Coca-cola Snacks

Your favorite fair soda and snacks gets a new makeover. Presenting Coca-cola flavored batter on your fries and funnel cakes done with your favorite drink! tempting!. Coming soon to a fairground near you ...

This gelatinous cola-infused snack was introduced by a Texan innovator, Abel Gonzales Jr. last month at the Texas State Fair. He calls it fried coke. Hmm at first it didn't sound good to me, It sounded like drugs or something else...

Anyways, this has been a new sensation since fried twinkies and fried candy bars. A brilliant idea that won an award at the big Tex Choice Awards Contest.

But, here's a catch to it. It makes your physicians alarmed at this artery clogger that would end your soda poppin days. What a party pooper huh?

You Wouldn't Get Pho

Sorry I'm just foolin' around with the title. I can't get it out of my head, I like THE GAME and his song You Woundn't Get Far. Yet, none of these has something to do with this post anyways. This is about PHO BO (pronounced as FA) or Beef Pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) which is one of the most nutritious and healthy soups around. If you are a beef lover this would be your thing! Very tasty!.

In this post I would like to share on how you could make your very own home-made PHO!
The stock can be made a day in advance, you should use fresh herbs. This soup is all about the stock and the herbs (so pick the freshest ingredients from your local grocer). Well, in other cases you should learn this tip. (They do sell packets of PHO mix in some asian groceries which sell Vietnamese stuff) So for those of you who wanted a quick meal this one is for you.

The usual preparation time is about 4 1/2 hours and that is a lot of time. For those busy people I would recommend buying the pho packets for the stock instead.

Here are the ingredients:

For the stock you would need

2 lbs beef shank or beef brisket
1 lb oxtails or beef bones
1 lb lean stewing beef, in one piece
2 ounces fat (e.g. lard)
1 large onion, with peel
3 ounces fresh ginger, with peel
5 star anise
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon white peppercorns
1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 1/2 pounds dried flat rice noodles
1/2 pound frozen beef sirloin

For the garnish you need:

1/2 lb bean sprouts
1 bunch shallots, sliced
fresh red chili, chopped
lime wedges
hot chili sauce
fresh mint leaves
fresh coriander leaves
fresh basil leaves

Hoisin sauce

Directions:

Place the beef knuckle in a very large (9 quart or more) pot. Season with salt, and fill pot with 2 gallons of water. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 2 hours.

Skim fat from the surface of the soup, and add the oxtail and onions. Tie the anise pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns and ginger in a cheesecloth or place in a spice bag; add to the soup. Stir in sugar, salt and fish sauce. Simmer over medium-low heat for at least 4 more hours (the longer, the better). At the end of cooking, taste, and add salt as needed. Strain broth, and return to the pot to keep at a simmer. Discard spices and bones. Reserve meat from the beef knuckle for other uses if desired.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Soak the rice noodles in water for about 20 minutes, then cook in boiling water until soft, but not mushy, about 5 minutes. Slice the frozen beef paper thin. The meat must be thin enough to cook instantly.

Place some noodles into each bowl, and top with a few raw beef slices. Ladle boiling broth over the beef and noodles in the bowl. Serve with hoisin sauce and hot chili sauce on the side. Set onion, cilantro, bean sprouts, basil, green onions, and lime out for garnish on top of the soup if preferred.

I hope you enjoy this exciting beef soup. The best part would be it's like going to the gym and sweating it out without the exercise (eating while you sweat, priceless!).

Nutrilicious Shepherd's Pie

Hello Yellow! Let's have a cooking lesson today! I have this wonderful recipe to share with you. Tried Shepherd's Pie before? This recipe originated in Australia and is one of their most loved dishes. It is so easy to prepare (preparation time: 10 mins. ) and wouldn't cost so much plus, it's very nutritious and delicious.


This hearty pie has a base of minced meat, diced carrot and peas in a tomato-based sauce. The meat layer is topped with creamy mashed potato and golden melted cheese.We have used 1kg of fresh beef mince in the filling but you could use about 800g of chopped roast beef or lamb. The filling could also be varied to include other vegetables (e.g., mushrooms or corn kernels) and herbs such as rosemary or oregano.



The pie can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated until required. If you are baking the pie straight from the refrigerator, increase the cooking time and reduce the oven temperature by about 20 degrees so that the topping doesn't overcook before the centre gets hot.



Serves 4-6.


For the Meat Layer you would need:


20ml (1 tablespoon) oil

1 large (200g) onion, diced

1 large (165g) carrot, diced

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 -2 lbs raw minced lamb or beef (or 800g chopped cooked meat)

60ml (3 tablespoons) tomato paste

12g (1 tablespoon) plain flour

250ml (1 cup) chicken stock (or 1 cup water and 1 chicken stock cube)

40ml (2 tablespoons) Worcestershire sauce

400g-410g tin crushed tomatoes

Salt and pepper

128g (1 cup) fresh or frozen peas

2 tablespoons chopped parsley


optional ingredients would include (chopped celery, hardboiled egs chopped in quarters or even quail eggs and a choice of ground beef instead of lamb) depending on how you wanted it. be creative.

Heat oil in a large heavy based pan or saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes, or until vegetables have softened.

If you are using raw meat, increase heat to high and add mince. Cook, stirring, until meat has browned and most of the liquid from the meat has evaporated. If you are using meat that is already cooked, add the chopped meat to the vegetables and continue to the next step.

Over medium heat, add tomato paste and flour to meat mixture and cook for one minute. Add stock, Worcestershire sauce, crushed tomatoes, salt and pepper.Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until liquid has reduced, stirring occasionally.

Preheat oven to 350 -375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius fan-forced).Stir peas and parsley into meat mixture and pour into a 2.5 litre ovenproof dish.Top filling with mashed potato. Use a fork to create peaks in potato and sprinkle with cheese.

If the dish you are using is quite full, sit it on a baking tray in case any of the sauce overflows while baking. Bake pie for about 20 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling and cheese is golden brown.

For the Mashed Potato Toppings:

2 lbs. of potatoes, peeled and chopped

50g (2 1/2 tablespoons) butter

Salt, to taste

About 125ml (1/2 cup) milk (the amount needed will vary, depending on the type of potatoes used)

100g (1 cup) grated cheese (we used a combination of mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan)

Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Cover saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce to medium heat and boil gently until potatoes are soft.Drain potatoes and mash with butter, salt and milk.

Mmmm... Nutrilicious!!! share this recipe with family and friends and enjoy this great meal. Ti'l next time folks,Bon Appetit!

Alcohol and Allergies

Sensitivities to food may increase when they are consumed with or around at the same time with alcohol. Have physician check further when allergy to alcohol is suggested. It may actually be allergy to a food.

Banana Facts

Facts that you should know about your bananas:

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest
ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium! m and ma gnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, 'eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"