Simply Food N Drink

If you’re a parent then you know just how important nutrition can be to your growing child. You’ll also know just how difficult it is to get that nutrition into your child. It’s an almost impossible task these days to get your child to eat properly, and it’s probably a good bet that you don’t get too many nutrition rich foods into you either. However, you do need to be aware of what a proper diet can do for you, and for this a guide to some food nutrition facts might just be what you need.

These days it’s just so difficult to get anything into your kids mouths unless it’s first been run through a vigorous treatment of processing. Anything where all the goodness has been leached out, or alternately where all the nutrition has been overwhelmed by other substances, is the type of food that you’ll find is what your kids want to eat. And when you’re in a hurry, this is the food that you’ll resort to eating as well.

Almost all processed foods are at the root of all your bad eating habits, and you should become of aware of this so as to be able to at least put a halt on it. You won’t be able to do it cold turkey, and you might not even be able to do it at all, but if you know your food nutrition facts it’ll be that much easier for you to make an informed decision.

Food nutrition facts can help you decide what foods are not good for you and what foods are. You’ll even come across some food nutrition facts that target fast foods alone. From this you should be able to decide which type of fast foods you really should stay away from, and which types are alright to eat.

When you start learning about food nutrition facts there’s even a good chance that you might become so horrified to learn what you’re eating that you might even try a complete change in your diet. Even if this only lasts for a little while, it’s okay, since you’ve tried a better healthy living plan. You might lack the commitment to it now, but when you’re ready you’ll come back to it and start looking into all those food nutrition facts again.

There’s really only one thing that you need to remember right now though, and that is that processed foods are bad for you. Along with artificially sweetened beverages these can become an unhealthy living style for you and your kids. So look into some food nutrition facts and find a better way of living and eating that will be healthier all around. You’ll not only be healthier for it, but ultimately you’ll be happier for it too.

Thanks for reading

Dominic

If there is one traditional tart that I have loved year after year it will have to be the traditional bakewell tart and this is my personal take on the recipe that I used to make many times as a kid in my Grandma’s kitchen.

If you want to create new memories for your kids or grandkids then this is your chance…

Ingredients:

6oz shortcrust pastry
2 tbsp raspberry jam
2oz margarine
2oz caster sugar
1 egg
1oz self-raising flour
2oz ground almonds
1 tbsp milk
Few drops of almond essence
flaked almonds to sprinkle on top

Method:

1. Pre heat the oven to 375°F

2. Roll out the pastry. Line a 20cm (8in) pie dish. Trim the edges and reserve some pastry. Bake blind at: 375°F for 15 - 20 mins. Spread the jam over the base of the pastry. Cream together the margarine and sugar then Beat in the egg, fold in the flour, ground almonds, milk and essence.

3. Sprinkle the flaked almonds on top before you put it in the oven.

4. Cook in a cool oven 325°F until firm to touch and golden brown on the top.

Thanks for reading

Dominic

Doing any job is easier when you have the right tools on hand. One of a cook’s best tools — and secret weapons — is having a well-stocked pantry.

Cooking is much simpler if you know that you’ve already got what you need on hand, and aren’t going to have to run to the corner market every time you want to fix a meal.

Having a well-stocked pantry is also the secret weapon of every “Hostess with the Mostest” especially when unexpected guests drop by.

You’ll be able to make every guest feel special and welcome because, whether it is appetizers for four or dinner for ten, you can handle it with style and panache. In fact, your reputation — and your sanity — will be assured, because with these things in your pantry, you can put together beautiful and tasty food that is beautifully presented in just minutes, simply and easily.

Here is a list of basic ingredients that should be in any well-stocked pantry. (One great way to stock your pantry is to buy one or two things on the list each time you go shopping, rather than trying to get it all at once. If you watch the sales and take advantage of seasonal buys, you’ll be able to save money as well!)

Remember to rotate everything in your pantry on a regular basis, and adjust the items on this list to suit your family’s likes and dislikes.

Herbs, Spices, Extracts and Sauces:
- Salt (Sea and Iodized)
- Pepper (Whole Peppercorns, Black, White and Red)
- Nutmeg (Ground and Fresh)
- Cinnamon (Ground and Sticks)
- Pumpkin Pie Spice (Ground)
- Allspice (Ground)
- Cardamom (Whole and Ground)
- Ginger (Whole and Ground)
- Curry (Ground)
- Garlic (Fresh and Ground for Emergencies)
- Mustard (Ground)
- Bay Leaves (Dried)
- Rosemary (Fresh and Bottled)
- Thyme (Fresh and Bottled)
- Sage (Fresh and Dried)
- Sweet Basil (Fresh and Dried)
- Parsley (Fresh and Dried for Emergencies)
- Cumin (Ground)
- Oregano (Dried)
- Onions (Flakes for Emergencies)
- Vanilla Extract
- Maple Extract
- Almond Extract
- Lemon Extract
- Orange Extract
- Soy Sauce
- Cooking Wine or Cooking Sherry
- Rice Wine Vinegar
- Sesame Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Citrus Vinegar
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Barbecue Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Tabasco or Other Hot Sauce
- Chili Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Packages of Salad Dressing Mix
- Packages of Dried Onion Soup Mix (Or Other Flavors)
- Soup for Sauces (Cream of Chicken, Mushroom, Celery and Cheese)

For Baking:
- All Purpose Flour
- Self-Rising Flour
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Pancake Mix
- Yeast
- Sugar
- Confectioner’s Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Sugar Cubes
- Molasses
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Yeast
- Cornstarch
- Honey
- Cocoa Powder
- Unsweetened or Semi-Sweet Chocolate
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- Butterscotch, Caramel and other flavored “chips”
- Nuts (Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds, Hazelnuts and Cashews)
- Marshmallow Cream
- Vegetable Shortening (Regular and Butter-Flavored)
- Sunflower Oil
- Maraschino Cherries

For Appetizers or Adding “Something Special” to Meals:
- Peanuts in the Shell
- Salted Peanuts
- Mixed Nuts
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- A Variety of Crackers
- Black and Green Olives
- Canned Mushrooms
- Palm Tree Hearts
- Bottled Asparagus
- Sun-dried Tomatoes
- Bottled Salsa
- A Variety of Chips and Dips
- Cheeses (Traditionally, 3 to 5 are served, from hard to soft, mild to strong. Find flavors that mix well together, and serve cheeses from different animals and different countries)

For Everyday Meals:
- Bullion Cubes and Powders (Chicken, Beef and Vegetable)
- White Rice
- Long Grain and Wild Rice
- Brown Rice
- A Variety of Pastas
- Barley
- Bread Crumbs
- Croutons
- Tomato Sauce
- Tomato Paste
- A Variety of Canned Tomatoes
- A Variety of Canned Beans (Black, Red, Kidney and Garbanzo)
- Dried Beans (Pinto, Chili and Kidney)
- Canned Tuna, Chicken, Crab and Clams

For Desserts:
- Canned Pineapple (Chunks and Slices)
- A Variety of Canned Fruits
- A Variety of Jams or Jellies
- A Variety of Cake Mixes, Brownies and Frostings
- A Variety of Packaged Puddings
- All the fixings for Ice Cream Sundaes or Banana Splits
- Applesauce

In the Refrigerator:
- Milk
- Eggs (Or Egg Substitutes)
- Cream (A staple for many Mediterranean Dishes)
- Butter or Margarine
- Yellow Mustard
- Brown Mustard
- Dijon Mustard
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise or Salad Dressing
- Cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss, Feta, Parmesan and Jack)
- Cottage Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Green Onions
- Tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Salad Fixings

In the Freezer:
- Whole Chicken
- Steaks
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Beef or Pork Roast
- Stew Meat
- Hamburger
- Pork Chops
- Pieces of yellow, red and green peppers (Chop up any leftovers each time you use them and throw them into a bag in the freezer. They will add color and flavor to bland dishes)
- Frozen Bread Dough (Make your own or store bought)
- Frozen Rolls (Make your own or store bought)
- Frozen Pizza Dough (Make your own or store bought)
- Frozen Baguette
- Broccoli
- Spinach

With these ingredients in your kitchen, the only thing you’ll have to worry about when it’s time to cook is which recipe you want to try!

Thanks for reading

Dominic

I personally love eating chicken nuggets and having a child means I have the chance to eat them even more. I prefer not to buy them pre-made though because the salt levels are sky high and they do not offer anything for a growing child.

However whenever you make your own they taste simply amazing and melt in your mouth as you take a bite. Though I should warn you now once you have sampled home made chicken nuggets you will never want to go back to the McDonalds chicken nuggets range again!!!

I love chicken nuggets from McDonalds but these homemade beauties below are in a different league and is so much fun to make them with the kids and watch their faces light up when they see what they have personally made with you!

So here is my golden chicken nuggets recipe:

Ingredients:

4 whole chicken breasts, skinned & boned
1/2 c. unseasoned fine bread crumbs
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. thyme (or 1/4 tsp. powdered thyme)
1 tsp. basil
1/2 c. butter, melted

Method:

1. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Mix the dry ingredients.

2. Dip the chicken into the butter, then into the crumb mixture.

3. Bake on foil-lined cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Serves 8 to 10.

I hope you enjoy making them as much as I did!

Thanks for reading

Dominic

My wife has always been a great fan of the Chinese food and it has failed to do anything for me at all! I would rather enjoy proper British food but on this ocassion I thought I would give it a go. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed it and what varieties of foods was on offer. I love noodles so being in a Chinese is a dream come true and the mushroom dishes were amazing.

I particularly enjoyed the Chinese sweet and sour pork but what gets me is that the quality of the Pork at a Chinese restaurant or buffet always tastes amazing. There is no fat on it like in many different cultures and it melts in your mouth.

Therefore I thought I would delve into the history of Chinese food and this is what I discovered…

In China, food and its preparation has been developed so highly that it has reached the status of an art form.  Rich and poor, the Chinese people consider that delicious and nutritious food is a basic necessity.  There is an old Chinese saying “Food is the first necessity of the people”.

This art has been cultivated and refined over hundreds of years.  Legend has it that the culture of Chinese cuisine originated in the 15th century BC during the Shang dynasty and was originally introduced by Yi Yin, it’s first Prime Minister.

The two dominant philosophies of Chinese culture both had extreme influences on the political and economic history of the country but it is less well known that they also influenced the development of the culinary arts.

Confucius emphasised the artistic and social aspects of cookery and eating.   The Chinese don’t gather together without involving food - it is considered to be poor etiquette to invite friends to your home without providing appropriate food.

Confucius established standards of cooking and table etiquette, most of which remain to this day.  The most obvious example of this is the cutting of bite-sized pieces of meat and vegetables during the course of the food preparation in the kitchen, rather than using a knife at the table which is not considered to be good manners.

Confucius also encouraged the blending of ingredients and flavourings to become a cohesive dish, rather than tasting the individual components.  Harmony was his priority.  He believed and taught that without harmony of ingredients there could be no taste.  He also emphasised the importance of presentation and the use of colour, texture and decoration of a dish.  Most importantly, cooking became an art rather than a task to be endured and certainly he was instrumental in promulgating the philosophy of “live to eat” rather than “eat to live”.

On the other hand, Tao encouraged research into the nourishment aspects of food and cookery.  Rather than concentrating on taste and appearance, Taoists were more interested in the life-giving properties of food.

Centuries on, the Chinese have discovered the health-giving properties of all sorts of roots, herbs, fungus and plants.  They have taught the world that the nutritional value of vegetables is destroyed by over-cooking (particularly boiling) and in addition have found that things with a great flavour also have medicinal value.

Home cooked Chinese food is extremely healthy, even though much of it is fried.  This is due to the use of polyunsaturated oils (used only once and discarded) and the exclusion of dairy products.  In addition the inclusion of animal fat is minimal because portions of meat are small.

Thanks for reading

Dominic