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and begin prepping the bird about 24 hours before your dinner. If you want to stuff your turkey, place the stuffing into the turkey's cavity. Melt butter in the microwave and brush or rub it all over the surface of the turkey. Butter helps the turkey retain its juices so that it will remain moist during cooking.

3. Place the turkey breast-down (upside-down) in a roasting pan, and place the pan into the oven. Cook one hour at 350 degrees F. Cooking the turkey upside-down eliminates the need for basting, kills any bacteria that might still be living on the surface of the bird and prevents foodborne illness.

4. Reduce the oven temperature to 185 degrees F. Roast the turkey at this temperature overnight.

5. Check the temperature of the turkey on Thanksgiving morning. Temperature in the breast should be 185 degrees, and the stuffing 165 degrees. If you have achieved these temperatures, continue without change until about 30 minutes before dinner. At that time, remove the turkey from the oven, carve and serve. If the turkey has not yet reached 185 degrees, dial up the heat in the oven to 225 degrees F to expedite cooking. Cook until the turkey's temperature reads 185 in the breast meat. If it reaches 185 degrees before you're ready to serve it, dial the oven back down to 185 degrees. The turkey can stay in the 185-degree oven for as long as needed.

6. Carve the turkey by turning it back over onto its backside. Remove the skin to reduce the amount of fat you consume while eating the bird.

Tags: that will, oven degrees, paper towels, temperature overnight, turkey temperature, will bring

Side Effects Of Holy Basil

Holy basil is an herb commonly used in alternative medicine. Not to be confused with the sweet basil that is used in cooking, holy basil is also known as Tulsi and is considered a holy herb in India. The numerous health benefits of holy basil make it popular as an alternative medicine. While the extract or supplement may not be commonly found in grocery stores, it can be found in most health food or vitamin stores within the U.S.

Identification

The holy basil, or Tulsi, plant is part of the mint family. The herb is grown in at least three different varieties and has leaves that vary between bright green to dark green and purple. The scent and taste of each variety is different, ranging from peppermint to licorice to lemon scents and flavors. Holy basil's Latin name is ocimum sanctum. There are more than 60 varieties in the genus of ocimum. This herb can be eaten fresh, dried, made into tea or used as a supplement.

Availability

The holy basil plant grows wild in India, Malaysia, South and Central America, South Asia and even Puerto Rico. It is not as widely used or known in the U.S. as it is in Eastern countries. It is sold as a concentrated extract in capsule form within the U.S. Alternative health stores, health food stores, vitamin shops and some pharmacies may carry this supplement. Fresh holy basil may be available in Asian markets.

Benefits

Holy basil is high in antioxidants and boosts immunity as a result. Holy basil can also be used to hydrate the skin, treat some dry skin conditions and has anti-aging qualities as well. Anti inflammatory and expectorant qualities of this plant are also useful in treating respiratory infections, colds and coughs. Treatments for stress and emotional imbalances have are also popular in alternative medicine. There are numerous other uses for holy basil including treatments for diabetes, cancer and high cholesterol.

Side Effects

There are few side effects of holy basil. The plant has been used for thousands of years with no safety concerns. It does have a slight blood thinning effect which should be taken into consideration if other medications are being taken. It also has a tendency to lower blood sugar. This could be a concern for those who have hypoglycemia, low blood sugar. There are also some studies that are showing a decrease in fertility in animals that are taking holy basil extracts. It is suggested that holy basil not be taken by women trying to conceive, pregnant women or breastfeeding women.

Considerations

When taking any herbal supplement, it is always best to speak with a professional regarding any drug interactions or side effects that may occur. Speaking to both a medical professional and an herbal or alternative health specialist will give you the best information and allow you to make an informed decision regarding your health care. It is also a good idea to become familiar with the manufacturer of any herbal supplement as the purity of the product is very important.

Tags: holy basil, alternative medicine, holy basil, basil also, basil plant, blood sugar, health food

Bake Skinless Chicken Breasts

Serve baked chicken breast with a side of healthy vegetables.

Skinless chicken breasts are low in fat and do not take long to cook. The boneless chicken needs to be cooked to well-done to prevent a food-borne illness. While you can cook the chicken breasts using a variety of methods, baking them in the oven allows you to cook them indoors without the addition of considerable extra fat or grease. The chicken does not have to taste bland; you can season it with wet or dry ingredients to customize the poultry to your tastes. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Brush olive or vegetable oil over the chicken breasts. Season the chicken with pepper or salt if you desire.

3. Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Bake the chicken breasts for 15 to 25 minutes.

4. Remove the chicken from the oven when the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, the juices run clear and the meat does not appear pink. Test the chicken breast's temperature with a meat thermometer.

5. Allow the chicken to cool for 5 minutes. Serve the skinless chicken breasts immediately.

Tags: chicken breasts, chicken breast, degrees Fahrenheit

What Are Buckwheat Groats & Kasha

Buckwheat groats are just one of several kinds of groats, or grains that have the inedible outer hull removed. Besides buckwheat, there are oat, wheat and barley groats. Kasha is the buckwheat groat after it has been toasted in oil, turning brown and developing a nutty flavor. Does this Spark an idea?

Buckwheat Groats

Buckwheat groats are the remains of a buckwheat kernel after the outer hull has been removed. They are sometimes sold as whole groats or cracked groats and have a light bitter taste that can be removed by toasting the groats in oil.

Groats --- Uses

Groats can be used whenever whole grains are called for in a recipe. They can be used to make porridge and are also used to thicken soups and gravies. When ground into flour, buckwheat groats become buckwheat flour and are used to make buckwheat pancakes.

Kasha

In Russia, the word kasha refers to many different types of porridge that are made out of grain. Over time, the meaning of the word has narrowed and now refers to buckwheat groats that have already been toasted in oil, which removes the bitter flavor of the raw groat. It can be purchased as a fine, medium or coarse grain or as a whole grain.

Kasha -- Uses

Kasha appears in many Russian recipes. One of the most popular is Kasha Varnishkas, a combination of cooked kasha and bowtie pasta. Simmered with milk, it is used for breakfast. Cooked kasha is also used as a filling for knishes, where dough is wrapped around the filling and baked. Sauteed onions and mushrooms can be added to the kasha for a tasty side dish.

Tags: also used, been toasted, buckwheat groats, Buckwheat Groats, Buckwheat groats, outer hull

Cooking With Peanut Oil Vs Vegetable Oil

As with many choices in cooking, the right oil depends on the application and the diners.

Using the right cooking oil can make or break a recipe. There are several things to keep in mind as you decide whether to use peanut oil or vegetable oil in your recipe. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Components

While peanut oil is extracted exclusively from peanuts, vegetable oil is extracted from a variety of different nut and vegetable sources. Neither peanut oil nor vegetable oil has a particularly distinct taste when eaten alone, though some people say peanut oil has a slight peanut taste.

Considerations

One of the main considerations in deciding which oil to use is how hot you plan to make the oil. Both cooking oils will emit foul odors, turn dark and be essentially unusable after they reach certain temperatures called "smoke points." Because peanut oil has a higher smoke point than vegetable oil, it is generally used for deep-frying and other cooking-needs involving higher temperatures.

Allergies

Be careful when using peanut oil in any recipe because those with peanut allergies can have allergic reactions to foods prepared with peanut oil. For people with peanut allergies, vegetable oil is a more appropriate choice.

Tags: peanut allergies, with peanut, with peanut allergies

Preserve Food With Food Savers

Leftover pizza could be saved with a FoodSaver.

Leftover foods often go bad before they have a chance to be eaten. This might be because the leftover food was not stored properly. If too much oxygen gets in the bag or container in which the leftover food is stored, it will decompose much quicker. FoodSaver is an appliance that users can utilize to preserve leftover foods so that they do not go bad. Oxygen is vacuumed out of the bags, and the bags are sealed shut until you are ready to open them. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Feed the bag material through the FoodSaver machine and cut it 3 inches larger than the leftovers you plan on sliding in the bag. The machine will automatically seal that end, leaving only one open end in which you'll place the food.

2. Slide the leftover food in the bag you just created. Push the food toward the bottom of the bag.

3. Set the open end of your bag in the FoodSaver machine over the sealing strip, and carefully close the lid without pressing down on it.

4. Turn the FoodSaver setting to "Vacuum and Seal", then press down on the lid with both hands. Do not let go until you hear the motor start. This could take three to five seconds.

5. Release your hands from the lid and wait until the indicator light by the motor turns off.

Tags: leftover food, food stored, FoodSaver machine, leftover food stored

Fight Depression By Eating Healthy Foods

Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life-but when emptiness and despair take hold and won't go away-it may be depression. More than just the temporary "blues," the lows of depression make it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did. Hobbies and friends don't interest you like they used to; you're exhausted all the time and just getting through the day can be overwhelming. When you're depressed-things may feel hopeless-but with help and support you can get better.

A simple lack of nutrients is one of the most frequent, but least recognized causes of depression. The most common deficiency in people with depression is a lack of one of the B vitamins, which are powerful regulators of mood. Nutrient deficiencies in calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium may also contribute to depressive symptoms. Correcting deficiencies, when present, often relieves depression.

In this article I will outline a basic list of foods for helping to fight depression-that are nutrient rich-and sure to keep you feeling your best. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Include brown rice in your diet. It contains Vitamins B1 and B3 and folic acid. Brown rice is also a low-glycemic food, which means it releases glucose into the bloodstream gradually, preventing sugar lows and mood swings. Brown rice also provides many of the trace minerals we need to function properly, as well as being a high-fiber food that can keep the digestive system healthy and lower cholesterol. Instant varieties of rice do not offer these benefits. Any time you see "instant" on a food label, avoid it.

2. Be sure to get your Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Research has shown that depressed people often lack a fatty acid known as EPA. Participants in a 2002 study featured in the Archives of General Psychiatry took just a gram of fish oil each day and noticed a 50-percent decrease in symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disorders, unexplained feelings of sadness, suicidal thoughts and decreased sex drive. Omega-3 fatty acids can also lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. Get Omega-3s through walnuts, flaxseed and oily fish like salmon or tuna.

3. Eat whole-grain oats, which contain folic acid, pantothenic acid and Vitamins B6 and B1. Oats help lower cholesterol, are soothing to the digestive tract and help avoid the blood sugar crash-and-burn that can lead to crabbiness and mood swings. Other whole grains such as kamut, spelt and quinoa are also excellent choices for delivering brain-boosting nutrients and avoiding the pitfalls of refined grains such as white flour.

4. Include cabbage, which contains Vitamin C and folic acid. Cabbage protects against stress, infection and heart disease, as well as many types of cancers, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. There are numerous ways to get cabbage into your diet: toss it in a salad instead of lettuce, use cabbage in place of lettuce wraps, stir fry it in your favorite Asian dish, make some classic cabbage soup or juice it. To avoid gas after eating cabbage, add a few fennel, caraway or cumin seeds before cooking. Cabbage is also a good source of blood-sugar-stabilizing fiber, and the raw juice of cabbage is a known cure for stomach ulcers.

Tags: folic acid, lower cholesterol, Brown rice, Brown rice also, grains such

Garnish Thailand Food

The foods of Thailand are flavorful; many of the dishes can be quite eye-catching. Richly colored vegetables and fruits, fresh seafood and other meats make Thai entrées, soups and appetizers robust and photogenic. To garnish, use the same ingredients that you use to prepare the dishes. You might have to shop around to find some of these exotic food items. But once you do, creating a Thai garnish can be as simple as adding a flower to a plate. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Chopping and Slicing

1. Rinse all of your fruits and vegetables.

2. Slice the white onion and green papaya into thin pieces.

3. Use the flat edge of a cleaver or chef's knife on a cluster of peanuts to break them into small pieces. Do this on a heavy cutting board for safety. If some peanuts are left whole, that is okay.

4. Chop a few green onions and chili peppers to create small, round hollow pieces. Leave some of the red chilis whole. Keep a few green onions whole, but clean them up by trimming off half of the green tops the roots of the bulb. Peel off any tattered layers.

5. Cut the stems off of the cilantro and Thai basil. Trim the stems of mint but don't cut them off completely. Carefully rinse your edible flowers and cut the stems if necessary.

6. Place all of your ingredients in separate dishes or spaced apart on a large platter.

Garnishing

7. Sprinkle the crushed peanuts on top of your chicken-satay dish before laying down your skewers. Lay a leaf of romaine lettuce at the far end of the dish and place your cup or bowl of peanut sauce on top of it.

8. Dress up your soups. Add a few slices of white onion and leaves of Thai basil on top of your lemongrass soup for a striking two-color contrast. Sprinkle coriander leaves and red chilis on top of coconut milk soup.

9. Place your green papaya slices, which you use for papaya salad, on top of the bed of greens. Then sprinkle chopped green onions on top.

10. Add Thai basil leaves or an edible flower on a plate of spring rolls. Set them along side a small dish of spicy lime dressing. Place whole chilis on the side or on top of dishes that contain curry.

11. Set one or two mint leaves in glasses of Thai iced tea.

12. Place the whole of the coconut, pineapple and lemons on your table in between all of your dishes.

Tags: green onions, Thai basil, flower plate, green papaya, Place whole, white onion

What Are The Advantages/Disadvantages Of Using Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oil has advantages and disadvantages.

The word "synthetic" often leaves a bad taste in people's mouths, especially when so many products are marketed as "natural." Some synthetic products exist in everyday items used on our bodies, in our food, and in our automobiles. Different types of synthetic oil exist and are used for specific products in various industries.

Perfume

Many cheaper perfumes use synthetic fragrance oils.

Synthetic oil use in perfumes occurs when fragrance oil is used to scent a perfume instead of 100 percent essential oil extracted from a flower, fruit, or plant. Fragrance oil is a mixture of synthetic or artificial chemicals (esters) that mimic a scent, according to Teachsoap.com. Dickenson College states a group of chemicals called esters is often used to mimic the scents of flowers and fruits in perfumes.

In the past, many consumers reported having allergic reactions to essential oils in perfumes. The benefit of synthetic fragrance oil is the ability to mimic the aroma of an essential oil without the allergic reaction. However, synthetic fragrance oil can come with its own side effects such as headaches and dizziness, if a person is allergic to the chemical components the of the oil.

Automotive Parts

Synthetic oil is considered a better lubricant by the EPA.

Synthetic oil is used in the automotive industry to lubricate mechanical components such as engine parts and transmissions, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The main advantage the EPA lists for the use of synthetic oil is that it is a low-viscosity (thin, or less thick) lubricant. Synthetic oil lubricants can slip between mechanical parts with greater ease, minimizing friction when mechanical parts rub or grind against each other during operation.

The EPA also states synthetic lubricants such as synthetic motor oil can eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by five metric tons a year. The main disadvantage of synthetic oil lubricants is its higher cost compared to conventional mineral oil lubricants. Synthetic lubricants cost 50 percent more than conventional lubricants.

Hair Care

Styling products often contain synthetic silicone oil.

Synthetic oil such as silicone oil is found in hair care products. Silicone oil is a broad name used for the different types of silicone in existence, such as dimethicone and dimethanol. Silicone oil is a main ingredient in many smoothing and anti-frizz hair care products. The advantage of silicone oil is its ability to coat the hair shaft and smooth the hair cuticle to tame or eliminate hair frizz. For some, this can be a disadvantage, because silicone oil, like many oils, attracts dust and dirt to the hair, causing buildup over time. This also creates the need to use a clarifying shampoo to remove the silicone oil completely from the hair. Silicone oil used on fine or thin hair can weigh it down, causing it to look limp.

Tags: synthetic fragrance, care products, hair care, hair care products, lubricant Synthetic, mechanical parts, Synthetic lubricants

Chicken Food Safety

Chicken Food Safety

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths attributed to food-borne illnesses in the United States each year. Bacteria that can cause illness, such as Salmonella, can be found on raw or undercooked chicken. Proper storage and handling of raw chicken is imperative to prevent illness.

Purchasing

Chicken should be the last item you pick up in the store before heading to the checkout aisle. Immediately place the chicken in a plastic bag before putting it in your shopping cart, to prevent any liquid from leaking and causing cross-contamination with other groceries. Head directly home to store the chicken.

Storage

Refrigerated chicken should be stored in the refrigerator at a maximum of 40 degrees Fahrenheit and should be used within 1 to 2 days. Chicken frozen at 0 degrees Fahrenheit will be safe indefinitely. Defrost frozen chicken in the refrigerator, microwave oven or immersed in cold water that is changed regularly.

Handling

Wash your hands with soap and water after touching any raw chicken or the packaging that the chicken came in. Immediately wash all plates, knives and cutting boards used when preparing the chicken before using them with any other food.

Stuffing

Chicken should only be stuffed immediately before cooking. Do not purchase pre-stuffed chicken at the grocery store.

Cooking

The internal temperature of chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit to be considered safe to consume. Never eat or store partially cooked chicken.

Tags: degrees Fahrenheit, Chicken Food, Chicken Food Safety, chicken should, Food Safety, with other

Cook A Wild Turkey

Wild turkey is likely to be tougher than farm-raised birds. Wild turkeys also have less breast on them because they have not been pumped with hormones or kept consistently fed with a fattening diet. Wild turkey also has a somewhat gamier taste. Wild turkey does present some differences when cooking and eating that shouldn't be ignored. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Clean your bird. If the turkey is not skinned, skin it, cut off its head and feet, and clean out the intestinal cavity. Or follow Step 2.

2. As an alternative, boil a very large pot of water. The pot should have enough room so that when the turkey is added, the water doesn't overflow. It's best to do this outside. Dip the turkey in the boiling water, which allows the feathers to be easily plucked out, and then cut off the head and feet at the joint. Clean out the intestinal cavity after this method, also.

3. Consider meat tenderness. Because the breast is smaller, it may get tougher quicker when cooking. Avoid this by slicing off the outer layer of muscle on the turkey breast.

4. Bake the wild turkey just like a regular turkey, but pay extra attention to basting to keep it from drying out. You can also place the turkey inside a special ovenproof plastic bag; however, some people have complained that these bags cook wild turkey too fast. Set the oven to 350 degrees, and cook the turkey about 15 minutes for each pound. The turkey is done when the temperature in the thickest part of the thigh is 165 degrees, as measured by a meat thermometer.

5. Deep-fry your wild turkey as an alternative. This keeps the turkey moist, but you must be very careful, and this should be done outside because it can be very dangerous. When deep-frying, make sure the fryer doesn't have so much oil that it spills out when the turkey is added.

Tags: Wild turkey, head feet, intestinal cavity, turkey added, when cooking, when turkey, when turkey added

Brine A Chicken

Instructions

1. Determine how much water you'll need. The rule of thumb is 1 quart for each pound the chicken weighs. Add an extra cup or pint for any overage. It's a good idea to test your container to make sure it will hold both your chicken and the right amount of water before you get under way.

2. Assemble your other ingredients. Measure out 1/2 cup of kosher salt and 1/2 cup of sugar for each pound the chicken weighs.

Measure out 1/2 tsp. peppercorns per pound. If you are going to add one of the optional whole spices, use the same amount of spice as peppercorns.

Quarter the lemon.

If you are using garlic cloves, peel them. Don't use more than two or three unless you are a garlic addict.

3. Pour the appropriate quantity of water into your brining container. If you are going to use a sealable bag, use a large mixing bowl for this step.

Dip out approximately 2 cups of water with the measuring up and microwave it for two minutes. If you don't have a microwave, heat this amount of water on the stove until it simmers. It doesn't need to boil.

4. Stir the kosher salt and sugar into the hot water until they dissolve. Add the peppercorns and any whole spice you are using.

Then empty the cup back into the brining container and stir together. Add the quartered lemon. If you are using garlic and/or fresh herbs, add them now.

Test the liquid with your finger. It should be cool to the touch. If it is still slightly warm, let it cool for 10 or 15 minutes, or put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

5. Take the chicken out of its packaging and remove the giblets. Then rinse the chicken under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.

Ease the chicken into the brining liquid. Ideally, it should be submerged. If a small portion is not covered with brine, plan to turn it at regular intervals.

6. Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator. Allow to sit for at least one hour per pound and no more than 12 hours.

7. Remove the chicken, rinse it in cold water again and pat dry with paper towels. It is now ready for stuffing, if you plan to stuff it, and if not, ready for roasting according to your preferred method.

If you aren't ready to cook the chicken just yet, let it air-dry, uncovered, in the refrigerator for up to 8 hours or overnight. This will produce a crispier skin.

Tags: amount water, brining container, chicken weighs, cold water, each pound, each pound chicken, into brining

Order Vegetarian At A Mexican Restaurant

Veggie Fajitas

A Mexican restaurant may seem like the last place to order vegetarian--ah, but todo lo contrario (quite the contrary). There are many ways to go veg at a Mexican restaurant--and even vegan if you are willing to get creative. Here are some ways to do it. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Start with chips and salsa. Shouldn't be a problem there. You can also order guacamole or queso (cheese sauce) for dipping, however, make sure the queso is not made with chili con carne (meat). If you're vegan, of course, skip the cheese.

2. Choose an appetizer. Black bean and cheese nachos and cheese or vegetable quesadillas are good choices. Also, more and more restaurants are starting to serve lard-free refried beans. If you're vegan, cheese-less black bean or fat-free refried bean and guacamole nachos are a tasty pick.

3. Decide on your entree. Veggie fajitas, bean burritos, veggie burritos, tacos or tostadas are all normally good choices (and vegan-friendly if you leave off the cheese and sour cream). If you're not vegan, add cheese or spinach enchiladas and cheese chili relleno to the list. Most sauces, including the basic red, verde (green) and ranchero are meatless. Mole sauce is often made with chicken broth, but not always.

4. Pick out a dessert. If you're not vegan, it's just a matter of eenie, meenie, minie, moe. But if you are, go for some delicious sopaipillas (sans honey if you're a strict vegan). Sopaipillas are usually made with vegan-friendly ingredients, including vegetable shortening.

5. Wash it all down with a refreshing meat-free Margarita or glass of Sangria.

Tags: made with, good choices

Types Of Wild Rice

Wild rice is known for its black hull and nutty taste.

The rice that is usually consumed in America was first cultivated in Eastern Asia from plants that grew wild in that region. This plant is scientifically placed in the Oryza genus. In the Great Lakes region, another type of wild rice is harvested and sold commercially. This plant is technically considered a grass with the botanical description of Zizania. In the Zizania genus, there are four recognized species, including Zizania palustris or American wild rice.

Zizania Palustris

The black wild rice that is sold in grocery stores originates from the aquatic grass called Zizania palustris. Although much of the harvest takes place in the lakes region of the upper Midwest and lower central Canada, some growers in California and elsewhere have been successful in cultivating the plant on commercial farms. This plant is not closely related to other types of rice, which were first cultivated in Southeast Asia thousands of years ago. Those common cereals are part of a small group of plants scientifically known as Oryza and are different from the wild rices of North America and Manchuria.

Manchurian Wild Rice

Manchuria wild rice or Zizania latifolia is a perennial that grows wild in parts of Japan, China and of course Manchuria. The plant is a profuse grower in the wild, often forming large patches in cold clear water. Although the seeds of the wild plant may be ground into minute pieces and used to make a type of biscuit flour, the most popular edible use of the plant occurs when the stem base is infected with a fungal smut. These swollen greens are prized as a nutty addition to sauteed vegetables. After being parboiled, they are added to a fry pan full of fresh vegetables, where they add a tasty flavor, reportedly similar to coconut. Only cultivated plants are harvested in this manner, for all the wild specimens of Zizania latifolia show a strong resistance to the fungal infection.

Eastern Wild Rice

Zizania aquatica is an annual plant that grows east of its western cousin Z. palustris, which is also an annual. Sometimes these two plants are put together as one species, while other taxonomists separate the two types of wild grass. The western variety is more prized as a food source because of a more substantial seedhead and shell that protects the grain.

Texas Wild Rice

In Texas there is a similar species of perennial wild rice known as Texas wild rice or Zizania texana. At present this aquatic plant is considered endangered, for it grows only along two miles of the San Marcos River in the central part of the state. Typically this Texan rice grows in cold spring-fed waters and produces a nutty grain that varies from one-quarter of an inch to one inch in length. Current threats to these remaining patches of wild rice include water pollution and the nutria, an invasive rodent of the Texas Hill Country.

Tags: wild rice, This plant, Wild Rice, wild rice Zizania, first cultivated

Get Rid Of Roaches In Your House

You can make your home quite unwelcoming for cockroaches.

It has been written that in case of nuclear destruction of our planet, roaches would be one of the few species to survive. Despite their level of toughness, it is possible to control roaches by following prudent tactics. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Rid your home of brown paper bags and cardboard boxes. The roaches lay their eggs in these items, and the babies eat the glue that holds them together. Roaches often come into your home in bags and boxes, and they continue to serve as a breeding ground.

2. Clean countertops of crumbs, dirty dishes and cups.

3. Mix boric acid with equal amounts of sugar, flour or cornmeal.

4. Place the mixture in jar lids and put the lids in cabinets or areas where roaches have been spotted. Look to distribute the lids in the kitchen, bathroom and basement. Place lids under the refrigerator, under sinks, along baseboards, behind the stove -- anywhere roaches like to travel and hide. The roaches walk through this mixture and take it back to their nest where it dries them out and they die.

Tags: your home

Steam Hardboiled Eggs

Steaming eggs is another way to cook them in their shells.

Hard-boiled eggs are a healthy source of protein. Once cooked, they are versatile and can be eaten as is, sliced into salads or made into deviled eggs. Hard-boiling eggs is a simple process, requiring only a cooking pot, eggs and some water. An alternate method of preparing hard-boiled eggs is to cook them using steam. Since heat and steam build up inside the egg while it hard-boils, the same process can be duplicated with a steamer, resulting in a hard-boiled egg without all the water. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. A steaming rack or colander holds the eggs above the water.

Pour several inches of water into the bottom of a cooking pot. Set the steaming rack inside the pot. If the water goes above the bottom of the steaming rack, pour some out.

2. Set the eggs in the steaming rack and place the lid on the pot to prevent the steam from escaping.

3. Bring the water to a boil and allow the eggs to steam for 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, but keep the eggs in the pot with the lid securely on. Allow the eggs to remain in the pot for another 20 minutes.

4. Tongs protect you from burning your fingers.

Lift the lid carefully from the pot to make sure you're not burned by steam. Carefully remove the eggs, one by one, with tongs. Set the eggs on a kitchen towel and allow them to cool.

Tags: steaming rack, cook them, eggs with

Turkey Breast Cooking Time Crockpot

Turkey breasts turn out moist and tender in a slow cooker.

Crock-Pots, or slow cookers, can be used to cook anything from soups to casseroles. A turkey breast cooked in a slow cooker will turn out moist and juicy. Turkey breasts can be purchased either bone-in or boneless, depending on your budget and most run between 4 to 8 lbs. To help lock in moisture, cook the breast with the skin on; it can be removed after cooking if desired. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Cooking A Thawed Turkey Breast

Slice a whole onion into 1-inch rings. Separate the rings and lay them in a layer on the bottom of the crock pot. Season the turkey breast with the seasoning of your choice and place the breast, skin side up, on the onion rings. Add in 2 cups of white wine or chicken broth and place the lid on the cooker. Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or prepare this in the morning and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours. Before removing from the Crock-Pot, check the internal temperature of the turkey breast with a meat thermometer and make sure it is at least 165 degrees.

Cooking a Frozen Turkey Breast

Place the frozen turkey breast into the slow cooker. Add seasonings, but no water or broth. Onion soup mix and a can of cranberries give the breast a festive taste. Cover the pot and cook on low for 6 to 9 hours. Be sure to test the temperature and insure that it reads at least 165 degrees before stopping the cooking process.

Other Ideas

Pour barbecue sauce over the turkey breast before starting the slow cooker. After 6 to 9 hours on low, the turkey breast can be served as pulled turkey for barbecue sandwiches. Rub olive oil or butter over the skin section of the breast and it will brown in the cooker, just like a traditional roasted turkey. If desired, you can surround the turkey breast with stuffing to make a holiday meal. To make clean up a breeze, purchase Crock-Pot liners at your local grocery store. Once the breast is cooked, gather the top of the liner together and toss it away.

Turkey Safety

Do not leave the turkey breast in the crock pot on "keep warm" for more than an hour and make sure you refrigerate leftovers within an hour after eating. Refrigerated cooked turkey will keep for three to four days; a frozen bird will keep up to six months.

Tags: breast with, slow cooker, turkey breast, turkey breast with, breast cooked

Choose An Area Rug Size

Whether you have hard wood floors or wall-to-wall carpeting, an area rug can add interest to a room. Area rugs come in different shapes and sizes. Area rugs can add a splash of color to a dull looking room. An area rug's design can provide corresponding interest or texture to a room. Whatever the rug's purpose, the correct size is imperative. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Decide how and where you want to use an area rug. You may want to use an area rug as a wall decoration or as a floor covering.

2. Determine the shape of area rug you plan to use. Common shapes of area rugs are square, rectangle, oval and circle. The shape of the rug affects the size of the area of the rug.

3. Measure the area or space in the room or the wall where you plan to use the area rug.

4. Decide how many extra inches or feet to add to your floor measurement to accommodate furniture. You want to anchor the area rug with furniture, such as end tables or chairs. Never free float an area rug. Area rugs will create unity in a room by tying the furniture together.

5. Record the measurements. You will want to retain the measurements. Write the measurements on a note pad or paper. Area rugs come in standard sizes.

6. Select the size rug that best corresponds to your space measurement.

Tags: Area rugs, Area rugs come, rugs come, want area

Home Food Business Ideas

Choose food you enjoy, can make easily and profit from.

Everyone needs to eat, so selling food is a good way to make money. One convenient way to capitalize on this is with a business selling food out of your home. The first step is choosing what kind of cuisine to build your business around. Decide what would be the easiest for you to make and the most profitable to sell.

Sugar Shoppe

Offer tasty baked treats such as cinnamon rolls.

One possibility is tempting the sweet tooth. Sell homemade candy such as fudge, marzipan, peanut brittle and candied apples; or tasty baked treats such as dessert breads, cinnamon rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, tarts, scones and layer cakes.

When holidays are coming up, sell sugar cookies decorated accordingly: with ghosts and goblins for Halloween, turkeys and pies for Thanksgiving, reindeer and ornaments for Christmas, flags and exploding firecrackers for the Fourth of July, and hearts and "I Love You" for Valentine's Day.

Sell your foodstuffs individually, take large orders for holidays and parties, and make gift baskets for birthdays.

Square Meals

Provide dinners for busy parents.

Hungry families always enjoy a healthy, home-cooked meal at the end of the day. But busy parents don't always have time to make them. Therefore, a business selling dinners can turn a good profit, allowing mom or dad to quickly drop by and pick up dinner on the way home.

To keep it simple, offer only two or three menu choices, or however many you feel you can handle without complications. For variety, switch your menus every month. For example, in January: Roast Chicken, Herbed Rice, Peas and Carrots, Chocolate Chip Cookies; or, Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Garden Salad, Strawberry Shortcake; or, Beef Fajitas, Rice and Beans, and Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits.

Regional Fare

Southern foods: pork chops, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Another idea for selling home-cooked meals is to base your menus on a certain style of cuisine. This works well if there are several delicious recipes passed down in your Italian or Vietnamese or Cuban family for generations, or if you just want to specialize in Japanese or Mexican or French food.

For example, your southern foods-based business could sell dinners such as Barbecued Chicken, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw and Sweet Potato Pie; or Oven-Fried Pork Chops, Macaroni and Cheese, Green Beans and Banana Pudding; or Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Collard Greens and Peach Cobbler.

Tags: baked treats, baked treats such, business selling, busy parents, cinnamon rolls

What Kind Of Machines Are Used To Make Jelly Beans

The production of a jelly bean can take up to 10 days to complete.

The jelly bean is a candy manufactured from sugar, corn syrup, food starch and confectioners glaze to produce a crisp outer shell and a soft center. The manufacturing process for jelly beans is based loosely on the manual production process used to produce a candy known as confetti or Jordan almonds. Add this to my Recipe Box.

History

The roots of jelly bean production stretch back to the production of a candy known as Turkish delight, according to Candy Favorites. The Turkish delight was first produced in Istanbul, Turkey and consisted of a hard outer shell covering a soft center to the candy. The production process for jelly beans is based on the panning technique developed in 17th Century France for the confetti candy, where raw almonds were covered with a sugar and syrup outer shell. This process was developed using a pan filled with sugar and syrup, into which the almonds were placed and agitated until covered with the sugar syrup mixture, the confetti was then left to dry and harden. This process was altered for use with jelly beans with the first known advertisement for jelly beans created by William Schraff during the U.S. Civil War, according to Candy Favorites.

Slurry

A slurry is created by master confectioners with flavorings used to create the jelly bean. This slurry is passed through a machine called a mogul that pushes the correct amount of the slurry into jelly bean molds. Each mold contains about1,260 jelly bean molds that are filled with corn starch before being filled with the flavored slurry center of the jelly bean. A conveyor belt is used to shake the excess corn starch off each jelly bean after it has been coated before being coated in sugar to prevent the centers of the jelly beans from sticking together through the rest of the production process.

Drums

The production process continues with the jelly bean centers being placed in specially designed spinning drums, into which flavored syrups and colorings are added, this process is completed up to four times and takes approximately two hours. Following the addition of flavorings and colorings into the drums granulated sugar is added to the spinning drums to speed up the drying process for each jelly bean.

Stamping

Each jelly bean manufacturer places their own logo or name on individual jelly beans during the production process. This process is completed by a stamping machine that places the logo of the manufacturer on about 20,000 jelly beans over a five-minute period.

Tags: jelly bean, jelly beans, production process, with sugar syrup, filled with

Make Olive Oil Dressing

This article will show you make two quick and easy olive oil based salad dressings. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Make Two Olive Oil Based Dressings

1. Pick the Olive Oil. When using olive oil to saute and fry, regular is fine, but when the oil is the star of the show, always use Extra Virgin. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from the first pressing of the olives and is the most flavorful type of olive oil. You can find Extra Virgin Olive Oil from all over the world, but the best ones come from Italy (especially Umbria, Tuscany and Sicily), Spain and Greece. There are some up and coming artisanal olive oils from California, but they are a bit harder to find. If you have the resources, I recommend them. Now you are ready to make two different dressings that will showcase your oil: a Sherry and Shallot Vinaigrette and a Roasted Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette.

2. Sherry and Shallot Vinaigrette. Dice the shallots into very small, even pieces and set aside. Combine 1/3 cup of Sherry Wine Vinegar and 2/3 cup of the Olive Oil in a bowl. Add a tablespoon of Dijon mustard and begin whisking. The mustard will act as a binder to keep the oil and vinegar together. Add the shallot while whisking. Add salt and pepper to taste. Use immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to a week. This dressing is fantastic with anything from a light salad of mixed mesculin greens, to an endive and watercress salad with apples and Roquefort cheese.

3. Roasted Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette. To roast the garlic, preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Cut the entire head of garlic in half, width-wise, so all of the garlic cloves are halved and exposed. Douse liberally with about a tablespoon of olive oil and wrap both halves in aluminum foil with a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper. Put the garlic packet in the oven for twenty to twenty-five minutes. Remove from the oven, unwrap and let cool completely. Once cool, you will be able to literally squeeze the garlic cloves out of the head of garlic. Collect them in a bowl and mash together with the back of a fork until you have created a paste.

4. Put the dressing together. Put the garlic paste in a large bowl and begin streaming in 1/2 cup of your olive oil as you whisk. Do this until all of the oil is incorporated. It may take several minutes. Once the oil is incorporated, begin doing the same with 1/2 cup of the balsamic vinegar. Continue whisking after all of the vinegar is in the bowl. This will thicken the dressing and the color will become a bit lighter. At this point, taste the dressing to determine if more salt and pepper is needed. If so, add the seasonings and whisk to incorporate. This dressing will also keep for about a week in an airtight container. Try this vinnaigrette over roasted beets and goat cheese or on a composed salad of frisee, heirloom tomatoes and sliced, seared duck breast.

Tags: Extra Virgin, airtight container, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Extra Virgin Olive, Garlic Balsamic, Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette, garlic cloves

Make Candy Bark From Chocolate Chips

Melted chocolate chips can be used to make candy bark.

During the holidays, many people choose to demonstrate their affection by spurning mass-produced gift items in favor of something homemade. That something is often made from chocolate, an easy choice given its status as one of the country's favorite sweet treats. Chocolate bark is arguably the easiest candy of all, requiring no special equipment or skill. It can be made with any kind of nuts or dried fruit, and a holiday version often contains crushed candy canes. The chocolate can be as sophisticated as top-quality couverture, or as simple as supermarket chocolate chips. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Toast the nuts on a sheet in your oven for 10 minutes at 375 degrees F, shaking occasionally. They should smell pleasantly nutty and aromatic at this point, otherwise they should be allowed to toast for another two or three minutes.

2. Remove the nuts from the oven, and set them aside to cool. Line a small sheet pan with parchment paper.

3. Measure the chocolate chips into a microwaveable measuring cup or small bowl. Melt the chocolate chips by heating them for 30 seconds at a time, then removing them from the microwave and stirring them between cooking times.

4. Remove the chocolate from the microwave when it is largely melted, with only a few small lumps remaining. Stir, until the lumps have disappeared.

5. Spread 1/2 to 2/3 of the nuts evenly across the parchment-lined baking sheet, along with any dried fruit or other ingredients. Carefully drizzle the chocolate over the nuts, ensuring that they are all covered. Sprinkle the remaining nuts over the chocolate, and press them lightly into the chocolate.

6. Cool until the chocolate sets, then refrigerate. Break the bark into shards, and serve in a candy dish. If the room is warm, do not set out the bark ahead of time or it may soften and melt.

Tags: chocolate chips, dried fruit, from microwave

Make Indian Vegetarian Food For Kids

Dal is a healthy and delicious addition to a child's diet.

Indian vegetarian food is healthy and can be a great option for parents who prepare vegetarian meals for their kids. These types of dishes are generally low in fat. Moreover, medicinal spices are used in several dishes. Simple Indian dishes for kids include dal, a lentil soup, and rajma, a kidney bean mixture. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Find the local Indian grocery store and purchase some staple spices used in Indian food such as cumin, turmeric, curry powder and garam masala. Purchase long-grain rice, split moong dal and yogurt. Ask the store attendant for assistance if needed.

2. Cook two parts washed split moong dal with one part water. Cook the mixture for half an hour, then add sauteed spices--usually one teaspoon each of cumin, turmeric and salt. Dal can be enjoyed as a soup or mashed with rice and yogurt.

3. To make rajma, heat two tablespoons of oil and sauté a chopped onion with a teaspoon of cumin powder, two teaspoons of coriander powder and one teaspoon of ginger/garlic paste with one chopped tomato. After a few minutes, add two cans of drained and rinsed kidney beans. Add salt to taste and serve over rice.

Tags: cumin turmeric, spices used, split moong

Turkey Dinner Ideas

roast turkey

Turkey seems to get trotted out to the dinner table once or twice a year, and then it remains in the realm of sandwich fare. Although most families don't need to cook a 12-pound bird every week (or would want to), there are other ways to prepare smaller cuts of turkey for dinner as an alternative to the standard chicken. Add this to my Recipe Box.

A simple roast

You don't have to buy the entire turkey to enjoy a turkey dinner. Supermarkets sell single breasts of turkey or just the legs if you prefer dark meat. Although breast meat is denser than leg meat, it won't take nearly as long to cook as that Thanksgiving turkey. Put the meat in a roasting pan, rub with butter, salt, pepper and sage, and bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Covering the breast meat and basting regularly will prevent it from drying out. Serve the meat in slices with gravy alongside vegetables and rice, and you have a complete meal.

Casseroles, pot pies, soup and more

Turkey breast, thinly sliced, chopped or cubed, can work into soups, stir-fry, casseroles and pot pies. Turkey can be substituted for many dishes that call for chicken or beef, and it does particularly well in casseroles and dishes that have a rich, creamy sauce.

Turkey a la king is classic dish that mixes chunks of turkey with peas and mushrooms in cream sauce. This can be served over rice or noodles or constitute the filling of a pot pie. Turkey tetrazzine is another popular baked dish that combines turkey, spaghetti noodles and cheese into a delicious casserole. Cubed turkey can be used in a homemade turkey soup or sliced thin and added to a stir-fry.

Look for turkey breast tenderloin at the supermarket. These will be smaller than the whole breast and are usually skinless. Tenderloin can be stuffed with vegetables, grated cheese and herbs and baked. These also make good steaks when coated with flour and seasoning and pan-fried over a medium heat.

Ground turkey and turkey sausage

Ground turkey can be used in the place of beef in many dishes, but it is most commonly used for turkey burgers. Ground turkey can be used for meatloaf, chili and in burritos, tacos or enchiladas. Turkey sausages can be grilled or pan-fried with onions, peppers and served over rice or noodles. Turkey sausage also goes very well mixed into an egg scramble for a "breakfast for dinner" meal, used to top a homemade pizza crust or stuffed into pita bread for a Greek-style hot sandwich.

Tags: Ground turkey, turkey used, breast meat, dish that, dishes that

Recommended Meals For The Daniel Fast

Have a list of recipes and ingredients that are allowed on the fast when you go grocery shopping.

The Daniel Fast is a partial fast that strictly reduces the types of food that you are permitted to eat. Modeled after the Bible, the Daniel Fast is used to help prepare men and women to enter the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting. The guidelines of this fast can be found in the Book of Daniel. During the fast you are allowed to eat only vegetables and fruits and drink only water and must refrain from any breads, sweeteners, processed, chemically enhanced or artificially flavored foods or drinks. If you have good recipes on hand, adhering to the Daniel Fast can be made easier. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Breakfast

Try making a high-protein tofu scramble by dicing up some firm tofu, zucchini, tomato, onion, red bell pepper, green pepper, fresh cilantro and garlic and sauteing it in a frying pan until the vegetables are soft. Salt and pepper to taste. Another good breakfast option is oatmeal and fruit. Add apples, raisins, cinnamon, strawberries or blueberries for a filling, high fiber meal. You can also substitute soy milk for cow's milk.

Lunch

Make a green balsamic salad by mixing a cup of spinach, or enough to fill your plate, with sliced cucumber, diced onion, clementine slices, slivered almonds and unsweetened craisins. Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette to taste. Spinach has about 5 grams of protein per cup and the almonds are also a good source of protein.

Dinner

A stir fry is easy to make and can be customized in many different ways. In a wok, add cooked brown rice, diced tofu, green onions, garlic, ginger and any combination of broccoli, green peas, green beans, carrots, green peppers and water chestnuts. If you want to add more protein, add nuts such as almonds, peanuts or cashews. Make sure that you don't overcook the vegetables and nuts; they should be steamed soft but still slightly crunchy. Finally, add soy sauce to taste. Add as many vegetables as you want; the more vegetables and nuts that you include, the more filling it will be. Store any leftovers in a sealed container and refrigerate.

Snacks

Some good snacks to eat while on the Daniel Fast are plain rice crackers and all-natural peanut butter, "bumps on a log" which are celery sticks with all-natural peanut butter and raisins, and nuts such as almonds, cashews, peanuts and walnuts. If you have a sweet tooth and are craving something sweet, strawberries, blueberries, apples, watermelon and other fruits can satisfy that craving. Mix dried fruit and nuts for a homemade trail mix. Another good snack option is cut-up vegetables such as carrot sticks and celery sticks that can be dipped in hummus. For dessert, try freezing fruit whole or blending a few types of fruit and pouring the mixture into molds for homemade freezer pops.

Tags: Daniel Fast, all-natural peanut, all-natural peanut butter, Another good, celery sticks

Spice Up Chicken Broth

Simmering vegetables and meat will add flavor to broth.

Chicken broth is a staple in most kitchens. It's an age old remedy for when you are sick, and can be used to add flavor to gravies, rice and anything that would benefit from chicken flavor. Whether you make it from scratch or buy it in the store, chicken broth is a versatile culinary tool. Its flavor can be left mild and unobtrusive, or given more punch with extra ingredients and spices. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Reduce excess salt if your broth is store-bought and is not a low sodium variety. To dilute its sodium content you can discard some of the broth and replace it with water, salt-free seasonings and chicken meat that you can simmer for flavor and strain out later.

2. Even if your broth is homemade, adding pieces of chicken meat will result in richer flavor. Cut cooked chicken into pieces and add them to your broth.

3. Add chopped vegetables - carrots, onion and celery cut into small pieces.

4. Add spices. Stir poultry seasoning, thyme or other spices into the broth.

5. Create a spice bag for seasonings that are not ground, such as parsley, bay leaves and peppercorns. Use cheesecloth to bundle these ingredients together so that they are not missed later if your strainer is not fine enough. If you have no cheesecloth, substitutes that work include medical gauze, coffee filters or clean used linen.

6. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer, stirring occasionally. Let the broth simmer for at least one hour.

7. Sample the broth as it's simmering to assess its flavor. If it needs more zest, try a couple of drops of hot sauce. When you add strong flavors, add a small amount at a time because you can always add more later.

8. Once you are satisfied with the flavor, strain out the meat and vegetable pieces. Cool the broth completely before refrigerating or freezing.

Tags: your broth, chicken meat, flavor strain, meat will

Mall Of Georgia Activities

The Mall of Georgia, an indoor/outdoor complex with 220 stores in Buford, Ga., is more than a super-regional mall. It is a tourist and entertainment destination for all of Georgia as well as nearby states North Carolina and South Carolina. The anchor stores are Nordstrom, Macy's, Dillard's, JCPenny, Belk and Dick's Sporting Goods.

History

The Mall of Georgia opened in September 1999. When the idea of the mall was first conceived, planners were concerned that there would not be enough demand for such a large retail center in the small town of Buford. But from its opening, the mall has been highly successful. More than 300,000 people came during its opening weekend, and today the mall averages over 1,500,000 visitors per month.

Features

Retail is only a part of the attraction. The indoor mall sits next to an outdoor area designed to look like an old town square with restaurants and an outdoor amphitheater. There are two movie theaters, a Regal Cinema Theater and an Imax 3D Theater. There is also a carousel and a NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway. Outdoor paths connect the mall to a nearby nature center with more than two miles of nature trails.

Size

The indoor part of the Mall of Georgia contains 2,000,000 square feet and has three levels. The nearby nature preserve is 80 acres.

Special Events

The Mall of Georgia has several regular events. The amphitheater hosts concerts and performances year-round, and the Simon Kidgets Club, a membership club for kids, has regular special events. In addition, the mall hosts a variety of seasonal activities, such as its large outdoor Christmas tree in winter and an annual Easter egg hunt in the spring.

Geography

The Mall of Georgia is close to four major highways: Interstate-85, I-985, SR 20 and I-285. Inside the mall complex, there are five courtyards decorated in themes based on the five major geographic areas in Georgia (coastal, plains, Piedmont, mountain and the city of Atlanta).

Tags: Mall Georgia, more than, nearby nature, such large

Make Crepes Fast And Easy

Crepes are the perfect food for any meal.

Whether you're looking for a satisfying main course or a decadent dessert, the versatile crepe will meet your needs. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a delicious batch of crepes to suit any occasion. Experiment with different fillings, such as cheese, fruit, eggs, vegetables, chocolate or even just plain sugar. You're sure to find a combination that will be a hit. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Put all of the dry ingredients into a bowl. Add the eggs and milk and stir briefly with a spoon. Mix with a hand mixer until the batter reaches a syrupy consistency.

2. Pour a tablespoon of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan and smear it with a paper towel. Keep the oiled paper towel handy for use between every three or four crepes. Heat the pan at high heat for about 2 minutes, then lower it to medium heat.

3. Pour a ladle full of batter into the pan and move the pan in a circular motion so that the batter spreads around. Flip the crepe after about one minute, when the first side is cooked. Cook the other side for about 20 seconds.

4. Add cheese, sugar, chocolate, fruit or other fillings.

5. Fold the crepe in half, then in half again in the other direction, to form a triangle.

Tags: paper towel

Make Vanilla Flavoring

Use fresh, quality vanilla beans for the best extract.

You can make your own fresh vanilla using just a few simple tools. You'll know that your vanilla flavoring only includes natural ingredients and you can control the quality. Commercial vanilla processors sometimes add sugar or another type of sweetener or combine pure vanilla with synthetic vanillin to reduce production costs. If you want to avoid this, it's easy to create your own vanilla flavoring at home. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Cut the beans lengthwise with the scissors, leaving an inch at one end intact.

2. Place the beans in the glass jar.

3. Pour the vodka over the beans and push the beans down into the alcohol.

4. Put the lid on the jar and place it in a cool dark place for at least 8 weeks. The longer you leave it, the more pronounced the vanilla flavor will be. Shake the jar every couple of weeks to mix the vanilla pods with the vodka.

5. Add sugar syrup to sweeten. To make the syrup, boil 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water. Remove from heat when the sugar is dissolved.

6. Use in baking when flavoring has reached desired potency. Visually, it should have a medium amber color.

Tags: your vanilla flavoring, vanilla flavoring, your vanilla

Simple Way To Cook Leafy Greens

Southern cooks often simmer collard greens with a ham hock.

Leafy greens provide a low-calorie source of vitamins A and C as well as several minerals. Cooking times are longer for tougher greens such as kale and collards than for tender greens such as chard and spinach, but the cooking techniques are similar. Johnna Albi and Catherine Walthers, the authors of "Greens Glorious Greens," recommend boiling greens for a short time to achieve the best combination of nutrition, flavor, and color. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Place any greens with large stems on the cutting board and chop off the stems.

2. Fill your sink with lukewarm water and swish the greens around in the water to remove dirt. Drain the water and repeat until you do not see dirt in the sink. Shake the leaves to remove excess water.

3. Chop large leaves by stacking them on a cutting board and slicing width-wise into strips.

4. Add approximately 2 cups of water per pound of greens to the skillet and bring the water to a boil. Skip this step for tender greens such as spinach.

5. Add the greens once the water is boiling and put the lid on the skillet. Cook for 3 to 10 minutes, depending on the type of green. Watch for the greens to wilt and taste-test them for doneness.

For tender greens, add the leaves to the pan with only the water remaining on the leaves from washing. Cover and cook just until wilted.

6. Remove the cooked greens with a slotted spoon or drain them in a colander and transfer them to a serving dish. Season to taste with butter, salt, and pepper, or try sprinkling the greens with lemon juice or vinegar.

Tags: greens with, greens such, tender greens, cutting board, tender greens such

Substitute Sucanat For Sugar In Muffins

Sucanat can add a new depth of flavor to muffins.

Sucanat -- which stands for sugar cane natural -- is a natural sugar product with minimal processing. Unlike refined white sugar, Sucanat contains all the nutrients naturally found in raw sugar and retains its sweet molasses flavor. Sucanat can replace white sugar for any recipe, but alterations must be made in the case of baking recipes. Since Sucanat has a much higher moisture level than white sugar, it can cause problems in baked goods if it's substituted on a 1:1 ratio without further adjustments. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Measure the same amount of Sucanat as the recipe calls for sugar. While the moisture content and weight differs greatly between the two, the same cup measurement should be used.

2. Decrease the amount of liquid used in the recipe by 1 tbsp. The moisture content of the Sucanat will make up for the decreased liquid.

3. Mix the ingredients together and bake the muffins according to the directions for the particular recipe.

Tags: white sugar, moisture content

Dye Popcorn

Dyed popcorn

Dying popcorn is an original way to add a little twist to a favorite snack. Colorful popcorn is also very popular at holidays, such as Christmas and Halloween, with many people using it for popcorn candies, popcorn balls or in garlands. There are a variety of methods to dye popcorn, each of them easy and each of them leaving the popcorn edible. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Measure out 1 1/2 cups of popcorn kernels. Pour the popcorn into the machine. Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup of oil to the popcorn. Place a few drops of food coloring on top of the popcorn mix. Put the lid on the machine and set to stir. Allow the popcorn maker to stir until the popcorn is popped and dyed completely by the food color. This is method one.

2. Fill the large bowl with popped popcorn. Put the bowl aside for a moment. Set the pan on the stove. Put some butter into the pan. The amount of butter depends on personal taste preferences for buttered popcorn. Turn the burner on low heat under the pan so that the butter melts. Add the desired amount and color of food coloring paste to the melting butter. Stir with a wooden spoon until the butter is completely melted and blended with the food coloring. Pour the colored melted butter over the popcorn in the bowl. Slightly stir the popcorn. This is method two.

3. Open a large zip plastic food storage bag. Put the popped popcorn inside, leaving room for shaking the popcorn. Add your desired amount of powdered food coloring and a few drops of water. Zip the bag closed and shake it until the popcorn is coated in color. If it is too powdery, add a few more drops of water and repeat shaking. Powdered food colors can be found at cake decorating supply stores. This is method three.

Tags: food coloring, This method, desired amount, drops water, each them, popcorn bowl

A List Of Food & Nutrition Careers

Weight-loss nutritionists need formal food and nutrition education to advise clients.

Careers in the food and nutrition industries are wide-ranging and can entail many different job responsibilities and work environments. Farmers, scientists, restaurant workers, health-care nutritionists and weight-loss consultants all may have formal food and nutrition training and educations. Solid foundations in science, especially biology and chemistry, as well as in nutrition, are essential for food and nutrition careers. It's helpful to have an idea of what field you may want to enter -- such as public health, sports, health care, agriculture or restaurant management -- before pursuing an undergraduate degree, so that you can narrow your focus.

Health-Care Dietician

Health-care nutritionists work in hospitals, nursing homes and other health-care facilities. They oversee patient menus and nutritional requirements, working with doctors and other health-care providers to ensure that patients are receiving diets appropriate for their medical conditions. Most health-care nutritionist positions require a four-year degree in nutrition, with an emphasis in such areas as biology, biochemistry, inorganic and organic chemistry, dietetics, medical nutrition, food-service systems, advanced food science, and nutrition science. Master's degrees normally are required for administrative positions. The average salary in the U.S. for health-care dieticians ranges from $34,392 to $45,829.

Nutritionist/Educator

Nutritionists who serve as educators might work for government agencies, health organizations, nonprofit groups, schools, community centers or patient-care facilities. Many nutritionists work as consultants, providing educational seminars and lectures to the public. Other nutrition consultants are employed by wealthy people such as entertainers and professional athletes to develop diet programs and menus. Teaching positions, especially higher-education jobs, usually require additional education, including post-graduate degrees.

Weight Reduction Specialist

Weight-loss programs and clinics need trained nutritionists to work directly with clients to develop menus and diet plans that augment their weight loss, weight lifting and other fitness programs. Measuring the client's physical attributes, tracking physical and metabolic changes, and monitoring emotional and mental changes all are part of a professional weight loss nutritionist's duties. Consultations with medical doctors and other health professionals also may be necessary to ensure client safety.

Food Scientist or Technologist

Food product development careers are available to people with food and nutrition backgrounds. Food scientists and technicians test food products, determine and measure nutritional levels of food items, develop food alternatives as well as additives and safety standards, tackle issues such as consumer needs and wants and address food costs. Food scientists may work with public officials in developing healthful school diets, consult with health-care professionals on cutting-edge developments, and serve in production plants as quality-assurance supervisors. Laboratory settings and factory floors are two common environments. Undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in science, chemistry, biology or related fields generally are pre-requisites.

Restaurant Manager

While not all jobs in the food-service industry require college degrees in food or nutrition studies, management positions generally do demand a formal education. Restaurant and food-service managers can find employment in restaurants, hotels, resorts and even with cruise lines. Additional culinary training may be required for some positions, but a food and nutrition background is crucial. Menu development and staff-management skills also are necessary for management slots. A food and nutrition background would give aspiring chefs a leg up on other candidates who lack such training.

Food Writer

Professional nutritionists with a gift for writing could become food critics or writers for health, nutrition or diet publications. On the other hand, professional writers can acquire formal food and nutrition training to better report on food and nutrition issues.

Tags: food nutrition, food nutrition, formal food, formal food nutrition, nutritionists work, also necessary, doctors other

Buy Nongmo Plants

Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are plants or other organisms with genetic codes that have been manipulated to express certain traits. Buying non-GMO plants can come down to buying non-GMO seeds. Non-GMO starter plants are also widely available on the market, thanks to growing interest in organic foods and farming. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Find non-GMO seeds. Non-GMO seeds are often referred to as "heirloom" seeds--seeds that have been collected from mature plants, then saved and planted the following season. The name "heirloom" refers to the tradition of passing down successful seeds, often through generations. GMO seeds cannot be collected and used to plant the following year; farmers do not own the patented technology used to produce the seeds. Saving and reusing seeds violates the patents on GMO crops.

An online search will yield dozens of companies offering heirloom seeds for sale; heirloomseeds.org and the Seed Savers Exchange are just two examples. You may be able to find a retailer close to your home.

2. Locate non-GMO plants. Some plants--notably tomatoes--are far easier to grow from starter plants than from seeds. Many of the same companies offering non-GMO seeds also offer starter plants, which are simply plants grown from non-GMO seeds that the company has started and grown, to a point, for you. Starter plants save time and have already survived a vulnerable sprouting period. Starter plants may also be called "transplants" and can be sold labeled as such.

3. Check for the local availability of non-GMO plants. Non-GMO plants may be available in your area, from local farmers, specialty dealers, and cooperatives. Although these seeds and plants may not have the benefit of organic certification like some catalog heirloom varieties, you can ask the grower personally about the history of the seeds or plants and be sure they are not GMOs.

4. Save your own seeds. Part of the beauty of non-GMO seeds is that you can save seeds to use for your next crop. Collect the seeds accordingly from the plants you raise and save the seeds in dark containers or away from sunlight (so they will not sprout). For your next planting, simply use the saved seeds to start your new crop. Saving seeds can be rewarding, as can sharing seeds from particularly successful or well-producing plants. Over the years, seed savers can selectively plant from their hardiest crops, thus helping control the output of their gardens and alleviating the need to buy new seeds or starter plants each season.

Tags: non-GMO plants, non-GMO seeds, companies offering, have been, non-GMO seeds, non-GMO seeds Non-GMO, non-GMO seeds that

What Can Be Bought With Food Stamps

Eggs are an allowable purchase.

In 2009, 31 million people in the U.S. received monthly food stamp benefits, also known as SNAP (Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program). This benefit for low-income families is loaded onto a debit-type card that recipients use to purchase approved items at participating stores.

Meat and Poultry

Chicken is an approved choice.

Meat and poultry, fresh or frozen-- from hamburger to fillet Mignon--to be prepared at home, are acceptable purchases. Exceptions are previously prepared, hot foods like a cooked rotisserie chicken or food intended to be eaten in the store such as that from a snack bar.

Milk and Dairy Products

Ice cream is an allowable purchase.

Milk, eggs, cheese, butter, margarine, cream and sour cream are approved purchases. Dairy also includes such things as chip dip, processed cheese and cheese spreads, soy milk and ice cream.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables help stretch your dollar.

Fruits, fruit juices, vegetables and even seeds and plants for growing food are approved for food stamps.

Snacks and Packaged Foods

Candy is an approved treat.

Items such as chips, candy, soda, cookies, bottled water and snack foods are allowed. Other choices include packaged foods such as stuffing, boxed potatoes, spaghetti sauce and flavored rice and noodles.

Forbidden Purchases

Beer is strictly not allowed.

Ineligible items include tobacco and alcohol products, paper products, cleaning products, personal hygiene items, pet foods, vitamins and medicines, cosmetics, non-food items and prepared, hot foods.

Tags: allowable purchase, prepared foods

Pros And Cons Of A Raw Meat Diet For Dogs

Raw meat diets for dogs include fresh meat and uncooked bones.

Canine raw diets, sometimes called the BARF (Bones And Raw Food) diet, consist of raw meat, bones, and sometimes vegetables and fruits. Supporters note that wild canines eat similar diets, and claim that feeding raw meat to dogs can reduce the chances of a number of diseases. Detractors point out that feeding dogs raw meat raises the risk of other illnesses, and that homemade diets are often nutritionally incomplete.

Better Health

Raw meat proponents note that dogs eating a diet of entirely raw food have fewer dental problems, less body odor and overall better health. Many of them have better coats and fresher breath, as well. Some people have had good luck treating illness with a raw diet when conventional treatments fail to work. Food allergies, digestive problems and similar ailments may be treated with a raw diet.

Appeal

Raw diets are more appealing to many dogs than conventional kibble. Dogs that have been previously uninterested in their food may find a raw meat diet to be more attractive. More appealing diets can lead to better eating and increased energy, as long as the basic diet is balanced. Most of this evidence is anecdotal, but owners do report that their animals are more interested in a raw meat diet.

Bacteria

While dogs have some natural resistance to bacterial such as salmonella and E. coli, that resistance may not be enough to protect them completely. It also does nothing to protect the owner. Handling raw meat increases the chance of both owner and dog suffering from a bacterial infection and food poisoning. This makes it potentially dangerous, especially for immune-compromised animals and people.

Bones

Many raw meat diets include raw bones, usually ground along with the meat. If improperly ground, these bones can become lodged in the throat, stomach or intestines, causing pain and significant damage. Large pieces of bone may also fracture teeth when a dog bites down on them. Proponents of raw diets note that bones should always be very finely ground.

Balance

Many raw diets are prepared at home by the owners. This leads to concerns over nutritional balance. Commercial diets are made to have a consistent nutritional content that meets veterinary guidelines. Controlling a dog's intake of specific vitamins and minerals can be much more difficult when the diet is prepared at home. Because of this, owners should always consult a vet before choosing a raw diet.

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