Saturday, January 31, 2009

The Impact Chocolate Truffles Have on the Brain?

By John Read

Chocolate has forever been a grand gift to give somebody. The chocolate manufacturing is a multi-billion dollar business. There are so many different types of chocolate and so many reasons to give someone a chocolate gift that it is a business that just keeps getting larger every year.

There are quite a few different types of chocolate. There is dark chocolates, milk chocolate, fair chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate are just a few. Many individuals have a favorite chocolate. Each maker of chocolate gifts has their own special formula for the way they make chocolates and this makes each brand of chocolate taste a little diverse.

Chocolate Truffles are a great gift to give for just in relation to any occurrence or no occasion at all. People love to get chocolate gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, holidays or just because. Special occasions or events are also great times to give the gift of chocolates. Baby showers, a move up at work, or just to tell a pal that you are thinking about them are great reasons to give chocolate gifts.

You can purchase chocolate gifts just about anywhere including grocery stores, gas stations, malls or convenient stores. Stores that put on the market only chocolates have the biggest variety to choose from and you may even find a specific store that carries the particular type of chocolate truffle that you like or you recognize your friend likes. This makes choosing chocolates gifts a little easier because there is such a huge variety and you may end up finding amazing new that you like.

Chocolate Truffles make great gifts for anyone at anytime. There are a assortment of packages that chocolate gifts come in so you ought to be able to find one just right for the event or friend you are trying to buy something for. The present of chocolates is a gift that individuals love to receive. Have fun searching for the just right chocolate for your friend and don't forget to get a few for yourself!

For individuals of you who like chocolate truffles, there are several different kinds to decide from. You can buy chocolate truffles in milk chocolate, dark chocolate or if you aren't certain which kind of truffle your loved one or friend might like, you can constantly get a box of assorted chocolate truffles.

Buying a chocolate gift for someone is pleasurable and you can get really creative with the things that you choose. You can get someone a box of milk chocolate truffles. You can obtain someone a heart filled with various filled chocolates and you can even get someone a good old plain chocolate bar.

People adore to get chocolate gifts for just about any occasion or even if there isn't an occasion. Chocolates are a great treat to show someone that you are thinking about them. Go pick out your chocolate gifts today and show someone how special you fell they are.

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Friday, January 30, 2009

Wonderful UK Hampers For Your Girlfriend

By Bob Johnson

UK hampers are gifts that are usually presented in a wicker basket. The act of giving a hamper has a long tradition in Western culture and, previously, was done as a giving act, using the hamper to present food and other home necessities to the deserving. The basket the hamper was presented in was also carefully chosen as it was a helpful household item that could be used and reused.

In recent times, UK hampers have come to be less presents of necessities and more presents of little treats, such as wine hampers for example. An emphasis is placed on quality products such as gourmet jams, expensive chocolates, exotic coffee beans, fine wines and other premium products that can be had as a indulgence and will keep long enough for the recipient to take their time in using the hamper.

There has also been a rising tendency to produce specialist UK hampers - wine hampers that are full with a diverse range and types of wine, chocolate hampers and bread and cheese hampers. Hobby hampers are an even more modern innovation and are filled not with food but with essential and wanted items to please gardeners or DIY enthusiasts, for example. The contents of a hamper are only restricted by your imagination!

The versatility of wine hampers is why it makes such a pleasing gift. They can be modified to any special someone and can be filled with anything that would satisfy your special someone. When picking the hamper you want to give, give careful attention to what items your special someone enjoys - are they a red wine lover? Then wine hampers are a great idea! Are they a gourmet? Then fill the hamper with gourmet food products. Are they expecting a baby? Why not give them a hamper filled with helpful baby products.

UK hampers can be used for any reason - for birthdays, for hens nights or bachelorette parties, for weddings, for anniversaries, for an expecting mom-to-be and, most popularly, for Christmas.

The Christmas hamper has become big business and, in an intriguing twist, customers are buying Christmas UK hampers to use for themselves instead of as a gift for that special someone. Often filled with well-loved Christmas treats such as shortbread, chocolate, wine, Christmas pudding and even turkey, they are purchased by individuals to be used over the Xmas period. Many wine hampers are purchased on a payment scheme over the year and then enjoyed for the holiday season, helping people afford the price of the special Christmas treats wanted over the Christmas period.

There are many of businesses that specialize in selling hamper presents and most of them can be found quickly and easily on the world wide web. Many of them will have pre-packed UK hampers - such as wine hampers or food hampers - and some may allow you to modify a hamper and fill it with products of your choice. Most businesses will deliver your hamper, making it a convenient and personal present.

Of course, you don't have to use a company to make a lovely hamper and it can be even more considerate to make your own. When putting together a hamper, give careful thought to what they might like. Use handy items and luxury goods that your special someone may not know to buy for themselves, to make it even more special. Hampers also work best when filled with items that won't go off quickly, such as red wine for wine hampers. If you do intend on packing in items that have to be refrigerated or will spoil, then make sure the hamper is given as quickly as possible and make sure your special someone knows that the products must be used quickly.

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Thursday, January 29, 2009

A Restaurant for Vegetarians?

By Ros Harlot

Even in today's health conscious world, mentioning you are a vegetarian quickly stops the conversation. If you are thinking of following vegetarian diet for certain causes - religious belief, health reason, economic reason, animal rights - you will often face a barrage of uninformed arguments from skeptical relatives and friends. You may want to consider a vegetarian diet for improving and maintaining your physical, mental and spiritual health. Your vegetarian diet may be very healthy for you but an lack certain elements that are only obtained from animals.

The health of most children can benefit from a hormone and preservative free diet that vegetarian food can provide. You would be wise to carry out some research before placing your child on a vegetarian diet to ensure they receive a suitably nutritious intake.

A vegetarians diet with involves regular servings of fruit, vegetables and whole grains is known to be healthy. It's this healthy consumption of fruit and vegetables etc. Another of the advantages to the vegetarian diet is that it tends to be low in fat and cholesterol.

Another benefit of a high fiber diet is that our systems digest it faster and of course it doesn't take as long to grow as meat. Historically though, being a vegetarian goes back to the beginning of time, and indeed, most of our ancestors did not eat meat very often, if at all. Some vegetarians still eat dairy products and eggs so when you are in an Italian restaurant it is worth checking what the vegetarian meals contain.

Medical research into the vegetarian diet highlights some interesting statistics. Of late, increasing numbers of people have switched to vegetarian meals - as scientific research has shown the adverse effects of animal meat. There is also, for instance, a 50% less chance that a vegetarian will develop heart disease. A large number of the population has decided to start a vegetarian diet during their life.

But more and more people these days are discovering the many health benefits of a vegetarian diet as would seem to solve many health problems in the United States today. Eating meat is quite normal and enjoyable to many people so you can understand the difficulty there is in converting people to a vegetarian diet. For a successful change to occur though, you must not consider a vegetarian diet as just a replacement for a meat based diet.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Celebrity Baby Showers Can Be Elaborate or Simple: Anything Goes

By Edie Mindell

Your baby shower is one of the most prized memories that any mother can have. Just as everyday people make the most of this once in a lifetime moment, celebrities are known for making the most of this occasion and having some of the most grand and luxurious baby showers.

Splurging is common among celebrities, especially if it is going to be for their new coming baby. Celebrities will do and pay anything and everything for their little ones. Icons such as Heidi Klum, Christina Aguilera, Nicole Richie, and Gwen Stefani, have held some of the most splendid baby showers of our time.

In 2004, Heidi Klum held a Mexican-themed baby shower for her daughter, Leni, in New York City. The party was catered by Dos Caminos Restaurant, and was full of yummy food and treats! Although the shower was reported to be a small celebration with 25 guests, Klum splurged and made the event a great one. Heidi Klum gave each of her guests a posh tote full of fine beauty products, a boutique gift certificate, and Victorias Secret pajamas; she made her baby shower all about giving, instead of receiving.

Christina Aguileras friends and family threw her baby shower in Malibu, California. According to Touch Weekly Magazine, guests brought blue, boy-themed baby gifts. Aguilera registered at Bel Bambini, a chic baby store located in West Hollywood. Baby bottles, diaper bags, and clothes were on the reported list of items in the registry. Among the gifts that she received from the upscale baby boutique were a blue Loved Mom Guitar shirt, a Cariboo bassinet with blue dot bedding, and Trumpette Johnny's socks.

Nicole Richie held her luxurious baby shower alongside Joel Madden at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The couple was reported to have a Wizard of Oz-themed baby shower. They even had a yellow brick road at the celebration, which was lined with candy, ruby slipper centerpieces, and a live band that performed the songs of the classic tale. The event also raised money for the new Richie Madden Childrens Foundation, which the couple has recently established.

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale had the most glamorous baby shower that any musician could have. The shower was held at a friends mansion in Los Angeles, and was themed after Gwens clothing line, L.A.M.B. The theme cleverly featured pink lambs. David Arquette and Christina Applegate are two of the many guests that attended Stefanis celebration.

Stefani and Rossdale gave out truffles and flowers as gifts, and received an estimated value of $35,000 in gifts. Some of the gifts were a fancy bedding set, a beautiful chandelier, and a gold necklace. These were just a few of the many deluxe gifts that Stefanis baby received at the shower.

Celebrities seem to go all out these days when it comes to pampering their babies. The more unique and original the baby shower is the better. Regardless of your budget, making your shower a one-of-a-kind event should be a priority for every mother-to-be, celebrity or not.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Make Delicious Yet Simple Dinner with Simple Dinner Recipes

By Doug Schlette

Are you always short of time when planning to prepare a tasty and healthy dinner? If yes then the answer to your problem is: simple dinner recipes. Although some think that the best option in this situation is to eat out all the time, this is not the correct alternative. Not only does it affect your health, eating out is expensive as well. For this reason simple dinner recipes are available that can help you in preparing food in a pinch of time.

For experts it is not a difficult task to prepare a dinner but for those who are beginners or not-so-creative can also prepare delicious dinners with the help of simple dinner recipes. Simple dinner recipes are available for those who require some aid in preparing a dinner successfully.

Before going to the grocery store and buying dinner items, especially when you are short of time, take a look at what your freezer at home contains. It might hold an item which may be used for preparing a simple dinner dish. With the help of a simple dinner recipe for that particular item one can prepare a delicious and tasty dinner. For instance, if you have frozen chicken all you need to do is take it prepare a dish using a simple chicken recipe.

Numerous options are available for preparing simple dinners. Take tacos for instance. It is one of the easiest yet delicious recipes. For this recipe you need meat, ingredients for seasoning and toppings. Simply brown the meat, season it and serve it with topping. You can also add variety such as serve salsa, beans, cheese or cream along with tacos.

Another delicious, easy yet quick option is to have a burger or sandwich dinner night. For this you need bread or buns, meat, cheese and other items as per requirement. Simply add these items to the sandwich or burger and an instant meal is ready. You can also serve it with your favorite soup and salad.

Sea food is also another option and simple dinner recipes for seafood can be found easily. All you need is to grab a pack of frozen seafood from the grocery store and simply cook it at your home. For example, a packet of shrimps with about 40 shrimps requires only 5-10 minutes cooking in a boiling pot of water. You can add it to a pasta dish or serve it with a sauce and your instant meal is ready.

These were some of the options but the simple dinner recipes are uncountable and one can have numerous varieties. Given below is an easy yet quick simple dinner recipe for you. The ingredients required are:

1. Butter 2 T

2. Mushroom 2 C.

3. 1 lb of chicken breasts (cut into strips)

4. 1 can of cream of chicken soup

5. 1 medium onion (chopped)

6. 1 C of sour cream

7. 4 C of egg noodles

Cook chicken in 1 T of butter while in the remaining butter cook vegetables. Then stir these vegetables in sour cream and the soup and heat it until boiling. Now add chicken and thoroughly heat it. Serve it with noodles and Italian bread or salads.

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Monday, January 26, 2009

How Food Mixer Speeds Can Make All the Difference

By Moses Harun

There is no way that a particular mixing option will work when preparing each kind of food. Every food mixer will need to function differently for different forms of food. Providentially, most mixers can have a variety of different food mixer speeds. A range of available speeds is necessary because they increase the flexibility of a typical mixer, such as a copper Kitchenaid Mixer.

The slowest speeds are routinely intended to be used for thicker types of foods. For instance, mixers that are fitted with dough hooks must give you the option to operate at lower speeds when they are in operation. This is so that the dough hook will be allowed to knead the bread dough at the right speed and the dough shall be properly mixed.

For other kinds of foods, greater speeds are more helpful. Cake batters need to be prepared on the highest setting to smooth out the batter properly. Egg whites call for very fast mixing to capture enough oxygen into them for a respectable meringue base. When using flour in your mixture, though, you should initially mix the flour in slowly to keep it from getting swept up and out of the bowl. A good brand and color of food mixers is the copper Kitchenaid Mixer, available in many sizes and styles.

Another factor regarding these speeds is that certain speeds will be required for certain attachments. Dough hooks are intended to spin on low settings and are solid enough to move through bread dough and cookie batter. Wire whisks, on the other hand, are useless at lower settings and are intended to operate at high speeds.

Of course it is recommended that the speeds may be effectively controlled. A better quality mixer will feature speeds which are able to be controlled through the use of a simple knob or button system. The controls really need to be large enough to turn or press easily. This also needs to be easy to read because each machine will offer several different speeds.

Speaking of different speeds; it will be important to establish that your mixer has quite a few speeds. A few economy mixers can include about four or five specific speeds while the highest end mixers may offer up to ten speeds. whichever type of mixer is used, it will indeed offer many different speeds.

The wattage that the appliance runs on can be significant too. High wattage mixers are generally powerful enough to offer more speeds.

Food mixer speeds are naturally particularly important when using any mixer, such as the copper Kitchenaid Mixer. The speeds should range from slow to fast speeds for different types of tasks. The speeds ought to be properly controlled and easy to visually check. it is helpful to make use of these speeds and therefore make your mixer more versatile and useful.

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Sunday, January 25, 2009

Your Coffee Made With The Press Will Be More Intense

By Cedric Ebengen

At one time, the coffee French Press brewer was very popular. Today, it's also called the coffee press. This press is simple to use and its characteristic is it brews a stronger cup of coffee compared to other types of brewers. The coffee press is a narrow container usually made from glass or hard plastic. There is a plunging device and a lid. The plungers are made to fit snugly in the press so that using its really thin wire or nylon mesh it will filter the coffee.

When you are ready to brew a cup, mix the coffee with the hot boiling water and allow it to brew for several minutes. After that time begin to press down on the plunger, which will separate the coffee grounds from the water pushing them to bottom of the press.

Rich Coffee Flavor Because the press is designed to mix the coffee grounds with the boiling hot water, your coffee made with the press will be more intense when compared to other coffee makers. Coffee brewed with a coffee press is thicker with more sediment than other coffee brewing methods.

Course Particles It's recommended that you don't let the coffee you've brewed in a press sit for a very long time. It is suggested that you drink it fairly soon so that the coffee will not acquire a bitter after taste. When using a coffee press always use a coarsely ground coffee. If you're grinding it yourself use a burr mill type of coffee grinder. This grinder will provide a more consistent coarseness than that of a whirling blade grinder. It is for that reason that you may want to invest in a high quality grinder such as burr grinder. These grinders always produce a far more consistent grind.

When I comes to grinders, the lower priced grinders will not provide you with uniform grinds. They typically grind the bean into different sized particles. To prevent sludge from occurring in your press use only coffee ground in a high quality grinder. When you're looking at filters for your coffee press, you will want to be able to know the difference between a nylon and a wire mesh. It could mean the difference between coffee flavor The difference is simple. The courser the grind the better a wire mesh can handle it.

If you are one of those coffee drinkers who insists on a fine grind then by all means get a nylon mesh filter. Be aware that you'll also have sludge at the bottom of the press each time however because a press is not designed for fine grinds. Also, if the coffee is too fine the press has a harder time brewing the coffee. Be certain that you're using filtered water. For a stronger coffee consider purchasing a coffee press.

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Saturday, January 24, 2009

The Truth About Vacuum Sealers

By Hakeem Awadi

Rival is known for all sorts of exceptional kitchen appliances. One of its more popular offerings is its Rival seal a meal vacuum sealer. This is a well-made sealer that is simple to work with and is unexpectedly low priced. It can even be attached to your wall for your convenience. Here's some reasons why this Rival vacuum sealer is an excellent appliance to own and use.

The Seal-A-Meal vacuum sealer works effortlessly because the Seal-A-Meal utilizes a standard roll. 8x10 inch and 11x10 inch rolls are available. The rolls may be quickly attached onto the Rival seal a meal vacuum sealer through a quick and easy loading mechanism. This enables the rolls to be loaded correctly so that they can perform well. Quart sized bags may be installed in this sealer also.

Once the roll is fitted into the Seal-A-Meal, no further steps are needed. The machine can start working after the roll is fitted. The only thing the user needs to do is choose the temperature settings, lay the food atop a layer of sealing material and then start the device so that the food can be safely sealed in an air tight fashion.

The Seal-A-Meal can also be cleaned quickly. The food channel is able to be removed from the front so that it will be cleansed, which allows the other parts to do its job properly.

The bags can be cut directly by the sealer. The appliance will cut a clean line which will allow the food to be safely held and guaranteeing that the bag will be tight.

The Rival vacuum sealer can even be fitted to a wall or cabinet for ease of storage. This is convenient in that the sealer will occupy a measurably smaller space in your home.

The Seal-A-Meal vacuum sealer is inexpensive, too. Other comparable products can sell for more than $150. The Seal-A-Meal vacuum sealer, however, is unique. The Seal-A-Meal sells for about $100 American/$120 Canadian. Some stores can even sell it for below a hundred dollars during a sale. Also, refill rolls can cost about ten dollars.

Some added accessories can be used with the sealer too. An air hose for removing the air from the bags is offered as an accessory. Some accessories include containers to contain other parts in, and also to assist with storing extra amounts of sealer bags.

The Rival vacuum sealers is a method of food storage that should definitely be looked in to. This sealer is unmatched in keeping foods fresh and is simple to use and maintain. It is also not as pricey as other sealers. It is a great choice for a vacuum sealer.

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Friday, January 23, 2009

How a Knife Set Sharpener Can Help

By Moses Harun

There are many pieces of a knife set that can be enjoyed, including the different types of knives that come with the set and storage unit. One of the better extras that is included in many different sets is the sharpener. Many sets will feature sharpeners that are part of the storage area for the knives. A knife set sharpener can form a great addition to any set.

A sharpener is meant to be used to make you knives blades amazingly keen and strong. With time, everyday usage can cause the blades to turn weak and lose their edge. Due to this fact, it can be more of a chore to properly manage the ingredients that require chopping. When the knives need to be used, it is important to know that if they are dull it will be tougher to manage them. You can use your new sharpener on the Wusthof Santoku Knife.

Also, even though several brands say that their blades will never need sharpening, this is not going to be the case for a majority of these sets. With this in mind, it becomes necessary to buy a good sharpener for the set.

The sharpener may turn out to be one of the components that is most often used. The sharpener is very simple to operate. The sharpener can be identified as the open area for the user to stick a knife into. The knife should be placed in the proper direction so that it will be easy to get the knife to be properly sharpened. The knife must be inserted into and out of the sharpener at a consistent and slow motion. This is because all of the edges on the knife may be nicely sharpened; when you're done, it will be much less difficult to cut food.

Most of the time, the sharpener will turn out to be built into the set itself. This is true when the sharpener is embedded in the storage area for the knives. It will be effortless to in and out of the sharpener because the sharpener that is meant for a particular knife set will, of course, be made to work specifically with the knives that come with that set.

Sometimes, the sharpener can be found packaged with the whole set, but but has not been attached right to the storage area. Along with your new sharpener, you can get the highly recommended Wusthof Santoku Knife.

A knife set sharpener is one of your favorite parts of a knife set to use. A sharpener helps keep your knife blades sharp and working well. The sharpener can be used so that the knives have the capacity to work properly and that they will be ready for any kitchen needs.

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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Mother Nature's Disease Fighter

By Dr. Jerimiah Crossderd

A recent article fro the Mayo clinic health letter states that study conclude that there is minimal benefits when trying to obtain antioxidants from dietary supplements. The report goes on to say that the optimal way in receiving a healthy dose of antioxidants is to eat foods that are rich with in it. Some of these foods include:

vitamins C and E

carotene

lycopene

lutein

It's possible that many other substances play a role is diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, and cardiovascular diseases. Antioxidants have long been thought to fight off free radicals which is a byproduct of a natural cell's metabolism.

The process of the body producing antioxidants is not very efficient and usually declines with the onset of age.

Tests reveal that those who eat antioxidant rich foods get many health benefits. Foods, rather than supplements, may boost antioxidant levels because foods contain an unmatchable array of antioxidant substances.

A dietary pill may contain a single type of antioxidant or at the most several. However, foods contain thousands of types of antioxidants, and its not known which of these substances offer the benefits. Some of the better food sources of antioxidants are:

Berry Group: Acai Berry, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries

Bean Group: Tiny red beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans

Fruits: Many apple varieties (with peels), avocados, cherries, green and red pears, fresh or dried plums, pineapple, oranges, and kiwi

Vegetables: Artichokes, spinach, red cabbage, red and white potatoes (with peels), sweet potatoes and broccoli

Drinks: green tea, coffee, red wine, acai berry juice

Nuts: Walnuts, pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts and almonds

Herbs: Ground cloves, cinnamon or ginger, dried oregano leaf and turmeric powder

Grains: Oats

Desserts: Dark chocolates

Though supplements containing antioxidants are generally considered safe, two recent studies have suggested that taking higher than recommended doses of supplements such as vitamin E over time may actually be harmful and possibly toxic.

This is not true in many of the foods that have higher antioxidants and offer many other health benefits such as high fiber, protein and saturated fats.

There is currently no guideline by the government for which antioxidants to consume as well as how many to take as part of their daily diet--this is also the case for vitamins and minerals. A major reason to this is due to a general consensus amongst researchers.

It is encouraged for the time being to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables that have a high concentration of amino acids like cranberries.

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Monday, January 19, 2009

Fat Burning Weight Loss Pills, Do They Work?

By Xylene Belita

One of the most popular ways of losing weight and getting rid of that fat these days is with fat burning weight loss pills. Unlike exercise and diet regimens, they offer a faster effective way of losing weight without changing normal eating habits.

But as with the seemingly endless supply of weight loss programs there are a wide range of effective weight loss pills that you can choose from. These can go from prescription drugs to the latest natural weight loss products that are supposed to have the same effect and offer a safer alternative. So how do you find the most effective and preferably inexpensive weight loss capsules for you?

As always, the first question you need to ask when it concerns your health is: What are the dangers of weight loss pills?

You need to be aware that the drugs you take to improve your health also have side effects. Even natural weight loss capsules can still have adverse effects if not taken properly or if taken by people with allergic reactions to specific ingredients in the capsules . This can cause severe reactions in some people that can be extremely dangerous to their health.

Since you would need to consult a doctor first before getting prescription drugs anyway, it would be a wise decision to talk about all the alternatives before deciding on what's the best for you.

Anyway, you are going to have to go through your doctor with prescription drugs, so it would be a wise decision to talk about all the alternatives before deciding on what's best for you.

However, there has also been many people who have had considerable problems with the weight loss pills that they have been using, either prescription or natural, wherein it was not suitable for them. Finding the most effective weight loss pills for you is hard but surely rewarding.

Weight loss should actually be enhancing your life and your longevity, so don't risk your life, see a doctor first.

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Sunday, January 18, 2009

Catskill MT Thunder Motorcycle Gathering 2008

By LJ James

Most of us know that when the first settlers came to America they where following a dream! What most do not know is that many of those dreams where inspired by paintings of the Catskill Mountains. At the beginning of this country's history artists where mesmerized by the beauty of these mountains and painted many pictures of them. These pictures where sent and sold all over the world and they had a large part in creating what later became know as the American dream.

Fast forward a few Hundred years to September 10Th - 14Th 2008 and now what draws hundreds of American Bikers every year to the Catskill Mountains is the Blackthorne Resort in East Durham and the Catskill Mountain Thunder Motorcycle Rally. This event which is a weekend get away for some and a week long party for others has just about everything a biker dreams of. Even though the Blackthorne Resorts grounds are huge, they do fill up fast and Bikers reserve there Cabins, RV sites or Camp sites up to a year in advance just to make sure there is room for them on the grounds. (There are plenty of other resorts in the area who welcome the Biker overflow from the Blackthorne) Me and my Brother Mopar Tom arrived on Thursday Night and the first thing We did was to check out what seemed like a hundred vendors, Who where selling every thing from Motorcycle T-Shirts to Custom Motorcycles.Then of course it was time to grab some drinks. First drink was at the Tikki Bar by the large in ground pool. The Second was at the Blackthorne's on premise full service bar. Not wanting to over do it on my first night there (I would save that for my second night) I called it an early night at around 2am and was off to get some sleep.

On Friday the fuse was lit and the weekend festivities got into full swing. I spent the entire day wandering around the Blackthorne checking out everything, drinking and partying with Hundreds of brand new and old friends. As the sun set and the Night began things just got even better! I watched Bikers take their Motorcycles up in the air and do Ariel Burn outs as I listened to the Music of Molly Hatchet LIVE !

The Nights at Blackthorne Run late and the Mornings come early! Some Choose to start their days off riding around the incredible Catskill Mountains, either in a group on a guided tour or by themselves with no destination at all. The roads in the Catskills go on forever and even after many years of riding them each trip still offers something new ! My favorite spot to ride to has been for many years Nicks Waterfall House in Gilboa, In my opinion no ride threw the Catskills is Complete with out a big burger and a cold beer at Nicks!

Others who don't wake till the afternoon can spend their day's at the Blackthorne checking out the vendors buying new Biker gear,Watching Rhett Rotten and his amazing vintage Wall of Death Motorcycle stunt show, Looking at the art work of Ron Finch,Placing their votes for their favorites in the Bike show, participating in the Bike games or enjoying a list of many other wickedly fun Biker activities. Saturday Night again offered Bikers more then they could handle plus Female Spaghetti Wrestling, Live Ultimate Fighting bouts, Lots more live music and plenty of late night partying. On Sunday some Bikers headed home while others hung around for another day of fun including a pig roast!

I have been a biker all my life. To this very day the bond of Brotherhood that is shared by bikers still stuns me. I'm not sure if the fact that the Blackthorne is a family resort every other week of the year has anything to do with it, But I found the feeling of Brotherhood and Family to be very strong at this event. When I can hangout and party with Bikers I have just met and feel like I have known them for Twenty years, It strongly reinforces all the reasons I love being a Biker!

I have intentionally left out a lot of great things about the Blackthorne and its Catskill Mountain Thunder Motorcycle Rally, The reason for this is because if you missed this event you do not deserve to know all its secrets until you have attended it for yourself !!! Check out CatskillMountainThunder.com and reserve your spot for next years party today!

I'll see you there! Your Bro L.J. James AmericanBikerX.com Radio Show BikerLowdown.com

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Saturday, January 17, 2009

Foods That Are High In Antioxidants

By Dr. Jerimiah Crossderd

A study done by scientist for the USDA to determine foods that contained the highest level of antioxidants found that the acai berry, artichokes, and beans had the highest levels recorded.

The study also confirmed that widely known highly rich antioxidant foods like cranberries and blueberries were good sources--but surprisingly, research also determined that cinnamon, pecans, and even Russet potatoes contained high sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants are important because they are thought to fight cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and heart disease.

"The bottom line is the same: eat more fruits and veggies," says Ronald L. Prior, Ph.D., a chemist and nutritionist with the USDA's Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock, Ark., and lead author of the study. "This study confirms that those foods are full of benefits, particularly those with higher levels of antioxidants. Nuts and spices are also good sources."

Thanks to updated technology, this study done by the USDA is the most comprehensive and accurate ever done concerning antioxidants research. They analyzed over 100 foods like the acai berry, fruits, vegetables, spices, and nuts.

The foods were analyzed and measured for the concentration levels of antioxidants and the capacity per serving of the antioxidants. Research showed the top fruits were the acai berry, cranberries, blueberries, and black berries. The highest levels found in the nut category were walnuts, hazelnuts, and pecans--Russet potatoes, beans, and artichokes were found to have the highest level antioxidant concentration in the vegetable category.

Spices usually are eaten in small amounts, even though many have been found to contain high levels of amino acids. Ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground oregano were found to have high levels of antioxidant concentration.

This study should prove helpful for people who are looking to add antioxidants to their diet. Please note that the total capacity of antioxidants found in foods does not indicate necessarily the potential health benefit--this depends on how the food is absorbed by the body.

At the moment, there are no government guidelines for people to know many antioxidants to take and what kinds of antioxidants to consume in their daily meals--this is also the case with vitamins and minerals. A major barrier to such guidelines is a lack of consensus among nutrition researchers on uniform antioxidant measurements.

For the time being it is recommended that you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants like cranberries and acai berries.

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Friday, January 16, 2009

Clay Cooking for Healthier Meals

By Jana Banks

We recently ate at a friend's home and enjoyed a juicy roast along with fresh steamed broccoli with cheese followed with a surprisingly delicious baked apple with caramel topping for dessert. I was helping her clean up after dinner and saw that she had prepared everything in her clay cookware. This was new to me since I'm used to the standard pots and pans I grew up with - namely made of aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic bakeware, or copper. But it turns out that clay cooking is quite popular around the world, including here in the U.S. My friend raves about her clay pots and thinks everyone should own at least a piece or two in their kitchenware collection.

Clay pot cooking can trace its roots back thousands of years to a time when prepared meats were swaddled in mud and tossed into the hot embers of a fire. Then, as the clay dried in the heat, the food began cooking inside. Once the cooking was finished, the "pot" was broken open and the cooked and juicy meat was removed for eating.

Clay cooking is generally thought to be quite a healthy way to cook food because the food does not need any additional oils and fats added to create moist and tender results. Before cooking, the cookware should be soaked in water before placing the ingredients inside. This is done to allow the clay to absorb the moisture, which is a factor that helps to deliver such juicy results. If a pot is placed in a pre-heated oven it is likely to crack, so always be sure to set the filled clay pot inside a cold oven prior to setting the temperature at approximately 450 degrees. Check your recipe for the exact temperature recommended.

You'll find an array of recipes available that have been adapted for cooking in clay. One example of a tasty dish is Beggar's Chicken. You simply combine chicken legs with a few spices such as ginger, pepper, and garlic plus some flavoring sauces such as sherry and soy. After baking in your clay cooker, serve with a side of rice pilaf, pasta and a fresh salad or vegetable.

Clay pots also serve perfectly as slow cookers and stockpots too. You can make any number of your favorite soups, stocks, and casseroles in these versatile cookers. Whether you're in the mood for a rich pea soup, a creamy potato soup, a layered vegetarian casserole, or beef stew, the clay cookware cooks evenly and slowly producing perfectly flavorful foods your family is sure to enjoy.

This unique cookware is quite beautiful and comes in a variety of styles and sizes. One well-known manufacturer of quality clay cookware is Romertopf. They offer everything from bread pans to garlic bakers, fish roasters to apple bakers, and much more. So when you're ready to treat yourself to some new cookware, consider adding a special clay piece to the top of your list. Though once you buy one, you'll likely be hooked.

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