Mastering the kitchen involves understanding healthy fat profiles, variety-specific grain preparation, and safe food handling techniques.
Archeologists and historians believe the garden pea originated in either Egypt or China, and it has been a part of the diet for 5,000 years. A starchy vegetable, peas are a good source of energy, fiber, protein and essential vitamins. Including peas as one of your vegetable choices adds a number of benefits.
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Steaming presents a time-tested method of cooking healthy, nutritious foods. Many steamers include inexpensive vegetable steamer baskets that fit varied pot sizes. Double boilers, long used for steamed puddings and sauces, consist of two pots positioned together.
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When you shop for olive oil, you're greeted with an array of choices. There is a difference between pure olive oil, light olive oil and extra virgin olive oil. All olive oil is a healthy type of fat, and most of the differences in the various types have to do with how the oil is extracted and processed.
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The two basic types of clay used as a modeling material are hardening clay and non-hardening clay. Hardening clay hardens in one of three ways: by fire in a kiln, by baking in an oven, or through the process of air drying. Non-hardening clay is malleable and reusable.
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Olive oil is often touted for its health benefits, particularly virgin and extra virgin olive oil. This is due to its monounsaturated fat content, which is connected to heart health and weight control.
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Corn oil is one of the healthiest oils around, but that doesn’t mean you have to run to the store if a recipe calls for it and you’re out. Other oils work just as well as corn oil in recipes, salads and food preparation – even for corn bread.
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Thyme leaves give your foods a minty and tealike flavor.You can use fresh or dried thyme to achieve this effect, but you’ll need to use different amounts of fresh versus dried thyme. You also add thyme to your dishes at different times depending on which form you use.
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As your bicycle chain turns around the gear sprockets and pedal cranks, it creates friction. In order to limit the amount of wear on the chain and sprockets caused by this friction, you need to regularly lubricate your chain. Many riders use some type of a light oil to lubricate their chains.
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Sweetening foods can be tricky if you’re trying to clean up your diet. A pure, natural sugar such as pure maple syrup could seem like the perfect healthy substitute, and in fact, pure maple syrup does have something to offer in terms of nutrition.
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Lactose is the type of sugar that occurs naturally in milk. It is found in the milk of animals such as cows and goats, as well as human breast milk. Plain cow’s milk purchased in your local grocery store doesn’t contain added sugar.
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During the '70s and '80s, fats and oils were considered universally bad. During the 1990s, research found that only some kinds of fats and oils were bad -- and that plant oils could actually help prevent the cardiovascular problems previously associated with all fats.
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Curry powder is a blend of several spices that are used to mimic the flavors of Indian cuisine. The most common spices included in curry powder are turmeric, coriander, cumin and fenugreek. Ginger, garlic and black pepper are also included in some curry powder blends.
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Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, can turn eating hot or spicy foods into a potentially painful experiment. Ginger, a root herb that may be used as a seasoning or as an herbal remedy for nausea or indigestion, lends warmth and zest to foods and beverages.
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Fat serves a variety of roles in the body, including insulation and cushioning of organs. You can obtain fat in your diet through several sources, but oils of plant origin are generally healthier than animal-source fats because of their decreased saturated-fat content.
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The naturally sweet and tart flavor of seedless red grapes make them the ideal snack for any time of the day. One cup of red seedless grapes meets half of your daily recommended fruit intake and contains only 104 calories, 0.24 g fat and 27.33 g carbohydrate.
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Sunflower oil, and the related safflower oil, are used as cooking oils in cultures around the world. They are both polyunsaturated oils and are healthier than either corn or soybean oil. Safflower and sunflower cultivation is widespread throughout the United States.
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While fat previously had a bad reputation due to its high caloric content and association with weight gain, it is now evident that not all fat is created equal. Some types of fat increase cholesterol and heart disease risk, while others decrease it.
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When choosing pasta, size often matters -- your recipe may call for pasta for use as a broad base for thick sauces or melted cheese, or it may call for smaller pasta for use in soups. One such small pasta known as orzo resembles large grains of rice. You can find orzo for sale in your local grocery store.
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Baking powder and yeast may have similar purposes in baking, but the way in which they work is very different. While both products are responsible for leavening baked goods, this is where the similarities end.
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Agave nectar is a natural alternative to refined sugars and artificial sweeteners. This honey-like sap comes from the leaves of the blue agave, a succulent plant widely grown in Mexico. With its thin, light consistency, agave nectar can serve as a topping for fruit salads, pancakes or ice cream.
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