Popular Toppings Used in Salad Bars: A Guide to Help You Choose Better

Are you a fitness freak who believes in eating healthy and good? Surely the perilous effects of obesity have left modern people with little option but to change their eating habits. Be it in fear or will, the scenario of food industry has surely gone for a massive change where more and more people try to eat fresh and organic food items.

With this new trend of the age, there can be no denying that the notion of salad bar is rapidly growing in popularity in different parts of the world. Prepared with a variety of vegetables, fruits and other fresh food items, a bowl of salad is always the best appetizer that not only keeps your health happy but also takes care of your hunger anytime and anywhere.

It's a known fact the every individual nurtures a different eating habit. That goes true even when preparing salads as it is observed that every people has his own choice of salad toppings. In salad bar, it is therefore important that there is a wide array of salad toppings available so that customers can pick the items of their choice and enjoy a hearty time savoring on a bowl of tasty and lip smacking salads.

Know the basics of salad toppings

Think of salad and you are bound to think of lettuce leaves… The attractive green leaves with its bushy ends do make for a must have that not only helps you add a dash of creative imagination in your salad preparation but also adds to the nutrient value. While previously salad bars conventionally used iceberg lettuce, now a day things have gone for a change with varied types such as red lettuce being tried out to add color, brightness and attractiveness to the salad. Not only lettuce, salad bars of today also use baby spinach mix as another commonly used salad topping item.

Vegetable Variation

No salad is complete without a generous serving of vegetables that makes the prime ingredient of the dish. Considered as nature's best gift to mankind, vegetables come available in a riot of colors and nutrition quotient. Toss in as much vegetables you want and make your bowl an attractive play of hues. Some popularly available salad topping at Salad Bar includes beets, mushrooms, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, tomato, cucumbers, green olives etc.

Cheese: From feta to grated

Cheese is another product that goes invariably with salad. But previously only a handful of salad bars used to have only a small section for cheese, modern day outlets offer a much bigger and varied cheese section. Check out the cheese section of salad bar and you can easily avail your choice of cheese ranging from feta cheese, Swiss cheese, cottage cheese to grated cheese.

A Healthy Salad Recipe

You support the new movement about ‘green is better'? Now a day, with people becoming more and more health conscious, eating fresh and organic is the craze that is making it big in the industry of food and restaurant. If you also support this new move and has plans to invest in franchise green is better campaign, gear up to add some more healthy food items in your restaurant menu so that it allows your customers to enjoy a variety of delicacies without gaining calories anymore. Here in this article we bring for you the recipe of a yummy and delectable salad that you can consider adding to your franchise green is better restaurant: 

Taco Salad Ingredients:

• Crushed garlic

• Chicken/ turkey sliced

• Chopped cilantro

• Low fat sour cream

• Canola oil

• Lettuce leaves

•Grated cheese

• Chopped and diced tomatoes

• Rinsed kidney beans

• Salsa

• Chopped onion

• Cumin seeds

• Chili powder

Preparation Method: 

Take a bowl and add salsa and the cream together.Keep it aside for later use.

Now heat oil in a pan and add the onions, garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chicken or turkey in it and cook again till tender for around 5 minutes. Toss in the tomatoes, beans, chili powder and cumin all together and stir and cook till the seeds starts breaking into pops.

Remove from heat and now add the salsa and cream mixture in it. Toss in lettuce in the bowl and mix well. Add grated cheese and serve.

Intake of nutrition in this meal of Taco salad: Fat, Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, Sodium, Carbohydrate, Dietary Fiber, Sugars, Protein, Calcium.

Chicken Wellington Recipe (diabetics Can Enjoy It, Too!)

Most of us today are watching our budgets and groceries are one of the areas where prices have risen quite a lot.  Yet we still want to feed our families healthy, nutrious meals and entertain our friends with festive dishes.  Here is a chicken meal that will fill the bill.  It is economical to make, goes from prep to table in an hour, and makes quite an impressive presentation.  And best of all, it is delicious.  Try it and I'm sure it will find a permanent home in your recipe files.

CHICKEN WELLINGTON
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter, softened, divided
1 tsp dried crushed rosemary
1/2 tsp rubbed sage
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
2 pkgs (15 oz ea) refrigerated pie pastry
1 egg, lightly beaten
Sauce:
1 1/4 tsp chicken bouillon granules
1 1/4 cups hot water
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp chicken broth

Flatten chicken to 1/4-inch thickness.  In a large shillet, cook chicken in oil and 1 tablespoon butter for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until juices run clear.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the rosemary, sage, salt, pepper and remaining butter.  Unroll pastry sheets and cut each into a 9-in square.  Place a chicken breast half on each square.  Spread the butter mixture over the chicken.  Fold the pastry over the chicken cutting off any excess pastry.  Pinch the seams to seal.  Place on a greased baking sheet; brush with the egg.  Bake at 450 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes or until a golden brown color.  Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Meanwhile, make sauce.  Dissolve bouillon in hot water.  In a small saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour until smooth.  Gradually stir in bouillon and broth.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Serve over the chicken.
Enjoy!

Organic Baby Food

Child health experts try to develop constantly something new to help the parents to keep their child healthy. One thing you will find out every where now children are influencing by Fast Food Makers and Restaurants. So, it is the challenge for child health experts to provide solution to their parents for their toddler, make the food for child that should be tastier and healthier simultaneously. I think the one good example come on this type of food i.e. Kellogg's Chocos. It provides nutrition to child with chocolate taste.
Now the child health experts influence the parents to use organic baby food. It is good for baby and keeps them healthy. Babies have sensitive digestive system. Organic baby food keeps them healthy and especially reduces the risk of being exposed to harmful substances.
Are you interested to know the benefits of organic baby food?

1. Better quality
Do you know the main thing give confidence to parents and influence them i.e. there are cert ain regulations have to follow by farmers or companies who grown organic good. Regulatory ensure that food quality is better overall and the nutrients in the organic fruit and vegetables are provided in more natural way in comparison of other non organic produce.

Non organic food stuff generally have high salt or sugar content, this is cause of health issues in your baby from a young age.

2. Control

You can control easily and provided to feed your baby organic food. In many jars you will find that it is clearly labelled outside what kind of ingredients or content mix in it but in others non organic food there is not clearly mention.

By this you can assure that what you have been feeding to your baby is quality and health food.

3. Storage

It seems hard to purchase large number of raw vegetables and fruits then store them for long time. These are quick usable item unless it fetor quickly, so the solution comes in a face of organic baby food that's ensures the food will stay good for a long time. You can store your organic baby food by the number of ways, such as in jars on the shelf is easier way.

You should always try to give the food to your baby that is best for him and organic food provides quality as well best food for your baby. Now at this time you have organic solution to far away health problems from your baby. Provide him organic food as much as possible.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake: Perfect Desserts for Parties

During a birthday party how can you blow your candles without a cake? Blowing candles on cakes during birthday parties has been part of some of your traditions and a cake is a dessert that has been part of most culture.

It has been years now that cakes like coffee cakes are traditionally served on all special occasions and gatherings. Until now, it has been part of the way of life for some people. When you are planning to host a party, one of the very first concerns on your list is the cake. When we think of the possible choices for the cake, sour cream coffee cakes emerge as the best and most delicious option since they are a delicacy with many specialties.

What is wonderful about this type of coffee cakes is that they can be stored for months in your freezer. It is their sour cream ingredient that makes magic about their taste. They do not contain harmful ingredients. If you have specially ordered them from bakeries or cafes, they can give you the assurance that they has no preservatives or food coloring. The only thing is that coffee cakes are available in such a wide range that selecting and choosing from the best of them can be a tough one. There is a long list of coffee cakes which also includes apple cream coffee cake, walnut coffee cake and a lot more.

Try the traditional cinnamon walnut coffee cake. It is very yummy that it can create a unique and amazing image of sensible host. What makes it special is that it looks appetizing with its brown shade and with golden yellow traces. Eggs, bourbon vanilla that is pure, cinnamon, walnut and sour cream are what make up its ingredients. If you are planning a large and extravagant party, you always have it orders for a large size wherein everybody could get to taste this delicious coffee cake. This kind of coffee cake can be stored up to four months.

Cinnamon Streusel butter and Sour cream coffee cakes are other great options for any special gatherings and occasions. It is generally made with real butter, walnuts, cinnamon (high end), and brown sugar and of course sour cream. This sour cream coffee cake can be served for up to 16 people. It is a coffee cake you would want to have for your party. Cinnamon streusel butter and Sour Cream coffee cake is very free from any artificial flavoring, preservatives, trans fats and coloring that you would not want in your dish especially cakes. It needs to be chilled before slicing so that it won't crumble.

There are actually many choices for you to choose from. Serve any of them with an excellent cup of coffee. Any occasion would be worth it if you have prepared cakes for desserts. Guests and loved ones would surely keep coming back for your coffee cake.

Yummy Chocolate Cookie Recipe for Diabetics and Others

We diabetics love sweets, too, and thanks to some of the newer sugar substitutions and ways of combining ingredients, we are able to enjoy some very tasty sweets.  The recipe in this article is fine for diabetics and so tasty others will enjoy them, too.  These Chewy Chocolate Chunk and Cherry Cookies are okay for the diabetic's lunchbox, great for the young diabetic after school treat, a great homemade gift for diabetics, etc.  See the note at the end of the recipe for other options.  As with all foods, diabetics must control portions.  One or two of these cookies a day, is all you should consume.
CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHUNK AND CHERRY COOKIES
1/4 cup soft vegetable oil spread
2 tbsp + 2 tsp Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
1/3 cup Splenda Granular
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup egg substitute or 1 egg
2 tbsp cocoa baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
2 oz white baking chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup dried tart cherries, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixer bowl on medium to high-speed, beat the vegetable oil spread. Add the Splenda Brown Sugar Blend, Splenda Granular, baking soda and salt. Beat until the mixture is well mixed, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.
Beat in the egg, cocoa powder, and vanilla until combined. Beat in the flour. Using a wooden spoon or large plastic spoon, stir in the oats and flaxseed. Stir in 3/4 of the chopped dark chocolate and 2 tablespoons of the chopped white chocolate along with 1/3 cup of the chopped cherries.
Drop the mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls 2-inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Top with the remaining chocolates and cherries. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are set. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 1 minute. Remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
To store cookies, layer them between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container at room temperature. Will keep for 5 days or a month in the freezer.
Yield: About 28 cookies.
Per cookie: 84 cal, 4 g (2 g sat)fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 53 mg sodium, 14 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 1 g protein (If you use egg substitute, that lowers the calories to 70 and the carbs to 10 grams).
Note: For those who cannot have the dried cherries, substitute chopped peanuts.  You can also make these cookies even more diabetic friendly by using 1/3 cup all-purpose flour and 1/3 cup whole-wheat flour.
Enjoy!

Pasta Dies: Make Different Pasta Dishes at Home

Pasta dies have been a favorite item in almost every kitchen. It is merely because of its ease of preparing different shapes and sizes of pasta with no difficulty. With these custom-made dies, it has actually made the whole process of making pasta easier.

To prepare pasta at home, you simply have to prepare dough, mix ingredients in the dough and adjust its texture to produce consistent shape. Once it is ready, there is only one step left to get your noodles ready to cook which is to run the dough over pasta die carefully. The process of using it is very simple and is therefore liked by making cooks worldwide.

Such pasta dies are equipped to prepare any type of style, design, thinness and shape to give you the best experience in cooking pasta at home. You also have flexibility to create different shapes of animals, fishes, sports equipment and other items that are appealing for children.

Here under are few of its advantages which make it a sure-shot deal for everyone to own at least few types of pasta dies:

1.It occupies very little space in kitchen so it is easy to handle and manage even in a congested kitchen space.
2.Different types of pasta can be made with the same dough at the same time with no difficulty
3.You can increase nutritious value of pasta by adding the essential ingredients into dough
4.There is no technical knowledge required to use pasta die
5.Custom-made pasta die gives you flexibility to prepare cartoon-shaped pasta for your kids

You must be mesmerized after knowing its benefits for making home-made pasta. Are you looking for a reliable place to buy few dies for your use? If yes, then you don't have to worry about it as it is now easily available in machine shops. You can view their wide range of products and can make a decision that best suits your needs.

So,your little investment in such dies will be fruitful not only for today but also for many years to come.  You simply have to take care of regular maintenance that will ensure smooth functioning of these dies for a long time.

If you are tired of eating ready-made pasta outside or spending dollars on buying packed pasta then this investment will give you the freedom to prepare bowl of pasta at home in no time.

Five Easy Pasta Sauces

Pasta is quick, easy and feeds the masses at short notice. A novice cook can learn to cook pasta to perfection without any bother, and with the wide range of shapes (fusilli, penne, farfalle, orecchiette, etc.,) and colours, it's very easy to make a meal that's attractive. And fussy children are often delighted with the shaped pasta, such as wagon-wheels and shells.

But pasta by itself with no sauce is bland, to say the least. Alone and sauceless, pasta tastes like congealed wallpaper glue – in fact, as glue is often made from flour and water, this is almost exactly what it is. Naked pasta sticks together in a sodden soggy lump. Pasta needs sauce!

Here are five easy pasta sauces that are no-fail favourites:

1. Spaghetti alla Puttanseca: This one needs the name explained, but it's a bit naughty. Literally, this means "whore's spaghetti" and was developed in the days when ladies of easy virtue went out in public (they weren't streetwalkers) as little a possible. This meant that they couldn't buy fresh ingredients every day like a respectable Italian housewife or housekeeping London lady would, so they had to use store-cupboard ingredients most days and shop once a week. You need salt (which goes in the water to cook the pasta), olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, 3 anchovy fillets, a tin of tomatoes, a cup of pitted black olives (but I dare say green ones will do), 4 T of capers and parsley. Start making the sauce while the pasta is cooking by heating the olive oil in a frying pan. First, fry the garlic and anchovies, then add in the tin of tomatoes, the olives and the capers. Cook for five minutes. Then pour it over the drained pasta when it's cooked, and top with chopped parsley.

2. Devilled spaghetti. Use 6 cloves of garlic, 2 small hot chilli peppers (jalapeños), salt, olive oil, lots of Parmesan cheese and parsley. Blend the garlic and chillis, then boil the mixture in enough salted water to cook the pasta. Strain the solids out (although you could leave them in if you wanted) and cook the pasta in the garlic-and-chilli infused water. Strain, then add olive oil, Parmesan and chopped parsley.

3. Vesuvius spaghetti (or any other long pasta). You need olive oil, 2 tins of tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, salt, Parmesan cheese and 7 oz mozzarella. Heat the oil in a pan, then add the tomatoes, the oregano and the salt and boil for 20 mins. Cut the mozzarella into cubes. When the pasta and the sauce are cooked, drain the pasta then add the sauce to the pasta, plus the Parmesan and mozzarella. Stir together thoroughly and let the mozzarella melt slightly. Serve in a mound so it looks like an erupting volcano with molten mozzarella/lava streaming down the sides.

4. Spaghetti Bolognese – the real thing. Most people know a basic version of this involving mince and tinned tomatoes topped with grated cheese. The real thing has the following in the mince mixture (which should contain pork and beef mince plus sausage meat): onion, carrot, celery, bacon, white wine, tomato paste, stock and double cream. Begin by lightly browning the vegetables and the bacon(not the tomato paste) in olive oil, then adding the meat and wine and letting it cook thoroughly. Then the tomato paste and the stock go in, and the cream at the last minute. The cream is optional! To serve, put the sauce in the middle of a nest of pasta topped with grated Parmesan before being stirred in.

5. Tuna sauce. Quick and easy, and if eaten with a salad, makes a complete meal. Use a 200g tin of tuna, ½ a cup of walnuts, the grated rind of 1 lemon, 1 t Worcestershire sauce, 4 t chopped parsley, 4 basil leaves, salt, pepper and olive oil. Put everything except the oil, the salt and the pepper into a blender and process until smooth. Add the oil bit by bit to make a nice, smooth paste, then add the seasoning to taste. Stir thoroughly over the cooked pasta.

How To Make A healthy Smoothie

Smoothies are a delicious way to add fruit and vegetable to your diet every day whatever the time of day.  Lots of people miss out on this opportunity basically because they don't know how to make a smoothie, but it's actually very easy to create a healthy smoothie in under 10 minutes.  When deciding how to make a smoothie it's a good idea to keep in mind the fruit and vegetable flavors that might go well together such as strawberry and peach or apple and carrot. 

After picking a recipe you need to gather your supplies. This typically means, a blender or food processor,  fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits, ice and your liquid of choice.   A few of the most common liquids are water, fruit juice, milk, yogurt or ice cream.  You can also substitute coconut milk, soy, almond or rice milk to give your smoothie a creamy consistency.

Smoothie's provide added nutrition to your meals and fuel for your body.  They can be used as a meal replacement for someone trying to lose weight or a pre/post workout snack for someone looking to gain mass.  Smoothies are great for weight-loss because many recipes use high fiber vegetables and fruits which can fill you up without adding fat and calories. The good news about a diet smoothie is that you certainly will never feel deprived due to the  creamy texture and high fiber which will leave you feeling full.  One of our most popular light smoothie is Peach Cobbler .  

Finally, this is where many "how to create a smoothie articles" would end, however, if one is actually interested in adding nutrient content to their smoothie below is a number of add-ons which will allow an extra lift supplying you with energy full-time.

Some frequently used add-ons to a smoothie include:

Wheatgerm – It is a great supply of fiber, vitamin e antioxidant and folacin
Wheatgrass - Should help flow of blood, digestion and general detoxification of those body
Whey Protein Powder- is important for bodybuilding since it's easy for the body to digest very rapidly. This lets the protein turn into an option for muscle building very quickly. Most typically its used after workouts to assist in increasing quantities of amino acids available in the blood, that's then taken up by the muscles to ultimately increase mass.

For optimum effect drink your smoothie immediately and freeze any leftovers for a quick and delicious snack anytime of the day or night.  

Kitchen Tips

Mothers are always in charge in cooking and they tell their children their good stories about the past. One topic she surely never forgets to tell you is about facts for the kitchen. If you happen to be cooking, the mother will surely have great tips for you. We realized that those kitchen tips were always right. Listed below are few tips that worked from generation to generation that you may find helpful.

1. Spoon that's stainless steel - Have you noticed the garlic and onions which leaves a smelly hands when you use them as one of the ingredients? To get rid of this, simply make use of a stainless steel spoon by rasping your hands to it. Somehow the steel absorbs the smell.

2. Some use of potato - Other people don't know that potatoes are useful in the kitchen. Just by sinking a piece of peeled potato into an over-salted pot of soup, your problem is solved. Salt is absorbed by potato. Fresh peeled potato can also clean off fruit stains from your fingers just by rubbing them.

3. Restrain tomatoes and citrus fruits out from fridge - You should not put inside the fridge your tomatoes and other citrus fruits. Why? It is because the low temperature takes away the great aroma.

4. Water and Vinegar - Boiling a mixture of half water and half white vinegar in a kettle will take away calcium buildup.

5. White Bread - If you happen to burn a pot of rice, don't be sad. For 5-10 minutes, put a piece of white bread at the top of the rice. You'll be amazed, the burned flavor is gone.

6. Vegetable oil - Place a small amount of vegetable oil in your palms and rub it all over your hands before slicing chili peppers.

7. Function of vinegar for defrosting meat - In case you do not know, vinegar helps in bringing down the temperature of the meat to cause quicker thawing. Vinegar also helps to tenderized the meat. Use vinegar when defrost your meat by pouring a small amount.

8. Mustard - Getting burned in the kitchen is a misery. Broaden mustard on the burned area. Leave it there for a while. Mustard relieves the pain and avoids blisters.

9. Ice cube - In cooking, ice cube can helps to attract fat and scoop fat out from your cooking. Isn't it easy?

10. Charcoal - If your problem is how to get rid of fridge and freezer odors, activated charcoal works better than your baking soda.