Moving to the rainforest climate of Vancouver from the high desert of Northern Nevada has been a huge weather adjustment for me. The vegetation here is lush and plentiful. Ferns grow in our yard like weeds. In Nevada, I couldn't keep a fern alive in my home. The change in climate has given me the opportunity to try all sorts of new foods.
I was doing my weekly grocery shopping and it is never a quick trip because I’m constantly scanning the aisles looking for new products. In the baking aisle I discovered a new product by Duncan Hines called “Simple Mornings”. The front of the box states real ingredients, nothing artificial. I immediately went to the ingredient list and soon discovered what they meant was real ingredients you can only find at the Duncan Hines factory. Dextrin, xanthan, and guar gum were in the ingredient list. Well, I searched high and low at two grocery stores and even went to a…
My kids, like most kids, loved Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and I made it weekly for them. As my kids grew up, I quit buying K.D. It has been years since I looked at it on the market shelf, but since a little grandson was coming for a visit, I thought I better have a box on hand. Oh my, I had no idea there were so many kinds of Kraft Dinner to choose from.
On your next trip through the produce aisle, toss a bag of shredded carrots into your cart. This is one versatile convenience food that is worth the money. They're not just for adding to a salad; you can mix them into soups, stews, meat loaf, casseroles, or just about any entrée. Because they’re sweet, I’ve added them to pancakes and stirred them into plain yogurt. It's an easy way to add more veggies to your meals and get a healthy serving of beta-carotene
I live In Oklahoma where the largest tornadoes ever recorded on the planet have formed. Springtime is tornado season because the cold fronts from Canada and the warm air from the Gulf of Mexico merge over the United States. I've been living in Oklahoma for over 8 years now and I still never get accustomed to them. Over the past years our tornado shelter has been used quite a bit. About a week ago we were under a tornado watch, and with warnings all night, the sirens almost never stopped. It was frightening. The kids and I slept in…
Ham is almost as American as apple pie. It has been a staple in the United States since the early 18th century. Most folks know that ham is pork but most don’t know that ham cuts come from the thigh and rump (butt) of the pig.
You can buy fresh ham, but the most common and preferred for its taste, are the smoked and cured versions. Ham is traditional made salty. Salt is a natural preservative and was used to extend the life of pork when refrigeration was not available. Sugar cured ham is another way to preserve…
I love sandwiches for lunch. They are quick and easy to make and there are endless varieties of whole grain breads with fillings, vegetable toppings, and condiment spreads. What I do not enjoy is the high sodium content in processed lunch meats so I seldom buy them.
Oriental sauces are sauces that derived from Asia. These flavors are unique to Asian dishes and are typically derived from spices, fish, and soy. Oriental cuisine doesn’t disappoint your taste buds and these sauces will bring the Asian flavor into your kitchen.
Almost weekly are grocery stores are bringing in the new and improved foods that are processed and/or made by large companies. Recently going to the market I noticed that my particular brand of yogurt that I like had been improved. It just so happened that some of the not improved yogurt was still on the shelf. I compared the two and realized the cane juice (juice extracted from sugar cane) had been replaced with normal refined sugar. The difference was taste. The old way was not as sweet and had a fresher natural taste. So, what’s the difference between…
Don't confuse these two words. You may be busy but that doesn't mean you are active. You can be busy at work, sitting at your desk, but it’s still sedentary behavior. Active means you are up and moving. A good way to determine how active you are is to wear a pedometer. You won't get steps while sitting but you will if you are up and moving.
