Top 3 Healthy Thirst Quencher Fruit Juice

Everyone is now thinking about how to make this summer season more enjoyable. Aside from planning where to go for a vacation, health conscious aficionados are making a list of how to maintain the body systems healthy and well hydrated. Since I enjoy a healthy lifestyle and am also preparing for the summer heat, I made this list of healthy thirst quenchers.

Apple and Grapefruit Juice

Apples are our body’s friend and also one of the best fruits that can quench our thirst this summer. Apples help hydrate our bodies since it is composed of 84% water plus it contributes to weight loss. Grapefruits are also high in H₂0: each grapefruits is made up of 91% water which is good when losing weight and refreshing the body.

Banana-Strawberry Juice

In some areas, summer is also mosquito season, so drinking banana juice will help you deal with it. Banana is known to reduce itching caused by mosquitoes. Banana contains 75% water and if you combine that with strawberry that has a 92% water content, this juice will replenish diminishing body fluids under the summer heat. Lastly, strawberry is also a great antioxidant for the body.

Watermelon and Lemon Juice

Watermelon is one of the most refreshing fruits, containing 92% water, vitamins A, B6, and C, and Lycopene, a vital natural antioxidant. On the other hand, lemon is known to be a strong and effective antibacterial. Combine these two fruits and you have a drink that provides you with numerous nutrients and other health benefits.

You can also combine other fruits to make other fruit juices. Keep you body healthy and hydrated this summer season with these thirst quenchers.

Local Farmers’ Market: A Healthy Choice

Healthy living follows when you choose to eat healthy, fresh, and organic ingredients like vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. Using the right ingredients when cooking is imperative in living a healthy lifestyle.

In this regard, patronizing the local farmers’ market is one thing you should consider visiting. It is where you can buy raw, organic food that can complete your healthy diet.

Take a Glimpse

At the local farmers’ market, they offer the best fruits and other produce - the fresher and the healthier, the better. Organic is another word for natural and this is the kind of food you can buy at a place like this.

What You Can Find?

●        Seasonal vegetables and fruits

●        Dairy products

●        Pork and beef products

●        Unprocessed and processed meats, and others.

Things to Remember

●  Make a list of what you will purchase

●  Know the products that are in season in your locality

●  Research the availability of  the farmers’ market in your place, especially time and day

●  Don’t go during peak hours to avoid great crowds

●  Bring a big bag

●  Prepare smaller bills for fast transactions

●  Buy in wholesale for good discounts

Aside from getting quality food, you can also grab the best priced food and products from the farmers’ market. When you buy wholesale, you can get your purchase for a more affordable price. Buying from the local farmers’ market helps the small farmers within your community earn more money directly and your entire community garner more revenue in the long run.

How To Save Space in The Kitchen

If you aren’t blessed with a large and spacious kitchen, maximizing the space that you have can be a big challenge. As a spacious kitchen may not be a reality for most, there are simple ways to achieve more elbow room in your kitchen. Read the following tips to make effective use of your kitchen space.

Reduce Kitchen Clutter

The first step in saving space in your kitchen is getting rid of the things you don’t need or want. Go through your stuff and segregate the things you need to transfer, keep, and throw away. Reducing the clutter helps you save more space for the things you need the most in your kitchen.

Hang Kitchen Tools

One of the best practices to free up more counter space is to hang items on your walls. Use wire racks or S-hooks to hang pans, mugs, and other kitchen utensils. You can also install hanging baskets to store heavier kitchen items and food that does not require refrigeration.

Use Your Cabinets

Aside from storing items inside the cabinets, you can also use your cabinet doors for other functions. Install a metal sheet inside a cabinet door to post recipes, notes, and other kitchen reminders. For cabinets under the sink, attach hooks, rags, brushes, and other cleaning materials. You can also use the tops of your cabinets to store seldom-used kitchen items.

Use Pantry Dividers

When storing baking sheets, cutting boards, and other pantry items in cabinets, create pantry dividers using tension rods. These rods fit the small space of your cupboards and allows for easy access and return of kitchen items.

Organize Tools

Commonly used cooking tools such as ladles, spatulas, tongs, and mixing/wooden spoons should be placed close to the area where you’ll use them most. Put these utensils in a jar or container near the stove. For other tools such as can openers, scoops, and graters, place them close to the counter or the food preparation area.

Add Storage

Use your kitchen furniture to add extra storage. A good example of this is to use your baker’s rack to store plates, bowls, and other kitchenware.

These are just some of the tips you can use to arrange and maximize your kitchen space. You can also get creative for a better designed and organized kitchen.

Special Cake For Mom's Birthday

I wanted something different for my mom’s birthday this year as I had made a promise to myself that I would give my full effort and time to show my mom how much I love her. With this in mind, an idea came to me - baking a cake would be my special gift to her.

I browsed the net and searched for a recipe that would be delicious and still fit my mom’s healthy diet. I found a great recipe from Good Food magazine for a Light & Fluffy Chocolate Mocha Cake, a low-fat cake. See the recipe below.

Light & Fluffy Chocolate Mocha Cake

Ingredients:

Cake

Softened butter (for greasing)

3 Large eggs

85g Caster Sugar *I used C&H Superfine Sugar for this)

70g Plain flour

1 tbsp Cornflour *Cornstarch

2 tbsp Cocoa

½ tsp Baking powder *I used Kraft’s Calumet Baking Powder for this

Icing and filling

25g Dark chocolate - chopped *I used Lindt 75% dark chocolate for this because my mom loves dark chocolate; however, be warned that using 75% chocolate will make the icing bitter

1 tbsp strong black coffee

100g light soft cheese *I used the Kraft Philadelphia Extra Light Soft Cheese Mini Tubs

100g 0% Greek yogurt *I used FAGE Total 0% yogurt for this

2 tbsp Icing sugar *C&H Pure Cane Powdered Sugar

Decoration

15g Dark chocolate - chopped - *I also used Lindt 75% dark chocolate for this

Baking:

I heated the oven to 180^oC (if fan-forced oven) or to 160^oC (if gas oven). I lightly buttered and lined the bases of 2x18cm sandwich tins with baking paper. Then I whisked the eggs and sugar for about 10 minutes using an electric hand whisk. The mixture increased greatly in volume and was thick enough that it left a trail on the surface when I lifted the whisk blades.

I sifted the flour, cornstarch, cocoa, and baking powder over the surface and folded it gently using a large metal spoon. I divided it between the tins, spread the mixture to the edges, then I baked for 15-20 minutes until the cakes were well risen, had begun to shrink away from the sides of the tins, and spring back when gently pressed. I left the cakes to cool in the tins for 5 minutes, then rotate on top of a rack.

Decorating:

I microwaved the chocolate and coffee together on medium heat for 20-30 seconds until the chocolate had melted. I stirred until it smoothened and slightly cooled. I beat the soft cheese with the yogurt and powdered sugar until smoothened, spooned half the mixture into a small bowl and stirred in the melted chocolate then set it aside.

I put one cake on a serving plate and spread the yogurt mixture on it. I covered the cake, then spread the chocolate yogurt mixture over the top.

Finishing:

I microwaved the 15g dark chocolate on medium heat for about 20 seconds until it melted. I stirred it gently until smoothened, then drizzled it all over the cake.

After I had finished baking this cake for my mom, I confidently gave it to her as a present on her birthday. She cried and ate it immediately and, according to her, she loved it and was touched by this special gift I gave her.

Aria Restaurant Experience

I visited a friend in Denver last week. It’s been a year since we’ve seen each other so we decided to dine out. I found this coupon on Waka Network for a 44% discount at Aria Restaurant. An hour after arriving at Denver, we headed straight to Aria Restaurant.

The Place

Aria is a restaurant in Denver, Colorado that serves classic world cuisine. They have a friendly staff who guided us the moment we walked into their restaurant.

The Food

Aria offers a variety of dishes inspired from different cuisines from all over the world. They serve meals for seasonal tasting, lounge time, lunch, and dinner.

For the appetizers, my friend and I had the Grilled Calamari Steak Sandwich. I was never really a fan of calamari but theirs is tender and juicy that I was instantly converted. My friend enjoyed it, too.

For the main course, we ordered the grilled lamb and seared duck. The moment the grilled lamb was served on our table, I knew it was going to be a hit. its enticing aroma was the prelude to it all. The first bite was exquisite. The meat was tender and the sauce was rich, creamy, and tasty. I finished the whole serving satisfied.

We tried the seared duck next. Compared to the grilled lamb, the seared duck lacked in flavor. Although it had a taste of its own, the grilled lamb lingered in my mouth. My friend, however, preferred seared duck over the lamb.

Another great part of our dining experience was the Chardonnay. The citrus taste of this wine complemented our meal.

Overall, we were completely satisfied with Aria Restaurant. My friend and I will definitely come back to try their other specialties.

Different Ways to Prepare Tofu

Tofu has a bad and tasteless reputation to many. However, tofu is a food you should never ignore. It has a lot of benefits and is imperative to one’s healthy diet.

Tofu, also known as soy bean curd, is made from curdling fresh soy milk. It has a plain and little nutty taste which absorbs any flavor combined with it. There are three different types of tofu available in the supermarket: the firm, the soft, and the silken tofu. The firm tofu is the best kind for frying and grilling. The soft tofu, on the other hand, is for pudding and scrambles, while the silken tofu is best for purees and smoothies. Tofu is rich in protein and high in calcium so you are assured to get plenty of health benefits every time you eat it.

Listed below are some of the different ways you can enjoy the tofu.

Stir-fry. If you find fried tofu rather boring, try something new. Instead of just frying the tofu in plain oil, it is best to cut the tofu into chunks and marinate it in soy sauce for about an hour. Fry the tofu in olive oil and wait until the tofu becomes crispy. Top it with grated ginger or slices of garlic. I’ve tried this recipe before and the tofu became more tasty.

Grill. In grilling tofu, cut the tofu in rectangles and marinate it into soy sauce, sugar, chili powder, and lemon juice. Leave it for hours or overnight. Grill the tofu on the griller and use the remaining marinade as sauce. This recipe is healthier because there is no oil involved in the cooking process.

Blend. Making tofu milkshake is easy as 1-2-3. Just combine silken tofu, ice, a fruit of your choice, and cream or milk in a blender. Blend until the mixture becomes smooth and pour it into glasses. You might want to try the strawberry and tofu milkshake for a light and creamy taste.

Steam. For raw salads, steamed firm tofu is best. Just place the tofu in the steamer and wait for 8-10 minutes until the tofu is cooked. Wait until the tofu cools off and use it as topping for your salad.

Saute. Sautéing tofu is one of the quickest ways to prepare it. Slice the tofu into cubes and sauté it in oil. Add mixed vegetables and sauté for another three minutes until the vegetables are half cooked. I have served sautéed tofu and vegetables for husband and he loved it.

The next time you go to the supermarket, include tofu in your grocery list. Try these suggestions and make soy bean curd a part of your meal.

More Than Just a Marshmallow

Ever since I was a kid, I have been a really great fan of marshmallows. I simply love its smooth texture and the way it melts in my mouth. I also love any dessert with marshmallows. And roasting marshmallows or putting them in my hot chocolate are my most favorite uses of marshmallows.

However, marshmallows are more than their fluffy texture and sweet taste. There are also several amusing ideas you can do with marshmallows.

1. Cupcake Frosting

Instead of using the normal frosting, I use marshmallows as substitute frosting. Minutes before the cupcake is done, I put a marshmallow or two on top of it and return it to the oven. And the result: a soft, sweet, and yummy frosting for my cupcake recipe.

2. Cake Decoration

Different colors and shapes of marshmallows can create a festive look on a regular birthday cake. You can easily decorate your cake by making flowers and other artistic garnish on the top or side of the cake. Marshmallows can also be used to stop the wax from trickling down a birthday candle. You just have to push a candle into a marshmallow. My mom shared this tip with me when she made a cake for my niece.

3. Brown Sugar Softener

To keep your brown sugar from turning into hard blocks, try using a marshmallow. Put a marshmallow into the sugar bag or container to consume the moisture. Marshmallows absorb the excess moisture that will keep the brown sugar soft for weeks. I’ve tried this before and it worked. I never saw a sugar clump in my sugar bag again.

4. Sore Throat Remedy

Whenever I feel a sore throat coming in, I eat marshmallows as first aid. I’ve read an article about it and tried it myself. Surprisingly, marshmallows soothed the pain and irritation in my throat. Marshmallow components have antibacterial properties, creating a soothing effect on inflamed membranes of the mouth and throat. It is also good for dry cough as it prevents further irritation.

These are just some tips you can do with a marshmallow. Try these ideas at home and see how useful marshmallows can be.