Bugs Are In Everything
A fact sheet from Ohio University estimates that we eat from one to two pounds of insects each year!  Here are a few examples of the nastiness that can be found in food and the acceptable limits as stated by the FDA.
Canned pineapple – 20 percent positive mold tests
Canned tomato – 5 fly eggs and 1 maggot per 500 grams
Frozen broccoli – 60 mites per 100 grams
Ground cinnamon – 400 insect fragments and 11 rodent hairs per 50 grams
Peanut butter – 30 insect fragments or 1 rodent hair per 100 grams
Popcorn – 20 gnawed grains or 2 rodent hairs per pound
Chocolate is contaminated too, but I just can’t bring myself to type in the statistics. I love chocolate and have to accept the bug and rat bits.
Fear Factor
The FDA suggests that it is actually healthier to eat a few bugs than it is to consume more pesticides. I have to agree. I’m not super squeamish about bugs. While living in Central America, I got used to skimming weevils out of the water after I dumped in a box of pasta. I often found cute little green inchworms in broccoli and cauliflower. I’ve heard that we eat crawling insects at times when we sleep with our mouths open. I don’t like the idea, but at least bugs that are digested are no longer a worry, the ones that crawl into my ears or up my nose to live in my sinus cavity are more of a concern.
Eating Bugs on Purpose
The cochineal beetles are not the only bug people are eating on purpose. Entomophagy (eating insects) isn’t new. It is common in cultures in many parts of the world, including North, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. There is a town in Oaxaca, Mexico where it is considered perfectly normal to eat grasshoppers, but shrimp are considered gross.
Insects can be a good source of protein, vitamins, minerals and fats. Cultivation of insects as food could turn out to be the ultimate form of organic food, obviously there is no need for pesticides!  Minilivestock would also be sustainable and environmentally friendly. Insects reproduce much faster than farmed animals. Crickets, for example, have a food conversion efficiency 20 times higher than beef.

Jenny Collins is a professional chef and food expert who often blogs about a variety of topics ranging from insects in our food sources to the health of frozen foods.

Photo Credit: Gustavo Mazzarollo

Cheerios used to be called Cheerioats. Not quite as catchy.

A good quality dark chocolate has chemical components that can actually help fight off heart disease. This is a good reason to indulge occasionally in chocolate treats. In fact, recently a medical study showed that people who ate chocolate 2 times a week lost weight! (Wonder who ran the study?)

Chocolate is a natural mood enhancer, and I must say a lot cheaper and safer than prescription medications or psychotherapy.

Olive oil is a blood thinner and so are strawberries. Strawberries how a high amount of salicylates, which is also in aspirin.

7-UP got its name because it originally came in 7 ounce bottles. It came on the market in 1929.

In Taiwan you can eat your plate because a company makes them from wheat!

If you smell peppermint or drink peppermint tea it helps you to not be hungry and has been found to help you to loose weight.

Peanuts are used in the manufacturing of dynamite.

Did you know that gluten is used in the glue that seals your envelopes. So watch what you lick!

Did you know that corn is used as a binder in most pills that are manufactured in the United States?

Try this science experiment: when you eat an onion, apple or a potato with your nose closed they are taste the same.

A study showed that if you eat a handful of raw cabbage a day, it helps to prevent breast cancer.

The Internet is loaded with fun and weird food facts. Use keyword search terms like “fun food fact” and “weird food facts” to produce volumes of sources for these facts.

You will often times find humor sprinkled on top of every Jewish recipes here…

1. Look at the unit price. The next time you’re looking for a bargain, look to the left of the price tag. The unit price, or the cost of an item per ounce, pound, etc., allows you to compare the value of similar items. Consider the following example:

Jane plans to grill chicken tonight for dinner. She compares the brands and amounts—$5.99 for 1 ½ pounds or $12.99 for 4 pounds. While her first impulse is to buy the cheaper item, she notices the unit prices. The smaller package of chicken averages $3.99 per pound, while the larger package averages $3.25.

Small differences add up fast. Save some money by opting for the cheaper unit price. If you can’t eat the entire package in one sitting, freeze the remainder for another meal.

1. Plan your meals. Speaking of “another meal,” forethought is critical when it comes to saving money on food. Take the time to plan your weekly meals before shopping. Create a calendar of dishes to help you determine what you’ll be cooking and when. Assign ingredients to each dish and stick to your list. This strategy will help you cut back on superfluous spending and make the most of your budget.
2. Use one ingredient for multiple dishes. Who says every meal requires its own list of ingredients? When planning your meals, try to use some of the same ingredients to cut back on expenses. For example, if a casserole requires half an onion on Tuesday, grill the other half on Wednesday with your chicken or burgers. Cutting back on wastefulness will shrink your grocery bill, allowing you to buy less and eat more efficiently.
3. Utilize your leftovers. Are you too busy to cook three meals a day? Stretch your time (and your dollar) further by relying on leftovers 2-3 times per week. Cook meals with extra serving sizes and freeze what you don’t eat. This method will keep your budget in check and guarantee a plate of delicious and affordable food. 
4. Cash in on coupons and promotions. Coupons and membership cards offer free savings, so why not take advantage? Find a copy of the grocery ad this week and clip the coupons you need. Go the extra mile by signing up for your grocer’s club card to save money on items you buy all the time. Why spend more if you don’t have to? Don’t allow your food budget to break the bank. Stay full and pad your bank account. A little planning goes a long way.

Citations:

• U.S. Consumer Unit Expenditures

This guest post was provided by Lexington Law, a credit repair firm that helps people address their credit issues.

Buy Good Ingredients

Restaurants get fresh supplies every morning, and the better a restaurant is, the better their ingredients are. While a fast food place may use food from sealed bags and frozen foods, you’ll find that you can take a huge leap in quality simply by buying fresh produce. Go to your local farmers’ market to pick up fresh produce, and choose meat that is of a high quality. Simply starting with high-quality, basic ingredients can improve the quality of your food.

Look Up Recipes

Don’t simply assume that a dish is simple because it has only a few ingredients. When you want something specific, go online and search out a specific recipe. When you have a recipe with a high rating from different reviewers, give it a try and stick to what is written. You can always improvise later. You can also ask good friends and family for their favorite recipes, especially if you haven’t cooked very much.

Let It Get Hot

If you are preparing anything in a pan or a skillet, make sure that you let your cooking surface get evenly hot. Many restaurants cook their food at high heats; not only does this ensure that things get done more quickly, it also helps you sear in the flavor. While an aluminum pan will get hotter faster, a cast iron pan allows you to heat your food evenly and it will hold heat for a longer period of time as well.

Keep a Well-Stocked Spice Drawer

If you want to make sure that your food is flavorful, invest in spices. Spices are expensive, but a little bit will go a long way. Aside from salt and pepper, you can do yourself a big favor by making sure that you have powdered garlic and onion on hand. Don’t forget the basics, like thyme, parsley, oregano, basil and sage, but also consider what else you might like to cook. If you favor Indian cuisine, don’t forget to add turmeric, cumin and coriander to the mix. If you love Eastern European food, throw in some dill and paprika.

Give it a Try

You are definitely going to have some nights where your results are less than stellar. Chances are good that you won’t get anything that you can’t eat, but you probably will get some things that aren’t what you wanted. However, if you are willing to stick with it, you are going to be rewarded with plenty of great food and some terrific dinners.

If you want to make the food that you eat at your favorite restaurants, start slow and choose simple recipes. It really is easier than you might think!

Lance is an Executive Chef at one of the finest Sydney restaurants on the Harbour waterfront. He says that anyone can prepare a restaurant quality meal at home if they are prepared to put the time in to get better.

“There’s Nothing Here to Eat.”

Unless your fridge and cupboards are completely empty, I’m sure you have something there to eat. It’s very rare that there actually is nothing that can be made for dinner. What you probably mean is something like, “There’s nothing here I want to eat,” or, “I don’t want to come up with something,” which are also poor excuses. With a little creativity, you can just about always come up with a meal from the ingredients you have on hand. There might not be a traditional dinner, but there’s something.
“I’m Too Tired.”

Don’t use your tiredness as an excuse not to make a home-cooked meal. Rarely do people cook dinner with an abundance of energy and vigor. You’ve had a long day at work or with the kids, so of course you’re tired. You can still make dinner – just make something really easy. Better yet, you can usually anticipate when you’ll have a particularly tiring day. On those days, do prep work in the morning or just throw something into the slow cooker before work.
“I Just Don’t Feel Like Cooking.”

Everyone doesn’t feel like cooking from time to time – in fact, you might never really feel like cooking. But there are always some things we don’t want to do, and we have to do them anyway. You need to eat, and your family needs to eat. So whether or not you feel like cooking is irrelevant. Just do it!
“My Family is Bored with My Cooking.”

Chances are that your family isn’t really bored with your cooking; you just think they are because you’re bored with doing the cooking. There’s a simple solution to either problem, and that’s to try something new, different, and exciting. Make cooking fun again by digging out your recipe books and trying something adventurous. Your family won’t be bored with a new dish, and neither will you.
“Getting Takeout is So Much Easier.”

Takeout is definitely easier – all you have to do is pick up the phone, place your order, and hot, cooked food will be arriving at your door in no time. But getting takeout is also much more expensive, and it’s usually much unhealthier. Takeout should be saved for a time when it’s really necessary or a treat, not just gotten because you don’t want to put in more effort to cook.
“I’ve Cooked All Week Long.”

It’s Saturday, and you’ve already cooked six meals this week. Do you really have to cook another? If you’re the only one in your house to do so, then yes, you do. Unfortunately the need to cook dinner isn’t something that will go away after you’ve done it enough times. You need to cook all week, all month, and all year. It may sound daunting, but it sounds better than starving.

Alexandra Kelly is a school teacher and dedicated mother who often writes in her spare time on a variety of topics from cooking tips and recipes to the ease of frozen foods.

Photo Credit: RobjessOz

The Charm Of Italian Food

One reason why Italian food recipes are so engaging and popular around the world is that they are so easy to cook! Even if you are tired and ready to go to bed, there is no excuse for having KFC when you could just as easily put together a quick and simple pasta dish. Even the slower recipes are quick to prepare, such as stews where you chop the ingredients and then allow to cook, meaning if you have high energy levels in the morning you can put your slow cooker to use. A great motivational tool for the day knowing that a tasty Italian food recipe is awaiting when you arrive through the door.

So which are the quickest Italian food recipes which will keep you from the clutches of the dreaded fast food outlets?

Quick Italian Spaghetti

As Italian food recipes go, there are perhaps none more famous that spaghetti. Mix this up in the space of 20 minutes for a great evening meal.

Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add the spaghetti. While this boiling, crush two cloves of garlic, as well as half a dried chilli pepper, and cook in a separate pan until the garlic begins to brown. Turn off the heat but leave the ingredients in the pan, this will allow the garlic to continue to brown slowly and maintain its taste.

Drain the spaghetti and stir the sauce mixture, adding extra seasoning and olive oil to match your taste. Parmesan on the side is an optional extra to this Italian food recipe, it’s down to you!

Salad Ideas

Salad are the quickest and most basic of all Italian food recipes, and the brilliant thing here is that you can pretty much make the most of whatever there is in your fridge! Make salad ingredients a key part of your regular grocery shop, so that you know you always have the option available after a hard day at work.

Look for leafy Italian salads in the stores, as well as adding quintessential Italian food recipe ingredients such as tomatoes and olives to bring a quick taste of Italy to your easy meal. Check out tasty Italian salad dressings too – if you are feeling extra creative you could even make your own using olive oil and spices. Personalised dressings can be great, especially if you have differing tastes from a partner, and want a kick in there such as chilli which they simply cannot tolerate.

Videojug provides thousands of video tutorials on all subjects you can think of, including a section devoted to cooking Italian food recipes.

The BreadRoom

 The BreadRoom, Brixton

A good place to get good food under a fiver is the BreadRoom in Brixton Market, this cosy and warm Patisserie offers a wide variety of teas and coffees, freshly baked bread, danishes, and quiches; for lunch they have salads and sandwiches. For the weekend they have all day breakfast with 5 amazing options for breakfast including a cup of coffee under a fiver. The BreadRoom is vegetarian and Vegan friendly, and have an option of low gluten bread; also wi-fi is available.

Breakfast Sample (just weekends):

• Free Range egg, Spinach and bacon served with baked tomato, toasted baguette with Parmesan & Americano Coffee. £5.00
• *Decadent Croissant with ham, cheese, tomato and sautéed onions & Americano Coffee £4.00

* I recommend this delicious croissant, prepared on sight with freshly baked croissants. With a nice  thin layer of Creme fraiche, sautéed onions, ham, mature cheddar cheese and tomato, then baked just before serving is perfect for a light lunch or breakfast.

So next time you are around Brixton Market pay a visit to the BreadRoom and enjoy a proper cup of coffee and a delicious croissant.

For more posts food related visit: http://thevanillaproject.blogspot.co.uk/

Coupons are always a useful practice no matter what your spending habits are. Thousands of manufacturer coupons are available every day for nearly all brand name products. Use them. Why pay shelf prices when you can save off the items you already buy. Couponing is a time consuming task, but once you know where to find them; it’s just about what product you can get for less by using a coupon.

Sometimes store brands are cheaper than brand name products even after using a coupon, so price comparing is essential. Most store brands are as healthy and tasty as brand name products. If you’re getting practically the same thing as a brand name, why pay more. For instance, some store brand soda tastes the same as name brand but costs less. Watch your shelf prices and choose the cheaper item, coupon or no coupon.

Fresh produce always taste better, but it also can be the most expensive food items purchased. Frozen, as well as canned, fruits and vegetables taste good, are healthy, and cost less. Buying canned fruit in natural syrup or light syrup, although not as healthy as fresh fruit, is a good choice and sometimes can be purchased with coupons. Frozen fruit and vegetables are the closest products to fresh. They are very inexpensive, taste great, and won’t go to waste as fresh produce can. As with all processed food, read the labels in order to make the healthiest choice.

One of the greatest ways to get more for less and still eat healthy is buying marked down meat. Every morning, stores inventory their meat counters for items that are close to expiration date. This is the time to get meat at huge savings. Chicken, being one of the healthiest proteins, is almost always on sale and part of the stores mark downs. It’s one of the least expensive proteins available, but after the grocer marks it down, the savings are even better.

Everyone can eat healthy, even on a budget. Be creative, read product labels and search for the best deals. Anyone can do it.

Savvi has partnered with the nation’s largest discount network to create a new way for users to save money in a space that is fair to both consumers and merchants.

Slow cooking has many benefits, both from a health and convenience perspective. Slow cooked food will retain much more of its nutrients meaning that your body receives a bigger boost from the meal you eat. The convenience benefits are obvious: prepare the ingredients in advance, throw them in the pan before leaving for work and find dinner made ready for you when you get home.

Some of the best slow cooking ideas are tasty Italian food recipes – which ones would you most look forward to?

Caponata Sicilianata

The name of the dish is a mouthful, but rest assured this is a great Italian food recipe, ready in six hours of slow cooking on a low heat.

This Italian food recipe is delicious and incredibly simple, so much so that you just literally need to chop up the ingredients, throw them in the pot and cover. But what are the vital ingredients?

For Caponata Sicilianata you will need the following;

• One pound of fresh Italian tomatoes
• 12 ounces of Eggplant and Zucchini
• 3 stalks of celery
• One onion
• Half a cup of chopped, fresh-leaf Italian parsley
• Quarter cups of raisins and tomato paste

Chop all of the ingredients up, and mix in the slow cooker itself. Add a splash of red wine vinegar and season as you wish. A splash means a splash, too! We are looking to lightly moisturise the other ingredients, not cover them then reduce the wine. For an added touch you may add olives or capers to this great Italian food recipe, which is equally tasty served hot or cold.

Bolognese Sauces

If you will have time, just not a lot of it, when you get home from work, then why not prepare a pasta sauce before you leave, so when you get home all you have to do is boil a pan of water and throw in the pasta?

To get the perfect Bolognese, lightly brown a kilo of mince in a wok, adding a chopped onion and garlic until they are soft. Throw this into the slow cooker pan, and immediately cook on low. Chop celery sticks, carrot and mushrooms up (as many or as few as you like!), and add to the pot. It is then down to you the consistency of sauce you wish to create. For a thicker sauce, be liberal adding either tinned tomatoes or passata, as this will reduce down a lot during cooking. If you are looking for just a tinge of tomato taste then either add smaller amounts of the above, or simply stir is two to three spoonful’s of tomato puree.

Italian food recipes are all about creativity and invention, try these ideas as well as crafting some of your own to truly make the most of your slow cooker!

Videojug is one of the leading video recipe websites in the UK. They professionally produce a number of food treats from Italian food recipes to desserts to easy Chinese dishes.

Eurasia, Albufeira

You’ll need to arrive fairly early for lunch but it’s well worth the effort.  This restaurant gets rave reviews from visitors and in fact, I’ve even heard that it’s the best vegetarian restaurant in Portugal.  I myself had a positive experience there and felt like I was getting authentic cuisine as many of the locals frequent it as well.  I loved the buffet with soup starters that were slightly spiced.  All in all, an excellent veggie option and deserving of its reputation.

Bird’s Nest Restaurant, Boliqueime

If you’re out in search of fine dining you won’t be disappointed at The Bird’s Nest.  The refreshing interior makes for a great place to take pictures and the family-owned business is warm and inviting as ever despite reopening after some time of closure.  Nestled in the Boliqueime area, this treasure is simple yet memorable and formed quite an eclectic mix with our hosts being of Irish and English decent.  I started with the stilton and port cheesecake (delicious!), moved onto a lemon risotto with avocado (without the fish) and finished off with a Bird’s Nest Baked Alaska with mixed berries.  All of which I enjoyed immensely.

Restaurante Buzio, Alvor

Perhaps the most exciting thing about this restaurant is its versatility, well, that and the food.  It was unusual to be in an eatery with such diverse clientele.  Everyone from families to businessmen filled the place and the buzz was lovely.  If you make it there, order the lamb shank, a popular favourite with local and travellers alike.  Most of the patrons I spoke to said it was the best place to get food in the Algarve and I could see by their delight that they meant it.

Atelier de Comida Sto Antonio

Portuguese, tapas and vegetarian are the order of the day, every day at this fantastic restaurant for the culturally inclined.  I’m a sucker for a good bottle of wine with my meal and let me tell you, I was not disappointed with the sangria either.  In fact, the whole experience made my husband and I quite heady.  The best part, however, was the relaxed atmosphere and the impeccable service.  An absolutely magical evening all in all.

Johnny Hoooper’s Saxophone Bistro

Perhaps the biggest draw card of this restaurant is the live music.  If you love saxophone music and an energising ambience, then you’ll appreciate this eatery.  You may even have Johnny greeting you himself.  Yes, it’s that kind of place.  We also did a bit of dancing and by a bit, I mean about an hour and a half without pause.  The only potential problem that you might face is getting in.  You need to book!  Every time you go back there you are assured of fresh seasonal dishes meaning something new for every season.

Being a vegetarian is sometimes difficult, especially when you’re travelling.  Unfortunately, alternative dietary preferences are always well catered for but I must say, I was very impressed with the service and quality food that I tucked into at these eateries and got to experience added Portuguese flavour to compliment my fantastic getaway.

If you are planning a holiday to Monte da Quinta or any of the other popular resorts in the Algarve you are sure to find some fabulous vegetarian restaurants in your area.  The above are just a few of my favourites.