The Philips air fryer is a new and ingenious way of frying the food you love but using only a tiny amount of air and oil. We have just bought one and can not believe how good this is and how nice the food tastes.

We read all the reviews on the internet and decided to buy one. You could use it for a month and take it back if you were not 100% satisfied. We thought we have got nothing to lose and even if you keep it, it has got a world wide 2 year guarantee.

Philips obviously have got confidence in there product. Firstly we tried some frozen chips using the low fat spray. They were done in about 13mins on 200 degrees. We cooked about 800grams of frozen chips.

When we tried them we could not believe how nice they were and to think they were low fat chips. We kept feeling guilty every time we had a few but we need not have worried. Next we tried some frozen party chicken.

The party chicken was cooked within 12mins on 180 degrees and they again tasted gorgeous. When you are on a diet you start to crave the fattening foods after a short time I know we did.

The Philips Air Fryer takes away that craving because you can now cook all your favourite fattening foods but they are now considered low calorie. Brilliant idea. The only problem we have is if we overfill the basket.

When we have done this especially with fresh potatoes they do not seem to cook evenly and take a while over the stated time, that’s why we will be using frozen or oven chips either taste great.

We have also tried sausages and burgers in the Philips air fryer. With a quick spray of low fat oil we put them in as the instructions say and they cooked beautifully. We have also tried fish fingers and fish bits both tasted beautiful.

I will add half way between your cooking time you have to take the pan out and give your chips a shake just to make sure they cook evenly. The manufacturer says to heat up to 3mins before use it is a very good tip.

When we cooked our sausages and burgers the fat drains into the bottom of the pan so half way through you can drain the oil like I had too but I left it in and the oil was burning and there was smoke everywhere.

The Philips air fryer works by blowing hot air directly onto the food from a fan placed above an electric ring. There is obviously more to the technology but that is just a basic description of how the Philips air fryer cooks. As of writing I am not sure when the Philips Air Fryer will be released in the USA.

If you would like to purchase the Philips air fryer please click here or click on the picture.

We have all been there, when the kids ask what’s for dinner and you tell them, the groans ensue. You can’t really blame them. If you take a good look at what you have been fixing for them to eat and find that you have about 7 different meals that you just continually rotate, then maybe it is time to mix things up a bit. Throw caution to the wind and try something new, you may find a new family favorite and something that will not require as much work as you think.

With the kids finding their way back to school, all the time that you thought you would be gaining, seems to by flying out the window. All the time that you thought you would have is quickly being eaten up by back to school nights, volunteer opportunities, PTO, in fact, you could swear that you are actually finding yourself with less time. By the time you actually walk through the door, it is dinner time.

Going with the old stand by may seem like the only feasible thing when faced with the new time crunch. Don’t limit yourself to the same old, same old, there are a thousand different recipes that cater to the cook who is running, not only on limited time, but limited budgets as well.

There are an endless number of different recipes available specifically designed for the overworked cook. Most of the recipes are designed to help prepare meals on a weekly basis, well ahead of time, to make time. Most of these recipe “plans” are excellent at saving money as well. Their sole purpose is to give you great ideas that are easy, will mix things up a bit, and use the same ingredients so that you are finding yourself with less waste and less food that you find yourself throwing out unused.

Food plans are the best way to try something new. Very easy to follow, most of them can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, making it ideal to get food on the table on time to get everyone either off to bed, or off to soccer. It is very important to feed your family meals that have a variety of different nutrition, and even more so to not end up with a picky eater. Make sure to carve out just a little bit of time to put a little extra love and variety into meal time. You will be surprised at how easy it actually is.

Eating healthy is easier than you think. While many people do not have immediate access to a farmer’s market where they can find organic produce, your local grocery store does have many of the things that nutritionists will tell you are good for you. A good rule of thumb is to stick to the outside of the grocery store and avoid the aisles.

Along the outside wall of the grocery store you will find the proteins you need as well as the dairy products, grains, and fruits and vegetables that you need to maintain a healthy diet. Of course, this rule of thumb does not necessarily make it any easier to figure out how you should fill your cart. Here are some things that you should stock in your refrigerator to maximize your nutrient intake:

1)      DARK GREEN VEGETABLES – these are rich in B vitamins and Vitamin K and minerals like calcium, iron, and folic acid. They fall into two [general] categories: Leafy greens and cruciferous.

• Leafy greens include kale, spinach, collard greens, and mustard greens
• Cruciferous vegetables include cabbage, broccoli, cress, and cauliflower

2)      CITRUS FRUITS – these are rich in Vitamin C as well as fiber, which aids in digestion. Citrus fruits include oranges, red and yellow bell peppers, grapefruit, and lime.

3)      NUTS — high in protein and some essential oils (and yes, even essential fats), walnuts, almonds, and peanuts provide energy and a little flavor when you need a snack.

4)      SALMON — fish is the leanest protein you can eat and salmon is perhaps the most popular. Salmon provides essential fatty acids, which benefit nerve and soft tissue integrity, but is also loaded with many vitamins and minerals as well (like most proteins).

5)      TEA — tea leaves are full of antioxidants but herbal teas can extract various healthy components from the spices and herbs that are steeped.

6)      TOMATOES — high in the antioxidants lycopene and vitamin C this fruit is flavorful and juicy.

7)      BERRIES — excellent with nuts, berries are sweet and provide a variety of different nutritional benefits because they are full of various antioxidants.

8)      [NATURAL] YOGURT — it’s better to get the unsweetened Greek variety (because it is not flavored or sweetened artificially) yogurt can aid in digestion and provides many of the same benefits you find in other dairy products. It’s also a good base for fruit salad.

9)      SPICES — many spices provide health benefits that you probably don’t even know about. Ginger and garlic both have anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties. Other healthy and beneficial spices include black pepper, cinnamon, dried chili, turmeric, oregano, and fenugreek.

Thanks for reading my blog post and in the meantime if you would like to read more of my fantastic cooking tips and food recipes you can subscribe to my RSS feed or join my free online Ezine.

To your food heaven

Dominic

Last month I bought my very first steamer after years of threatening to do so and I am in love with it. I have always thought of steaming as a great way to combine cooking your meat, potato and vegetables all at once without the usual hassles that go with it.

For starters the cleaning that you have to do is a lot less and I can easily clean mine up afterwards in a few short minutes. In comparison to having pans and oven trays to sort out it is a dream.

Now for the taste….

Well, what can I say – it is like having organic fruit and vegetables. Because when you boil them they often lose their amazing flavour but through a steamer it keeps the taste. You can feel every last taste of your leeks not to mention how amazing asparagus tastes with it.

I also found that Chicken tasted amazing steamed too. We had ours with garlic butter and the flavours were out of this world.

Plus there is the timing of the matter – I couldn’t believe it when my steamed chicken, potato and three vegetables were all cooked in less than eight minutes.

As you know I am a very busy working mum and something that is so easy to cook with and that cooks in such a small time threshold has to be classed as a miracle.

It has now gained its place in my kitchen next to my slow cooker, as yet another machine that belongs in mummys kitchen.

Thanks for reading my blog post and in the meantime if you would like to read more of my fantastic healthy eating cooking tips and food recipes you can subscribe to my RSS feed or join my free online Ezine.

]]> http://simplyfoodndrink.com/my-first-steamer/feed/ 0 http://simplyfoodndrink.com/mummy-kitchen-rescuing-your-leftovers/ http://simplyfoodndrink.com/mummy-kitchen-rescuing-your-leftovers/#comments Wed, 25 May 2011 13:27:53 +0000 Dominic http://simplyfoodndrink.com/?p=1007

According to goverment figures in England we waste a staggering amount of the food that we buy each week which is shocking considering many of us are struggling to survive financially right now.

The average family wastes £8 on unused food each and every week. So if you are trying to save money and you would like to do your bit for the environment at the same time this is your chance.

Deal with your leftovers straightaway – It is important that you sort out your leftovers straight away rather than leaving them overnight. The chances are if you leave them overnight you are less likely to deal with them. Then they will end up in your fridge and before you know it you will be throwing them out. If you have leftover pasta mix it with some nice spare sauce, stick it in your spare container and put it in the freezer.

Store your leftovers in spare tubs – I often use my margarine tubs for storage and they work very well for keeping your food well contained. You can also use glass jars and any other food storage container. Don’t waste your money buying containers when you can re-use things you already have.

Create a leftovers day – By saving your leftovers on a regular basis you can then have a leftovers day and this will mean a reduction in your shopping bill as you will be buying for six days instead of seven. You could have your frozen pasta bake and then just add some salad from your fridge to it.

If you think about it carefully I bet you could make some amazing savings and stop your food waste problem. Last month my son was poorly and wanted a pudding and we just got a stuffed orange with chocolate mousse out of the freezer for him without having to make him something from scratch. Which is also very convienient for the busy working mum.

Thanks for reading my blog post and in the meantime if you would like to read more of my fantastic healthy eating cooking tips and food recipes you can subscribe to my RSS feed or join my free online Ezine.

To your food heaven

]]> http://simplyfoodndrink.com/mummy-kitchen-rescuing-your-leftovers/feed/ 0 http://simplyfoodndrink.com/my-love-for-free-range-eggs/ http://simplyfoodndrink.com/my-love-for-free-range-eggs/#comments Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:08:30 +0000 Dominic http://simplyfoodndrink.com/?p=1022

Nowadays, more and more people want to lead healthy lives by incorporating lifestyle changes. A shift of eating habits poses significant improvement in a person’s overall wellness and health. For example, a lot of us are now keen in eating organic food. And now, free range eggs are slowly gaining popularity among health-conscious people as foods rich in good vitamins and minerals.

Gone were the days wherein eggs have bad reputation. You see, a lot of people avoid eggs because of certain studies saying that consuming a lot of eggs can affect your health because of their high cholesterol content. According to studies before, if you want to keep your blood pressure at bay, you have to avoid eating eggs. But now, a lot of studies are being published stating how eggs are actually good for your health.

Differentiating store-bought eggs from free range eggs

Speaking of free range eggs, more and more people want to know how they can differentiate free range eggs from store-bought ones. You can do this by cracking the egg and observing the color of the egg yolk and the egg white. A free range egg will have clear egg white and the yolk will have a nice golden yellow color compared to the pale yellow egg yolk of store-bought eggs.

The many benefits of free range eggs

Since hens that are cultured to produce free range eggs are better, they tend to produce healthier eggs that have more nutritional contents compared to store-bought eggs. Several of the vitamins and minerals that you will get from free range eggs include:

-          Vitamin A

-          Vitamin D

-          Omega 3

-          Omega 6

-          Lower levels of fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol

Where to get free range eggs?

If you want to make sure that you are buying good quality of free range eggs, the best place to get them is from a local farm. I usually get mine from the hometown of my parents since they live near a farmer’s place. Many farms usually raise hens and sell these eggs to their neighbors, so that they too could make a living out of it. By buying from them, you are ensured that you are buying real free range eggs.

Free range eggs can be prepared in however way you want it and take it from me, these eggs are more delicious since they are tastier. You will be able to provide your family with good food every day. So what are you waiting for? Make the switch to free range eggs now.

Thanks for reading my blog post and in the meantime if you would like to read more of my fantastic healthy eating cooking tips and food recipes you can subscribe to my RSS feed or join my free online Ezine.

To your food heaven

I love eating, travelling and blogging. My love for food does not mean that I just eat anything. I admit that I do enjoy eating different cuisines, but I am quite picky with the ingredients. I make sure that everything in my meal, especially our family meals, are organic. Eating organic food gives me a peace of mind and assurance that my family and I are consuming healthy food.

So, why do I want organic foods? There many reasons why you should be eating organic food.

1. Organic food is delicious

I have learned from my constant reading that if the crops are cultivated in a well-balanced soil, they grow healthy and bring out their natural delicious tastes. Fruits are sweeter than those commercially cultivated fruits that are treated with fertilizers.

2. Organic food products are processed through strict standards

Sellers of organic food are usually given certification which gives consumers the assurance that the products are safe and grown through healthy and natural procedure.

3. You need to eat organic food because they reduce potential health risks

Since organic crops and animals are free from potentially harmful pesticides, herbicides, feeds and antibiotics, consumers will have the chance to consume foods that are free from any side-effects of these chemicals. For your information, these chemicals are usually carcinogenic which can lead to the development of cancer through long-term consumption and exposure. In organic farms, workers on organic farm are not exposed to hazardous chemicals.

4. Organic farming does not add pollutants to the environment

Isn’t it humbling to know that you buy food products from farmers who respect the nature? You see, conventional farmers who use chemicals pollute nature through the use of pesticides and insect killers which are sprayed through the air.

5. Buying organic foods means that you support those farmers who build soil

Organic farmers make sure that the soil that they are farming is rich in natural nutrients and minerals which are vital to their crops. These farmers preserve our topsoil since they do not use any chemical and mono-crop farming.

Consuming organic food takes you to whole new meaning of eating. Why? Buying crops and meat products that are organically cultivated are healthier, more affordable and tastier. Not to mention the huge favor that we are giving to nature, to ourselves and to the future generation. I feel good about myself whenever I buy organic products and transform them into sumptuous dishes because I know that I am giving my family some good, nutritious and healthy meals everyday.

Thanks for reading my blog post and in the meantime if you would like to read more of my fantastic healthy eating cooking tips and food recipes you can subscribe to my RSS feed or join my free online Ezine.

To your food heaven

What is the first thing that comes to your mind once you hear the word “breakfast”? For me, what comes to mind is a plate full of toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Eggs have always been a staple to every breakfast meal because they are packed with nutrients and proteins that will help keep your energy levels up during the day.

However, most people I know tend to shy away from making eggs a part of their daily habit. Blame the news, studies, and findings stating how eggs are full of cholesterol and that people should not always have them for their meal since it will have negative effects to the body. I used to believe that notion too, until a recent British study opposed the entire negative claims about eggs and health.

Eggs – little food packed with big benefits

According to this British study, the cholesterol content of eggs is low – low enough that you can consume two eggs a day. That is how healthy it is for you and for all of us. Eggs also contain more vitamin D than most food. I am sure that all of us are aware that vitamin D is needed by the body to produce healthy bones to ward off osteoporosis and strong teeth.

Another study conducted by Canadian researchers revealed that eggs do not contribute to making your body’s cholesterol level worse. Actually, eggs can help maintain your cholesterol at minimum levels so that you stay healthy. They have the ability to mimic the action being performed by most cholesterol-lowering drugs out in the market.

For those who want to lose weight, eggs can actually help you lose that extra pounds. This is because eggs contain high protein levels which can make you feel full for a longer time. So you will not eat and eat.

Ways to prepare your eggs

If these studies have convinced you to make eggs a staple in your everyday meal like it did to me, you need to prepare it in different ways. Yes, you need not stick to scrambled eggs and sunny side-up eggs everyday. You can make it part of your breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

First, you can boil a couple of eggs, mash them, then mix them with low-fat mayonnaise to make your very own egg-salad spread that you can use on bread or macaroni salads. You can also put scrambled eggs and make your own egg-waffles for breakfast.

Start your way to healthy eating, have your eggs now.

Thanks for reading my blog post and in the meantime if you would like to read more of my fantastic healthy eating cooking tips and food recipes you can subscribe to my RSS feed or join my free online Ezine.

To your food heaven

]]> http://simplyfoodndrink.com/you-can-now-have-2-eggs-for-breakfast/feed/ 0 http://simplyfoodndrink.com/forget-fruit-and-vegetable-portions-and-still-be-healthy/ http://simplyfoodndrink.com/forget-fruit-and-vegetable-portions-and-still-be-healthy/#comments Sun, 13 Mar 2011 13:13:46 +0000 Dominic http://simplyfoodndrink.com/?p=1012

Many dieters believe that consuming five servings or portions of fruits and vegetable each day is the best way to achieve a healthy body. Well, this belief is no longer true because recent studies show that achieving a healthy and disease-resistant body is possible if we consume a minimum of eight servings or portions of fruits and vegetables.

I personally do not believe in portioning the amount of food I eat. I am a conscious or should I say healthy eater. I eat what I want but I eat only when I am hungry and I stop when I am satisfied. I stop eating not because I am full but because I am already satisfied. You see, sometimes we are not really hungry but rather we are just having an episode of cravings, and when I have eaten the food I want and I am already pleased, I stop even if there are few bites left on my plate.

Based on the World Health Organization, a total of 14 ounces of vegetables must be included in your diet. Well, I have nothing against this because I love vegetables. However, I still do not follow this strict portion system. I mean, how does an ordinary person measure 14 ounces? I have to admit that at the back of my head I know how much calories my body needs to function well and so I eat almost anything that is healthy and I exercise.

There are some claims that eating more than 14 ounces of fruits and vegetables are even healthier. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can strengthen your immunity and prevent common diseases. In fact, the study reveals that people who are consuming more than this amount have a lower chance of developing heart condition. They have 22 percent lower chances of experiencing heart diseases compared to those consuming only three servings of fruits and vegetables.

This result got me thinking that, indeed, measuring the amount of fruits and vegetables that you eat everyday doesn’t really matter. You can eat fruits and vegetables as much as you want because it enhances your defense against sickness.

The study subjected 300,000 individuals from various countries. Their health and diets were observed. According to experts, people who consume more vegetables are less likely to develop a common heart condition called ischaemic heart disease or IHD. Researchers also claimed that if a person consumes small amount of fruits and vegetables, say two to three servings only. If this amount is increased, your risk of dying by heart ailments is reduced by four percent.

Overall, the study only wants to tell us that eating lots of vegetables and fruits is good for our bodies. Forget portioning, just eat healthy and never forget to exercise.

Thanks for reading my blog post and in the meantime if you would like to read more of my fantastic healthy eating cooking tips and food recipes you can subscribe to my RSS feed or join my free online Ezine.

To your food heaven