The post Terre Rouge Downtown Markham appeared first on Food Health & Parenting Tips.

For those who might have forgotten, here’s a brief refresher. Queer Eye is a reboot of the 2000s’ über-popular Bravo TV show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. While the wider concept of the makeover show has stayed somewhat the same, the new iteration is more diverse in terms of its leads and participants. In the first episode of season 1, the new Fab Five explained it best themselves: “The original show was fighting for tolerance. Our fight is for acceptance.” In every episode each of the five leads lends their area of expertise to the person they makeover:

Karamo Brown: Culture and Life Coaching
Tan France: Fashion
Bobby Berk: Design
Jonathan Van Ness: Grooming
Antoni Porowski: Food and Wine

In Defense of Antoni Porowski

Being a culinary outlet, we want to focus our attention on Antoni, the food and nutrition expert on the show. The Montreal native’s cooking talents have been called into question after the first two seasons of the show. The New Yorker’s Helen Rosner and Vulture’s Bowen Yang in particular scorched some of Antoni’s culinary conduct on the show. The latter proclaims that Antoni makes “food a child would make when they’re old enough not to need a sitter.” All the criticism has led many viewers to the conclusion, that the only thing resembling food is, that Antoni must be eye candy. I’ll see myself out…

We’re going to defend Porowski here a little bit. Should he have made guacamole with Greek yogurt? …No. His defense of substituting it for sour cream in the avocado dip did not make it better. People… please do not put sour cream in guacamole! Were his recipes for dressed-up hot dogs, grapefruit avocado salad, or grilled cheese on the cutting edge of the culinary arts? No, no, and no. But is that really what Queer Eye is about? Antoni is on the show so that people think a little bit more about how and what they eat.

Furthermore, Antoni can actually/probably cook. He has mentioned over and over, that he is self-taught and has never proclaimed to be a chef. He has worked in restaurants in several capacities and has functioned as a personal assistant and chef for Ted Allen, the original food and wine guy on Queer Eye. If you are still skeptical, search for him on YouTube and you’ll be overwhelmed with content of him wearing an apron. With season 3 now available for streaming, we thought that we’d do an episode-to-episode breakdown and relay his best recipes for your enjoyment. Where it is unclear how exactly his dishes came together, we fill the blanks with our imagination and expertise as best we can.

Queer Eye Season 3 – Culinary Episode Breakdown

This season, a re-occurring phenomenon is that the participants (called heroes on the show) cook just as well as, if not better than, Antoni. This leads to him sometimes just taking people out for food at trendy Kansas City restaurants.

Episode 1: Cracking Lobster and a Shaved Zucchini Salad

The first hero is a heroine. Jody is a correctional officer and lives with her husband Chris on an idyllic farm 100km north of Kansas City, Missouri. The adorable couple hunt and fish together and mostly sustain themselves off their farm. Here, Antoni is first confronted with the fact that people eat squirrels, but quickly recovers when he sees the marvelous vegetable patch. Later in the episode, Antoni teaches Judy how to properly crack a lobster to middling success. But it is in the bountiful vegetable garden where we get his first recipe idea. Raw, shaved zucchini salad with “soft herbs”. Soft herbs are herbs with a soft stem, such as parsley, coriander, basil, sage, tarragon, dill, or chives.

Ingredients:

1 Zucchini, washed
1 Lemon
Olive oil
Salt
Soft herbs of choice

Method:

1. The aim is to get really thin slices of zucchini. Use a mandolin, a spiral, or a run-of-the-mill vegetable peeler and shave the zucchini. For our British/French readers: courgette.
2. Mix with some olive oil, the juice of half a lemon, and a pinch of salt.
3. Sprinkle with the soft herb of your choice. We recommend a combination of chive and parsley or chive and basil.
4. Enjoy as a side to your summer barbecue or healthy weekday work lunch.

Episode 2: Porchetta and a PSA Concerning Tomatoes

In episode 2 we meet Joey, a program director for a Kansas summer camp with self-diagnosed “Peter Pan Syndrome”. He lives at the campsite year-round and therefore Antoni is teaching him a beautiful camp-style recipe: Porchetta. The episode also features an epilogue, in which Antoni addresses the world of Sarah McLachlan-stye. He pleads with all of us, to keep our tomatoes out of the fridge. Now, if you use your tomatoes within a day or two of your purchase, by all means, keep them on your counter in a shady spot. Any longer than that, or if you buy a ripe tomato, just keep it in the fridge. But let’s get back to the porchetta.

Porchetta is an Italian pork roast. Anatomically it is a pork loin with the pork belly around/attached to it. Rolled and tied together with aromatics, it can be made in the oven or on a spit. Antoni chooses a dry rub of coffee, Aleppo, ancho, brown sugar, and chili powders. He envisions that the camp staff eats this dish in sandwich form and also teaches Joey a little slaw to top it off.

Antoni brings a spit to the camp so that they can roast the pork. If you don’t have that opportunity, there is no shame in making this dish in your oven. We have no proprietary recipes for porchetta and therefore recommend two existing ones. Antoni’s Canadian compatriot Chef Matty Matheson finishes his porchetta with hot oil for a blistered skin effect. YouTube favorite and Jamie Oliver contributor Gennaro Contaldo shows a more traditional preparation. We can teach you the slaw recipe though.

Ingredients:

A quarter of red cabbage, sliced as thinly as possible
2 tablespoons of Mayo
1 small can of chipotle peppers in adobo
bunch of coriander
2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar

Method:

1. Chop the coriander including the stems finely.
2. Mix the cabbage with the coriander, vinegar, mayo, and the juice of the chipotle peppers.
3. Season to taste and voilà, Antoni’s coleslaw.

Episode 3: They won’t give you the recipe, Antoni!

This is one of the episodes, in which Antoni is outmatched by the heroes. Sisters Deborah “Little” and Mary “Shorty” Jones are female African-American barbecue pit masters, a rarity these days in the American South. In their little shack, they sling hundreds of kilos of smoked meats and sausages every day. But the secret to why the customers keep coming back is in their barbecue sauce. Our guy Antoni wants to know what’s inside of it, but the sisters shoot him down what feels like a dozen times – sorry Antoni. He is only mildly annoyed and helps Little and Shorty secure a deal with a bottling plant so that the world can soon try their famous sauce.

If you are in the Kansas City area and want to try some of the best barbecues the South has to offer, visit Jones Bar-B-Q here. If you just need some of that sauce, you can order it on the establishment’s website. Since Friday the sisters have already sold over 11,000 bottles, averaging 1.7 bottles a minute over the weekend. They ask future customers for a 7-10 day grace period for your order to get filled. Unfortunately, the sauce does not ship internationally yet, but the dynamic duo vows to change that shortly.

View this post on Instagram

Let's talk about the sauce. As of yesterday morning, we sold 11,000 bottles. We averaged 1.7 bottles per minute this weekend. We are feeling so much love and support from all of you. THANK YOU to everyone who ordered a bottle. Your support means so much to us! Now, we're asking for your support in the form of patience. Please allow 7-10 days for your sauce to arrive. To all our friends from around the world asking for our sauce, we hear you! It is one of our goals to start shipping internationally soon. Keep an eye on our page for updates.

A post shared by Jones Bar-B-Q Kansas City (@jonesbbqkc) on Mar 18, 2019 at 2:30pm PDT

Episode 4: No to Cheesy Mash; Yes to Larb

Robert, the hero in this episode is also a great cook. But, to Antoni’s dismay, he uses too much butter and cream to make his food taste good. At DINE we will not stand for the slander of these ingredients. However, we agree that they should be used in moderation. Antoni even agrees during the initial house inspection, that Robert’s cheesy mashed potatoes taste great, and as mentioned in a previous article, give us mash any day of the week. To shake things up our food guru teaches Robert to make Larb. Larb is a meat salad popular in Laos and parts of Thailand and is often eaten as an appetizer within a lettuce wrap. Robert who spent years as a soldier in Korea picks up the dish quite easily and we hope you do the same.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup of fresh lime juice
1/3 cup of fish sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons Thai roasted chili paste or Sambal Oelek
1/2 cup of chicken stock
500 grams of ground chicken
1 cup of spring onions, thinly sliced
3/4 cup onions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons of fresh lemongrass, minced
1 tablespoon of Thai chilies, minced
1/2 cup of fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
1 – 2 heads of big-leafed lettuce (iceberg, Boston, butter…)

Method:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and Thai chili. Whisk together and set aside for later.
2. Pour the chicken stock into a large wok or skillet over medium heat, until the broth starts to simmer.
3. Put in your ground chicken, break it up with a spoon, and let simmer until cooked through.
4. Add both types of onion, lemongrass, and chili to your mix and stir until vegetables are tender. Once all the liquid has evaporated take off the heat.
5. Stir in half of the dressing from step 1. Taste, and decide if you need more. Keep adding a tablespoon at a time. Garnish with mint and cilantro.

Episode 5: No More Ramen. More Ramen…

The crew meets Jess in episode 5. Due to her sexuality, Jess had to leave her adoptive parents’ home and fend for herself. There wasn’t much time for a culinary education during that time. She eats mostly packaged ramen – a cheap and flavourful snack. Not that Antoni would know. He claims to never have tasted package ramen in his life – oh please… He instead teaches her to make her version of ramen. We do not claim at this point, that following the Queer Eye recipe has anything to do with the craftsmanship of creating an authentic ramen broth, which often takes many hours, if not days.

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground pork
1 litre of chicken broth
2 tablespoons of sesame oil
1 carrot, halved and thinly sliced lengthwise
a handful of mungo beans
2 tablespoons of chili garlic paste (Sambal Oelek)
3 tablespoons of miso paste
a finger’s worth of ginger
a bunch of spring onion, thinly sliced
a packet of rice or ramen noodles of your choice

Method:

1. In a heavy-bottomed pot, pour in your sesame oil. Once the oil is hot, add the pork and brown till cooked through. Transfer the meat to a separate bowl.
2. If there is still some moisture from the pork left, add the spring onions, carrots, and ginger. If not, add some vegetable oil. Stir until slightly softened. Then, add your miso paste and the chicken broth. Stir until miso is incorporated and let simmer for a few minutes.
3. In a separate pot, cook your noodles according to package instructions (probably not more than 2 minutes).
4. Take your broth off the heat and strain your noodles.
5. Put some noodles in a bowl and pour two ladles of broth over the top. Garnish with some mung beans.

Episode 6: Fish Sticks and the Lost Casserole

Let’s move this along. Rob has been a single father ever since his wife died a year before the arrival of the Fab Five. Confronted with all the household duties, a lot of meals just get made in the microwave. On top of that, his two boys are alleged fussy eaters. Antoni to the rescue! He brings Rob to EJ’s, not to have their delicious brisket, but rather to let the chef teach him how to make a squash casserole. We do not have enough footage to make out what exactly goes into it and refrain from guessing too much. To not traumatize the kids right away, Antoni wants to teach Rob how to make healthy fish sticks. Swap breadcrumbs for crushed macadamia nuts.

Ingredients:

A few fillets of a flaky white fish of your choice (Antoni uses Mahi-mahi, haddock is a good alternative)
3 eggs
1 cup of macadamia nuts
salt
pepper

Method:

1. Cut your fish into finger food-sized pieces
2. Make an egg wash
3. In a food processor, blitz the nuts with a sprinkle of salt and pepper into a coarse powder
4. Heat a skillet with enough vegetable oil to coat the bottom
5. Bathe the fish in an egg and then drench it in the macadamia mixture.
6. Fry your fish nuggets in the skillet until golden brown.

Episode 7: Conquering Your Fear of Brussels Sprouts

Thomas is our penultimate hero this season. The 21-year-old, predominantly, lets his older sister Krissy run the household. That includes the cooking. Thomas mainly knows how to make tater tots and veggie burgers. That’s a start at least. If he dislikes only one food, it is Brussels sprouts, and that is where Chef Antoni comes in. He wants to teach his Padawan, that Brussels sprouts don’t have to smell like flatulence. Core the center and pan-fry them in a cast iron skillet with some sliced shallots until they are brown… delicious. For protein, pan-fry a steak in butter and rosemary. Antoni, next time, please let the steak rest for a few minutes. Since we explained the recipe in its totality, we won’t go into more detail.

Episode 8: Shortbread for a Baby Shower

We are rounding this out with father-to-be Tony. Correction: He is already taking care of his partner’s daughter Kai, but the one we are talking about is his biological first. With only days before the baby arrives, Antoni wants Tony to contribute some baked goods for the baby shower and teaches him a basic shortbread recipe:

Easy rule for shortbread: one part sugar, two parts butter, 3 parts flour. Combine everything in a mixer and once it resembles dough, roll it tightly into a cylinder with the help of some plastic wrap. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut your dough sausage into one-inch rounds. Then, once the oven reaches temperature, bake on the middle rack for about 15-20 minutes. The color you are looking for is a pale golden brown.

This concludes our Queer Eye culinary breakdown of season 3. Tell us on Facebook and Twitter how your Antoni-inspired recipes turned out. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

The post Feast Your Eyes: Volume II – Antoni’s Recipes in Queer Eye Season 3 appeared first on Food Health & Parenting Tips.

If you are planning to jump into this market, we want to help you take your best step forward early. Here are some factors that can help you in your food industry venture:

Make a Plan for Your Catering Business

A business plan is a crucial first step in any business, especially for those in the food industry. When creating the road map for your company to follow, include the following elements: 

• Business entity type 
• Concept of your catering business 
• Marketing goals
• Name and logo details
• Target market analysis
• Location
• Budget
• Menu offering and pricing
• Employment plans

These are the most important details to include. Depending on the nature of your business, you can always add more. Remember, this acts as a visual road map to help your catering biz operate and grow over time. This is vital information for investors to consider if you approach them for funding. 

Invest in the Right Equipment

The equipment you buy will impact the quality of your goods. This is true in every catering business. Starting with inexpensive ovens or flatware may be tempting. Yet, waiting until you can afford them can lead to issues. Cheaper equipment is prone to breaking down more often. This will cost more in the long run. Furthermore, the results will be inconsistent, leading to dissatisfied patrons.

You should only buy what is necessary to cut how much you spend upfront. Typical items that new catering business owners buy to start their company include:

• Kitchen appliances
• Cold storage appliances
• Work surfaces 
• Smaller cooking ware items
• Cooking utensils 
• Silverware and table accouterments
• Glassware and barware
• Dining furniture and decor if a client doesn’t have a venue that supplies these items
• Supplies for takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery services 

While this isn’t an exact list, it should give you a good idea of what to plan your initial budget to cover.

Get Necessary Permits and Licensing

Keeping your dinner guests and employees safe is one of your biggest responsibilities. This requires compliance with local, state, and federal health and safety regulations. In addition, if you supply beer, wine, and/or spirits, you will need alcohol licensing. 

The regulations you must follow will vary depending on your running catering business. But, you will need to get business licensing and tax identification numbers from the IRS. 

Put Together an Amazing Team

Catering businesses have a lot of moving parts. This requires staff with a variety of skill sets. For example, you may need kitchen preps, dishwashers, bussers, waitresses, and a bartender. You may also need a general manager to help with scheduling, inventory, and employment. You will also need someone to manage your online presence. 

Anyone you bring on board should have training in several areas, including:

• Customer service
• Serving protocols
• Cleaning and sanitation procedures
• Processes of breaking down a catering event

Consider holding an onboarding event. This will help your staff get to know each other before ever having to serve guests. This can help them develop a bond and understanding of operations and how to work together.

Know The Business Risks of Catering

Catering is not like every other business. You have to figure out where you can prepare and cook meals. You also need to arrange transportation to the venue. These decisions add new liabilities to your operations and require insurance to mitigate this risk. Typical claims that caterers face are:

• Business Property Damage
• Employee Injuries
• Equipment Breakdown
• Food Spoilage
• Food Contamination 
• Transportation Accidents

Speak with a trusted insurance advisor about your company and get recommendations. Then, make sure the coverage is appropriate for your needs. Below is a quick overview of popular policies that catering business owners rely on. These policies protect their staff, clients, and company interests. 

General Liability

General liability insurance covers the basic risks you’ll experience as a caterer. These policies protect you against third-party claims. These include property damage, bodily injury, and false advertisement of services. 

Commercial Auto

The state you operate in will likely require commercial auto insurance for your business fleet. This provides coverage if your employee causes an accident with a company vehicle. Personal coverage rarely covers collisions if your car or truck was used for business purposes.

Workers’ Compensation

Another important mandatory policy in 49 states is workers’ compensation insurance. This coverage will help pay for medical treatment and lost wages associated with an employee’s on-the-job injury. If you get sued by a staff member alleging negligence, these policies will pay for your attorney and related costs to defend against the claim. 

Commercial Property

Even if you do all your meal prep from home, commercial property insurance protects important business assets, such as:

• Cooking equipment
• Inventory 
• Spoilage
• Business location if you own the property

Make the Most Out of Your Catering Career

Consider these factors when forming a new catering company. They will give you a better sense of what business focus you need. You’ll be able to create actionable steps based on these findings. Taking the time to map out your business strategy will prove invaluable. This will keep your goals on track and help grow your company. 

Most important is risk management to reduce the many liabilities that inherently come with this line of work. A comprehensive insurance policy that includes coverages for your staff, patrons, and assets is one of your most important investments. Learn more about catering business insurance costs by speaking with a trusted agent.

The post Is Catering a Good Business to Start? appeared first on Food Health & Parenting Tips.

Despite the pressure that chefs face in their day-to-day jobs, there are ways to ensure better chances of success – and being as comfortable as possible while still dressing professionally and appropriately for the environment is one of those ways. Before getting a new job, you might need to check in to see if there is any specific dress code in place so that you can be compliant and ready to work. Still, there are always basics that any chef needs, no matter their workplace’s requirements. 

Along with having the necessary attire, here are a few tips to help you stay comfortable throughout your shift while working in a kitchen.

Choose the Right Pants

When you are dressing for your new job in a kitchen, you aren’t focusing on style. While hosts and servers at the front of the house might have a bit of leeway when dressing fashionably, working in the kitchen is all about being comfortable and dressing appropriately for the day’s work.

To that point, you will want to ensure that you stock up on comfortable bottoms that can see you through your shift. Men and women have unique shapes, so it’s important to get clothing for your bottom half. For instance, ladies will need quality chef pants for women designed specifically for their physique, enabling them to be comfortable on their feet in the kitchen all day. Such pants come in styles, colors, and fabrics that are purpose-made for kitchen work and will also be comfortable enough to wear all day long.

Invest in Good Shoes

In addition to wearing the proper clothing, it is also essential to ensure that you look after your feet when working in a kitchen. This means wearing breathable, comfortable socks and ensuring that you invest in some comfortable, supportive shoes.

As a chef, your choice of footwear isn’t going to be about being fashionable or stylish; rather, it will be about providing your feet with the support they need to carry you through those long shifts, so don’t get too caught up in how your shoes look – comfort is key.

Generally, it is worth spending a bit extra on footwear designed for working in the kitchen for long periods. This means finding shoes with good traction, solid ankle support, and cushioned soles to ensure maximum comfort. Plus, choosing a pair that’s easy to wash would not be a bad idea either; that way, you can easily and quickly wipe them clean at the end of the day.

Have a Stretching Routine

When your days are spent on your feet, it is crucial to ensure that you give your body what it needs to recover when you aren’t on the clock. As such, it can be helpful to develop a daily stretching routine that you can do outside of work. 

Being a chef is hard work – both mentally and physically – and you need to take care of your body if you want it to carry you through each shift. It’s not uncommon for chefs to experience aches and pains from being on their feet all day; therefore, focusing on stretches that target your back and your lower body can be a helpful solution that helps prevent issues in these areas. 

These will be the areas of your body that usually end up carrying most of the workload when you are working long shifts in the kitchen, which is why stretching these particular muscles daily is an important part of a chef’s routine that’ll see you lead a happier and healthier life – professionally and personally.

The post Top Tips for Staying Comfortable When Working in a Kitchen appeared first on Food Health & Parenting Tips.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies

Courtesy of a delicious recipe from Amy’s Healthy Baking, carrot cake oatmeal cookies are well worth trying. Rich in vitamin A thanks to the inclusion of carrots and containing other healthy ingredients like oats and cinnamon, carrot cake oatmeal cookies are a healthy sweet treat to tuck into. While cookies are usually associated with plenty of sugar and chocolate chips, this alternative is not only tasty but far healthier, too.

Apple Sauce 

Not all apple sauce is healthy, but a homemade version with the inclusion of honey as the
sweetener is far more beneficial than regular apple sauce that can be filled with sugar. Whether it’s topped on some delicious protein pancakes or on top of a selection of fruit, apple sauce can provide a range of benefits. You might even fancy throwing in some cinnamon for extra flavor and a good dose of additional antioxidants.

Frozen Mango, Kiwi & Raspberry Fruit Pops

You can make delicious mango, kiwi, and raspberry fruit pops thanks to this simple recipe from SkinnyTaste. These types of frozen fruit creations provide a refreshing snack and are also genuinely tasty during the summer heat. All of the fruit included in these fruit pops are also
packed full of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in the repair of tissue and
the formation of collagen, alongside providing a range of other notable benefits.

Fruit Salad

While fruit salad doesn’t appeal to everyone, it’s very healthy. It’s a classic healthy
dessert that has been enjoyed for decades, especially after a heavy meal. Always
include as many beneficial berries as possible, such as blueberries, raspberries, goji berries,
bilberries, açai berries, and cranberries. Fruit salad is generally filling and very refreshing,
particularly in the summer months when you might not necessarily want a hefty final course.

3-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse

While this is probably the most naughty dessert on the list, you are allowed to enjoy some sugar from time to time. A 3-ingredient chocolate mousse should provide enough of a sweet kick to satisfy any cravings while not being too unhealthy if enjoyed on the odd occasion alongside a fitness regime. This delight features dark chocolate, marshmallows, and a little heavy cream. Taking just 10 minutes to put together, all you need is a blender to whip up this tasty yet relatively guilt-free treat.

Other healthy desserts include dark chocolate banana bites, a paleo strawberry crumble,
watermelon granita, no-bake energy bites, grilled pineapple, keto peanut butter cups, breakfast cookies, and roasted peaches.

The post Selection of Desserts That Are Healthy appeared first on Food Health & Parenting Tips.

This herb is so frequently used because of its natural healing properties. It is a member of the ginger family, it is only imperative to learn more about it before cooking with it. 

Hence, here are some evoking facts about turmeric. 

Engaged With Every Cuisine

Turmeric also works exceptionally as a spice. It immerses itself in almost every single dish and enriches the taste even more. Thus, it is used by people all over the world. Turmeric is most commonly found in Chinese, Indian, Southeast Asia, and also Vietnamese food in Australia. 

It is a superfood that can add flavor to any spicy dish. Turmeric brings health and richness to the food you eat. There are people around the world who spice things up with it regularly. It is least used in Western fast foods, but if you’re talking about Asian dishes, then turmeric is mixed in them 8/10 of the time.  

Turmeric as a Condiment

It comes in two forms; fresh and powdered. Cooks prefer to use the powdered form. This lets them keep track of the amount added to the dish. Turmeric is also known as the yellow saffron that’s used in making mustard. 

In addition, it is used to add coloring to cheese and milk. This very spice grants the yellow color of curry. It’s not used more than a teaspoon, but somehow that’s enough to attain the desired taste. It can be cooked within the dish or added later as a seasoning.

Turmeric as an Antidote 

From one angle, you can use it as healing medicine. Here’s how. 

• An excellent anti-inflammatory remedy. If you get a lousy bruise, then apply some hot turmeric. It will alleviate in a matter of minutes. 
• It enhances mental health. It’s great for your brain. In cases of minor injuries, it’s given with milk to provide comfort and reduce pain. 
• It also reduces blood cholesterol levels. 
• Effective in reducing osteoarthritis pain. 
• It helps in digestion and can be used to treat stomach ulcers. 
• It lowers the risk of heart attacks. 
• It can be an effective therapy against prediabetes. 

Foods That Turmeric Compliments 

Here is a list of recipes to try that’ll make you use turmeric more progressively. 

• Make a tomato soup. It goes well with tomatoes. 
• Try adding it to vegetable dishes such as potatoes, cauliflowers, etc. 
• Deviled eggs are another must-have from this category. 
• Chicken marries this spice perfectly. Add it to any chicken dish you plan on serving later. 
• It’s not something that you can eat, but turmeric tea is a greater drink post-dinner. It helps you lose weight. 
• Try adding it to rice. The addition of turmeric ultimately enriches any dish containing rice.

The post Turmeric – Food And Health Benefits appeared first on Food Health & Parenting Tips.

Coffee Producers

There are about 50 producing countries in the world. All of them are located in the tropical belt – this is due to favorable growing conditions. The world leader in coffee production, of course, is Brazil. Besides, it is the cheapest coffee there. The second-largest producer is in Indonesia and the third-largest in Colombia.

But this does not mean that when choosing coffee, you should be guided by the names of these regions. It is better to rely on the development of the country: Italy, Germany, Turkey, and many others buy beans from the leaders in the production and then use high-tech methods of roasting and grinding.

Coffee Varieties

There are many varieties of coffee. There are two major classics: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica is slightly acidic and has a bright taste and aroma. Robusta is bitter, with a stronger taste and more caffeine. Pure Arabica is consumed. An espresso blend, for example, is made by adding Robusta to 100% Arabica.

Instant Coffee

There are many options for brewing: brewed coffee (a turkey, coffee maker, geyser coffee maker), capsule coffee, and instant coffee.

Let’s start with the last one. It comes in three varieties.

1. Powder (the cheapest type). We grind the beans into dust and pour boiling water in a big pot where constant pressure is maintained. The liquid is evaporated and the dry sludge is poured into jars.
2. Granulated. It is produced in the same way as the powder one, but at the last stage, the lumps are made. It differs from the previous one in its better solubility.
3. Freeze-dried (the most expensive of the soluble ones). During production, they freeze it in a vacuum. Such coffee is closest in its taste qualities to natural boiled coffee.

Capsule Coffee

The capsule coffee is a rather young invention. The coffee is hermetically packed into small capsules, which are then placed in a special machine. This option, of course, has the main advantage – quick preparation. You can also make a cappuccino or latte right away.

But there is a disadvantage: the absence of the smell of natural coffee. This is because ground contains carbon dioxide, and if it is immediately packed, the capsule can explode. This is why it is kept for about two weeks, the gas evaporates and with it the aroma. It also needs a temperature of 91-96 degrees Celsius to bring out the full flavor of the bean. Most capsule machines don’t bring water to this temperature. The National Coffee Association (NCA) calls it “flat and under-extracted.

Boiled Coffee

Brewed coffee is undoubtedly in first place in terms of taste and aroma. But nuances are very important when making it:

• ground coffee does not live longer than two weeks in a leaky package: it is better to buy beans and grind just before brewing;
• You should choose freshly roasted beans, but even after two months they will gradually lose their flavor and richness;
• Water should be particular mineralization (ideally 75-175 mg / L), it is difficult to achieve in the home, so it is better to use bottled water;
• It is recommended to store coffee in a bag with a zip-lock (full vacuum) and a degassing valve to remove carbon dioxide. Since coffee is quickly exhausted, it cannot be stored for long, but it can be frozen for up to six months (it is only allowed to defrost once);
• It is important to grind the beans evenly, otherwise, the taste of the beverage will be unpredictable. For each type of brew a certain degree of grinding is suitable (for example, a turkey – fine and extra-fine grinding, a French press – coarse).

Benefits and Harms

Coffee, in addition to taste, has useful qualities. These are:

• invigorating effect;
• help in losing weight (if the proper amount of consumption is observed)
• reduction of the risk of cancer and Parkinson’s disease;
• stimulates the work of the gallbladder, thereby reducing the risk of cirrhosis of the liver;
• increased blood pressure – a quick help for people with hypotension.

But we should not forget that in everything one should know a measure. Coffee varies in strength, it depends on the amount of caffeine, which is not recommended to consume more than 150-200 mg per day. Just to understand – a cup of espresso (50 ml) has about 100 mg of caffeine. You should not drink coffee more than three times a day and in the evening.

More coffee can be harmful:

• Causes addiction. Without the dose, one receives, one begins to experience withdrawal: apathy, irritability, muscle pain, drowsiness, nausea.
• Consumption of black coffee in large quantities leads to exhaustion of the nervous system.
• Because coffee stimulates the heart and thus increases blood pressure, there is a risk of coronary disease.
• Abuse of coffee leads to the fact that some elements are no longer absorbed in the body. This can lead to osteoporosis, dental problems, and circulatory disorders. Also noticed dry skin, brittle nails, and dull hair.
• After a cup of brewed coffee, it is advisable to drink a glass of water, as the drink causes severe dehydration.

What Kind of Coffee Is Better to Drink

Natural coffee has many advantages over instant coffee. It is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Instant coffee contains chemical preservatives and stabilizers, to put it simply, it is bad for the body.

But also natural coffee even brewed according to all the laws and rules, has one serious disadvantage: the presence of cafestol, which can lead to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. To minimize the amount of it, coffee is passed through a filter or brewed in a coffee machine.

Drink your coffee right and enjoy the good taste.

The post What Kind of Coffee Is Better to Drink? Benefits and Harms of the Popular Drink appeared first on Food Health & Parenting Tips.

There are so many variables to coming up with the best gift ideas for newlyweds …Will they like it? Is it too cheap? Has someone else already bought one? Would they even use it? (Make of that what you will)

If the mere thought of choosing a gift raises your heart rate and causes a single bead of sweat to slowly trickle down your face, we’re here to help.

Below is a list of the 10 perfect gift ideas for newlyweds that are so great, they’ll still be talking about them on their first anniversary. Maybe.

Gift Ideas Personalized Wine Glasses

Newly married couples like to celebrate a lot, so personalized wine glasses are the perfect gift to get them on their merry way. And if the marriage goes south, at least the bride and groom will know which glass to take with them in the divorce.

Coffee Subscription

If the happy couple is real-life humans, chances are they love coffee. So buying them a coffee subscription would be the perfect gift. Subscription-based products deliver a selection of coffee right to their door every month. You’ll be giving the newlyweds 12 surprises over the course of a year.

One of the Best Gift Ideas Is an Air Fryer

Air fryers are an awesome way to prepare a creative dinner or a tasty dish that’s both healthy and convenient. If the newly married couple eats well and stays fit by cooking with an air fryer, they’re less likely to prematurely let themselves go. Well done, you’ve saved their marriage.

Couples Massage

After their stressful special wedding, help the newly married couple relax together with a day at a spa. Couples massages are a soothing yet romantic way to show the newlyweds how much they mean to you.

iRobot Roomba

Help avoid early marital arguments about who’s going to vacuum the house by choosing an iRobot Roomba as the perfect wedding gift. This genius invention will automatically clean your floors without needing to be told twice. If only it could load the dishwasher too.

High-Quality Cookware

If you’ve ever had a casserole or stew at your grandma’s house, it was likely cooked in the Dutch oven she got on her wedding day. Thus, because cast iron cookware is indestructible and lasts forever, your gift will let the couple enjoy tagine cooking or great dishes in a Dutch oven. Not only that, they make incredible meals and are one of the best gifts for newlyweds.

Personalized World Map

If paying for the honeymoon is out of your budget, one of the greatest gift ideas is personalized world maps are fun gifts for newlyweds that suffer from occasional bouts of wanderlust. They can stick pins in places they’ve been together or intend to go, rather than needing each other.

Blender

Food items feature strongly in this list because, well, everybody loves food. A blender is an ideal gift for the happy couple, not only because can blenders make deliciously healthy smoothies, but they’re also a perfect metaphor for marriage. Add all the right ingredients, mix them and voila … match made in heaven.

Wooden Board Games

Board games are a timeless classic and a staple of the in-house date night or double date. There are many different board games to choose from, but for your gift to really stand out, consider buying a wooden board game or something personalized. Preferably both.

Cook Book

The quickest way to a person’s myocardium is through their stomach, right? So, it stands to reason that the best way to keep them happy is to keep feeding them. Help the newlyweds maintain a happy marriage or plan a romantic date night by giving them the gift of a cookbook filled with delicious recipes for their big day.

Choose Wisely

So there you have it, a list of the ten best gifts ideas for a newly married couple. But just because we’ve compiled this list doesn’t mean you don’t need to consider the options and choose wisely.

Giving wine glasses to a recovering alcoholic or a personalized world map to plan overseas trips to a couple on the no-fly list is a sure-fire way to get yourself uninvited to their first-anniversary party.

The post Best Gift Ideas For Newlyweds appeared first on Food Health & Parenting Tips.

However, many restaurant owners make horrible and embarrassing mistakes when buying patio furniture. In this article, we will help you avoid those mistakes easily by considering the factors mentioned below.

Never Forget to Measure Your Outdoor Space

No matter what type of patio furniture you are looking to buy, you should always measure your outdoor space before buying anything. This method applies whether you are looking for outdoor furniture in the local market, or online. Never rely on your eyeballs to measure the furniture and your outdoor space, and use a proper measuring tape for this purpose. You should also write down all the measures after taking them. You can use these measures to shop for the right restaurant patio furniture. You should leave enough space for walking in between when planning the layout of furniture in your restaurant’s outdoor space.

Ignoring The Build Quality

When you are shopping, you can easily get carried away by the shining colors newly displayed in furniture shops. However, you should never ignore the build quality and materials before investing in it.

Investing in substandard outdoor furniture is just like throwing your money down the drain. That is because low-quality furniture won’t be able to withstand the harsh weather conditions outdoors, and will only last for a small period of time.

If you do not know how to inspect high-quality furniture, you can ask an expert to help you, or you can read reviews of the manufacturer online before investing in them. Keep in mind that buying the right outdoor furniture is not as easy as you might think it to be.

You should ideally invest in metals and other materials which are made to withstand lots of harsh weather conditions and sunny days without getting much affected.

Related: How Interiors Affects Restaurants and Bars

Not Considering Your Location

Before you can invest in any outdoor piece, you should do some research on your local climate, and how different materials will act and perform in it.

For example, if you have your restaurant by the sea, the air in your local climate will have salt in it. This can cause lots of problems for certain types of metals used in outdoor furniture. The same goes for areas with trees that drip sap from them throughout the year. Colder areas can also have their own outdoor furniture requirements. So, you should consider all of these things related to your location when investing.

Not Trying Before Buying

You should always try every type of furniture before buying it. The same goes for restaurant outdoor furniture. You should try it before buying. Ideally, the furniture should both be comfortable and sturdy at the same time. This is needed to make it durable enough to withstand harsh weather conditions and different types of clients.

Some furniture pieces can be too harsh to sit on especially if they are made for elongated outdoor use. That is why you should always try the pieces before buying them no matter what.

You can also wait and read some online reviews about the furniture pieces you are about to buy. This way, you will be able to get long-term reviews from past buyers of the same pieces. This can save you a lot of money by avoiding buying substandard or uncomfortable outdoor restaurant furniture.

Not Protecting Your Restaurant Patio Furniture Properly

If you are spending a lot of money on outdoor furniture for your restaurant, it also makes sense to invest in proper protection. This means buying protective covers for every piece used in your restaurant patio. These covers are really cheap but can keep your furniture safe for years to come. For cushions and pillows, you should invest in a proper container that is waterproof as well.

This is more important if you are buying outdoor furniture at the end of the summer season. This way, you need protection even more in order to keep your outdoor furniture safe until the next summer.

Ignoring The Functionality Part

Since the restaurant patio furniture is used on a regular basis, you should invest in a large number of chairs to use outdoors. Moreover, if your restaurant is located in an area that gets very sunny in the summer season, you should invest in a patio umbrella to keep your customers away from direct sunlight. 

You can also consider the habits of your customers, there sitting and eating patterns, and then make any purchase decisions. You can invest in more small tables if you usually get small groups of customers in your restaurant. You should also invest in a few tables if you have a habit of keeping your drinks with you when out on your patio.

In the end, you can make your patio look perfect by adding a large rug underneath the patio furniture. This can help you ground your furniture, and introduce more colors to your outdoor space. A good rug can provide you with enough comfort to make you feel like you are inside your house. However, the color of your rug must match with the overall theme of your patio, and the outdoor decor of your property.

Conclusion

Thus, we can safely conclude that the biggest outdoor furniture buying mistakes can be avoided easily if you are well aware of all the factors to consider when buying it. Also, you should always invest in high-quality outdoor furniture which will last and serve you for a long time to come.

The post Embarrassing Mistakes You Should Avoid When Buying Restaurant Patio Furniture appeared first on Food Health & Parenting Tips.

Enjoy Summer Activities to Lose Weight

It is easy to lose weight in summer if there is a river, lake, sea, or pool nearby. Swimming is not only the easiest method to lose weight, but also a great exercise for muscles, i.e., you not only burn calories and lose extra pounds but also make your body stronger. Beach volleyball, surfing, kayaking, and diving are just a few of the sports that you can enjoy in the summer while losing weight and saying cellulite bye! Invite your friends, and make it your goal to become a professional beach volleyball player, or just play for fun!

Eat Fruit Salads

Watermelons, melons, cherries, strawberries, peaches, kiwi, and other juicy fruits are the key to painless weight loss. Since the summer heat and fruit salads are the perfect combinations, you have another good reason not to give up this wonderful method. Fresh fruits are surprisingly low in calories and will also fill your body with enough vitamins so you won’t need anything. By the way, it’s a good idea to eat more grapefruits. They are sour and bitter, and many people don’t like them, but grapefruit helps burn fat. Grapefruit regulates insulin levels, helping you burn calories instead of storing them.

Say Yes to Vegetables

If you also think that if you replace sweets with fruit salads — this is what you need to lose weight, then you will not mind making salads from any vegetables that you find in the fridge. For example, green salad leaves are low in calories and are tasty enough.

Eat Watermelon

Scientists from the University of Kentucky have discovered that watermelon consumption can significantly reduce body fat. This fruit is amazing in taste, while having a few calories, and a refreshing effect on a hot day: watermelon helps to manage a stable energy level and hydration allowing to abandon high-calorie sports drinks.

Drink Plenty of Water

Maintaining your water balance is an important part of losing weight. Water will help eliminate toxins that interfere with normal metabolism, extreme hunger and will do wonders for your skin, hair, and nails.

Related: How to Actually Drink Enough Water Each Day 

Make Homemade Lemonades 

It would be much easier to lose weight if you ban drinking these tempting carbonated refreshments. But what if you cook something like that yourself? You can add fresh fruit, mint to them and create your own healthy lemonade without affecting your figure.

Choose an Alternative Transport

Busy buses and subways are a nightmare that gets worse in the summer heat. What about a bike or roller skates? This is a great way to get from point A to point B without using public transport and saving money. Plus, it’s another painless way to lose weight in the summer.

Get Up Early

Waking up early in the morning, eating breakfast, and exercising while the body is ready to burn calories and turn them into clean energy is also a way to lose weight. But why do it in the summer? Because the sun rises earlier in summer, which means you will not feel completely overwhelmed.

Do you have your own exclusive methods of losing weight? Share your ideas with us!

The post 8 Ways to Lose Weight in Summer appeared first on Food Health & Parenting Tips.