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3 Ways To Cook The Perfect Rice

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Rice may be cooked by 3 methods, each of which requires a different proportion of water. These methods are boiling, which requires 12 times as much water as rice ; the Japanese method, which requires 5 times as much; and steaming, which requires 2-1/2 times as much. Whichever of these methods is used, however, it should be remembered that the rice grains, when properly cooked, must be whole and distinct. To give them this form and prevent the rice from having a pasty appearance, this cereal should not be stirred too much in cooking nor should it be cooked too long. 3 Ways To Cook The Perfect Rice [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] BOILED RICE Boiling is about the simplest way. Properly boiled rice not only forms a valuable dish itself, but is an excellent foundation for other dishes that may be served at any meal . The water in which rice is boiled should not be wasted, as it contains much nutritive material. This water may be utilized in the preparation of soups or sauces, or it m...

3 Non-Traditional Ways to Prepare Your Holiday Turkey

3 Non-Traditional Ways to Prepare Your Holiday Turkey Deep-Fryed Turkey 3 gallons peanut oil for frying, or as needed 1 (12 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed 1/4 cup Creole seasoning 1 white onion In a large stockpot or turkey fryer, heat oil to 400 degrees F. Be sure to leave room for the turkey, or the oil will spill over. ***** Side Note ***** How to determine the amount of oil you need: The easiest way I've found to determine the amount of oil you need is to place the turkey into the fryer and fill with water until the turkey is just covered. Remove turkey and allow to drain, pat dry with paper towels as well. Make note of the level of water in the fryer. Discard water and dry throughly. Fill frying vessel with oil to the level as noted above. This should help in preventing hot oil spill overs. ***** End Side Note ***** Layer a large platter with food-safe paper bags. Rinse turkey, and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels. Rub Creole seasoning over turkey inside and...

Eating for exams

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Eating for exams If you're hitting the books this summer, follow our foodie advice for making the most of your mind... Having just started studying again in my late 20s, I am reminded of all the desperate ways we try to overload our brains when exams loom. Record cards, corkboards, exercise books, revision plans, mock tests and lots and lots of post-it-notes, jostle for space on every conceivable surface in my room. Which technique is most effective? I still don't know. Everyone's capacity for learning is different - but there is one way to ensure your brain is ready to absorb all the information on that carefully colour-coded spidergram - the right diet, packed with brain-boosting foods. Late nights, stress, missed meals and quick food fixes will all play havoc with your ability to concentrate, take in information and the function of your fit-to-burst brain-box. If you're hitting the books this summer, follow our foodie advice for making the most of your mind... ...

What to eat for... Healthy joints

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What to eat for... Healthy joints Natural anti-histamines, potent antioxidants and inflammation-fighting foods have been packed into our ultimate recipe for joint health. Read up on key ingredients to include in your diet and try making our powerful amaranth porridge... View this recipe: Amaranth porridge with green tea & ginger compote How these ingredients and others promote healthy joints... - Nuts and seeds Full of omega-3, these healthy fats hold anti-inflammatory properties. We’ve used chia seeds in our porridge because they’re one of the richest seed sources of omega-3. Oily fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout also contain a potent form of omega-3, which dampens inflammation and relieves stiffness. Aim for two or more portions of fish per week and use gentle methods of cooking such as poaching and baking to protect their beneficial oils.   - Colourful fruit & veg Eating a rainbow of fresh, dried and/or frozen fruit and ve...

Top 10 tips for healthy Caribbean cooking

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Mother and daughter team, Monica and Lee Cudjoe founded Tan Rosie Foods in 2010 and create Caribbean concoctions inspired by family recipes from Carriacou in Grenada. Here they share their top tips for cooking healthy and authentic Caribbean cuisine at home... Top 10 tips for healthy Caribbean cooking [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] 1. Fire up the barbecue Barbecuing is a very popular cooking method in the Caribbean and is a healthy alternative to frying as you omit most of the oil. Coat your lean meat, skinless chicken or pork in a jerk seasoning or a Caribbean rub for great flavour and barbecue to perfection. Wet weather keeping you indoors? Roast or grill for a similarly healthier result. 2. Make the most of meat with a marinade We love to marinade our food in the Caribbean to make sure it's bursting with flavour. A good tasty marinade will give your food plenty of depth, avoiding the need for added fats like cream and butter for a good taste. For a Caribbean influenced...

Good health starts with Good Food

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Good health starts with Good Food We make our healthy recipes as nutritious as they are delicious. Here we explain our approach to healthy eating, and how we label our recipes Our philosophy We believe that a varied, balanced diet featuring whole, unprocessed foods is the key to good health. Everyone’s needs are different, so we provide the information and recipes to help you create healthy habits. Our experts stay up to date on new research and emerging trends to bring you the latest and most relevant health advice. Our recipes are labelled healthy if they meet all of the following criteria per serving: Saturated fat : No more than 5g Sugar : No more than 15g Salt : No more than 1.5g Our healthy recipes are also checked to ensure they have low-to-medium levels of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt per 100g. If the recipe was a packaged product, it would carry a green or amber colour coding. Please note: Ingredients listed as serving suggestions are not included in the nutrition...

Vital vitamins

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Vital vitamins Don't turn to a pot of pills for a health boost - nutritionist Jo Lewin divulges what different vitamins do and how to get all you need naturally. Vitamin A Vitamin A is essential for growth and cell development, vision and immune function, plump, youthful skin and hair. It protects against infections and is a powerful antioxidant, so helps prevent disease. How can I get it? One 180g baked sweet potato would provide you with your Nutrient Reference Value (NRV). Other good sources include, animal products such as liver, oily fish, eggs, milk, cheese, butter, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables, sweet red peppers, pumpkins, mangoes, cantaloupe melons and apricots.   Vitamin D Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and is thought to possibly slow the progression of osteoporosis. It is also believed to strengthen the immune system and help prevent some cancers. It helps muscle function and works with vitamins A and C in the immune...

How to prevent a cold

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How to prevent a cold Discover top tips to support your immune system and keep colds at bay, from the best foods to eat to top up vitamin levels to how much exercise you need. If you're determined to stay cold and flu free, there are some simple steps you can take that might help you dodge those bugs. Supporting your immunity isn't just about taking extra vitamin C. It certainly pays to eat lots of fruit and vegetables that are packed with protective nutrients, but there are other foods you can eat and further actions you can take to give yourself the best chance of feeling fit and healthy, especially over the winter months when flu season hits. Bolster your natural defences with our practical and tasty suggestions. 1. Eat lots of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables Vegetables such as sweet potatoes, butternut squash and beetroot are rich in beta-carotene which our bodies convert to vitamin A. We need vitamin A to keep the mucosal linings in our nose and lungs...

What does organic mean?

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What does organic mean? Is it worth buying organic? Make up your own mind with our no-nonsense guide... What does ‘organic’ actually mean and what’s the difference between organic and non-organic fruit, vegetables and animal products?   Organic – a definition  The Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) states that: ‘Organic food is the product of a farming system which avoids the use of man-made fertilisers, pesticides; growth regulators and livestock feed additives. Irradiation and the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or products produced from or by GMOs are generally prohibited by organic legislation.  Organic agriculture is a systems approach to production that is working towards environmentally, socially and economically sustainable production. Instead, the agricultural systems rely on crop rotation, animal and plant manures, some hand weeding and biological pest control’. **Taken from DEFRA - Crown Copy...

Simply super

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Simply super Want to pack yourself full of the good stuff? Discover our favourite super foods as well as ideas for adding them to your everyday diet... From Atkins to alcohol free, it seems that every day brings with it yet another fad diet or detox program. With each one promising even greater results than its predecessor, the business of healthy living is highly competitive. There is however one eureka moment that has endured the test of time and united the opinions of nutritionists across the board: the discovery of super foods. These little gems are nutritionally dense, containing very high levels of vitamins and minerals, some of which our bodies crave, but can't produce independently.   Unfortunately, these miracle foods often come with enormous price tags and can be very impractical when it comes to cooking (you try incorporating an umeboshi plum or daikon radish into breakfast). Well, once again science has done all the hard work for us and revealed that many ord...