Food and Cooking Tips

Mexican food is something that you either love or hate,
there is not really an in between there. Of course, depending on the amount of
chilies in your Mexican food, it can either love or hate you as well. And that
brings us to the point of healthy eating and Mexican food.

The problem in most Mexican foods that you find north of the
border is that they have been infused with so much fat and calories and have
been turned into monstrous super sized meals with enough food to feed an entire
family in each individual serving. If you look further into Mexican food history you will find that Mexican food cooked in Mexico
can actually be quite healthy

Most Mexican food that is made in Mexico
is rich in fresh vegetables and, as such, healthy because the fresh vegetables
and other fresh ingredients impart vitamins and proteins into the food. It is
also flavored with real spices that can also be healthy as some spices contain
antioxidants. Real spices give you real flavor that is natural and therefore
better for you.

Now it is certainly possible to eat that healthy here in the
States if you know how to prepare the dishes yourself and you use healthy
ingredients or you know a store where you can purchase fresh ingredients that
are rich in the vitamins and devoid of the items that are detrimental to good
health.

You will also find that an “American” version of a
true Mexican dish will bear little resemblance to the dish it represents. That
is, once again due to the fact that the American dining public has gotten used
to the over large portions and fat content. As Americans we have come to think
of fat content as flavor content. That can be blamed on us as consumers. The
restaurants are only giving us what we want.

If you examine the history of Mexican food you will find
that it has taken the Mexican people centuries to work out the best
combinations of spices and ingredients to make food taste good. What they have
found is that freshly prepared food, using freshly harvested items produces a
rich tasting and healthy meal.

The recipes that grace the Mexican peoples tables have been
handed down from generation to generation and improved on by each person that
makes it. We should revel in the healthy choices that the Mexican people have
been surviving on for centuries and adapt them to our ways of life.

Europeans and Americans drink coffee like it is going out of style.
Coffee is a popular social tool that has been around since any of us
can remember. The popularity growth in coffee consumption has prompted
many growers to experiment with how they grow coffee, especially in
recent years when it has been proven that fertilizer does more harm
than good. Organic coffee is on the horizon for them now.

Organic coffee - what is it exactly? This is coffee that is grown
without using enhancement chemicals. It has been done that way since
time before chemical companies intruded. Farmers plant the seeds,
irrigate the roots and let the sun do the rest.

The Department of Agriculture has set into motion a crop rotation
program. Crop rotation aids the farmer’s in coping with the demand of
coffee products on the open market, especially organic flavored coffee.
One way that organic flavored coffee growers can benefit is by applying
to the government for incentives. The agricultural community supports
the growing of it wholeheartedly. So much so that they will give
benefits to farmers who grow organic. It takes a while to get certified
organic but to the coffee grower it is well worth the wait.

As with the majority of organic products, organic coffee takes more
time to come to term. This means that organic coffee costs more than
your general store brands. In some instances, 12 ounces of organic
coffee can be sold for $1.00 per ounce.

Organic coffee, like other organic or all natural foods, is sold in
an entirely different section of your local supermarket. This type of
coffee is sold in caffeinated and decaffeinated as well as flavored
with vanilla, chocolate hazelnut or anything else you can think of that
regular coffee comes in. Organic flavored coffee(like other
all-natural products) must contain a seal indicating it is, in fact,
organic. This is an FDA classification and cannot be overlooked.

Granted, organic coffee is more expensive than traditional coffee,
but the sense of wellness it brings cannot be unmatched. Many brands
you find are not made in the US but in countries that support slavery
and the use of warlords such as South America or Africa.

Organic coffee prices will go down over the next few years, analysts
predict. This is made possible by the crop rotation practices mentioned
earlier by avoiding using fertilizers and pesticides.

The use of organic coffee or other products will not allow you to
live longer, that is a guarantee that cannot be made. These organic
products can help you live healthier lifestyles. Healthier lifestyles
can lead to longer life. So the next time that you are in the grocery
store or other large food center look at all of the organic food you
can buy and realize that you can be feeling better and living a
healthier, more enriching life than you were before switching from
non-organic foods to organic.

The smell of coffee brewing can surely awaken the senses. When I was
young, just the smell of freshly brewed coffee would draw me from the
comforts of my bed in the early morning. After sipping my first cup
when I was older is when the effects of coffee really began to kick in.

There are definite physical effects of coffee on your body. A cup of
freshly brewed java can boost the body’s alertness, improve performance
and concentration. The internal organs are affected also. There is a
change in the heart rate, raised blood pressure and basal metabolic
rate. It also promotes urine production. Coffee can help relax muscle
tension. Students have discovered these changes and use coffee while
studying for an exam. Along with the students others use it also as a
stimulant to get them going in the morning or keep them awake at night.

Caffeine, of course, is the main ingredient in your cup of java.
Researchers have proven that a safe amount would be one or two cups a
day. When more than two cups are exceeded your body may suffer the
negative effects. This may include insomnia, migraines, increased or
irregular heartbeat, nausea and muscle tension. Your doctor may advise
you to drink less caffeine as continued extreme use may lead to ulcer
or heartburn.

Pregnant women should cut back on their coffee intake or avoid it
altogether since it could cause birth defects and patients with heart
conditions should also avoid it due to the possibility of other health
problems. There are also other substances that contain caffeine such as
tea, sodas and chocolates which should also be restricted.

Having several cups of latte or espresso will not cause a person to
act irrationally or become psychotic. These actions are usually
associated with the use of illegal stimulants or alcohol. But caffeine
can become habit forming. Those who drink it on a regular basis and
suddenly stop may experience what is known as withdrawal effects that
will disappear after a day or two when they are able to once again have
a cup of coffee.

There are some health benefits of coffee. Coffee has been known to
prevent certain diseases. Java for instance has been effective as an
anti-depressant in some people. It has been thought that caffeine may
lessen the chances of developing Parkinson’s disease in men even if
doctors aren’t yet able to determine the cause of this disease.

Coffee has always been very popular is consumed in almost every
household. Today the drive thru coffee house has become a convenient
way to get your morning fix. Imported java can be purchased from the
local market, brewed at home or in the office. The effects it has on
one person may vary with another depending on how different bodies
react to the caffeine. If a person begins feeling it is affecting their
health in a negative way, common sense would be to cut back on their
consumption or stop altogether.

I was dodging raindrops and puddles as I walked the short distance to my office. As I was passing a local house, I saw an elderly woman standing near the entrance holding an umbrella over her little white puppy. Unfortunately, the umbrella wasn’t large enough to cover both her and the dog, so she was getting soaked.

Unable to withhold comment, I said, “Do you think he’ll mind if he gets wet?” She responded, “Well the truth is, that if I don’t hold the umbrella for him he gets angry and pouts and won’t eat his lunch.” And, by dinnertime he’s absolutely unbearable!

Welcome to the world of the spoiled dog.

Although man’s best friend has always been his dog, the degree to which man has rewarded that friendship has quite possibly gotten out of hand. Evidence to support that statement can be found in the food we give our dog, the brand name “designer dog clothes” we put on their backs, the jewelry and special diets.

We send “Rover” to counseling sessions with dog psychologists, clip/wash/curl their hair and make sure their nails are done so as not to embarrass them in front of their doggy friends.

How many of us have spent a restless night because “Missy”, our pug faced Pekinese, can’t seem to get comfortable in our bed or “Bull”, our six ounce Chihuahua, growls and snaps at us when we roll over on him.

Yes, for those of you that are disbelievers, many people do share their beds with their doggies. In fact, I’ve heard of many cases where couples sleep apart rather than crowd the dog. Have you ever tried to argue with a sleepy Doberman Pincher? Forget about it!

A thriving and lucrative industry has grown up around the pampered pet. Pet owners spend multi-millions each year on their little four-legged friends. Occasionally the news media will offer a blurb about the pet owner who spent thousands of dollars on a diamond studded dog collar.

Now let’s get down to diet – what can we feed “Prince”, the proud Rottweiler? To be honest, Prince isn’t all that fond of dry dog food. He’ll eat some of it, but only if mixed with some of that delicious home made lamb gravy he likes. And, just like most of us, he prefers light fare in the mornings; perhaps a few scrambled eggs and just a slice or two of crispy bacon.

No need to make a big fuss about dinner though, he’ll usually eat most of what you’re having, maybe before you get to it!

This scenario might involve a slight stretch, but it is certainly not too far fetched. We worry more about what our pets will eat, or if they’re “off their feed”, than we worry about what our kids eat. I wonder how it is we know that our kids will eat when they get hungry, but we can’t accept that this might apply to our dogs too.

We feel compelled to continue to offer our dogs a full menu from which to select and if all else fails, it’s time to schedule a trip to the Vet.

Speaking of Veterinarians - most of them now offer direct deposit so your entire paycheck can be directed right into their accounts. Veterinary expenses have gone through the roof and there’s no end to the elaborate medical procedures now being provided routinely.

A friend who complained for months about the cost of dental appliances (braces) for his kid willingly shelled out $2500 to fix his dog’s overbite because “Tiger” appeared to be in discomfort when chewing on his rawhide bone.

Now that we’ve clearly established that we spoil our dogs, let’s offer a word or two in our own defense. Dogs love us without reservation. Scold them, treat then meanly, tease them, and they’ll still love you unconditionally.

In history, dogs have given their lives for their masters. “Police” dogs will face an armed attacker to protect their handler and “Seeing Eye” dogs will risk death or injury to steer their Charge away from a speeding car. A dog’s love for its master is pure and unquestioning. In my opinion, they deserve all the pampering they can get.

Pets, especially dogs, make us feel good. They comfort us, allow us to be ourselves and give those of us that need it, a reason for living. After all, there is always a warm welcome when you arrive home, and so deserve to be served, spoiled and looked after like a member of the family.

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Paul Easton is a self confessed dog lover who sells Dog clothing online - The Non Glamour Clothes for real dogs- wet or dry, indoor or out. Free gifts for first time visitors Dog Clothes