Christmas Snow storms: Mammoth crocs to go with it

This Christmas: Looking for ideal gift?

As the Snowstorm hits the Eastern US and looks like it is going to threaten the the Saturday before Christmas sales here is what you can do. Start looking around in stores best gifts like the ones below. With or without the snow storm gifts will be shared.







This years top Christmas Gift ideas believe me you are still in time to shop from one of the stores that is giving you great deals featuring some of the best Christmas gift ideas of the year.
Selected for you below you'll find a wonderful selections of popular & unique Christmas gift ideas your family and friends will love, at prices you'll fall in love with.

Most wished for Christmas gift: perfect gift this Christmas

I went over to Amazon to find out which is the most wished for gift this Christmas. There's still time to get the #1 most wished for gift on Amazon. Get your Kindle (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation) by December 24th with FREE Two-Day Shipping.

This is just an idea for those who have absolutely no idea what can give this Christmas

Wine: Let's talk Italian wine this Christmas

Yesterday in Bangkok we had a unique wine tasting event. This space for the next few days will talk and show pictures of the event

Fruit Punch of the day: Christmas recipes

Ingredients
4cl orange juice, another 4 cl of pineapple juice,if you have grapefruit juice another 4cl and a little grenadine syrup plus some ice

This is a perfect recipe for Bangkok ( you will find this syrup mostly in Villa supermarkets if you are in Bangkok)


You have a shaker?If you do ok if not you can use any container that you have around in the house like bottles etc.

Mix all the ingredients and shake well then serve
Enjoy your Bangkok cocktail!

How to make Tuna Sauce

When all there is in the house is Tuna, tomato and some pasta: What do you do?

What I do when I only have a few things in house like Tuna is:
Garlic crushed, olive oil then I add 3 or 4 fillets of anchovies which I try to always have in the fridge as I buy and use them sparingly whether on pizza or pasta sauce.

Then I add tomatoe (if fresh cut into small pieces but mainly I have tomato puree or the paste. Then I add together with the tuna fish plus some salt, pepper or chilli.
Cook it slowly..when the sauce is reduced thick remove from heat and in the meantime you have boiled or boiling your pasta and serve with the tuna sauce

My friend is working Mommy in Italy and so she does not have much time to during the week so she makes all these kind of sauces and she stores in the freezer and every evening she has everything ready.

What containers to use for storage?
Never mind, make it a habit of keeping those jam/marmalade bottles and they really are useful to me in storing food like this.

Avoid using plastics for storing food not for anything but watch out what's in those plastic bottles read my post herePlastic Poison?: Bisphenol A or bpa an enemy in fridge store on our tables


Thanks to all lovers of food that have always followed this blog keep reading next weeks as so much is coming up in Christmas Menu's for A Recession hit Christmas plus Im organising a wine tasting event with a friend so looking forward to sharing all that later.

Remember to read Plastic Poison?: Bisphenol A or bpa an enemy in fridge store on our tables

This Christmas easy gifts by just a click of mouse

This Christmas here are the 4 best gifts you will ever give:

Christmas Hot Deals: Christmas 2009 internet sales

Christmas 2009 internet sales

Black friday internet sales: How about Astronaut's Cookbook?

Cookbook Reveals Secrets of Space Cuisine

Do you ever stop to imagine what the Astronauts eat while in orbit? Now, you do not want to think about that anymore as it is no longer a secret.

Someone has thought of best Christmas gift that you can give to your family and friends this Christmas. Recipes made for the space .... wow... from European mushroom truffle pate to space creamed spinach and spicy green beans the space way.

I don't want you to keep guessing here is the only place to buy this book and it's shipped to you, hurry up as only 2 are left in stock though others will be coming soon you do not want to loose this chance!

Happy Thanks Giving to all my readers

And for those of you who are looking for information on how to prepare your thanksgiving turkey here is a page you might find interesting:

Lets talk turkey at consumer guide to safely roasting a turkey

I hope you find some recipes in this blog to brighten your Thanksgiving day!
Have a great Day

Christmas calling: yummy but watch out extra kilos!

Mom cooks and thinks that ....

Everyday thoughts of a girl from the slopes:

What would I do differently if I were to go back in the lands around the slopes of Mt. Kenya?

1) A lot of food conservation - See, where I come from the land is rich and we have most of agricultural products produced in the area. From products to use locally up to the export products. During harvest time there is much of everything but most crops being perishable need to find market quickly, if not which was mostly the case would end up rotting like tomatoes, cabbages and carrots.
What would I do about this?

With a financial help I would set up a processing plant that would can or bottle some of these vegetables. Plus, especially fruit would make dried fruits that would later be packaged and sold in bigger cities and hopefully out of the country.

2. Herbal teas: Already there is a project where I went to high school that is doing this and I have been able to drink herbal teas from my district while in Italy. I would make herbal teas from other herbs in the region and export and also encourage people to drink herbal teas for their health.

3. Improved animal production chicken, rabbit and fish farming encouraging more farmers to turn also into production of these to improve diets and hopefully look for funds or joint ventures to modern slaughter house that will cater to providing to supermarkets.

Ok, now let me not spill all the beans here this will be my base to changing the cooking in the slopes. Balanced diets as the base to improved health.



Picture drawn by my 6 year old son. Loves drawing and singing! See him on stage here

Performance of Ben by Michael Jackson during the kids learning day at an exhibition center in Bangkok!

Black Friday sales: Don't miss out on this super easy healthy recipes book

So Easy: Luscious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week
Make yourself a gift of easy recipes

Simple easy meat balls recipe

This is easy and simple way of grilling meat balls is from my sister in - law.
But, depending on where you are you can adapt it to the ingredients that you have.
Minced meat, parsley, pepper, salt, flour, bread crumbs and olive oil. Mix together in a bowl make the meatballs instead of deep frying them try grilling them in the oven.

Vitamin D heart Benefits

If you have been able to look at an article from Newyork times on health you will find this helpful article of a study that has just been made public regarding the Vit D and what is its health benefits

Some few lines about Vit D
- vitamin D is associated with rickets and calcium metabolism
- Vitamin D through the skin from the sun
- build strong bones thats why Vit D added to milk
- vitamin D food sources include oily fish like salmon, mackerel, bluefish, catfish, sardines and tuna, as well as cod liver oil and fish oils

There are these 2 articles you should read to understand more of Vit. D

Vitamin D Shows Heart Benefits in Study

An Oldie Vies for Nutrient of the Decade

How to make Kenyan food: Easy, rich and simple potato, pumpkin leaves peas and maize

As you know I come from the slopes of Mt. Kenya and here today I want to share with you the food I grew up eating. We mostly alternated this food with ugali see here on Kenyan cooking and or Githeri (beans, maize and lots of vegetables)

One thing I would advice to change on this recipe is pumpkin leaves to be cooked together with the rest not separate. This is boiled.

Here below is the recipe thanks to Fao potato2008

Kenya: Mashed peas, potatoes and maize (Irio)
Ingredients (6 servings)

- 1 kg (2 lb 3 oz) potatoes
- 1 kg (2 lb 3 oz) pumpkin leaves
- 500 g (18 oz) peas
- 500 g (18 oz) shelled green maize
- 1 tbsp salt

Preparation

Boil the peas until half cooked and set aside. Peel and chop the potatoes into large chunks, place with the maize in a large saucepan and add water to cover. Add salt, bring to boil over medium heat, then simmer until cooked. Drain and reserve the liquid. Separately, chop the pumpkin leaves and boil until well cooked. Mix all ingredients, stirring in a little of the reserved liquid, mash to form a pale green purée. Add salt and pepper to taste, serve hot.


Check back later on how to cook with pumpkin

King Ranch: Richard King Chicken simple recipe

King Ranch Casserole Recipe

I found this lovely King ranch chicken casserole recipe on cookingcache.com

Here is how to go on with the King ranch chicken casserole recipe:

2 10 3/4 oz can Condensed cream of chicken soup
1 10 3/4 oz can condensed cream of mushroom (or celery) soup
1 can Ro-tel
1 large onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1/2 c. water from cooked chicken
4-6 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped into pieces (I cooked them in the crockpot for 4 hours on high)
1 lb shredded cheddar cheese
1 pkg. tortillas

For the recipe how to read on at cookingcache.com

Fat fighting foods: Drop those extra kilos eating what you enjoy

How to fight fats!

There is nothing as frustrating as buying all those ebooks on slimming and diet products...how to loose weight in a month and then end up with something that simply does not work.

Today from yahoo you discover foods that do the work for you. These edibles have proven lipid-melting powers that help you slim. That’s a win.   By Veronica Byrd Almonds Almond joy! Dieters who ate 3 ounces of these nuts every day…

1)Almonds
2)Berries- full of Vit.C eg strawberries and raspberries.
3)Cinnamon
4)Mustard yellow
5)Oranges
6)Soybeans
7)Sweet potatoes
8)Swiss cheese

Talking of sweet potatoes my mom had planted them all over in our small piece of land and I hated when I came home from school after walking for 2 kilometers almost to find a whole pot of sweet potatoes for lunch. I wish I knew the more I learn about some simple food we had everyday the more I tell myself I wish I can go back and tell mom thanks!

Italian recipe for babies 8 months

When my son was 7 months an Italian friend of mine brought me a few Italian recipes for baby food. But, as far as I can remember I always made for my baby home made food I never bought ready made food for my baby from supermarkets. Here you will find what my baby started eating soon after weaning. Believe me, he grew strong never had problems like most of my friends who had children same time not even in winter when so many problems related to cold and so on. My doctor following him now he is always asking what does he eat he is such a healthy baby.
Take my word if you have time you can prepare the best healthy food for your baby starting from choosing right products.

Rich yoghurt for breakfast for your 8 month old baby

Take white yoghurt and put it in a cup. Add 2 spoonfuls of honey and mix well. Peel half an apple and cut it into very small pieces peel also half a banana and cut into small pieces too.
(you could also add candied grapes - optional but first put them in warm water)

You could also add healthy biscuit.

This is good healthy breakfast you can prepare for your 8 month old baby

Black friday 2009 food deals

Black Friday simple easy recipe deals

- Easy simple pasta recipes

- Easy simple Pizza recipes for everyday and Christmas

- Easy Simple Italian dinner recipes

- Easy simple Lasagne recipes

- Easy simple Italian recipes for cakes, chocolate cakes and all types of cake

- Simple easy Italian Tiramisu recipes easy for everyone to make

- Easy simple Italian recipe collectable printable recipe cards. For more recipes like this consider making a donation to easy italian simple recipes

Fantastic oven baked chicken: Easy simple Italian chicken recipe

How to make a superstar chicken for a superstar family

Ever heard of multitasking mom... I have my computer on, ironing and the same time have just put whole chicken in the oven. I have a heap of clothes to iron. I will get down to business right away.
And by the way while Im doing all this Im being soothed by TOTO music 'Africa' you will love it my son started watching TOTO when he was 1 year old and by the time he started to speak the first word was 'TOTO' we really tried and had him go to TOTO live concert when he was 4 years old and most wonderful thing he met TOTO in person let me share a picture with you.

Pictures of my son with 2 of the TOTO group members during the live concert in Malaysia my son was thrilled, they gave him Lukathers guitar pick and Simons drum sticks...lovely!

Since then my son now 6 has started his career in music see here:

http://www.superstar-academy.com/en/video_clip.php?p=3&m=rate&cid=129



Let's go back to the fantastic chicken recipe
Here is what I have done so far:

Chicken rosemary recipe

I have washed my chicken and dried it, then I stuffed it inside with 4 leafs of sage, 3 bay leaves (for those who might not know bay here is the link: 'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Laurel') 4 cloves of garlic, salt and pepper.


on the outside I put rosemary, sage again, garlic, salt and pepper (can use same numbers as the inside)

The oven plate I put 2 spoonfuls of olive extra virgin oil.

And this into the oven.
When it had started to brown I put a glass of white wine and left it to cook for around 1 hour.



Keep watching this space for a printable fabulous chicken recipes to print and give as gifts or to friends or for your own use.

Simple easy exotic pineapple punch

This simple exotic easy to make pineapple punch will come in handy when you have many visitors.


Ingredients include:


500 ml orange juice, 500ml pineapple juice, 1 litre clear rum, 500ml glucose syrup - cane sugar syrup
Pieces of fruits like pineapples in spirit

All you have to do is mix all the ingredients and serve very cold - add some ice cubes in glasses plus the fruit pieces.

Try it ( I haven't tried it myself yet)

Some very useful items in the kitchen

I shopped the other day for containers to keep food when it's open up. Just tired of having opened up pasta, rice and sugar in packets closed with pegs. Needed also solution for fridge storage containers for leftovers from what I cook. To my amazement I had difficulties choosing from all types of Tupperware out there.









Im happy with my pasta and rice storage containers.

Gin liftup: Simple and friends will be wanting more

1 oz of Gin, 3/4 oz of lemon juice, 3/4 oz of grenadine syrup and 1/2 oz of simple syrup.

Shake all the ingredients well with cracked ice. Then pour unstrained in a tall glass with chilled soda. Decorate with fruit and serve with straws.

Love it!

Blogging all the way to Chicago Sun-Times lifestyle

Today I saw a visitor came to my blog through Chicago Sun Times and I followed the link and here I am. Are you doubting? See for yourself here

Children helping Moms and having fun

Well, I don't have a 10 star kitchen, I have a kitchen angle. But this famous kitchen produces not only best home made lasagne but also home made pizza and tiramisu.

When I make pizza my son loves to help around. Sorry my phone is old generation does not take nice pictures.

Bedtime stories

Bangkok is getting really hot these days, earlier there was dark clouds looked like the storm was coming but nothing. Before putting my son to sleep we read Cinderella and also the Princess and the pea.
Now he is fast asleep, past midnight Im still here on my computer... sipping my fizzy punch see the recipe for the fruit punch here

I call it Mt. Kenya fascination makes me feel close to my home origins slopes of Mt. Kenya.


I have to watch out because after dropping Cocacola Im getting to drink a lot of my fruit punch especially in a midnight heat in Bangkok.
Well, now I have to say Goodbye come back tomorrow to read and cook with me!

Moms I need your support

As you know I have strong interest in business but money is scarse. So, for now I can only try to do what I can. If you know someone in business of selling Jewelry and they are looking for suppliers let me know.

You can have a look here http://picasaweb.google.com/Stella.design.bkk
and blog here http://stelladesign-collections.blogspot.com/

Very lovely designs cool lovely people like you and me. Please check out and pass word. The supplier has been in this business for over 20 years in Italy but currently he has moved to Thailand. He is looking to building customers worldwide.
Prices will leave a big smile on your face!

The truth about being a stay home Mom

Stay home Moms have all the time to do what they like

Forget about recession lets have coffee....
I am a stay home mom, but I tend to work on my computer from morning till when my son comes back from school. Ask me what Im doing? Just surfing the net and blogging, I put on my computer this morning about 6.50 I had to retype a document in pdf to excel God knows if there is a way to do it automatically.... please if there is do not mention it to me as I will go crazy.

After 3.30 minutes I finished and sent it to whoever I had to send to who was waiting on the other side of the oceans.

Anyway, after all this a friend called me to have coffee just outside my home this time not at the starbucks because she loves Au bon pain.



We sat for over 2 hours we had a nice mango and passion smoothie



But then, after 2 hours of chit chat it's time to rush home and prepare a snack for my son.

from school he comes with homework maths, writing, reading but to be frank it is easy as abc as he loves what he does and so in a few minutes homework is done. So, mommy has no headache over homework story.
See you later.

"How to start your own Christmas lighting business"

Kiss recession goodbye

How to start your own Christmas light installation business and cash in this Christmas 6 figure Christmas lighting business click here!and Jingle dollars all the way to the bank..



6 figure Christmas lighting business click here!

Moms be warned: Maclaren stroller recall

Safety first: Children risk their fingertips being cut off in the carriage hinge

News hitting the web at this hour (Oh, Im supposed to be asleep its midnight in Bangkok and still seated infront of my computer and my wake up alarm goes off at 6 in the morning and by 6.45 my school boy ready in the school van)

But, this is very serious so I will sleep after this post.
Urgent announcement Maclaren is recalling a million strollers. If you have this Maclaren stroller please stop using it immediately looks like it is not what it was mean't to be the world's most safe, durable, innovative and stylish baby buggies and strollers,"

For all these maclaren stroller being recalled just call maclaren and get a kit with hinge covers designed to fit all Maclaren strollers

For all news on maclaren recall go to maclaren strollers, mclaren recall

If you do not find any press release then foxnews has more news on this.
maclaren stroller recall: what a mother wants what a child wants

"Reasons to start your own baby pages"

How to keep family and friends updated

BabyHomePages.net gives anyone a safe, private, easy and free way to create a personalized website of their favorite child (or children). We have families worldwide that use their BabyHomePages.net website to:

- Keep friends and family updated;
- Create a digital or hardcopy scrapbook;
- Document pregnancies and the weeks that follow;
- Share all of baby’s “firsts” and beyond.

Share the best moments in life with family and friends at babyhomepages.net
free baby website

"Waiting for Christmas"

What are you planning for this recession hit Christmas?

Best Restaurants in London

As I type this message my husband is in London for work. It's not the first time he goes there, but every time he is in London for a day or two he is always worried of where to find good Restaurants in London. All this has changed now thanks to qype.

So this time before he left we set out on finding a good resource for Restaurants London and Pubs London, its amazing what we came up with. Restaurants London based on user recommendations and reviews of the best things in London from London restaurants, bars, gigs, hotels to events and anything you want to find in London.

Travelling to a big city like London for just a few days can be difficult to find the best but with qype everything changes and whatever information you need is right there infront of you. And by the way the first restaurant we found they had dinner there last night and he said it was fantastic.

Since qype has been very useful to us Im recommending it here to my readers anytime you have London as your destination if anything it simplifies planning for you by helping you find the best also because the information there are submitted by users. Millions of users putting information for others to benefit from.

I wish all cities had websites like this that help make travellers especially with just a short time stay there to just locate the best.

Definitely will be using this Restaurants London again and again for me or my husbands travel!
Check it out and see what people are saying about where to eat, hotels, nightlife, shopping and what shows are where in town and much more.

A good resource for everyone travelling through London even for a stopover and have few hours there you are sure to get the best!
Bookmark this page Restaurants London and next time you stop in London make use of it!

Whats for dinner? Easy simple Italian soup or grilled chicken

Ok. Done!

Soup

Whats for dinner? Easy simple Italian soup or grilled chicken

Well, not decided yet on what Im going to cook today. Enough with yesterday's pancakes and sticky rice from the roadside vendor. Just outside where I live in Bangkok the old lady who comes most days of the week makes nice sticky rice with grilled pork satay (skewers) 4 skewers and 1 sticky rice just over a dollar.

Tonight we need to have vegetables so most likely the dinner is going to be a nice easy light Italian soup you can see my earlier postings on soups here



after which we will watch a nice film and go to bed earlier. Dad is in London for work and we are home in Bangkok.
Lots of spinach, peas, beans, potatoes and some carrot and maybe some brocolli from the freezer will be all making up simple easy tasty soup for dinner.

Restaurants that get it right

Eight restaurants that are getting it right

with the current downturn on economy, people have less money and less money to eat out.
Buffalo Wild Wings, BJ's Restaurants, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Olive Garden, Panera Bread Co, Peet's Coffee & Tea, P.F. Chang's, Texas Roadhouse are on the list of restaurants that get it right.

But after reading the comments from readers I think The only restaurant that gets it right is a warm lovely simple easy homemade meal. No waiter carrying your plate away before you finish, no 20% tips, no extra penny for parking space.

Browse easy Italian simple recipes and you will not enjoy eating out anymore.

Happy foods

From Yahoo news

Fight stress and depression with five nutrient-buffed snacks

Sorry, ice cream isn't on the list! But the following foods do have nutrients that can help fight stress and depression, says Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Eat Your Way to Happiness.

Food: Oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits
Mood-Boosting Ingredient: Vitamin C
This vitamin helps you cope better in stressful times by lowering your levels of stress hormones. If you get a lot regularly, you'll feel calmer during tough situations.

Food: Nuts
Mood-Boosting Ingredients: Vitamin E, arginine (an amino acid) and magnesium
A handful of nuts will keep you full and satisfied because they have a low glycemic index-which means they don't jack up your blood sugar levels and cause mood swings. It also makes you feel good to eat something that seems decadent (they're considered a little bit naughty because they're high in fat) but actually has health benefits.

Food: Leafy greens
Mood-Boosting Ingredient: Folic Acid
Research has shown that the folic acid in leafy greens such as kale and spinach can reduce depression and even improve blood flow to the brain. If you're not eating at least one serving per day you're more than likely low in folic acid, so try getting more or consider taking a multivitamin that contains it.

Food: Salmon
Mood-Boosting Ingredient: DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid)
The omega-3s in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines have been found to improve your mood while lowering the risk of depression and age-related memory loss. The depression link is so strong that American Psychiatric Association suggests that anyone taking antidepressants and/or going through therapy also boost her intake of omega 3s.

Food: Dried cherries
Mood-Boosting Ingredients: Potassium, magnesium and vitamin C
These nutrients all work to curb your body's stress response. Dried cherries also keep your brain healthy because they're packed with antioxidants (including vitamin C), which prevent damage to your brain cells that can lead to memory problems.

Web Hosting for you

In these difficult times we need not only simple easy recipes to help us save while having a good healthy meals but also we need all other day to day plans and ideas to save on whatever we need to do. This is one of those ideas that cooking Moms and Dads out there are looking for.
Webhosting for example, we see all the advertisements on webhosting and looking at how much they ask for you are just put off and leaves us many times not able to share our ideas with the others.
But I have found this amazing website hosting that provides with hosting reviews and ratings from other users who want to help you and me save. These are independent reviews of the best web hosting providers that help you find Cheap professional web hosting services below $10 a month.

On budget cooking Moms and Dads, at 4,95 dollars per month your recipes are online and the world is enjoying cooking better.

As a cooking Mom on budget I would encourage all cooking Moms and Dads out there who were planning this christmas a webhost gift to your partners in the Kitchen this is your first stop see what others are saying about various webhost and how much you can save before rushing to buy the first hostplan you come across. We look forward to sharing more recipes and any helpful ideas with our healthy Italian recipe lovers whenever we have good information to share.
Your website hosting first stop help.

Soft drinks: Healthy or not healthy for you

What Soft Drinks are Doing to Your Body

I have been a cola addict for a long time but now no more as around 2 months ago I developed some problems and the first thing the doctor asked me to drop soft drinks.
For a month now I have had not more than 3 tins of cocacola the condition I had developed is gone and I am happy.

So today I came across this article about what soft drinks are doing to you and I quote the whole article here and I hope you take time to read:

Article source yahoo health news here

What Soft Drinks are Doing to Your Body
Ask Dr. Mao
By Dr. Maoshing Ni - Posted on Fri, Oct 30, 2009, 12:29 pm PDT
Dr. Mao's Secrets of Longevity
by Dr. Maoshing Ni a Yahoo! Health Expert for Alternative Medicine

Soda, pop, cola, soft drink — whatever you call it, it is one of the worst beverages that you could be drinking for your health. As the debate for whether to put a tax on the sale of soft drinks continues, you should know how they affect your body so that you can make an informed choice on your own.

Soft drinks are hard on your health
Soft drinks contain little to no vitamins or other essential nutrients. However, it is what they do contain that is the problem: caffeine, carbonation, simple sugars — or worse, sugar substitutes — and often food additives such as artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives.

A lot of research has found that consumption of soft drinks in high quantity, especially by children, is responsible for many health problems that include tooth decay, nutritional depletion, obesity, type-2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Why the sugar in soft drinks isn’t so sweet
Most soft drinks contain a high amount of simple sugars. The USDA recommendation of sugar consumption for a 2,000-calorie diet is a daily allotment of 10 teaspoons of added sugars. Many soft drinks contain more than this amount!

Just why is too much sugar so unhealthy? Well, to start, let's talk about what happens to you as sugar enters your body. When you drink sodas that are packed with simple sugars, the pancreas is called upon to produce and release insulin, a hormone that empties the sugar in your blood stream into all the tissues and cells for usage. The result of overindulging in simple sugar is raised insulin levels. Raised blood insulin levels beyond the norm can lead to depression of the immune system, which in turn weakens your ability to fight disease.

Something else to consider is that most of the excess sugar ends up being stored as fat in your body, which results in weight gain and elevates risk for heart disease and cancer. One study found that when subjects were given refined sugar, their white blood cell count decreased significantly for several hours afterwards. Another study discovered that rats fed a high-sugar diet had a substantially elevated rate of breast cancer when compared to rats on a regular diet.

The health effects of diet soda
You may come to the conclusion that diet or sugar-free soda is a better choice. However, one study discovered that drinking one or more soft drinks a day — and it didn’t matter whether it was diet or regular — led to a 30% greater chance of weight gain around the belly.

Diet soda is filled with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin. These artificial sweeteners pose a threat to your health. Saccharin, for instance, has been found to be carcinogenic, and studies have found that it produced bladder cancer in rats.

Aspartame, commonly known as nutrasweet, is a chemical that stimulates the brain to think the food is sweet. It breaks down into acpartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol at a temperature of 86 degrees. (Remember, your stomach is somewhere around 98 degrees.) An article put out by the University of Texas found that aspartame has been linked to obesity. The process of stimulating the brain causes more cravings for sweets and leads to carbohydrate loading.

Carbonation depletes calcium
Beverages with bubbles contain phosphoric acid, which can severely deplete the blood calcium levels; calcium is a key component of the bone matrix. With less concentration of calcium over a long time, it can lower deposition rates so that bone mass and density suffer. This means that drinking sodas and carbonated water increases your risk of osteoporosis.

Add in the caffeine usually present in soft drinks, and you are in for even more trouble. Caffeine can deplete the body’s calcium, in addition to stimulating your central nervous system and contributing to stress, a racing mind, and insomnia.

Skip the soda and go for:

• Fresh water
Water is a vital beverage for good health. Each and every cell needs water to perform its essential functions. Since studies show that tap water is filled with contaminants, antibiotics, and a number of other unhealthy substances, consider investing in a quality carbon-based filter for your tap water. To find out more about a high-performance filtration system, click here.

On the go? Try using a stainless steel thermos or glass bottle, filled with filtered water. Enhance the flavor of your water with a refreshing infusion of basil, mint leaves, and a drop of honey.

• Fruit Juice
If you are a juice drinker, try watering down your juice to cut back on the sugar content. Buy a jar of organic 100% juice, especially cranberry, acai, pomegranate, and then dilute three parts filtered water to one part juice. You will get a subtle sweet taste and the benefit of antioxidants. After a couple of weeks, you will no longer miss the sweetness of sugary concentrated juices.

• Tea
Tea gently lifts your energy and has numerous health benefits. Black, green, white, and oolong teas all contain antioxidant polyphenols. In fact, tea ranks as high or higher than many fruits and vegetables on the ORAC scale, the score that measures antioxidant potential of plant-based foods.

Herbal tea does not have the same antioxidant properties, though it is still a great beverage choice with other health benefits, such as inducing calming and relaxing effects.

If tea doesn’t satisfy your sweet tooth, try adding cinnamon or a little honey, which has important health benefits that refined sugar lacks. For a selection of healthy teas that promote total body wellness, click here. Drink up!

I hope you find the ways and means to avoid soft drinks. I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

--Dr. Mao

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Discover a high-quality water filtration system that will provide you with pure, healthy water.

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To learn more about Dr. Mao and other natural health tips, go to askdrmao.com.

Sandra Lee's Cupcakes

Well, halloween is gone but still you can try those cupcakes for any other occasion just changing the theme and decorate differently.

Get Sandra Lee's cupcake recipes here

Motorized Hamster perfect gift for Christmas

Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters get your own zhu zhu pet hamsters for kids today a perfect gift this Christmas

Healthy Lasagne and all in 20 minutes

Lasagne

Lasagne was one of the Italian food that made me want to master Italian food home cooking. Try the crunchy lasagne top by adding some mozzarella on the top. Sure, you will close your door to the neighbours




All about making homemade lasagne in 20 minutes here below

Lasagne

Foods to help your skin: Natural beauty

Five Foods that can Make Your Facial Skin Care more effective and no need to spend money on creams and other beauty products that do not work

Water - water hydrates the body. Our body is mainly composed of water, our body cells need to be hydrated this helps the skin to look healthy. Do you drink at least eight glasses of water a day? If you don't then experts advice is start drinking more water today.
Also the washing of the face with water help freshen and cleans the pores

Salmon- rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 and the fatty acids from the salmon are heart-friendly. This is also good in fighting fighting eczema, dry patches, help skin maintain a natural youthful glow. Remember the fatty acids as well as antioxidants are key in facial skin care.

Wheat Germ- packed vitamin B ,E, and Selenium. Vitamin B help cells in their process of regeneration and the ability to resist blemishes. Vitamin E and Selenium, helps fight premature aging. This also reduces risks of skin cancer and energizes your face skin.

Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins A and C are natural antioxidants. Vitamin C helps in collagen production which improves colour and skin texture. Sweet potatoes and carrots are both rich in carotene inside the body turned into vit A which help reduce wrinkles.

Anti aging diet: How to eat well and look young and beautiful naturally

Forever young and anti aging diet Click Here!
The Anti-Aging Guide offers you real rejuvenation techniques through foods and a way of eating that prevents and reverses aging. This diet will help you to effectively rejuvenate your body and extend your life expectancy. According to the latest scientific and medical research our bodies are designed to be healthy and live until the age of 120 to 140 years old. It is our un-natural tendencies and lifestyles that have caused us to evolve into civilizations in which death by disease is considered natural.
Forever young and anti aging diet Click Here!
This book will show you how to obtain enough nutrients to prevent the aging of the cellular body, how to avoid the toxins that promote cell-decay, and how to maintain the elasticity of your body's tissues through simple balanced health practices such as eating correctly, exercising and drinking sufficient water. Its that simple. It will not cost you any money!

Get your Forever young and anti aging diet Click Here!

Foam art for more interesting homemade latte and cappucino

Today I'm particularly in coffee moods. The day has been cloudy and with signs that it is going to rain but it hasn't for the moment. I have lasagne I made yesterday for dinner so since I have all the time lets get artistic with coffee ideas.



Now that I have coffee machine at home and for some months now we have been enjoying home made late and cappucino.
But, now have decided it is time to move to the next level and start creating foam art cappucinos and lattes for my family and guests
So here I found this really nice how to do video just enjoy it and hope your homemade cappucino and homemade latte can move to the next artistic level.
Enjoy

Cappucino: Serving suggestion

Cappucino
A Shot of espresso coffee
Remember for cappucino we need foamed milk you pour milk and foam on top of the coffee.
The best should be 1/3 espresso, hot milk and foam.
The flow of milk will help you create a nice presentation

Simple recipes

Plush Puffs: The gourmet marshmallows

My mom inlaw loves marshmallows. Wait until she finds the Plush Puffs.

Plush Puffs marshmallow recipes
Plush Puffs are great when used in your own cooking, especially when they are the main ingredient in a desert.

Since I have no recipe of my own to share here just Plush Puff to plushpuffs.com/recipes and see what plush puff recipe fits your tastes.

Simple Italian children party cake

Teacup pigs craze: I want one....

Whatever you want to call them tea cup pigs, micro pigs, teacup pigs for sale, micro mini pigs, teacup pig


There is no recession in Jane Crofts pet shop for just 700£ join the club

Roasted Beef: Roasted beef to party

Roasted Beef

1 whole beef tenderloin and clean it

What you need to do is season olive oil, pesto, Worcestershire sauce,steak seasoning add some rosemary.

Process
Make sure you coat the meat well with seasoning. Keep in the refrigerator all night.

Ready to cook?

Heat the oven and cook the beef for 30 minutes.

Serve with baked potatoes etc

Baby food: Simple recipes for babies and infants

Baby food: Recipes for infants

Infants have daily requirements of about 5 grains of calcium.
Ok looking at food like:

Milk contains 22,(grains of calcium in each quart).
Eggs, cereals, rice, radishes, asparagus, and spinach are
rich in calcium.

Meat, fish, bread, fruit, and potatoes are poor in calcium.
Iron rich foods are are spinach and other green vegetables, yolk of egg, beef, apples, lentils, strawberries,
white beans, peas, potatoes, wheat, and oatmeal.

While animal foods are rich in sodium and vegetables are rich in potassium.

To be continued....

A 10 secret menu items at fast food restaurants

Oh God, looks like I have news only from fast food. CNN.Com has the article

A horrible reality: Fast food advertisements and reality

My six year old is very attracted to advertisements but thank God not those of food because he is not such a lover of food outside home, and I know many are really pulled by what they see and to many it plays a major role in decision making.

Now this reality is very horribly wrong with fast food

The list is long you can always go to adsvsreality

A chocolate chip? turn them into chocolate delights that everyone will beg for more

In my cakes recipes shared with you in this blog you might want to try the chocolate cake. Why? Because it is really easy and incredibly delicious and treat that anyone will enjoy. If you love cake decorations then using that recipe the sky is the limit you can be able to turn it into a chocolate delight work of art
I use the chocolate chips for this cake recipe


What are chocolate chips you may ask?
Chocolate chips are small chunks of chocolate. They are often sold in a round, flat-bottomed teardrop shape and Chocolate chips are a required ingredient for making chocolate chip cookies according to wikipedia.

Types of chocolate chips

chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, mint chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, and white and dark swirled chocolate chips

If you go to family.go.com
here you will find some really nice recipes "25 chocolate delights" and definitely you will find something interesting for your childrens next birthday parties.

A better deal to think about: Stainless steel jewels business pack

For home based Moms this is an offer for your launch. Business pack


You need to start your own business? We are offering you a business opportunity of a lifetime. Stainless steel Jewels business pack. Contains various styles and you have a possibility of mixing them the way you want.Email us now your inquiries and start off your home business.

Aaahhhh! Deliciously Dangerous Potato Gateau

Todays recipe theme: Matt Damon is not Dead, some websites have started romours that Matt Damon is Dead and so they have the internet looking only for matt damon death, matt damon died, matt damon, is matt damon dead, matt damon found dead

Something interesting for family like this Deliciously Dangerous Potato Gateau for family

Our Simple Dinner Recipes Potato Gateau
Ingredients
1 kg of Potatoes
2 egss
200 gr boiled ham
200 gr mozzarella cheese
150 gr of grated parmesan
Breadcrumbs
salt
Pepper
Butter

This simple easy Italian Dinner recipe for you to try and share with family
Boil the potatoes make puree, cut the ham and cheese and mix together with the potatoes. Then mix with the eggs salt and pepper, mix well.
Butter the Oven container with butter and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs, add the potato mix layer and on top spread the remaining breadcrumbs and some small pieces of butter put in the oven at 180° for about 20 minutes
We had this for dinner last Saturday at a friends home. I forgot to download the picture but later will do so you can see it here on the post.

Back to health: Tylenol recall 2009

The McNeil Consumer Healthcare (the makers of TYLENOL®) is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Children's and Infants' TYLENOL® liquid products that were manufactured between April, 2008 and June, 2008: Read on the recall here
tylenol recall, tylenol, infant tylenol recall, children s tylenol recall, children s tylenol recall 2009

But what about the others? High street list of Pizza shame who tops the list

Pizza's examined included:
pizzas at Pizza Hut, Pizza Express, Zizzi, Prezzo, Ask and Frankie & Benny's.

And Pizza Hut topped a new Pizza League of Shame for having the fattiest, smallest and least tasty dishes on the High Street.
hop over to yahoo and read on

well, as for me I only give you one advice it is easy to make a simple easy homemade pizza healthy for family and do not have to worry about pizza fat, pizza thing or pizza hut if your aim is to know how to make pizza let me teach you how go to my labes Pizza recipes here

And bear in mind when in Florence eat what Florentine give you when you are home eat like Florentines do

Eating like Florentines: The florentine eggs (Uova alla fiorentina in Italian)

To make the famous florentine eggs all you need is 4 eggs,300 g spinach, 2 spoons of olive oil, 2 spoons of parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste
Steps to do this:
Clean the spinach under running water and put in a cooking pot with only water on the leaves, add some salt, cover and cook for 5 minutes.
After this pass them again under running water and press out all the liquid.
On a pan heat the olive oil and the spinach, let them cook rapidly adding pepper.
Put the spinach in an oven container and in the middle press a hole and put on the eggs plus sprinkle with the parmesan cooking in the oven at 180° for around 5 minutes
This egg florentine serves 4
See also eggs Benedicts

Tags for this recipe: florentine, eggs florentine recipe, egg florentine, what is eggs florentine, chicken florentine

An explosive of goodies a dangerously delicious vegetable cake kids will love it

Free Recipe Cards
If you download this card consider donating a $1

Thanks for all the donations you send really appreciated!

Ask for a white background free printable card

Recipe Ideas with left over wines

Making good use of leftover wines.

After a nice party with family and friends and you find yourself with some left over wines, what do you do? Drink?

I do not drink wine but a times have been in the same situation with just a little wine sitting there for ages.
Here are some ideas for that wine especially now in times of recession we do not throw nothing.
Think of a simple easy pasta with grated Parmesan cheese, butter and fresh herbs, a splash of wine would do miracles to the serving.

Use left over white or red wine to enhance flavour for your meat dishes (I especially love white wine with chicken + rosemary and garlic) Mmmm...yummy you find the recipe in this blog.

With red wine I also posted in this blog beef marinated in left over red wine.

Not to mention with fish!

Man carries a Wendy's plastic spoon in his lungs for 2 good years

I was briefly looking at the news from abcnews.go.com and found this story of a Man who had carried a 1' plastic spoon for 2 years in his lungs and when removed the plastic spoon carries the logo of Wendy's.
Read about John Manley story at abcnews

Tags: John Manley, Wendy's, plastic spoon

While you are there check out 3 nice recipes:

-Wolfgang Puck's Pan-Roasted Chicken With Lemon and Whole-Grain Mustard
-Wolfgang Puck's Bread Pudding With Berries
-Wolfgang Puck's Stacked Tomatoes and Mozzarella With Balsamic Reduction

An all time favourite: Chicken, beef or vegetable curry

From my Thai recipes I have posted in the past here is how you go on with this dish

Beef Pa-naeng (beef in dry Red curry)

Living in Thailand. Like the Italian cooking I think that with Thai cooking you get a few basics and then you are set to vary in different ways. With my Thai cooking I gained after doing my cooking class in Chiangmai way back in year 2002, was full of surprises and new adventures. I had just got married the year earlier and it was fun travelling far away after I had left my mother country just a year earlier.
Little did I know that a year later we would move to Thailand for my husbands work and live there for the following 2 years.

Ingredients:
250g Coconut Milk
160g Pa-naeng or red curry paste (I use one spoonful- as thai food is usually hot make sure you dose this according level of support of hot chilli)
650g Beef tenderloin, thinly sliced
35g Fish sauce
30g brown sugar
30g finely crushed peanut or chunky peanut butter
6g Kaffir lime leaves, thinly sliced
20g red chilli peppers, thinly sliced lengthwise (I use capsicum as it is meant for garnish)

-Mix the coconut milk with the red curry paste in a sauce pan. Heat the mixture and stir until it forms bubbles.
-Lower the heat and continue stirring the mixture until the red oil surfaces.
-Add sliced beef in the hot curry mixture . Raise the heat, add fish sauce and sugar. When beef is almost done , add crushed peanuts. Lower the heat and cook the beef until it is done and the sauce becomes thick.
-At this point, more fish sauce and sugar can be added if needed. The regular taste trend of this dish is the balance between saltiness and sweetness.
-Garnish the curry with the thinly sliced red chilli peppers (I use here capsicum)and kaffir lime leaves.
Serve with steamed rice.
Note: Thai meals are served not in courses but various dishes at the same time all with steamed rice.


With this base you can make all sorts of curries varying only the ingredients. Shrimps, vegetables of your choice just a little creativity in your Kitchen and dinner is served

Health tip diet and staying healthy and strong resources

Biggest Looser recipes and all

For the best Fat Burning Workouts
Use These Super Fat Burning Secrets Lose Weight, Burn Fat, & Get Toned!
find them at www.theabsecret.net

Want to know my 1 Trick To Lose Fat?
I struggled for years to burn fat, until I found this 1 secret.
Check that out too at FatBurningFurnace.com/HowIDidIt

This is really a good one especially have seen lately many stories about biggest Loser Diet Secret loosing 160 lbs in Just 8 Months. Lose 10 lbs. Every 14 Days!
all that at www.truthaboutdiets.com

We also cannot ignore Skin Care and make up
Callus Peel,Body Lotion,Skin care. Easy Sourcing on B2B Marketplace!
want to know where to get products just go to www.ec21.com

How to prevent prostate cancer?

Excessive weight or obesity has been linked to prostate cancer risk.

What can we do to prevent prostate cancer?
From the web:
Much research has been done on how foods could affect risk of prostate cancer.

From foodconsumer.org


- Eating plant-based diets may help patients with prostate cancer.

- Drinking black tea may help stop progression of prostate cancer

- Taking lycopene supplements alone or along with soy isoflavones may prohibit growth prostate cancer

- Drinking lots of green tea a day was linked with reduced risk of advanced
prostate cancer, but not localized prostate cancer

- Taking supplements of soy isoflavones may help men at high risk of prostate
cancer

- Eating just one serving or more of broccoli and cauliflower a week may
reduce risk of prostate cancer by up to 45 percent.

- Men consuming high levels of soy products rich in isoflavones might be able
to drastically reduce risk of prostate cancer.

- High dietary intake of selenium may reduce risk of prostate cancer

- Eating tomatoes and broccoli together can maximize their protective effect
against prostate cancer. (My mother in-law insist that my husband should and should eat lots of tomatoes- which I try to do)

- Eating just one portion of salmon per week may decrease the risk of
prostate cancer - I love white fish than salmon anyway!

- Drinking pomegranate juice may help slow the growth of prostate cancer- (I hate pomegranate God help)


- Eating oily fish or taking omega-3 fatty acids supplements may help prevent
the spread of aggressive prostate cancer to other parts of the body while high
intake of omega-6 fatty acids may do the opposite

- A hot pepper compound known as capsaicin may help men fight prostate
cancer

- Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables could be a good defense against
prostate cancer

- Consumption of lycopene and other carotenoids may help prevent prostate cancer.


- A recent study suggested that eating lycopene and vitamin E rich diet may
protect against prostate cancer.

Bella Italy: Inflated restaurant bills in Italian restaurant

Odd but true in various occassions recently, Japanese tourists to Italy has dropped by more than 50 percent in a decade, with inflated restaurant prices a major complaint. Read UPI.com

Most recently there has been cases of inflated bills at restaurants in Italy some like this case of 2 Japanese tourists in a restaurant in Rome the bill 695 euro according to tgcom

In another post in Italian another case of inflated bills with even pictures of the bill at this time dinner went for whole 954 euro see for yourself here

Elementbars.com: Customizable nutrition bars

Elements bars: You build your own custom energy and protein bars out of which each of these energy bars are handmade, contains only natural and organic ingredients, and to add to the beauty and uniqueness it is delivered fresh for an unforgettable delicious home-made taste.


1. Choose your core of the bar: chewy, oaty, crispy or datey

2 Pick your choice of fruits - dried choices apricots, blueberries, cherries, prunes, raisins, cranberries.

3. Add in your favorite nuts . Skip this if you do not like nuts like me

4. Add sweets.

5. Still want more? Ok, you add add nutritional boosts to your bar like whey or soy protein.


At element bars you customise energy bars, customise protein bars great choice of homemade protein bars or homemade energy bars

GMA's recipes and more: grilling, easy recipes, dinner, food, diet, low-calorie, gourmet, meals

From http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Recipes/
Get a treat of the latest Good Morning America recipes, this page will give you more than you need to turn your love for food an interesting journey.
Here is a peep at what is currently featuring at Good Morning America recipes.

-Charlie's Enchilada Casserole
-Diane Sawyer's Meatloaf and Sandwiches
-Add Some Sizzle to the Grill -- Emmit Smith's Smoked Baby Back Ribs
-Recipe: Cool as a Cucumber Salad
-Recipe: Corn, Tomato and Basil Summer Salad
-Recipe: Sweet Cream Biscuits and Fruit

Good Morning America recipes gives you a wide selection of recipes and insider information and secrets for your summer grill, labor day recipes, back to school, kid snacks, lunch, burgers and much more.
Good Morning America makes this possible through some of the best chefs and cooks in the world stage:



Tune on to America's most wanted recipes