Category Archives: Food & Drink

Food & Drink

How to knead bread made with yeast

2012/03/15 – 3:05 AM

Unlike quick breads that suffer from overmixing, yeast breads depend on your manipulation of the dough for their structure. When you knead the dough, the gluten in the flour forms a weblike network that traps the gases emitted by the yeast. Without adequate kneading, your bread won’t be as chewy, and it won’t rise properly. If you have a bread machine, the machine takes care of all of the kneading for you. Otherwise, you can knead the dough in a stand mixer or by hand.

Before you begin kneading your dough, you need some idea of what the end result should look and feel like. Because much of the bread-making process depends on variables — the type of flour you use, the strength of your yeast, the humidity level in your kitchen — no one recipe can tell you exactly how much flour and water to use or how long to knead your dough. These are factors that you will learn from experience. Ideally, after you knead your dough, it will be elastic and pliable. The surface of the dough should be smooth, yet slightly sticky.
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Food & Drink

How to cook belt fish?

2012/03/15 – 3:03 AM

Belt fish, also known as silver scabbard fish, is a snake-like species with delicate, white meat. You can cook belt fish with or without the skin, and in a variety of ways. Many Asian markets sell belt fish in small steaks and fillets for a premium price.

For a clean flavor to go well with rice and citrus sauces, steam belt fish. Clean the belt fish fillets and place them on a steaming rack. Top them with simple ingredients such as crushed garlic, grated ginger, sliced scallions and crushed red pepper. Steam the fish for about 10 minutes, or until opaque in the center. You do not need heavy sauces because steaming allows the flavor of the ingredients to soak through the belt fish, creating tasty juices.

Broiled belt fish has a lightly charred exterior with a richness that adds a burst of flavor with every bite. Preheat the broiler and place the belt fish fillets on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Skinless fillets work best. Sprinkle them with bold seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. For a crunchy exterior, add a pat of butter or low-fat butter substitute to the top of the fillets. Broil the belt fish fillets for about four minutes per side or until opaque throughout. Cool the fillets for two minutes and serve.

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Food & Drink

Reconstituting dried fruit restores its texture

2012/03/12 – 2:33 AM

Reconstituting dried fruit restores its texture and gives better results for certain recipes, such as sauces and pies. Reconstituting refers to adding moisture to the dried fruit. This reverses the dehydrated state and makes the fruit softer. The process of returning moisture to dried fruit is also called refreshing the fruit. Using the right amount of water to refresh fruit will retain its flavor and make it juicy without sogginess.

The traditional method for drying fruit is to dry it in the sun. It can also be dried in an industrial or home oven, or in a food-dehydrating appliance. Removing moisture from foods protects it from spoiling, because moisture allows microorganisms to grow. Blanching light-colored fruits by steaming them in a double boiler helps to keep them from darkening when they dry. Dried fruit retains the same nutritional value as fresh fruit, although a small loss of vitamin C can occur from blanching, according to the Washington State University website.
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Food & Drink

About the guava of drying process

2012/03/11 – 4:48 AM

Guava is a low-calorie fruit with high levels of folic acid, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamins C and A. When fresh and ripe, guava keeps for about five days in the refrigerator. However, drying guava preserves its quality for at least six months with proper storage. Dried guava becomes crispy and retains its sweetness.

Washing guava removes dirt and potential insecticides from the exterior of the fruit. Rinse the guava beneath warm, running water and scrub the exterior lightly with a stiff brush. The peel is edible but has little flavor. Remove the peel with a vegetable peeler if you prefer not to eat it. Use a sharp knife to slice the guava in half, then into 1/8- to 1/4-inch-thick slices. Guava sliced at 1/4 inch is chewier than at 1/8 inch. Do not exceed 1/4 inch, though, because thicker guava slices may not dry correctly.

During the drying process, guava may lose some of its color and appear less appealing. You can prevent this by soaking the
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Food & Drink

How the cake is baking

2012/03/07 – 2:19 AM

Novelty cake is always a hit with the kids, but having one professionally made can hit your wallet hard. Baking a rocket ship cake is not difficult, especially if you use a football-shaped cake pan for the basic shape. Fondant icing is as simple to work with as modeling clay and lots more fun to sample, though buttercream frosting works well, too.

Start with a plan. Read the recipe and decorating tips several times and make sure you’re clear on each step before getting started if you’re working from a book, magazine or website. Draw your design out on a piece of paper if you’re working from your own imagination.

Use a simple, firm type of cake, whether you start from scratch or use a cake mix. Angel food cake might be too delicate to stand up to elaborate decorations, so stay with a pound cake or classic white or yellow cake. Chocolate cake works better with fondant icing because dark crumbs can be hard to deal with when working with light buttercream frosting.
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Food & Drink

Why for Salt in baking

2012/02/13 – 2:19 AM

Several different salts are used in baking, each with an important job that helps determine the outcome. The amount of salt you consume through home-baked goods is not a major contributor to total daily intake, so don’t skimp on salt when you’re baking. Use the proper amount to be sure your efforts produce high-quality baked goods.

Three types of salt used in baking are: baking soda, baking powder and sodium chloride. Sodium is the element that’s common in all of them. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, common table salt is sodium chloride and baking powder is a mixture of baking soda plus one of several acidic ingredients. Basic salt has a function in baking beyond adding flavor, so it’s important to use the amount called for in the recipe. The measurements in recipes accommodate the texture and volume of table salt, so if you’re using a coarser salt, such as kosher or sea salt, weigh it rather than relying on volume.

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Food & Drink

What happens when you drink detox tea?

2012/02/12 – 4:54 AM

Detox teas are usually natural herbal infusions intended to cleanse your body of toxins and promote health. Specifically, detox teas are meant to target your liver and kidneys and re-establish normal function, although some supplement vendors claim a wide range of unsubstantiated health benefits. Depending on the ingredients and how much you consume, detox teas may cause stomach or abdominal pain. Always consult your doctor before drinking detox teas or consuming herbal supplements.

Detoxification, commonly abbreviated detox, is the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic or poisonous compounds from your body, according to the “Textbook of Nutritional Medicine. In the view of mainstream medicine, your body rarely needs assistance in cleaning itself and removing harmful compounds, although in extreme situations medical intervention may be needed and take the form of dialysis, drug antidotes and pharmaceutical-based chelation therapy. On the other hand, many forms of traditional or indigenous medicine view your body as occasionally needing help removing toxins, and recommend the use of plant-based remedies from time to time.

Detox teas usually don’t contain any black or green tea leaves, so they are somewhat misnamed. Instead, they contain either a single herb or a mixture of herbs that have been traditionally associated with being able to cleanse various organs in your body. Detox teas can be made from a variety of flowers, leaves, roots, fruits or bark, but usually not from any species or parts that contain caffeine, according to the book “Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern

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Food & Drink Groups & Challenges

Why do people like to eat papaya

2012/02/07 – 1:53 AM

Papayas may have their origins in Central America, but they’ve become a staple of U.S. grocery stores for a reason. The bright orange flesh of this fruit is not only sweet and refreshing, but according to “Whole Living” magazine, one papaya contains almost three days’ worth of vitamin C. As long as you pick up a ripe papaya — look for one with reddish-orange skin — it’s ready to eat and enjoy right away.

The flesh of a papaya is juicy and sweet, so slices of raw papaya make for a satisfying snack. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the fruit’s peel, then slice the papaya open and remove the seeds. Another option is to slice the whole papaya in half, spoon out the seeds and eat the fruit right out of the peel using a spoon. Eat the papaya plain, or sprinkle it with lemon, lime or orange juice; according to “Whole Living,” acids such as those in citrus juices bring out the sweetness of the fruit.

Slices or cubes of papaya instantly dress up a plain salad. Mix the pieces into a fruit salad of bananas, orange sections and berries, and toss everything with a dressing of light yogurt and lemon juice. Raw papaya slices also add sweetness to a

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Food & Drink

Edamame to help hair growth

2012/02/07 – 1:44 AM

Slow hair growth, hair breakage and hair loss can all be extremely troubling, but natural remedies often are effective. Edamame are baby soy beans prepared and served in the pod. According to the “Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies,” soy beans can improve hair growth and overall hair health.

Hair is made primarily from the protein keratin, according to biologist and physiologist Gerald Audesirk in the textbook, “Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology.” Edamame contains high quantities of vegetable proteins, which are much healthier than animal proteins. Audesirk explains that the body can convert macronutrients from edamame and other high-protein foods into keratin, improving hair growth and health. This is not an overnight remedy. It takes several weeks to see benefits from the protein in edamame, but as hair growth gradually improves, you will see less breakage and hair loss.

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Food & Drink

Sodium-containing foods can deplete your body of calcium

2012/02/02 – 1:53 AM

Strong bones start with a healthy diet. You must give your body the nutrients that it needs to fortify your frame and keep you from debilitating and painful bone breaks. While calcium and vitamin D-containing foods help to build bones, sodium-containing foods can deplete your body of calcium if you don’t consume enough calcium in your daily diet. Since sodium doesn’t build bone and can contribute to other harmful conditions, it’s important to speak to your physician about the right sodium intake for your health.

When you consume excess amounts of sodium in your diet, the sodium induces a condition called calciuria. This means that the added sodium causes your body to release calcium from your bones to be excreted with the extra sodium from your food. Taking calcium from your bones can cause them to become weaker, as if you’re removing beams from a structure. Weaker bones are associated with harmful conditions, such as osteoporosis, and increased risk for bone fractures.

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