Try the Seafood Section For Dinner Ideas

For seafood lovers who just can't decide, why not go with Alaska Surimi Seafood for dinner tonight? For those who have never heard of Surimi, it is made of Alaska Pollock with flavoring from crab, shrimp, scallops and/or lobster. Boneless, shell-less, and delicious it's a fast and affordable way to put genuine Alaskan Seafood on the table for the whole family to enjoy.

The actual word "Surimi" comes from Japanese, and is an extremely popular ingredient across many Asian cultures. Invented in East Asia over 900 years ago, chefs have had plenty of time to perfect the dish. Across Asia there are entire schools dedicated to teaching and perfecting the art of Surimi. In the 1960s Surimi gained worldwide popularity when fresh Pollock from the icy waters of Alaska was added as the main ingredient. Besides the delicious flavor derived from the mild, white meat of the Alaska Pollock, Alaska Surimi is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, while also low in cholesterol, fat and calories.

When headed to the market, look for a variety of serving styles, depending on your meal ideal. Shredded Surimi is great for sandwiches and salads, chunk meat for soups, mini-cuts for cooking or "legs" for serving whole. Keep in mind Surimi comes pre-cooked for easy addition to a wide variety of dishes. Created from boneless Alaska Pollock fillets and blended with other fine ingredients, it can be formed into just about any cut or shape. Some buyers may confuse Alaska Surimi with common imitation crab meat, but the quality, texture and taste of genuine Alaskan products can't be beat.

Due to the ease of preparation and its sweet delicate flavor, Alaska Surimi is a great item to have on the weekly grocery list. Try adding it to dips, wraps or quesadillas for a nutritious afternoon snack for the kids. When entertaining it really gives punch to appetizers and finger-foods like stuffed mushrooms, canapes, or sushi. For quick and easy dinners add Surimi to stir-fry or curry dishes, or use it to make stuffed chicken breast. Eating light? Take it along to add to salads at lunchtime, or pre-make chowders, ceviches or sandwiches.

Don't let another opportunity to spice up your dinner plate go by, ask about fresh Alaska Surimi at your local grocery store or seafood market!

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Healthy and Easy Chinese Food at Home

500+ Healthy Chinese Recipes is exactly what it proclaims to be - a guide to make great Chinese food that isn't dripping in fat. Chef Nicholas Zhou is the author of the book, and has over 40 years of cooking experience and is now sharing his secrets with you.

What you get when you order 500+ Healthy Chinese Recipes is a very large amount of knowledge from Zhou. In it, you will learn how to cook popular dishes from four different areas in China: Cantonese, Beijing, Szechuwan, and Hunan. Each of these styles and regions have their own distinct taste and cooking techniques that Zhou will walk you through.

However, what Zhou promotes hardest is that his recipes cut down on the fat content from a Chinese restraint that you and I eat at. Most people think that eating out Chinese is healthy, but in reality, when you order Chinese, most often the food is deep fried and loaded with fat and calories. Zhou promotes cooking techniques such as braising, boiling, simmering, "flavor potting", and smoking, along with others. In using these techniques, along with some traditional deep frying recipes, Zhou helps you cut back on your fat intake and makes a truly healthy eating experience.

What do you get when you order the cook book? First, you get over 500 recipes from Zhou himself. You also get a book written by Zhou for novice cookers, geared towards teaching you the multiple different Chinese cooking techniques as a free bonus. Also, as a free bonus, you get a 150 page glossary on Chinese cooking, giving you definitions of different terms, ingredients, and dishes that you will be making. Here is the best part, in my opinion. Zhou is going to continue to make upgrades to his books, and anytime he updates them with new recipes, he will send an email to people that bought the book with his new recipes.

All of this together costs a low price of $19.97...an amazing amount of knowledge and cooking expertise for that price. This is an excellent way for even the most novice of cookers to start making Chinese dishes at home, today.

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Raw Food Diet - Breakfast

Most of us have heard at one time or another that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is definitely true when eating a raw diet but not in the conventional cooked diet sense, where eating a large breakfast is supposed to kick start your metabolism and set you up for the day. The raw food movement's understanding of the assimilation of nutrients and the detoxification of your blood is very different, with many raw foodists believing that a very light breakfast is best. Don't be scared off by this! The reason why light is ideally best is that your body does most of its detoxification and healing through the night as you sleep and continues until you 'break the fast.' When your body's energy is redirected into digestion and assimilation.

Now, I'm not saying that a very light breakfast is always the best way to go, especially if you are new to raw or transitioning. Getting breakfast right is crucial to how the rest of your day will go in terms of cravings, hunger and energy levels. I have been eating a high raw diet for a number of years now and my breakfast choices have become lighter and lighter over time as my body naturally adjusts to eating more raw food. The most important thing is to make sure you are full enough of raw breakfast not to be tempted by croissant and cups of tea during the rest of the morning! I recommend that you try to eat organic produce whenever possible, as the herbicides and pesticides in and on non-organic food build up in your system and are not good for your long-term health.

What I eat for my Raw Breakfast (and some ideas for you!)

When I get up I start with a pint of cleansing and alkalinising Lemon Water (1 pint Water with the juice of quarter or half a Lemon squeezed into it). About an hour later, after my morning yoga (if I'm doing it!), or when I first get hungry I consider a Green Juice or Smoothie to be crucial as a good start to my day. Greens are very alkalinising, helping to draw toxins out of the body, and are rich in nutrients as well as helping with any cravings you might have for coffee or toast (regular, difficult cravings for these will go after a few weeks on a high raw diet).

Recipe for a lovely Green Juice:

3 Apples, 4 sticks of Celery, 3 handfuls Spinach or Kale, 1/4 Lemon with the rind on, 1/2 inch of Ginger Root. This should make about 1 pint of juice. Around 11am I will have a Super Smoothie made from Nut or Seed Milk with Cacao Powder, Maca, Spirulina and Bee Pollen.

When I first started eating raw, I would have a Raw Muesli with freshly made Almond Milk, Fruit Salad or this month's Delicious Recipe for my breakfast, along side my Green Juice. These are all great starts to your day if you need a bit more to fill you up or to help you feel satisfied.

Recipe for Alfalfa Muesli (it might sound weird, but try it - it's delicious!):

1 handful Alfalfa Sprouts, Seeds of your choice soaked overnight and rinsed (try Sunflower and Pumpkin), a few chopped Dates, some fresh fruit (try Banana and Strawberries) topped off with some freshly made Almond Milk. I hope this has inspired you to give a new type of breakfast a try!

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Thai Food - Adding a Bit of Spice to Your Life

When you go to an exotic new country, one of the best parts of the experience can be sampling new taste sensations at the local restaurants.

Thailand is no exception. This is a country of culinary delights. From the extra spicy to interestingly sour you will find a wide range of local foods that will delight your taste buds, fill your belly and soak up tons of booze before you hit the town.

Thai food is typically spicy and has many herbs and spices; this is for a few reasons.

One, Thai's love spicy food and two, the spices often have medicinal purposes.

Many of us from major western cities already have a fairly good idea of what Thai food is from our own local restaurants. Still, the food here is obviously going to be better, made with local ingredients and not exactly what you expect.

The first major difference that you will notice is that there is no knife on your place setting. Instead you get a spoon!

This goes back to ancient Buddhist customs where serving someone a large piece of meat would be deeply offensive; so all pieces of meat or fish are already cut into small portions that can be easily brought to your mouth with a Thai spoon.

Another big difference is that Thais rarely eat alone and everyone shares each other's plates of food. Typically, if two Thais go out together they will order three main courses. If three Thais go out together they will order four main courses, and so on and so on.

Soup also comes with every meal; but unlike in the west they don't eat it as a separate course. Instead it is enjoyed at the same time as the main course as a way to incorporate a variety of taste sensations.

Almost all Thai meals are served with a plate of rice.

Every course brought to you will provide you with complete taste balance. If one part of your meal is very spicy, the other part will be very bland. If part of your meal is sweet, another component will be sour.

This is also part of the Buddhist way of looking at meals.

A Different Type Of Curry

Curry is used in many Thai dishes but in a different way than you will be used to if you associate it with Indian food.

Indian curries tend to burn in your mouth for long periods of time Thai curries, on the other hand, tend to burn hotter at first, but quickly diminish in your mouth. Nearly all Thai food is spicy. Hot peppers are in most dishes. If you want non spicy, make sure to request that!

Indian curries are also made from dried spices while Thai curries are made from fresh herbs.

A Typical Thai Meal

A typical Thai meal incorporates many different courses including:

• Tidbits: Small items to get your appetite going including spring rolls, satay and puffed rice balls.
• Hot Salads: These are often spicy and more often than not have meat or fish in them.
• Main course: Served with soup and rice.
• Dips: Sometimes a main course all their own, sometimes they are included to be shared as part of the tidbit or main course. They are accompanied by vegetables or small pieces of meat.
• Curries: These can also be a main course or stand out on their own. Curries almost always have meat or fish in them.
• Desert: Because of how spicy most Thai meals are, Thai deserts are often much sweeter than you may be used to. They may add the pounds but they will be delicious!

Remember that Thai's don't differentiate between Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. So you will not find the wide variety of breakfast foods that you will in most places. There are tons of restaurants that cater to foreigners and that have excellent Breakfast food and buffets.

It is not unusual for Thai restaurants to serve food as it is ready. It is not considered rude to begin your meal when your food arrives. I have been to restaurants where I was finished with my meal before my friend's food arrived.

This is not uncommon and not considered rude to eat when your plate arrives.

It is also not uncommon for a group to order and all share the same meal. I have seen many Thai's order 3 plates of food and then just share at will. If you have an aversion to someone taking food off your plate, you need to make this clear as most people that eat here do so in group settings and it is considered part of the meal to share.

Most places you eat will not offer 'real' napkins or paper towels. Instead, they bring you toilet tissue. Again, don't be offended by this. It is just part of the course. You will also notice that after a meal, most Thai's get up and go to the rest room and wash their hands carefully.

Tipping is not considered necessary but it is VERY appreciated. I suggest a tip of 20 baht to 100 baht for a meal. It all depends on the price. I know most that read this will disagree but if you have a great meal and you had good service, give a nice tip to your waiter. To do this, you place the tip outside of the bin. If you place the tip inside, it is shared with the entire staff or goes to the owner. If you want to tip your waiter, pay your bin and think separately give them 50 baht (or whatever amount you have decided on) in another hand. This assures that the tip goes to them.

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Mexican Food Breakfast

The Mexican Breakfast

El Desayuno or the Mexican breakfast is usually just a simple fare of bread and coffee. The appetite is saved for a bigger and grander meal a few hours later during brunch or Almuerzo around 11 in the morning. A basic Almuerzo menu is a big meal consisting of tortilla, eggs, some beans, a rich chocolate drink or chocolate over bread or fresh fruits. In Mexico, tortilla is a staple on the dining table, one that is made from cornmeal called masa. Huevos Rancheros a famous brunch dish is one that has tortilla as a base. It is a full meal on its own, consisting of lightly fried tortillas and fried eggs. It is topped with fresh homemade salsa and served with refried beans (frijoles refritos), avocado slices, fried potatoes and extra chili peppers on the side. Scrambled eggs are an option. The dish is served like an open-faced sandwich or pancakes and may be eaten using a knife and a fork.

Needed to make Huevos Rancheros are:

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 16 ounce can cut tomatoes, cut to smaller pieces
• 3 tablespoons canned diced green chili peppers, rinsed
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, or 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 4 pieces 6-inch tortillas
• 8 eggs
• 3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

On a cast iron skillet or heavy frying pan, sauté the onions and garlic in olive oil. Allow to cook until the onions clears. Add the tomatoes, chili peppers, garlic and chili powder. Allow the mixture to boil slowly. Reduce the heat when boiling point is reaches and let it simmer uncovered until the sauce has slightly thickened, about 5 to ten minutes. While the sauce is simmering, line the tortillas on a baking sheet that is lightly brushed with oil. Let the tortillas bake at 350 degrees for 8 to ten minutes or until lightly crisp. Break an egg into a measuring cup, and carefully slide the egg into the simmering sauce. Repeat this step with the remaining eggs. Cover and simmer the sauce slowly for 3 to 5 minutes or until the whites of eggs have set and the yokes begin to thicken. To prepare for serving, place each tortilla on a plate then top each with 2 eggs. Spoon some tomato sauce over the eggs and sprinkle with cheese. Serve with a hot pepper sauce.

Frijoles Refritos, as already mentioned make a great side dish for Huevos Rancheros. These are beans that are cooked slowly in chili broth with some onions and garlic. Then the cooked beans are mashed and fried in pork lard. The commonly used beans for this recipe are pinto (from North of Mexico) or black variety which are common in the southern part of Mexico. Red beans are commonly found in the markets but are almost never used for refried beans. A traditional Mexican Frijoles Refritos recipe will need:

• 1 pound package dried pinto beans
• 4 cups water
• 1/4 cup bacon grease (optional)
• 3 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon powder
• 1 tablespoon American chili powder

Soak the beans in water for at least six hours, in a Dutch oven. Rinse the beans thoroughly after they are properly soaked (save the soaking water). Put back the rinsed beans and at least two cups of the soaking water in the Dutch oven. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat. Let the beans simmer for about four to six hours, stirring occasionally. You will know the beans are done when they are already tender. Leave the lid off for the last hour if there seems to be too much liquid. Mash the beans often when lid is off until approximately half of them are mashed and half are still whole. Fry in lard.

Chocolate is what makes a Mexican brunch complete. It can be served as a drink or as a topping for some sweet bread. A Mexican chocolate is dark and bitter versus the American or European kinds. Mexican chocolate is often made spicier and grainier (in terms of texture) after it is mixed with sugar, cinnamon and dried and ground peppers. The popular breakfast chocolate drink is simply often blended with either water or milk. With the use of the basic pan dulce dough, Chocolate-topped Mexican breakfast Buns can be prepared. This recipe is rich in butter, eggs and a crumbly chocolate topping. A recipe for twelve buns will need:

For the bread:

• about 3 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 3/4 cup whole milk, warmed to 108 degrees
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup softened butter

And for the chocolate topping:

• 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, melted
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
• 1 egg yolk blended with 1 tablespoon water (egg wash), for glaze

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water, and proof until puffy (ten minutes). In a bowl, mix the proofed yeast, warm milk, vanilla, sugar and eggs. Beat this mixture well until the eggs are fully blended. Add in one cup of the flour, the salt and soft butter. Blend well. Add the rest of the flour to turn into soft dough. On a lightly floured board, knead the dough for about five minutes of until the dough is already smooth. Rub some soft butter in a mixing bowl. Place the kneaded dough in the bowl and turn once to coat the entire dough with butter. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise to double its size, for about 1 to 1.5 hours.

While waiting for the dough to rise, you can prepare the chocolate topping. Combine and stir the melted chocolate, butter, vanilla, powdered sugar and flour in a small bowl. Chill the mixture in the freezer for 30 minutes. When the chocolate mixture is well-chilled already, process into chocolate crumbs in a food processor. Set aside.

When the dough has risen, gently deflate and cut into 12 pieces. Form the pieces into buns. Brush each bun with egg wash and then turn upside down onto the chocolate crumbs. Press lightly until the top is well-covered with chocolate. Place the buns on a greased baking sheet. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees while the ready buns are rising some more. Bake the buns for 12 to 15 minutes or until a bit golden. Remember not to over-bake to avoid dryness and keep the buns' delicate form.

The above recipes complete a perfect Almuerzo. The brunch fiesta is made even more perfect when served with fresh fruits like yellow and green bananas, avocados, mangoes and avocadoes, among others. Some Mexican states, especially those on the coastline serve almuerzo with some seafood dish. An example is the ceviche or diced seafood tossed in salt and lime juice (the lime juice cures the seafood and "cooks" them in the process).

Brunch in Mexico is always long and heavy. Mexicans spend eating almuerzo chatting away and cap it off by a siesta or afternoon naps!

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Chocolate - The Secret Health Food

Have you heard? Chocolate isn't the bad guy anymore! Sure, too much of even a good thing can become a bad thing, but when eaten in moderation, chocolate actually has a number of healthy benefits.

Made from the cacao bean, chocolate has vegetable origins-- which means it contains some of the same health benefits as dark vegetables. The bean in its natural state contains flavonoids, an antioxidant, which helps protect the body against free radicals that can cause heart disease and other symptoms of aging. In fact, chocolate contains many different antioxidants, more than eight times the number of antioxidants found in strawberries. Just imagine the number of antioxidants in a chocolate-covered strawberry!

In addition to protecting against heart disease, flavonoids also help reduce blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide. It has also been shown that dark chocolate can reduce LDL, or bad cholesterol, by as much as ten percent.

Chocolate also contains three different kinds of fat, two of which are actually good for you! Like olive oil, chocolate contains oleic acid, which is a healthy monosaturated fat. The stearic acid found in chocolate is a form of saturated fat, but has not been shown to have an effect on cholesterol. Palmitic acid is the only bad fat found in chocolate, but it can raise cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. So only one-third of the fats in chocolate have a negative health effect.

In addition to physical benefits, chocolate also offers plenty of emotional benefits. It helps the body produce endorphins, which stimulate a feeling of pleasure and well-being. It contains the hormone, serotonin, which helps reduce the symptoms of depression. It also contains the chemical theobromine, caffeine, and other natural stimulants.

One of the best ways to enjoy the healthy benefits of chocolate is to eat it in as pure a form as possible. This means enjoying the darkest chocolate you can find with a cacao content of at least sixty-five percent. It's also best to skip any nougat or caramel fillings, as these add enough fat and calories to wipe out the health benefits of the chocolate itself.

And remember, studies have shown that about 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate per day (or about half a bar) is sufficient to attain the health benefits. More than that, and you'll likely be adding unnecessary fat and calories to your diet. But when eaten in moderation, chocolate can be enjoyed as one of life's healthy pleasures.

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Health Benefits of a Raw Food Diet

There are many benefits associated with a raw foods diet. The raw foods diet is a vegetarian diet that centers on uncooked organic produce, seeds, nuts and drinking plenty of water. The diet promotes weight loss and body detoxification.

The fruits, vegetables and juices in a raw food diet have not been heated above 116 degrees and their fiber and nutrients have not been destroyed by heat. They provide more fiber and more energy than cooked foods. The health benefits of a raw food diet include healthier skin, weight loss, better digestion, and reduced risk of serious illness.

Eating this diet can reduce cholesterol, can reduce your risk of heart disease and can cut cancer risk. The diet is low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. It is high in potassium, magnesium, fiber and folate (a B vitamin).

The raw foods diet is a great way to detoxify the body. It contains no chemicals or toxins and will help cleanse the colon, kidneys and detoxify the liver. It will also help break your dependence on processed carbohydrates and balance blood sugar.

The many benefits of eating raw food are reduced risk for disease and weigh loss. You can get more energy and have better digestion. You will cut your heart disease and cancer risks while feeling more alive and energetic. You will lose weight and have an easier time exercising. You can eliminate the bloating caused by excess sodium and chemicals in processed food. Your body will be cleansed and detoxified.

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