Friday, January 30, 2009

Edible Flowers For Garnish

'Edible flowers', does it seem strange? Let me end the confusion. Flowers have been cooked as a main course and used occasionally as a garnish since the Roman times. In fact, we often overlook the fact that a lot of the items that we mistake for vegetables are actually edible flowers. Broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower and the artichoke are some of the common flowers that we consume.

Here are a few uncommon items that are derivatives of flowers. Saffron which is an expensive spice is actually the pollen that grows inside a crocus flower. Fennel pollen is used for adding a unique flavor to food. Most herbs have edible flowers. These flowers when used as a garnish impart a flavor similar to the herb only milder. Some of the favorites that are used by chefs around the world are sage, linden, rosemary, basil, borage and thyme.

Micro greens

Micro Greens are nature's purest edible flowers.These flowers are tiny but look fully developed and are ideal for usage as garnish for pastries or delicate dessert delicacies. The art of culinary presentation has received a boost since the arrival of these Microgreens.

Today, they are like the icing on the cake and are used by chefs in large and fancy restaurants. Apart from the aesthetic touch that they impart to a dish, their mild but persistent flavor is also sought after. The best part is that there are no fixed rules about their usage. You can use them in teas, pizzas, pancakes, pies, pastries, cocktails and mocktails. Simple as they might seem, edible flowers are a wonderful addition to any exclusive dish.

Buyers' tips

The fact that flowers are edible should not be mistaken to consume any flower that catches your eye in the garden. Some flowers can be toxic. So always ensure that you purchase your edible flowers or Microgreens from a dealer or retailer who produces the freshest and purest edible flowers.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rama_Krishna

Preserving Fruits the Right Way

Keeping fruits fresh for an extended period is not difficult if correct preservation techniques are applied. So before we get started, certain things like pectin powder/ liquid, lemon juice, sugar, ascorbic acid, any artificial sweetener, glass/ plastic freezer containers are needed first.

Over a span of time, fruits tend to darken. To prevent this, it is good to coat them with acidic juice such as juice of lemon, orange or pineapple. There are commercial anti-darkening products available in the market that can also be used. Soaking the fruits in ascorbic acid will also prevent it from darkening over an extended period of time.

If you do not wish to coat or soak fruits in preservatives, you can alternatively use glass or plastic freezer containers. These are special containers that will keep fruits in good quality under freezing conditions.

Fruits like apples, figs, plum, mulberry, cherry, peach, blackberry, and grapes taste great as jams and jellies. So, if you like to have these fruits in the form of jellies, then preserving becomes a lot easier. Just prepare the jelly and preserve it in a glass container.

Drying fruits is also a good way of preserving them. People like to consume some fruits in dried condition. Often fruits like apples, pears, and plums are dried and preserved. A food dehydrator can be used to dry the fruits in the form of slices. These dried fruits are stored in air tight containers.

Pint or quart jars can also be used for preserving fruits. Fruits can be hot packed by adding it in raw condition to hot syrup and then reheating it to boiling point. This should then be packed in the containers along with the syrup.

Canning of fruits is also a good method of preservation. Cut fruit into half and remove the core and stem. This will give you two edible halves. You can even slice the fruit the way you like. The slices are then heat processed and sealed in air tight containers.

Fruits should always be consumed when they are fresh and ripe. However, if you like to consume it after sometime, the above-mentioned tips should help you in preserving your favorite fruits for a longer time.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alfred_Anderson

Exactly What is Freeze Dried Food?

Not all naturally occurring food can stay fresh and eatable for a long period after they have been taken of the trees. Meat can also not stay fresh after the animal has been butchered. In order to prevent the food quality from too much degrading, some techniques are adapted which also includes the method of freeze drying.

A freeze drying is a method by which a food object can be dried using a freezing method and the moisture is converted into ice and the food is preserved. The freeze drying for food often uses temperatures as low as -29 Celsius. Later when heat is applied, the product turns back into the normal state but the frozen water sublimes meaning that it turns directly from ice to water vapors and it is not converted into liquid water.

This can help in keeping the food somewhat fresh and its quality is not much compromised. Freeze drying is also considered as a better option than other methods of preservation because the freeze dried food can last for longer periods and also does not add up to any extra weight over the food products because nothing new is added only the water molecules are frozen which will later sublime when the food is heated.

Not all food products may be freeze dried because some of them can be consumed at once without any need of preservation like an orange, apple etc. which can be eaten at once. But there are some food related objects which needs storage even inside homes. Such objects include products like tea, coffee etc. which needs storage over some period of time.

It is however not necessarily true that fruits and vegetables cannot be dried or should not be dried. A number of stores can be seen to sell freeze dried vegetables and sometimes fruit as well. Freeze dried peas and other vegetables can be seen for sale which can be stored for even a whole year and can be used anytime during that period.

This type of food can help in emergency and traveling conditions where there may not be any food available easily. In these cases, freeze dried food can be kept which may only need a little heat for making them or the usual preparing procedure may be needed.

But it can still be said that fresh food can have the taste and nutrition which may be unseen and unheard in present days. The future may bring something unusual about which nothing may be said now and only patience can be adapted.

Mathew Paterson or Matt is an outdoor enthusiast, who loves hunting and camping. If he's not outside he's spending he's time writing and sharing his experiences about the two subjects. He hopes to help people improve their hunting strategies, how to best enjoy the outdoors and how to better plan for an emergency crisis.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mathew_Paterson

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Natural Sweeteners, Like Yacon & Stevie That Are Safe For Children and Diabetics

Sugar is one of the most popular food staples found in the market. Most people will prefer a sweetened food and a drink compared to an unsweetened one. However, although sugar may be considered as popular food stuff, it is not recommended by doctors due to its hazards. Some potential problems caused by sugar include gaining extra weight and losing your health if you have Diabetes. Hence, due to these potential hazards of sugar, more and more alternatives for sweeteners are found every day.

However, recent research has shown that artificial sweeteners can be just as bad as sugar and in some cases they can even have worse effects. Some of the artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and saccharin have been found to have detrimental effects after prolonged use. For example, saccharin has been found to trigger various forms of cancer after prolonged use. Furthermore, aspartame has been found to miss up blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. In addition, using artificial sweeteners has been found to miss up the natural order of your body and thus cause your body to crave more carbohydrates as a result. These types of artificial sweeteners do not send the necessary signal of satisfaction to your brain and as a result you end up eating more carbohydrates.

Thus, your best solution to these dilemmas is to use natural sweeteners. Natural sweeteners can come in various forms. The more popular natural sweeteners include Stevia, Yakon, and Agaves. Stevia is perhaps the most potent natural and organic sweetener, as it allows you to get the sweetness of sugar without worrying about the calories or without worrying about the diabetic effects of sugar.

Stevia is a special type of an herb that is found originally in Latin America. It was found by the Spanish Conquistadores around 600 years ago. It has been used by many tribes and by the people of South America for thousands of years. Stevia has about the 400 times the sweetness of sugar. In fact, using just a tea spoon of Stevia is equivalent to a cup of sugar. Moreover, one pound of powdered Stevia has only 10 calories and as you can see, you won't be gaining any extra weight due to the usage of Stevia. Furthermore, the usage of Stevia is certified as completely safe for diabetics. In addition, compared to artificial sweeteners, you can use it to bake your favorite cakes, as it will perform better compared to other sweeteners both artificial and natural. This special herb has been certified as safe for children and diabetics in both Germany and Japan; thus it is widely used in these countries.

Of course, you are not confined to just Stevia when it comes to natural and organic sweeteners. Both Yakon and Agaves are also natural sweeteners that give good results when they are used. Although, they are not potent as Stevia, they can still give the sensation of sugar to its users and both of these natural sweeteners are also safe for children and diabetics.

Come learn about the greatest selection of Superfoods on The Planet.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_S_Fitzgerald

Is the Elements For Life Organic Superfoods Company an Economic Solution

If you are looking for an Internet business opportunity, then it is important for you to be able to look for feasible options. This can be quite important as the economic trends in the US seem to be worsening. Hence, picking the wrong sector for your Internet business can be a wrong move for you. This means that you will have to be diligent in your choices. One of the worst mistakes that you can make would be to try to sell off a product that no one will need. However, working as an affiliate of Organic Superfoods Company, to sell various organic super foods can be a viable solution to your economic problems.

So then what can you do? First of all, it is important for you to identify with these super food products so that you can be successful. There are many super foods that have been documented with extraordinary health benefits. This can be a great way to make money as everyone is interested in health products that will allow them to live healthier and to live longer. There are many super foods such as Marine Phytoplankton, Cacao, Goji Berries, Pruvian Maca etc.

All of the foods mentioned above have been documented with different health properties. Some of these super foods are aphrodisiacs, while some of them are proficient in increasing the strength and the vitality of your body and your immune system. Hence, it can be a great way to gain the attention of your potential customers on the Internet.

By selling super foods in your Internet business, you are virtually guaranteed to succeed in gaining the interest of many people. The need to preserve life is a very fundamental need and a primal instinct. Thus, much research shows that using organic elements for improving your health quality will be an endeavor for many people. In fact, many statistics show that many people will spend money for health products, while they may cut their spending in other areas. By investing in organic super foods, many people can lower their health care costs as their longetivity will be increased and thus they will benefit immensely.

With proper network marketing techniques, you are able to gain an unduly advantage that helps you to make money and to be beneficial to the people at the same time. This can be a great asset for you, as you can have many satisfied customers that can act as a base for your future business activities. The finances of your Internet business won't be a problem either as you will not have to worry about production or stock costs. All you have to do would be to express the advantages of your super food products on the Internet and the rest will practically take care of itself. In fact, the chances of success for your Internet business will be aided greatly by the selling of organic super foods.

Come learn about the greatest selection of Superfoods on The Planet.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_S_Fitzgerald