How Warm Water Bath Makes You Feel Better After a Cooking Exercise

Cooking is simple for the people who have a passion for it. For the ones who go there as a past time activity or a must-do session; it’s a tedious exercise.

Do you know how it feels to crack a new recipe enjoyed by everyone at home?

Cooking is a creative activity with several benefits.

One of them is to boost your mental sharpness, especially when you have to research a recipe and have everyone lick their fingers because of the soft and delicious taste of the food.

Other benefits include

• You are sure of what you consume
• You have control of your weight
• You can practice weight goals with ease
• It saves time and money
• You eat what you want-variety
• Helps you to connect with yourself

You have several ways of getting warm water at home. You can choose to boil it manually. But the best way which is simple and easy to maintain is to invest in a tankless water heater.

As the name suggests, it’s a system where you only get warm water at that time. As you switch on the button, the water that passes through the taps at that time is friendly.

Unlike the previous setups, where you had to heat all the water in the tank before it gets to your faucets.

The moment you switch off the heater, the water cools down, and the process repeats itself.

Look at all the wasted energy. Here is how warm water helps to improve your emotional health.

1. Warm water improves oxygen intake

Once you immerse yourself in warm water, there is an increase in lung capacity as well as increased heart rate.

The ripple effect of this is increased oxygen intake, which means your body works at optimum levels. This, in turn, makes your breathing better and faster.

• Eases any sort of body discomfort and body inflammation

After a hard day’s work in the kitchen which mostly involves standing for long hours; you can’t escape any pains and body inflammations.

At times, when things go wrong in the kitchen, your stress levels are also increased. That kind of uneasiness puts pressure on the nervous system.

Warm water increases body temperature and decreases pressure. The changes in the temperature and pressure systems calm the nervous system stimulating the production of stress-relieving hormones.

• Supports return of body muscles to normalcy within a short time

Depending on the time you take to make a meal; at times, all your body muscles and bones are overstretched, leaving you in pain.

Preparation of spices, walking up and down, ensuring the food is perfect involves a lot of physical activity.

At the end of it all, your bones and muscles are in great pain. You don’t need drugs to heal then.

Use warm water to dismantle the clots or any other fluid accumulation in areas of pain to have the “feel better feeling.

• Improves hormone imbalance

If you have trouble with your hormones which affects your mood and promote a negative attitude.

 It’s worse when stressed while running kitchen errands. Did you know that a simple warm water bath can sort all these?

How is this possible? Warm water when in contact with the body stimulates the production of serotonin which is a hormone responsible for good mood, proper well being and happiness.

What else do you need?

• Moisturises the skin to have the flawless and glowing skin coat

With all these functions, sweating is paramount.

The sweat blocks the skin pores, which further leads to acne now that the body wants to release some toxins but find a barrier.

It is the barriers that accumulate that you wish to ever to go and see a dermatologist.

If you live in a society who believes in tradition, you now want to associate it with witchcraft.

The solution to all this is in your bathroom. The tankless water heater is a must- install appliance for all kitchen lovers.

The steam from warm water opens the pores making you sweat even more. That is in order; you’re detoxifying your body.

Further, it prompts you to take more and more water. This is the secret behind the flawless skin.

• Leaves you fresh both in the body and mind

Now that we use oils and makeup, cold water at times may not help to remove the products.

After a cooking episode, you don’t want to stay near where people are for you feel you are smelly.

That alone is enough to lower your self-esteem. That nice and slow warm water bath is the ultimate solution.

It relaxes your body and mind making you fresh, ready to start yet another day full of freshness.

Never fear to handle hard recipes and all that it takes to prepare a good meal. The fatigue and stress that comes with it have a solution- a warm water bath.

6 Smart Kitchen Technology for Every Modern Kitchen

The Internet of Things has changed the kitchen game.

Smart kitchens are designed to help you, the homeowner, to enjoy the best of times in your kitchen. There’s a lot of tech in the modern age to include in your kitchen for a modern touch, look and feel.

Smart kitchens use technology to update every kitchen appliance to meet its full efficiency. New kitchens are made smart, and the old ones remodeled to accommodate smart appliances integrated with technology for easier functioning.

Smart kitchens make it possible to use the internet to reduce the effort and time it takes to prepare meals and do kitchen chores. You need to install an app that corresponds to your smart kitchen appliances.

With the app, you can access your home appliance from a remote area. Here’re six smart kitchen technologies for every modern kitchen:

• A smart refrigerator for your food
• Smart kitchen chimney
• Water purifiers for smart kitchens
• A smart cooker
• Identity theft protection
• A smart coffee maker

1) A smart refrigerator for your food

The normal refrigerators are designed to keep foods fresh. Smart refrigerators are on another level. You can plan your meals, and manage your schedules with these refrigerators.

The fridges also have a screen where you can stream your videos and music. What a wonderful refrigerator!

It’s also possible to install other apps for extra capabilities. You can install apps that enable you to view recipes and book deliveries.

Some also have built-in sensors. The sensors make the refrigerator to open automatically when you’re in front of the fridge.

2) Smart kitchen chimneys

Chimneys are an important part of kitchens because they ensure proper ventilation in your cooking space. Some modern homes have smart chimneys installed in them.

Smart chimneys come with smartphone apps that give you the chance to control your chimney from anywhere you are.

You can also book a servicing appointment from service companies through relevant apps. The chimneys are also designed in a way that reminds you, the homeowner, to clean them after enough dirt has accumulated.

Other benefits of smart chimneys include:

• Protection for your kitchen tiles
• Keeps your kitchen walls clean
• Prevents sneezing
• Removes bad odor
• Elevates the appearance and appeal of your kitchen

3) Water purifiers for smart kitchens

Water is life, and it’s most needed when clean. It’s important to buy and install water purifiers in your kitchen because water is among the most basic needs that we all require in our homes.

Smart water purifiers have been designed to make purifying water easy and time-saving.

The purifiers have a platform where you can view the data on the quality of your water in real-time. Like other smart kitchen devices, it comes with a smartphone app that displays the quality of water.

You also get alerted through the smartphone app when it’s time to change your filters. This ensures that the quality of water runs in your kitchen every time.

4) A smart cooker

With smart cookers, cooking has been made easier and effort-free. Smart cookers work like robots with remote commands from your devices.

Most smart cookers are made to cook anything from meats to veggies. They have multiple preset functions and modes for ease of use.

They save your time and effort, and allow for less energy usage. And, all you need is to install a compatible smartphone app and cook from the convenience of your phone.

The app has multiple recipes that are installed in it, giving you a range of choices of what to cook. You can easily program when to start cooking and preset your smart cooker.

5) Identity theft protection

Since smart kitchens use internet and phone apps, they can easily be hacked if you don’t keep your personal information safely.

Unauthorized persons can access your personal information over the internet without your consent and use it to benefit self unlawfully. This can cause you lots of inconveniences.

Therefore, it is necessary to invest in identity theft protection in your smart kitchen. You can buy identity theft insurance to cover the costs resulting from identity theft.

Follow the right procedures to keep your personal information private. Identity Force can protect your existing accounts that are prone to attacks.

But, ID Shield will suit you better if you want to protect your identity and related personal information from unauthorized users.

6) A smart coffee maker

Making coffee can be unnecessarily time-consuming, especially when you’re in a hurry. Smart coffee makers come in handy to help you solve this problem.

You’ll need less effort to make coffee using smart coffee makers. Simply press your phone, go to the smart coffee maker app and initiate the coffee-making process.

Choose the type of coffee you want and your drink will be ready in no time.

Conclusion

The kitchen is one of the main sections of a house. And, with the growth in technology, kitchen designers have upped their game.

Manufacturers of kitchen appliances are now making devices that are more innovative and intuitive to make kitchen chores easier and more enjoyable. The market is growing with competition in home automation. This explains the need for smart kitchens.

How to Bake Healthy Foods for a Weight Loss Diet

Losing weight and keeping the extra calories from your body isn’t easy.

But…

With a few tricks, you can still enjoy your favorite baked foods while losing weight.

Eating lots of fiber, proteins and healthy carbs leave you feeling full, satisfied and energized while boosting your metabolism.

You can learn how to add calorie-burning food ingredients into your diet or daily menu. Include at least a single weight loss superfood in your diet to promote weight loss.

Various diet programs and services create and deliver meals with controlled calories to help you cut down excess weight. However, baking healthy foods for weight loss can offer better results.

Learn to buy and prepare your own healthy meals when working on weight loss. This can help you keep off the calories lost upon reaching your weight loss goals.

Moreover, cooking diet-friendly meals at home is a sure way to save money and energy. Various smart, gourmet baking techniques make food preparation easier.

Keep your berries dry from the market to ensure they stay fresh for longer. “Flash freeze” peeled bananas in your freezer to save on space. Here’re baking tips to help you save money and time, atop promoting weight loss.

Top 9 Ways to Bakes Healthy Foods for Weight Loss

Substitute butter with avocado

Substitute half of your baking butter with mashed avocado in your recipe. This reduces the amount of calories in your baked food.

Whereas avocado has only 184 calories, a cup of butter has 813 calories. Despite low calorie-count in avocado, it produces moister baked goods. It’s also rich in fiber and low in cholesterol and saturated fat.

Foods baked this way are more filling, meaning you end up eating less.

Replace sugar with dates

Dates are naturally sweet, hence a perfect replacement for processed sugar, especially when baking bars or cookies.

Whereas 10 medjool dates contain 666 calories, a cup of white processed sugar has 774 calories. What’s more, dates contain 16 grams of fiber and 4 grams of proteins.

Eating treats baked with dates is more satisfying and leaves you with no cravings. This is unlike foods baked with refined sugar.

Cut your baking recipe in half

Can you be trusted with trays of frosted sugar cookies?

If not, you need to cut your recipe in quarter or half to reduce the amount of calories you’ll end up consuming.

You don’t have to cook many baked goods just because the recipe you’re using makes dozens.

Add food supplements

Replace some of your baking flour with protein powder for a more satisfying meal that’ll keep you full for longer. For instance, eating a single piece of a protein banana bread can make you full and eliminate the need to eat more pieces.

If you’re on a keto, you can add supplements to your baked goods. As an example, the Purefit keto is one of the most common ways to reduce your cravings for weight loss.

Freeze some dough

You don’t have to bake all the dough you prepared at once. Freeze some of the dough and bake cookies from what’s left.

Use an empty ice cube tray to freeze the dough you want to keep for another day. You can easily take some of the frozen dough to bake when cravings strike. This way, you only bake enough cookies without more to reach for when tempted.

Replace eggs with Flaxmeal

Mix three tablespoons of water with one tablespoon of flaxmeal to make a flax egg for each egg you want to replace. When soaked for 5 to 10 minutes, the flax becomes gelatinous and mimics the consistency of eggs.

A single flax egg is almost half the calories of one egg, meaning you can benefit in reduced calories if you’re working on weight loss. Its fiber and omega-3 content is also more filling.

Find some tasty flax eggs recipes to try out.

Bake your favorite treats in mini sizes

Bake bite-sized treats to reduce the amount of calories you consume at any given time. The bites you can bake in mini sizes include:

• Brownie bites
• Cupcakes
• Cakes
• Muffins
• Cheesecakes
• Pies

Replace oil with applesauce

Bake your muffins, bread and cakes with applesauce instead of oil to reduce your calorie-intake in mega counts. It adds sweetness and moistness to your baked goods. This means you can also use it to cut on sugar in your baking recipe.

Sharing is caring

Sharing doesn’t just have to be caring but can also reduce your calorie-intake. Share some of your baked foods with friends and neighbors to ensure you don’t end up eating them all yourself.

Avoiding and combating common cooking aches and pains

Spending time in the kitchen is one of the more rewarding experiences in life. Whether cooking or baking for yourself or someone else, the feeling of creating something for someone to enjoy has a kind of magic associated with it.

However, spending time in the kitchen can also cause you a bit of pain. Constantly leaning over pots and pans, bending and turning yourself to pick things up and pour, the constant stirring required to make a great sauce; these things can have a strain on your body. For many, though, the pain is absolutely worth it.

Fortunately, there are ways to combat these issues, if not prevent them from occurring at all. Let’s take a look at some common issues associated with cooking and see if we can’t find a solution.

Your Hands

Chopping, slicing, dicing, stirring, seasoning; each of these requires the use of your hands, and that can definitely take its toll. As a sufferer of carpal tunnel syndrome, I can speak to this from experience. I’ve lost count of the number of times my hand has gone numb while I’m attempting to cut up vegetables for dinner.

Full-on carpal tunnel is a pretty bum diagnosis as it’s not something which easily fixed, but it can be managed. Using something like a wrist brace, or just giving your hand time to rest, can help increase the amount of time you’re able to keep stirring and slicing your way to deliciousness.

In a worst-case scenario, surgery can be performed which can help. The best bet, however, is to take precautions against letting it become too bad. If you start feeling strangeness in your hands, talk to a doctor and see how they can help. They may recommend a brace or even some form of steroid or other medication to help strengthen the muscles and such in your hand.

A carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end of your cooking career, but it certainly can be if you don’t take care of the problem.

Your Back

In some ways, cooking can be as detrimental to your posture as sitting at a desk all day. If you’re constantly leaning over to taste and smell things, your back is going to feel it. Changing your habits can go a long way toward stopping this problem. Forcing yourself to stand up straight when doing your work is a great first step.

Should that be difficult, however, there are tools out there to help. Back braces can be a fantastic method of keeping your spine aligned. If that sounds like something for you, take a look at some of the reviews from Perfect Postur.

Your Feet

The biggest complaint I hear from people I know in the food industry is regarding the pain they feel in their feet. Cooking is not something you can really do while sitting, unless you’ve got a short stove or a tall chair. Even then, sitting doesn’t give you the mobility you need if something needs to be done quickly.

Special insoles can be a huge help for anyone who is constantly on their feet. The materials companies use these days are fantastic at helping to distribute the weight across your entire foot, all while keeping it nice and cool and comfortable.

Alternatively, you can also purchase mats which will sit on the floor and do a similar job to insoles without having to actually wear insoles. These are quite common in restaurant kitchens or at cashier stands in retail stores.

Your Health

Remember, one of the neatest things about cooking at home is how healthy you are able to make your food, so consider keeping the rest of your body in good condition, as well. Don’t let yourself get too fatigued or worn out and you’ll find you’ll be able to keep cooking for as long as you’d like.

Using A Dehumidifier For That Humid Industrial Kitchen

I’ve been there before, working in an industrial kitchen around all of the steam and water, it’s not the most pleasant thing on the planet. It’s extremely humid, but the food is totally worth it and seeing the look on the customers faces when they take that first bite. The same goes for your family’s kitchen, the humidity can be almost unbearable, especially during the summer. It’s important that you don’t let your kitchen get too humid, because it can cause bacteria buildup.

Keep Your Kitchen Mold-Free

Let’s talk a little bit about mold. If you have mold in your kitchen, whether at home or in your restaurant, you aren’t going to want your customers or family to know, so it’s best to get rid of it as soon as you can or take precautionary measures to prevent it. The growth of mold can contribute to poor indoor air quality and certain molds such as dry rot fungus and serpula lacrymans are extremely destructive and can completely ruin your business or home.

Mold requires moisture to grow. This moisture can come from cooking, condensation, leaks from plumbing, and more. The mold then releases spores into the air that people can’t see, but can inhale deep into the lungs and can pose a risk for respiratory issues. This is why investing in a dehumidifier is essential to keeping your bistro or home kitchen mold-free.

What Makes A Comfortable Bistro?

When I walk into any bistro, if it’s uncomfortable, I walk right back out. You don’t want to sit down to eat in a place that’s overly humid, do you? If you own a bistro and you find customers walking out and notice it’s humid, get that dehumidifier. Another thing that I look for is cleanliness. I do not like a dirty bistro. I hate seeing crumbs on a table that a busboy/girl previously cleaned and I really don’t like a dirty bathroom. Usually, if a bathroom is dirty, it means that the kitchen where your food is being prepared is dirty as well.

One other thing that I look for is space. I’m not a huge fan of sitting in a crowded bistro. There should be ample space for you to comfortably sit without having to move your chair anytime somebody wants to walk past you. Bistros are supposed to be inviting and comfortable, a place where you can sit and have a conversation with a friend without feeling hot, overcrowded, or rushed. I can’t tell you how many of them I have walked out of because of all of those reasons.

Conclusion

The kitchen is going to be a naturally humid environment because of the steam the cooking creates. It’s best to control this steam and the humidity to avoid the creation of mold, bacteria, and other nasty particles that can make your family or customers sick. Not to mention, if black mold forms, you can have your bistro shut down until the problem is resolved, costing you tons of money in business and repairs.

Know Your Sweeteners

Sugar, it’s one of those things we hate to love. It’s packed into everything from breakfast cereals to condiments and often times other unsuspecting food items. We cook with it on a daily basis. There are many sugar alternatives out there labeled as sweeteners that may or may not be a better choice over sugar. Is there such a thing as the lesser evil when it comes to sweeteners? In this article we will talk about several sweeteners on the market that you can use to sweeten your baking or cooking and you can decide for yourself which ones you’d like to avoid or stock your pantry with.

White Refined Sugar

Let’s start with the first sugar that we are comparing the rest to, white granulated refined sugar. It goes through heavy processing that removes the molasses from it leaving it white rather than brown. It is made by crushing juice out of the sugar cane, then clarified, concentrated by removing water and crystallized by evaporating what’s left. You now have raw sugar. This raw sugar is mixed with a syrup to loosen the molasses which is spun out of the sugar. These crystals are then washed, dissolved, clarified or filtered to remove the molasses and impurities reducing it to a clear, golden liquid. Carbon filters are used to remove the remaining color. The leftover syrup is again evaporated. This concentrated syrup is again crystallized and then spun. The sugar crystals are then washed and conveyed through large dryers. This results in a mixture called massecuite. It is separated, washed and dried. These crystals are sent through screens to separate the various sizes. At this point the sugar can be packaged.

Agave Nectar

Agave nectar comes from the agave succulent in hot climates such as Mexico. As a sweetener, it is 1.4 to 1.6 times sweeter than sugar and is considered a vegan alternative to honey. I personally use agave nectar over honey when sweetening soups, cereals, smoothies, yogurt etc. because it is not as thick as honey. It seems to blend into other food without the gooey mess that honey would leave you with; especially if what you are adding it to is chilled like a smoothie. Still, both do tend to leave that fuzzy feeling on your teeth after it’s been in your mouth. You can visit Pearly Whytes for information on oral care products that will clean your mouth well afterwards.

Stevia

A sugar substitute called Stevia is an extract that comes from the leaves of the stevia plant and contains zero calories making it a very popular alternative. That and the fact that you need to use very little as the powdered Stevia extract is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. This form of sweetener is not as bad for your teeth as it has the same benefits as polyols which do not allow bacteria to adhere to teeth. You can find it in either liquid or powder form for cooking with keeping in mind that you need much less than the recipe calls for sugar. Try using 1/16th teaspoon stevia as you would 1 teaspoon regular sugar and adjust from there.

Splenda (sucralose)

Sucralose is also a no-calorie sweetener that tastes like sugar but is 600 times sweeter and can be used to cook and bake with because it is heat stable. Although sucralose is an approved ingredient and has no known side effects, many are still worried about the possible effects from consumption of sucralose and are reluctant to use it. It is completely up to the consumer to decide for themselves whether or not this is an ingredient they want to keep in their pantry.

Raw Cane Sugar (turbinado)

How does raw cane sugar differ from white refined sugar? The first notable difference between the two is raw cane sugar is processed to a lesser degree. White sugar requires further processing of turbinado sugar. Raw cane sugar also has more moisture than white sugar. Because it is less processed it does have a mild amount of molasses in it. It has larger crystals and is a good substitute to bake with except when finer crystals are desired.

White refined sugar goes through heavy processing to remove molasses and impurities. It is good to know your options as there are other sweeteners that you can use as a replacement in baking and cooking. We’ve outlined a few of them.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_nectar

Restore Your Bistro With The Help Of A Commercial Water Damage Company

It’s late at night, you’ve closed up the shop and headed home with no worries in your mind. You arrive the next morning and notice water pooling up by your front door. Oh, no! A pipe burst somewhere and it’s been leaking water all night. All of your booths, floors, walls, and appliances have been compromised by water. This is what’s known as water damage and it can quickly turn into a catastrophic event unless it’s taken care of right away.

Why Is Cleanup Important?

Sure, you could let the water sit and just dry your business out over a period of time, but this isn’t the best way to go about it. The reason is because as the water seeps into cracks, crevices, and fabrics, it’s going to become a breeding ground for mold and other nastiness. Not only does mold ruin just about anything it touches, but it can lead to some pretty severe illnesses due to poor indoor air quality.

Initial Cleanup

The initial cleanup may be mentally and physically exhausting. After you put a call in to your insurance company and tell them your plans, you’re going to want to start the next phase.

First-Disconnect the power and unplug any electronics and remove them along with your furniture, and and anything else that can be moved. The electrical items are the most important and you should make sure that the power is turned off that leads to that specific area to avoid electrocution.  If your bistro has carpet, you may be able to save it if you get it clean and disinfected.

Second-You need to get rid of the water. The longer it sits, the more stagnant it will become and it increases the chances for mold development. It only takes up to 24 hours for it to start forming and getting into the air.  You can get rid of the water with towels, wet/dry vac, and anything else that will help to soak it up. Fans and dehumidifiers are very helpful for drying out the area.

Third-Disinfect the area after it has dried out. You need to get the wood beams, insulation, drywall, and anything else the water touched, especially if the water is unsanitary.

Call The Pro’s

Sometimes, people just can’t deal with the loss and can’t even begin to fathom what happened, making the cleanup even more difficult. If you need help, your best bet is to get in contact with a commercial restoration company. They’ll come in, asses the issue, and get to work repairing the damage that has been done to your precious bistro.

These professionals have years of experience with this type of issue and they offer a quick response to any size disaster, they are highly trained, have certifications that you can rely on, and they work around the clock, all year long.

How It’s Done

Once you call the restoration company, they will do a number of duties to ensure your operation can get up and running again as soon as possible. They will assess the situation and will identify the source of the problem. They will then cover any exposed areas, making sure there’s no further damage done to the area(s) during the process. Then, they’ll remove any materials that are too heavily damaged to be restored. They will then begin the necessary repairs to get the structure functional once more. After they do that, they will finish the cleaning process and ensure that you and your employees are in an aesthetically-pleasing work area as well as comfortable.

Conclusion

The loss of a business is tough for anyone. It can happen for a variety of reasons, but don’t let water damage be one of them. It can usually be easily managed if you call the professionals in a quick amount of time. They understand your needs and that your business is important to you, which is why they work so hard to get you back up and running.

Newfoundland Kitchen Parties

Newfoundland households love a cozy kitchen filled with family and friends and the typical Newfoundland party atmosphere. To the surprise of many, Newfoundland has its own signature style cuisine. Its long winters and brilliant, sun-filled shorter summers makes for the ideal environment to catch up on family recipes passed down from one generation to the next and the innovation of today’s modern Newfoundland cooks who give these recipes a new appeal.

Welcome to Newfoundland’s Kitchen Parties

The first thing the new brides in Newfoundland learn is how to utilize all of the freshness of each season’s bounty. Creating a kitchen that is like a dinner invitation is important in summer or winter. There are plenty of opportunities to create barbecues that take cooks from their kitchens to the outdoors where the fresh salt air of the great expanse of Atlantic breezes add to the flavors of Newfoundland dishes.

Traditional Newfoundland Cuisine

There are many traditional Newfoundland dishes like Fish N’Brewis, a mélange of salt cod, an important ingredient in many Newfoundland kitchens local, salty Purity bread. This is served with pork scrunchions, tasty salty bacon and may be offered with vegetables on the side. This is a wonderful dish for young cooks to try because it is simple, quick and easy to prepare. Fish is served smoked outdoors in summer with little work or time involved. In a Newfoundland kitchen, no party is complete without a “duff” which, in summer might be made with local partridge berries or in winter “figgy” duff made without figs. (Ref. http://encounternewfoundland.com/traditional-newfoundland-food-unique-island-dishes-and-where-to-find-them/)

Another tradition among Newfoundlanders is seal flipper pie. As its name implies, this is the meaty cartridge of the knuckle of the seal flipper. Many kitchen parties in Newfoundlanders’ home also include toutons, a kind of fried dough. These are ideal for kitchen parties planned for brunch.

Don’t forget to provide something to drink. For adults, this might be one of the family’s home brews or for the kids, fruit flavored soft drinks.

Kitchen Party Extras

Newfoundland is the most distinctive of all Canadian provinces. The climate can be like spinning a roulette wheel. This doesn’t stop Newfoundlanders from enjoying family and friends gathered in the warmth of a kitchen, eating delicious meals and then gathering for a music and song fest. Newfoundlanders are quite proud of their inherent love of music and often invite guests from outside of the province to enjoy the signature Newfoundland music style.

The Newfoundland Kitchen

Today’s Newfoundland kitchens may be outfitted with the most modern appliances. Yet, there is something remarkably rustic about the curtains, accessories and the all important dining table and comfortable chairs. Be sure to provide sufficient seating for family and guests that is comfortable enough to go from dinner to after dinner entertainment. (Ref. http://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/great-canadian-cookbook/photos/a-true-newfoundland-kitchen-party/#!1-newfoundland-kitchen-party-lynn-walking)

No Newfoundland kitchen party is complete without a few musicians who play basic instruments like concertinas, accordions, fiddles, a tambour drums or two and a harmonica. A kitchen party song fest is sure to evoke memories of traditional folk tunes and the most interesting lyrics.

The Essential Vegan Family Kitchen

Raising a vegan family is awesome but not without its challenges. I love preparing nutritious meals and healthy snacks for my kids and husband. Sometimes there aren’t enough hours in the day to make healthy meals that will please everyone. I have been figuring out what I need to keep my kitchen running efficiently and to make sure my family has enough variety in meal options. I hope a few my tips will help you.

Have a well equipped kitchen.

My kitchen is equipped with the basics: Safe cook and bake ware, good knives, cutting boards, cooking utensils, and plenty of glass containers to store food in. There are a 2 items I find I can’t live without.

• I use a slow cooker for chili, stews, and broths.
• My blender stays on the counter for pureeing creamy soups and making smoothies.

Prepare foods in advance for the week.

I make time on weekends to prepare certain recipes in large batches that I can use for weekly meals or freeze. This is a great time saver during a busy week.

• Brown rice: Make ahead to serve with quick stir fries or to use for fried rice.
• Granola: Bake a batch of nutty, oat, and coconut granola to have for breakfast with fruit and nut milk.
• Tomato sauce: I make enough to have for pasta or a layered vegetable dish.

Purchase fresh foods a couple of times a week.

I always have on hand a variety of fresh organic fruits and vegetables, as these are the basis of our meals. Here are some of our favorites.

• Avocados
• Blueberries
• Apples
• Bok Choy
• Carrots
• Zucchini
• Butternut squash

A well stocked pantry makes meal planning easier.

My pantry is stocked with everything I need to compliment fresh food dishes and for baking. This is where you will find our protein packed and fiber rich food options, as well as condiments and snacks.

• Keep a variety of dried beans for soups and chilies.
• Rice, oats, millet, and quinoa will keep well stored in glass jars.
• Whole grain flours, cornmeal, and flax meal are there for baking.
• Olive oil and coconut oil are the fats I cook with.
• Pure maple syrup and stevia are my sweeteners of choice.
• Liquid aminos are perfect for stir fry dishes.
• Canned organic tomatoes are on hand for sauces.

If food allergies or intolerances are an issue when stocking your pantry, you can get some good advice and recipes from Angela at http://ohsheglows.com/.

Keep perishable staples in the refrigerator.

I keep certain products in the refrigerator after opening them. They seem to stay fresh longer.

• Almond and coconut based milks we use in place of dairy milk.
• Naturally fermented vegetables (pickles) are good for digestive health.
• Nut and seed butters we have on toast and in smoothies.
• Raw apple cider vinegar is used in salad dressings.
• I store a variety of raw nuts and seeds in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them mold free.

Always have a selection of dried herbs and spices.

Fresh and dried herbs and spices are great flavor elements in many dishes. I have too many to even pick favorites.

Everyone likes snacks.

This is a tough category when raising children. Kids are exposed to lots of unhealthy food options as soon as they head out the door. We can’t force them to live in a vegan bubble. They will experiment. I keep some go-to snacks on hand to ward off hunger pangs between meals.

• Small boxes of raisins are great for sweet cravings.
• Trail mixes of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits are good for energy.
• Naturally sweetened fruit roll-ups come in so many flavors now.
• Popcorn seasoned with a little sea salt and some nutritional yeast tastes cheesy.

With a little planning ahead my week of meal preparation is something I look forward to. A good vegan family recipe data base can be found at http://www.veganfamilyrecipes.com/recipes/.

The Difference between Eggs Benedict and Eggs Florentine

Eggs are awesome. “Eggcellent,” in fact! They fit in every menu, cuisine, and type of dish imaginable. Healthy when eaten in moderation, eggs can actually be the best protein substitute, complete with its own power pack of good calories, fats, and flavor.

Now, let’s talk about two egg recipes that people often tend to confuse: Eggs Benedict and Eggs Florentine. Notice that I did not use the word “versus” as my measure of comparison. There is no need to battle out which one is the best, since both are so different. How different? Check out how these two recipes contrast, and decide for yourself which one is the most delicious.

Eggs Benedict

A restaurant favorite, this dish reigns supreme in every American brunch menu. This is because of its versatility and perhaps even because of its history.

In one version of the history of the Eggs Benedict, the recipe is attributed to Charles Ranhofer, who was the chef of the first restaurant ever opened in the USA in 1860, “Delmonico’s.” According to lore, Mrs. LeGrand Benedict, was a regular customer who, one day, needed something different for her lunch. In the recipe he later published in 1894, these “Eggs à la Benedick” called for:

2 English muffin halves, crosswise and toasted without browning

1 round slice of ham no thicker than an inch in width and diameter to be placed in halves on the muffins

2 poached eggs to place on each half of the muffins

Hollandaise sauce to pour on top of the eggs

A second story involves a 1920 Commodore, yachtsman E.C. Benedict, who claims to have received this very recipe from his mother.

Regardless, the recipe calls for the basics of egg, hollandaise, ham, and a muffin. Whatever you add to the recipe is entirely up to you. Some modernized versions of the same recipe add cheese on top of the poached eggs and butter on the muffins. These additions are the criteria of the chef, but any changes should be explained to customers who are looking for the traditional dining experience.

Eggs Florentine

This one is easy. Anything with the name “Florentine” in it means one thing: it has spinach.

The history of Eggs Florentine, however, is less commercial and much more royal than the history of the Benedict. The Eggs Florentine recipe dates back to the Renaissance period!

The French are responsible for the coinage of the word “Florentine,” to associate it to spinach. The reason may have been that Catherine de Medici introduced spinach to French cuisine (she was born in Florence), after she married Prince Henry of France. Hence, the spinach in Florentine would take the place of the ham in the Eggs Benedict recipe.

The sauce used in Florentine is Mornay sauce, which is cheese sauce, essentially. The poached eggs are the same on both recipes. In Florentine, however, they can be also scrambled or boiled. Still, there is a 1898 eggs Florentine recipe that addresses the use of mushroom cream sauce and artichoke, which was yet another vegetable also introduced by Catherine de Medici.

If we stick to the original, the recipe for Eggs Florentine calls for:

Bread, or a muffin, which would have taken the place of an actual dish back in the day.

Spinach, whether cooked or fresh

A poached, baked or scrambled egg

Mornay sauce on top

Mushroom cream and artichokes optional

Personally, I prefer the Benedict, but they seem to appeal more to the American palate altogether. That doesn’t mean that the Florentine are not delectable too. I have made them with steamed spinach, often mixing the Mornay sauce with the spinach to serve it to my kids. They still do not dig it, but I definitely do.

So, which is your favorite? These two recipes are awesome for breakfasts and lunches. They can be awesome for small dinners and even for those days when you simply feel bored with the usual.

Most cooking stores now sell plastic containers that will make a perfectly poached egg for you in less than one minute. All you need to do is crack the egg onto the container, and place it in the microwave. So, do not think that you need to become a chef overnight to be able to do this.

Try these recipes today and enjoy the benefits of good eating with not that much effort!