Spice Is Nice - Great Herbs With Great Benefits
Herbs can do much more than add much needed spice to the foods you cook. Herbs also have important health benefits, and many herbs have been shown to have remarkable healing properties.
Growing Your Own Herbs
Fortunately, herbs are very easy to grow in your own home herb garden.
They are also easy and quite inexpensive to buy, either fresh or in their
dried varieties. When buying herbs, whether they are dried or fresh, however,
it is important to exercise caution and to buy only the freshest herbs,
or those dried herbs made by quality, reputable companies.
The best choice for many people, however, is to grow your own herbs in
an herb garden. Unlike many other forms of gardening, an herb garden takes
up almost no space. Most herb gardens can be grown using the smallest
flower pots set in a sunny windowsill. There are every kits which allow
the cook to grow a variety of herbs directly from seed, all in one handy
container.
There are as many ways to use herbs in cooking and in healing as there
are herbs. For instance, meats, stews and pasta dishes can all be enhanced
with basil, garlic, oregano and rosemary. Foods that are naturally sweet
can be further enhanced through the addition of herbs like cinnamon, ginger
and nutmeg, while extra heat can be added to many foods by adding a dash
of white, black or red pepper.
Herbs And Dieting
Dieters often appreciate the ability of herbs to add flavor and variety
to food without adding extra calories. When adding fresh herbs to a recipe,
the best technique is to gently crush the herbs in your hand in order
to fully release their flavor. It is best to add the herbs near the end
of the cooking process to preserve their flavor and nutritional value.
A few of the most commonly grown herbs for the home garden are:
> Sweet basil - Sweet basil (ocimum basilicum), in both the dark opal
and the green variety are quite easy to grow from seed, and they generally
germinate at 7 to 10 days. Basil can grow to a height of 18 inches, and
it provides excellent flavor to tomato paste, pastas, soups and stews.
> Chives - Chives (allium scboenoprasum) is a perennial plant which is
popular in both herb gardens and more traditional garden patches. These
tiny plants resemble spears of grass when they first sprout, but they
can grow to a height of 12 inches. Chives are great in salads, sauces
and all kinds of egg dishes.
> Dill - Dill (anethum graveolens) is another easily grown herb, and it
makes an excellent flavoring for meats. Dill is also excellent for use
in pickling.
> Lavender - Lavender (lavandula) is easy to grow as well, and it provides
a fresh scent indoors and out. While not traditionally eaten, lavender
is important in aromatherapy, and the dried leaves of the plant make excellent
sachets for sprucing up closets.
> Mint - Mint (menthe spicat) is also quite easy to grow and it can easily
be grown indoors as part of an herb garden. Mint is an excellent accompaniment
to fruit drinks and lemonade, and we all know how well mint jelly goes
with lamb dishes.
> Sage - Sage (saivia officinalis) is another perennial plant that is
grown indoors and out. This popular herb is excellent for use in chicken,
turkey and pork, and it is often used for flavoring sausage as well.
Yahoo! News Search Results for healthy foods
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Eating out is a special treat. But it can also be a challenge for making healthy choices. How can you limit calories, fat, sodium and sugar without giving up your favorite foods? How can you read the menus to learn more about how a food is prepared? How can you include more fruits and vegetables?
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As research suggests, Australia is fast becoming one of the fattest nations in the world. According to Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci), motivational speaker and author, "we're still missing the point when it comes to creating permanent change in our lives and change in a practical and effective manner." It seems we're more educated, more equipped and have more resources than ever before but the reality ...
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| Ghana: Beware! Unhygienic Foods Sold On the Streets of Accra (AllAfrica.com) |
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Upon several warnings by the Regional Health Directorate, on the confirmed cases of cholera in the Accra metropolis, some hawkers, especially young women, still sell unhygienic foods on the streets of Accra.
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| Prolife Foods Acquires Mother Earth Brand (Scoop.co.nz) |
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Prolife Foods Ltd has acquired the brand and assets of Mother Earth snack foods from Cadbury Confectionery Limited for an undisclosed sum. The Hamilton-based company has plans to expand Mother Earth’s existing range and take the brand into new categories.
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| The ABCs of a Healthy BBQ (Maumelle Monitor) |
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(ARA) - The flowers are blooming, temperatures are rising, and the smell of charcoal is in the air. It's officially grilling season -- the perfect time to fire up that commitment to a healthy lifestyle. While this outdoor tradition adds flavor to foods, it also helps remove fat and calories.
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