Food

Wagyu Kobe Beef shipped to your door.

My wife and I decided it is time to stop the eating out at restaurants; yes we need to spend quality time at the dinner table, but what about when you want to impress a visiting relative, or when you want to welcome a new friend to the neighborhood.  How about some Wagyu Kobe Beef Steaks.

My wife and I found Rastelli Direct, and its great selection of meats shipped to your door.  Check out their site here; http://www.myrastellidirect.com/?ID=fivestarfood

I want to talk to you about the Rastelli Direct Wagyu Kobe Beef Steaks today.   In the restaurant world the name Rastelli means quality and this remains consistent with their Wagyu Beef line.  Kobe beef is considered the best high end beef in the world.  These products are highly marbled and loaded with a succulent flavor that will melt in your mouth.  Rastelli Kobe was voted “Best Kobe in New York City 2009”.  The Rastelli Kobe Beef are aged to perfection, perfectly trimmed flash frozen to lock in flavor, and individually vacuum sealed to preserve freshness.  The Rastelli Kobe Beef provides the ultimate home dining experience.

I suggest the Wagyu Kobe Sirloin Strip Steak.  Wagyu Kobe Beef delivers a high quality, uniquely flavored steak, and is considered “The Best Beef in the World”.  These highly marbled Wagyu steaks, with the meat’s natural white flecked appearance, produce the most succulent cuts of beef without the high levels of saturated fats and cholesterol often found in other breeds.

Mu wife loves the Wagyu Kobe Sirloin Steak Filet.  These naturally lean Kobe Beef sirloin steaks are bursting with flavor and unforgettably tender.  Now you too can enjoy this restaurant favorite in the comfort of your won home.

My kids love the Wagyu Kobe NY Strip Steak; they are extra juicy and tender, with that trademark unforgettable succulent taste.  This is the ultimate full flavored beef cut guaranteed to produce a perfect at home dining experience.

http://www.myrastellidirect.com/?ID=fivestarfood

Please be sure to try the Rastelli Black Angus Steaks beef as well.

copyright 2011 Joe Bagori

Proven Fish Oil Benefits

Many researchers have performed rigid trials to prove the benefits that humans can get from fish oils. Fish oil is extracted from the tissues of oily fish and it is essential to human health.

Below are the facts that will attest to the fish oil benefits.

Fish oil can take away pain and inflammation. How? Fish oil is mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which that helps in the reduction of inflammation throughout the body. With this mechanism of action, it can help prevent and lessen pains in conditions such as cystitis, arthritis and other forms of inflammations.

Also, it is proven that consumption of fish oil is good for the heart. It can really help in the regulation of cholesterol, tryglicerides, LDLs and blood pressure inside the human body. The regulation of cholesterol is because of the high amounts of Omega-3 in fish oil which also helps increase the good HDL cholesterol level.

One study found out that those pregnant and nursing mothers taking fish oil supplements can help improve in the brain development of babies. As for aged individuals omega 3 can keep the brain from functioning well. It can help the brain to stay focused and retained memory.

While other studies showed that omega 3 fish oil supplements can assuage the symptoms of certain disorders which include bipolar, depression and psychosis. It is also proven by the Psychiatry department researchers at the University of Sheffield. (Citations: Journal of Affective Disorder Vol. 48(2-3);149-55). Another research study attests that fish oils can improve the health of persons suffering from the condition of ADD and ADHD.

One more beneficiary of the healing capacity of fish oil supplements are the cancer patients. It showed significant actions against cancer cells such as prevention of healthy cell to become a cancerous mass, inhibits cellular growth and kills cancer cells.

Black Beans: Trace Mineral Powerhouses, that should be part of your diet

It’s a little known fact that, as well as being full of fiber and protein, black beans are also loaded with essential vitamins and minerals as well.  They are cheap, easy to cook (even easier to buy cooked in a tin), they store for ages, and are widely available – so it’s amazing that these little black gems aren’t a broader part of everybody’s diet.

How much molybdenum are you getting, for example?  I’ll bet you didn’t know that a single cup portion of black beans will more than meet your daily requirement for this essential trace mineral.  We don’t need a lot of molybdenum, but we definitely need it – it helps with detoxification and supports the liver to function effectively.  It specifically helps to remove sulphites from the body, these are chemicals commonly used in preserving food – so if your diet regularly includes processed and ready-made meals, then chances are you eat a lot of sulphites – make sure you eat enough molybdenum as well!  Making black beans a regular part of your diet is an easy and tasty way to do this.

Folic acid – vitamin B9 – you probably have heard of, especially if you are female.  This vital vitamin helps to prevent neural tube defect development in unborn children, and as such it is recommended that any woman of childbearing age ensures they get enough folate daily.  But folate also helps lower homocysteine levels, which reduces the risk of vascular disease, heart attack and stroke – so everyone, at every age, needs to make sure they get enough.  Of course you can take a supplement, but it’s much better to get all your nutrition from whole sources wherever possible – and that cup serving of black beans will give you 20% of your recommended daily intake to get you started. And if you are pregnant, or at any risk of anemia, it will also supply 20% of your iron requirement in the same serving.

The black bean mineral miracles don’t stop there – magnesium is vital for cell and bone health, as it regulates the absorption and excretion of calcium, the main constituent of our bones.  A lot of typical refined modern diets are deficient in magnesium, and you cannot benefit from the calcium you consume without it.  Calcium is easily stored, but magnesium is not – you need trace amounts only, but you need them regularly.  That cup of beans will give you 30% of your daily requirement.

So why aren’t you eating more beans?  If you are not sure what to do with them or are not sure you like them, try this delicious recipe for black bean salsa, which includes variations creating a range of different flavors – beans are quite neutral and smooth and as such pair well with a broad variety of different more intense ingredients.  If you learn to love your beans, your heart, bones, blood and indeed every cell in your body, will love you right back for it!.

Birthday Hampers with Chocolates

A birthday can be a tough occasion to buy a gift for. Finding out what they actually want or need may be daunting and where is the fun in having them tell you exactly what to get them. In today’s society most people just resort to the famous “gift card” idea. While that is nice and practically, it also doesn’t show much thought or care. Some nice ideas are Birthday Hampers with chocolates. Who doesn’t like chocolate right? Here are a few ideas for chocolate birthday hampers.

• Australian birthday hamper- This is a delicious idea for any chocolate lover. It is a hamper that includes Australian and International chocolates of all types. It will contain popular brands like Lindt, Patons and Ballantynes as well as gourmet brands like Anvers Confectionary, Kennedy and Wilson and Alice Langton.

• Rocky Chocolate Mountain- This is one you want to personalize. The Rocky Chocolate Mountain is stacked chocolate boxes that include chocolate covered cashews, dark chocolate pretzels, English toffee, chocolate and caramel chocolate bears as well as cookies and almonds. Personalize this into a nice themed birthday hamper for a great gift. Ideally you can also give the champagne and chocolate hampers too .

• Birthday Surprise- A memorable birthday gift that they can really use. This hamper comes with chocolates, chocolate mints, goody bags, party favors, yogurt-dipped pretzels, pistachios, party hats and even a disposable camera to take pictures of the party and guests.

• Goody Chest- An ideal birthday gift, this hamper comes with chocolate brownies, Lindt cream truffles, double chocolate truffles, chocolate wafers, vanilla caramels, white chocolate and is elegantly packaged.

• Heart Gift Hamper- This includes chocolates made of dark, white and milk chocolate. The cool part is that they come in their own heart-shaped box that is also made of chocolate, all presented in a stylish hamper.

Interested in Chocolate Fountains?

Nothing says you care like a beautifully presented and “sweet” Birthday gift hamper.

Using Green Tea as a Weight Loss Tool

Obesity is really a significant health problem that raises the chance of us suffering numerous health conditions, such as cancers, heart disease and diabetes mellitus. Maryland Medical Center University states that sixty % of North americans are overweight, and goes on to add that getting more exercise and decreasing calorie consumption is simply the only established ways to shed extra pounds. Regardless of this, people frequently try supplements and herbal products to assist them in their weight loss efforts. A number of studies show that green tea and weight loss may genuinely work, but remember to always check with your physician prior to using green tea for your weight loss program.

Green tea is a common beverage, especially in Asia, produced from the leaves of the tea-plant – also known as the Camellia sinensis shrub. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center explains that green tea includes a variety of natural compounds that could play a vital role in treating numerous health conditions such as cancers, high blood pressure, cognitive function disorders as well as being a weight loss aid. Maryland Medical Center University states that green tea and weight loss works by increasing the metabolism and helping to burn off fat. Even though green tea is normally consumed as a drink, green tea can be taken as a tablet or capsule known as green tea extract. The amount of green tea or its extract that we need to consume will vary depending on age, overall health and other medications that we may be taking. Your physician or nutritionist might be able to give you advice for the appropriate dosage.

Research undertaken by H.C. Reinbach, released in the Summer 2009 edition of “Clinical Nutrition” discovered that green tea also aids weight loss efforts simply by curbing food cravings. An examination of clinical records by O.J.Phung and co-workers released in the January 2010 publication of the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” also discovered that green tea antioxidants were linked to statistically substantial reductions in BMI, waist circumference and body weight.

Clear Cupcake Boxes: Keeping Desserts Fresh

For those who love to bake desserts, there are clear cupcake boxes. They can hold as few as two and as many as a dozen or more cupcakes. They make wonderful containers for presentation and look quite colorful with all the different colors of frostings or toppings. Cupcake boxes are primarily used by stores and bakeries, but many home makers can use them when having company or preparing to transport them to any location.

They can be used for special occasions such as food parties. They can even be used as a side decoration next to a large wedding cake. Clear cupcake boxes offer the ability to keep those sweet pastries from becoming stale and also to keep unwanted pest’s like flies, gnats and ants at bay.

They can make a colorful display at any kind of function that serves baked goods. They make even the largest bake sales look colorful. These boxes make it easy to travel without having to worry about desserts spilling onto car seats. They are easy to carry as they can be stacked on one another for ease of transporting from the car to wherever the occasion is located.

Imagine having your prized large cupcake ensconced in a crystal clear container for judges to view at a bake off. They can even be lent out to friends and family members so as to not cause a messy drive. These handy cupcake boxes can be used to hold any kind of dessert such as slices of cakes or torts. There really is no end as to what can be stored inside them.

Clear cupcake boxes are inexpensive and start out under a dollar. A container that holds four cupcakes will usually cost around eighty five cents. That is an inexpensive price to pay to keep desserts fresh for many hours or even days.

Be the Star of your Neighborhood

If your teenagers are never home because they’re always hanging with friends, bring them back home by setting up shop as the best juice maker in the neighborhood. Gather yourself a decent supply of fresh apples, oranges, grapes and other fruits and search out some good juice recipes on the Internet. You may even be able to come up with a combination that includes a serving of the vegetables that are so often neglected by teenagers.

Not all juicers are the same, so be sure to do your homework in order to choose the best juicer for the volume you will need to satisfy thirsty teens. Also take into consideration which is the best juicer in terms of clean up and cost efficiency. If your kitchen is easily accessible to teens on the go, it makes sense to setup there. If you’d prefer to avoid lots of traffic through the house, you could also setup in the garage. Apart from your juice maker, be sure to have lots of ice on hand as well as a supply of plastic cups, napkins and of course cookies or some other treat. If you are really ambitious you could even enlist the help of your teenagers and their friends by turning the juice making endeavor into a community project.

Let the teenagers make and sell the juice to their friends and the rest of the neighborhood. This type of project will not only give them something to be involved in after school and on weekends but will also teach other skills like math, customer service, and business. If the endeavor becomes a community project, be sure to talk to your teens about the importance of considering overhead costs when estimating profit. Help them to search out books on best entrepreneur practices. Suggest they look into a business bank account and enlist a neighbor who has accounting skills to teach about bookkeeping basics. All of these tips will help you and your kids become star juice makers in the neighborhood.

From Bad Food to Healthy Eating

There was a time when I considered myself the unhealthiest eater in the world.  It was actually a label that I displayed proudly to my friends as I bragged that I could eat anything without gaining weight.  I consumed pizza and burgers with little abandon and going out to restaurants was a usual occurrence for me.  I loved to eat anything that I could get my hands on it and it wasn’t unusual to find me snacking on some sort of junk food at all hours during the day.  I was recently informed that I had to adopt a low cholesterol diet and healthier eating plan, and at first I fell into an immediate depression.  It seemed like my doctor was basically saying that I was getting old and it was hard not to feel like it was a death sentence.  But in the overall scheme of things, I realized that I could not maintain my bad eating habits forever so I embarked on changing my routine.  It was extremely difficult at first because my habits had developed over such a long period of time, but I have also discovered several tricks to help me along.

The first thing I did was to maintain a healthy eating journal so that I had a resource that I could refer to.  I put all sorts of information in my journal including various tidbits on foods high in cholesterol in addition to healthy alternatives.  I also use my journal as an emotional sounding board so that I can record all of my thoughts along the process.  I have found it extremely helpful to be able to express myself, and I couldn’t do it if it weren’t for my friends.  I think it’s important to have a good support system to help you along if you are trying to change your eating habits because the process can be quite difficult.  Most importantly, I have done a lot of research on food and nutrition and my because finding is that I don’t have to sacrifice everything in order to eat healthy.  If I make smart choices and cook for myself there are plenty of ways to maintain my love of food while being healthy at the same time.

Recipe For A Vegan Tiramisu

People on a vegan diet have the right to have a slice of tiramisu as well. This vegan version of the delicious Italian dessert is different from the original tiramisu recipe, but even the fussiest person about Italian food will hardly notice the difference.

As you may already know, the main principle of veganism is to avoid anything that has an animal origin. This is why in this recipe we will avoid mascarpone cheese and eggs, and we will use soy cream milk instead of dairy. Also, you will need to get hold of vegan biscuits to use instead of savoiardi, whose main ingredient is eggs.

Ingredients for six people.

4 cups of coffee
300ml (10 fl oz) whipping soy cream
100gr (3.5 oz) sugar
1 tbsp corn flour
500gr (1.1 oz) tofu
1 tsp soy milk
1 tsp lemon zest
400gr (0.8 lb) vegan biscuits
Cocoa powder
A handful of chocolate flakes

Prepare the coffee, pour it in a large bottomed bowl and let it cool until it’s lukewarm. Mix the sugar with the corn flour and add a couple of tablespoons of water at room temperature. Stir until the ingredients come together. Mix tofu, lemon juice and a tablespoon soy milk until you get a lump-free mix. Add this mix to the corn flour. Whip the soy cream and add it to the tofu. Dip the biscuits in the coffee, making sure the are not too soft or they will break. Cover the bottom of a rectangular casserole with a thin layer of cream, then a layer of biscuits. Dust with cocoa powder and chocolate flakes then start again. Continue with a second a third layer until you reach the top of the casserole. Finish with cream. Put the cake in the fridge for 5 hours, then dust with cocoa powder and serve cold.

Visit my website for more delicious tiramisu recipes.

The Top 5 Best Protein Bars in The Market

Protein bars are a great source of energy for people on the go. However, some protein bars are not good for people, because they have lots of sugar. Here are 5 of the best protein bars that are delicious and help people get energy between meals.

Detour Bars

It has a protein content of 30 grams. It is best when eaten between meals and after working out. The bar has 300 calories. It is recommended for people who are trying to increase their weight and their body mas. This is not that good for people who are trying to lose weight.

Oh Yeah Bars

This bars are tasty. They have whole nuts, caramel and white chocolate. People can choose from the small bar or the big one. The big bar has 380 calories.

Diet Bars-Optimum Nutritional

This is a protein bar low in carbohydrates. The bars are sugar free and their calorie count is 200. They are not that tasty since they are not rich in sugar, but this are ideal for people who are working hard to lose weight.  This bars do not cost a lot of money.

Promax

These bars are tasty and they do not cost a lot of money. You can choose from cookies and cream, chocolate chip cooking amongst other flavors. The wide variety in flavor adds sugar to the bars. So people who are in a low sugar diet should stay away from this.

Cliff Bars

This is what is called a mixed bar. It has a lot of protein. However, this has a huge variety of other minerals that most other protein bars do not have. A good thing for people is that the bars contain fruit.

There are many different kinds of bars available. People need to pick the bar that will help them achieve their nutritional goals. Some bars help people lose weight some help them gain weight.