Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp Scampi

Hawaii is known for its white sand beaches, tropical climate and fun water sports. But any food lover will tell you that the real draw on Oahu is the fresh garlic shrimp or Shrimp Scampi served at roadside shrimp trucks along the North Shore…

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pound jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/4 cup dry white vermouth
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Directions:

1. Put the shrimp on a large pie pan or plate and pat them completely dry with a paper towel. Arrange the shrimp so they lay flat and are evenly spaced.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Add the butter to the skillet. When the foaming subsides, raise the heat to high, and invert the plate of shrimp over the pan so the shrimp fall into the pan all at once. Cook the shrimp, without moving them, for 1 minute. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Turn the shrimp over and cook for 2 minutes more. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl.
3. Return the skillet to the heat and pour in the vermouth and lemon juice. Boil the liquid until slightly thickened, about 30 seconds. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir the zest and parsley into the sauce. Pour the sauce over the shrimp, season with salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine.

{Answers}

There Is Such A Thing As A Beer Belly

Any alcoholic drink can add to the size of your stomach for one very simple reason: Alcohol is dense in calories. Every gram of alcohol contains the same amount of calories as a gram of butter – seven which almost twice as many as a gram of most other carbohydrates or protein. Like other calorie-packed foods. It promotes weight gain.
But there’s also evidence that beer, more than other kinds of alcohol, may cause more fat to settle on your belly. Research at the University of North Carolina at Chap I Hill found that among those who had more than six drinks a week, beer drinkers had the highest waist-to-hip-ratio followed by those who who opted for liquor. Wine drinkers had the slimmest waistlines.

{WomensFitness}

10 Ways to Cut Back on Sugar

Americans are consuming way more sugar than they should — 22 teaspoons a day. It’s clear we need to cut back, but it’s hard to break old habits. The American Heart Association (AHA) is urging people to aim for no more than 100 calories of sugar a day (six teaspoons). Here are some easy things you can do to lighten up on the white stuff.

1. Cut back slowly. A gradual switch is ideal to avoid the chances of regressing back to sweets.

2. Try to ween yourself off of the sugar you add to foods. Stir less sugar into your cup of joe and sprinkle less sugar on your cereal or oatmeal.

3. Choose your sugar vice for the day. Limit your daily sugar intake. Keep in mind that one soft drink, a small candy bar, a few plain cookies, or a small portion of light ice cream or frozen yogurt is equal to 100 to 150 calories of added sugar.

4. Don’t be fooled by natural sugars. Brown sugar, molasses, Sucanat, and turbinado sugar are still sugar. 5. Avoid liquid sugars. A 12-ounce can of coke contains 40 grams of sugar, and a 20-ounce bottle of Vitamin Water contains 32 grams.

6. Buy plain yogurt instead of flavored yogurt. Either sweeten it with fresh or frozen fruit, or mix half plain yogurt with half fruit yogurt.

7. Don’t be fooled by healthier versions of treats. An oatmeal raisin cookie and strawberry ice cream are still made with sugar. So are many energy bars.

8. Get fruity. To satisfy your sweet tooth, choose naturally sweet foods like fruit, dried fruit such as dates or apricots, fruit smoothies, carrots, sweet potatoes, and homemade popsicles.

9. Check labels on fruit products. Fruit is naturally sweet enough, but some companies choose to make it sweeter by adding sugar. Choose jams and juices that are sweetened with nothing but fruit.

10. Check labels on other foods and look for hidden sugars. If a label says sucrose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, cane juice crystals, evaporated cane juice, dextrose, molasses, or malted barley extract, it contains sugar.

{FitSugar}

Perks of Water

Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day?
We have all heard it before, you should drink at least 8 cups of water each day. Then to our confusion, we now hear all these other alternatives as to how much water to drink. Tired of not knowing exactly how much H20 you should drink each day? Well look no further, your water questions are answered here and now!

Health benefits of Water
Water is your body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.
Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.

How Much Water Do You Need?

Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.

So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.

What about the advice to drink eight glasses a day?

Everyone has heard the advice, “drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.” That’s about 1.9 liters, which isn’t that different from the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation. Although the ‘8 by 8″ rule isn’t supported by hard evidence, it remains popular because it’s easy to remember. Just be sure to keep in mind that the rule should be reframed as, “Drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day,” because all fluids count towards the daily total.

{NutritionandHealthyEating}

Olive Oil, The Prime Component of the Mediterranean Diet

Olive oil is the prime component of the Mediterranean Diet. It is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is – freshly pressed from the fruit.

Generally, olive oil is extracted by pressing or crushing olives. There are different varieties of olive oil, depending on the amount of processing involved. Varieties include:

Extra virgin – considered the best, least processed, comprising the oil from the first pressing of the olives.

Virgin – from the second pressing of the olives.

Pure – undergoes some processing, such as filtering and refining. Is made by adding a little extra virgin olive oil to refined olive oil.

Extra light – undergoes considerable processing and only retains a very mild olive flavor.

The less the olive oil is handled, the closer to its natural state, the better the oil.

Olive oil’s health benefits

The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of antioxidative substances. Olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels while raising HDL (the “good” cholesterol) levels. Studies have shown that people who consumed about 2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil daily for 1 week showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenols, in the blood.

Olive oil is very well tolerated by the stomach. In fact, olive oil’s protective function has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis. Including olive oil in your diet may also offer benefits in terms of colon cancer prevention.

5 Foods That Fight Fatigue

Spinach

If you’ve ever felt very lethargic after a meal, then you’re eating the wrongs foods. Food is supposed to release nutrients that boost your energy, not make you tired. So here are 5 easy-to-digest and rich-in-nutrient foods that will essentially help overcome fatigue due to the stress of our hectic lifestyles.

Oatmeal

Why it works: Carbohydrates spend the least amount of time in the stomach, which means you get a quick boost of energy. But unlike processed, sugary cereals, whole oats don’t result in a sugar crash. The high dietary fiber content in oats helps you feel full longer, preventing overeating throughout the day, which can lead to weight gain, sluggishness, and fatigue.

Yogurt

Why it works: Because it’s soft, your body processes yogurt more quickly than a solid food, making it a great source of quick
energy. But while you get a rapid result, it’s also long-lasting, thanks to a good ratio of protein to carbohydrates. Protein stays in the stomach longer than carbohydrates, which translates into a steady source of energy.

Spinach

Why it works: Iron plays a direct and important role in fighting fatigue. It’s a known energy booster, helping the body produce energy by delivering oxygen to the cells and enabling them to perform optimally. Spinach and other leafy greens offer a high rate of iron for an extremely low caloric intake. Spinach also happens to be an excellent source of vitamin C, which boosts iron absorption.

Nuts and seeds

Why they work: Pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts are all good sources of magnesium, which helps fight muscle fatigue. The tryptophan found in sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, walnuts, and almonds battles emotional fatigue and promotes sleep, which can ease physical weariness.

Beans

Why they work: The protein and high fiber content in beans work together to help balance blood sugar and prevent spikes and dips in energy. The fiber also promotes digestive health, encourages bowel regularity, and helps prevent constipation and weight gain. Thanks to the protein in beans, you get a gradual source of lasting energy.

{Yahoo}

Walking to Reduce Stress

It’s that time of the year again, when everybody is stressing out from a multitude of reasons: tax season for some and finals week for others.  So when you’re in a tense or anger-inducing situation, taking a walk — it can calm your mind and body; walking is a good medicine.
Walking reduces stress in the body in several ways:

• It helps to eliminate stress hormones (such as adrenaline) from your body.
• It reduces tension in several large muscle groups — the glutes (buttocks), the quads (front of thighs) and hamstrings (back of thighs).
• It increases the production of beta-endorphins, which are thought to calm the body and promote restful sleep.

How to enjoy a good walk?

Comfortable and loose fitting clothing is best for a good walk. Always add layers when it seems a little chilly outside.  Use flexible, light weight shoes with a cushioned low heal and roomy toe box for a relaxed, enjoyable walk.

Some do’s and don’ts of walking

• Walk tall, with your chin up (parallel to the ground) focusing 6 meters ahead.
• Maintain a moderate pace. Don’t feel that you must walk so fast that you become to breathless to converse normally
• Don’t over stride or elongate your steps. For extra speed take quicker and shorter steps.
• Swing arms front to back, with elbow close to the body. Avoid swinging your arms from side to side.
• Don’t land flat footed. Roll through each steps and push off with your toes.

Don’t feel obliged to carry weights. These throw off natural walking movements and can strain ligaments and tendons.

{RoshanBaskota}

Broiled Chicken with Peppers

Eating healthy is very beneficial but it can also be quite expensive. If you’re looking for a quality meal that’s easy on your wallet, you’ve come to the right place. This meal can serve as a perfect family dinner that will keep your stomach and wallet full.

Estimated Preparation and Cooking Time: 50 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 russet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• Kosher salt
• 8 small skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 1/4 pounds)
• 1 heaping tablespoon dried oregano
• Freshly ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 6 cloves garlic, smashed
• 4 to 6 pickled cherry peppers, seeded and sliced, plus 1/3 cup brine
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Preheat the broiler. Put the potato in a medium saucepan, cover with water and add 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until just tender, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
2. Meanwhile, pat the chicken dry and sprinkle with the oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
3. Add the potato to the skillet and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until slightly soft, about 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium; add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and the garlic and cook 2 minutes. Add the cherry peppers and brine and cook, scraping up the pan with a wooden spoon, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
4. Return the chicken to the skillet and sprinkle with the parsley. Toss with tongs, then set the chicken skin-side up on top of the vegetables. Broil until the skin is crisp, 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Per serving: Calories 611; Fat 42 g (Saturated 10 g); Cholesterol 169 mg; Sodium 243 mg; Carbohydrate 20 g; Fiber 3 g; Protein 38 g

{FoodNetwork}

Indonesian Cuisine – Soto Betawi

Now this creamy and beefy soup dish is neither healthy nor simple but don’t let that discourage you from making this delicious dish (It’s my absolutely favorite Indonesian meal)…and after a long case of the Monday’s who couldn’t use with some extra spice to finish off the day? Also if you have a tendency towards lactose intolerance please be cautious with the coconut milk as you might find yourself sitting on the jon a little longer than expected =).

Soto Betawi – Recipe

Beef stock

• 1 lb beef (I used brisket, you can use other parts of beef with some offals)
• 1 galangal, crushed
• 1 stalk lemongrass, crushed
• 3 salam leaves (Indonesian bay leaves)
• Water

1. Boil beef with galangal, lemongrass and salam leaves until tender. I used a pressure cooker, so this only took 30 minutes, if you are not using pressure cooker, bring to boil and simmer for at least 1.5 hours. Since I wanted to get rid of the fat from the brisket, I prepared this one night ahead, cool it down and keep it in the fridge. The next day, the fat has hardened and I could take it out easily. If you are using leaner meat, you can skip the fat removing process.
2. If you don’t eat beef, replace it with other kinds of meat.

Spices

• 5 shallot
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 2 cm ginger
• 1 tbsp ground corriander seeds
• 1 tsp cumin
• white pepper, salt, olive oil

1. I threw everything into my food processor and pulsed until it forms a fine paste. In Indonesia, we normally use mortar and pestle.

Soup

• 400ml coconut milk

1. To finish the soup, bring beef and stock to boil, add spices, and add coconut milk. Adjust seasonings and spices according to your taste. The soup is done.

Other Ingredients

• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced into 8-12 sections each
• 2 tomatoes, sliced into 8-12 sections each

1. I pan fried the potato slices on a non stick pan with minimal amount of olive oil (only about 1 tbsp), pan fry slowly on medium heat until softened, crank up the heat afterwards to brown the surface. Alternatively, you can soften the potatoes by baking or microwaving them.
2. The tomatoes do not need to be cooked.

Garnish

• spring onion, thinly sliced
• crispy shallot
• red chillies, sliced thinly
• Indonesian sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)
• Emping (belinjo crackers) or prawn crackers (optional)
• lime (quartered)

1. To serve, place potatoes and tomatoes in a bowl, scoop some beef, pour soup over it, sprinkle some crackers, crispy shallot and spring onion. Serve with kecap manis, chilli and lime slices on the side as condiments.

Have fun with this one and most importantly enjoy!

{Mochachocolatarita}

French Quiche

A French quiche is one of the simplest dishes you can make and good results are nearly guaranteed… Quiche is a savory baked tart or custard filled with meats, cheese, and vegetables, and thickened with eggs. It is always served open face and baked in a pastry crust, and is regarded as the savory equivalent of a custard tart or pie.

Ingredients:

1. 1 9-inch refrigerated pie crust
2. 2 tablespoons olive oil
3. 2 medium onions, chopped
4. Kosher salt and black pepper
5. 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
6. 4 large eggs
7. 3/4 cup half-and-half
8. 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
9. 8 ounces Gruyere, grated
10. 4 cups mixed greens

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Fit the crust into a 9-inch pie plate. Place on a baking sheet.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the parsley.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir in the onion mixture and the Gruyère.
4. Pour the egg mixture into the crust. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes. Drizzle the greens with the remaining tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Serve with the quiche.