Carma Spence has been experimenting in the kitchen since she was four years old and loves trying out new recipe ideas. She is the author of Bonkers for Bundt Cakes and Your Perfect Pie, as well as author and contributor to several more non-food-related books. With Carma's Cookery, she is taking her passion for empowering people and blending it with her passion for cooking, gift-giving and entertaining.
There is something wonderful about the scent of fresh baked bread. But how often do you have the time and energy to do all that kneading, waiting and then kneading again? That’s where a bread maker comes in. However, there are so many to choose from that you might find it daunting to even try looking!
I’m here to let you know that choosing the right bread maker is relatively easy. All you need to do is visit your local store that sells kitchen appliances and choose the one that best suits your needs. Of course, the Internet can play an important role in helping you research before you drive around from store to store. So, how do you choose the right bread maker?
Take a Look at the Space in Your Kitchen
You need to make sure that you have enough room for your bread maker. Though not overly big, it will require some storage, so you want to make sure that you have plenty of space to place the bread maker when not in use.
Photo via pixabay.com [CC0 Public Domain]I always know when my special beau calls me on my cell phone, for it suddenly will start playing “our song.” Every time I hear it, my heart flutters.
Do you feel that way about your special someone? If you do, you might want to share a special meal for two tomorrow in celebration of Valentine’s Day. You could go out and enjoy dinner together at your favorite restaurant or the restaurant where you shared your first date.
But then, there is something about a home-cooked meal that says “I love you” even more than an nice restaurant. The good thing is that cooking for two can be done and can be a lot of fun if you pour your heart and soul into the meal planning and preparations. (Of course, if you’re just thinking about this today, you might be a bit pressed for time.) That’s why I’m posting this today (besides it being a Wednesday, the day I usually post).
Julia and Alpha's CNY Yee Sang Prosperity Salad
Photo by Alpha via Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0]
Julia and Alpha’s CNY Yee Sang Prosperity Salad Photo by Alpha via Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0]Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Tomorrow The Year of the Rat begins, so I thought it would be a nice touch to talk a little about one of my favorite cuisines — Chinese!
There are few festivities that are felt around the world on quite the grand scale as that the Chinese New Year. In fact, I really feel for all those people in China who might not make it home for the holiday because of the dreadful weather.
This is an event that affects people all around the globe and the celebrations are quite exotic and a lot of fun for everyone involved. (Did you know that now is the time to put into place new feng shui remedies? If not, you might check out my dear friend Anna Maria Prezio at fengshuiharmony.net.)
One thing that many outsiders may not realize is that several of the aspects of the Chinese New Year celebration have a very specific purpose and meaning — including the food! Whether you are Chinese are not, I know very few people in the world that couldn’t use a small degree of good fortune to make things in their worlds run a little more smoothly.
Photo via pixabay.com [CC0 Public Domain]Do you follow football? Then I don’t need to remind you that Super Bowl sunday is coming up this weekend. Are you having a party to watch the game? Have you planned out your menu? No worries. I’m here to help out.
To be sure that you have an awesome Super Bowl feast use some of the following Super Bowl food ideas:
Think Dips
Use lots of dipping options. Chips and dip, fruit and fruit dip, vegetables and veggie dip, hot wings and blue cheese dip. The more dips the better!
Photo by Thogru (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Photo by Thogru (Own work)
[CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia CommonsAnd now for my last post on foods choices that help you stay on track for your weight loss resolution — Snacking, the Bane of Many Diets.
Snacking might be the No. 1 enemy of a New Year’s resolution to eat better, lose weight and get healthy. But, snacking is an important part of tiding you over in between meals. So, the question is, can you have your cake and eat it too? Absolutely! You just need to snack smarter.
Fortunately, there are some wonderful snack ideas that taste great, satisfy cravings and won’t ruin a diet. You just have to make better choices and make a conscious effort to shop smarter and reach for the right foods.
Here are some fantastic choices for snacks that won’t push a dieting plan to the breaking point:
Popcorn. When you just can’t get the craving to crunch off your mind, unbuttered, lightly salted popcorn is a great choice. Toss in some granulated beef or chicken bouillon instead of salt for an interesting flavor.
Pita slices with tuna. This is an excellent snack for satisfying an appetite and keeping health in mind. For vegetarians, a low-fat hummus is also a good choice, as it has protein that will help you feel fuller longer.
Fruits and raw vegetables. Carrot sticks, grapes, celery with peanut butter (remember to go light on the peanut butter!), apples, bananas, oranges and more can keep a healthy diet on track and ensure that snack-time hunger is well satisfied.
Granola. Plain granola bars, fruity granola and other similar options are great for keeping health in mind and hunger at bay. Just make sure that it is a low-calorie granola — some are quite high in calories.
Yogurt. Add a little fruit to plain, low-fat yogurt, or even toss in crushed granola and this option is perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth. I’ve found that adding some Fiber One cereal to yogurt makes a great snack and gives you fiber, to boot!
Trail mix. If the hankering for chocolate is too much to bear, grab some trail mix with tiny carob pieces or even a few small chocolate chips blended into the creation. Trader Joe’s has a great anti-oxidant trail mix that is quite filling.
Apple chips. While it can be hard to convince some that this alternative to potato chips actually tastes good, it does. Plus, it’s generally a whole lot better nutritionally and fat-wise.
Cottage cheese and chicken. If there’s a desire for a more filling snack, cottage cheese, shredded chicken and even a cracker or two can work perfectly without busting a diet plan. For extra flavor, mix in some taco seasoning.
Whole-wheat pretzels. This unusual snack tastes pretty much the same as its processed flour counterpart, but it’s much better nutritionally.
Raisins or other dehydrated berries. This is a sweet alternative for some very bad snack ideas. Carrying a box or two of raisins can provide a perfect snack. Don’t like raisins? Try dried cranberries or blueberries, instead.
Low-fat ice cream. It’s hard to cut this favorite out of a diet completely. Instead of reaching for the fatty, high calorie stuff, try the diet versions. The truth is some of these are rather incredible.
When it comes to healthy snacking, the possibilities are almost endless. If it’s your resolution to eat better and lose weight, consider snacks carefully before reaching for the first thing that simply looks good. There are better choices that are just as easy to grab for as a bag of chips or big piece of pie.
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Take Charge of Your Health!
Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.
This Healthy Eating Worksheet will walk you through the process of creating a healthy eating plan. All you need to do is print it out, set aside some time to complete it, and then fill it out. Then you can create your plan, knowing that you have addressed potential obstacles and came up with some creative ways to handle them.
By Renee Comet (photographer) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Photo By Renee Comet
[Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsToday, I continue my tips for keeping your New Year’s resolution to loose weight. Now, anybody who knows me knows I love dessert. In fact, its sort of my specialty in the kitchen. And, alas, one of the most difficult obstacles many face in loosing weight involves giving up sweets. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily have to. There are some excellent desserts that can be enjoyed without destroying a diet.
Giving up desserts entirely is not possible for some people (myself included). If you’ve got to have your sweets once in a while, there are smarter choices you can make. It is possible to satisfy a craving without destroying a diet. Moderation and portion control are the key. Here are some excellent choices to satisfy your sweet tooth without negatively impacting your diet:
By mimiliz2 via morguefile.comWhen the clock struck midnight to herald the arrival of 2008, thousands of people all over the world made the decision to lose weight and eat healthier in the new year. Are you one of them? I, for one, renewed my 10-year resolution to lose weight. In fact, I started working out each morning, alternating upper and lower body workouts.
Alas, many of us will stray from their resolutions almost as quickly as they made them. Can you believe I forgot to do my workout this morning? I was so focused on coming to my computer to write this blog entry! Now, how’s that for an excuse?
Anyway, with temptations all around us, and fast food joints often making eating unhealthy seem like the easier choice, the odds just aren’t in our favor.
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