Lisa Paterson
When there is a special occasion that needs to be celebrated, one of the purchases that usually go in the list would be a cake. Cakes can be had in all different shapes and sizes, flavors and designs. You can be almost hundred percent sure that you will see a cake as a centerpiece when you walk into a party.
But isn
Sandy Lee
Christmas time is all about gathering with the ones you love and celebration. During the festivities, plenty of drink will flow, but which ones should you be serving this Christmas? The top ten drinks for Christmas list should include:
Mulled Wine
A long held tradition, especially on cold evenings, a glass of mulled wine is a wonderful way to greet guests after a trudge through the winter weather. Mulled wine can be bought ready-mixed such as the ever-popular Gl
Susan DeAngelis
That’s Life: Advice by Susan DeAngelis at www.thatslifeadvice.com
Jay from Maryland asks,
Bill Brennan
Most of us cannot afford to have personal chefs who do nothing else but plan and prepare our meals. Most of the time, we have to think of meals in addition to the million and one other things we have to do each day. And if you are a mom, you probably need to take all that and multiply it by three.
No Need To Do It Alone
Sometimes it can be tempting to just call the nearest pizza place and order in. While this is good for a movie night once a month, it is unhealthy to let this become a habit. If you are a working mom, turn meal planning into something interactive and fun. This way, you are actually hitting two birds with one stone. You get help with the menu and you do away with the frustration of scrunched up faces when you serve something your family doesn
Bill Brennan
Today
Mary Rose Antonio
On the surface, the differences between black tea vs green tea may seem numerous - and indeed they are! However, there are countless similarities between the two as well.
Let’s learn a bit about what these similarities and differences are and just how they can help start you on the path to a healthier, more energetic lifestyle.
Both black tea and green tea come from the leaves of the same plant, Camellia sinensis. However, it is the way the leaves are processed that determines the outcome of the final product.
Green tea is very high in antioxidants and out of the two, it’s processed the least. Unlike its darker, more full-flavored cousin, it isn’t allowed to ferment or oxidize at all.
This part of the process ensures the final product still retains most of its beneficial antioxidants and polyphenols.
The phytochemicals present in tea leaves are highly sensitive to the oxidation process.
During oxidation, the leaves are exposed to air which allows “fermentation” or oxidation to take place. This increases caffeine levels as well tannins, whilst lessening some of its other phytochemical components such as catechins - the antioxidant powerhouses responsible for green tea fame
Fret not, even though black tea is fully fermented, all of its free-radical scavenging antioxidants are not lost. It still has a variety of health benefits associated with its consumption as well and studies have shown the theaflavins found in a fermented leaf may be just as powerful an antioxidant as those inherent in unfermented leaves.
The catechins found in fermented leaves are simply converted into theaflavins during the oxidation process. This means that black tea, although offering different beneficial properties than green tea, still delivers a wealth of healthful properties.
Aside from processing, these two possess two different flavor profiles and brewing methods.
Due to its minimal handling, green tea has more of well, green flavor. It has been described as having a flavor profile ranging from a grassy and herbaceous taste to light and slightly sweet. Indeed, green tea came from different countries, hence, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, India, and Vietnamese.
Be aware that green tea from different parts of Asia varies as far as the quality, taste, and benefits are concerned. It is because of the soil, climate, and processing that makes the huge difference.
The flavor of a fully fermented black tea is cherished the world over. In fact, outside of Asia, this beverage is enjoyed second only to the consumption of water!
It is full-bodied, yet also described as sweet or even nutty.
Its robust taste, rich, dark color and moderate caffeine content makes it the perfect choice for coffee drinkers seeking a healthier alternative to their morning cup of coffee.
As an added bonus, the caffeine found in the fully fermented leaves not only gives your body a much needed midday energy boost, but you won’t endure that jittery coffee feeling afterward.
So now you see, whether you’re in the green corner or the black corner, there is no loser in the Black Tea vs. Green Tea battle!
Rose is a tea enthusiast and a health advocate. Find out more about green tea and black tea. Visit her online store at www.theteaavenue.com where you can find organic tea and fine tea accessories. She also would like to share with everyone her passion and knowledge on tea and its effects on your overall well-being.
Nicholas Muyonjo
Bringing tapas back to their “purest state”
Sure, Madrid
Lawrence J. Reaves
Winter is an important time for micro- and craft-brewers. The colder months mean that the heavier beers sell better, and beer aficionados love their holiday-themed beverages. The heavy ales and porters
Kate Turing
If you are planning on starting your own catering business, here are some catering tips and tricks for you. Catering may be a tedious business but it sure is a profitable one. Follow these steps and have the best of luck in your endeavor!
1. Decide what kind of catering would you like your business to focus on. If you’re just starting in the business, you might want to try to cater small events first before engaging in a big event that may overwhelmed you and your staff. You don’t need to hurry with these things because several successes on small event are worth remembering than one flop catering service at a big event. You need to decide if you want to try home based catering first or school catering or corporate catering or small events catering first. Once you’ve gained experience and the much needed accomplishments, you can start courting clients for big occasions.
2. More than anything else, you need to make sure that the place where you prepare and cook the food is impeccably clean - this is actually one of the most important catering tips you can live by. It doesn’t matter if your starting business doesn’t have the flare as the old caterers have YET. What matter’s is that you’re serving your clients and guests the best food that you can offer and under the cleanest conditions. They may not be able to verify, see and inspect you place but the health and sanitation committee in your State will do, so make it a point to have a clean environment when cooking.
3. Aside from the supplies and food ingredients, clients and guests, you also need to have all the necessary permits, certifications and authentications to legalize your business. This is one of the most important tasks that you need to do even before having your first client. When you have legal papers, a large chunk of worry is lifted off your shoulder, for sure. You can stop by your local town hall and state offices to find out what sort of certifications and inspections you might need. If you are preparing food in your home, expect to make some changes to comply with all the regulations.
4. Finally, you need to be flexible and accommodating to your customers as it
Sarah Martin
Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for Pinot Gris wine. This wine is made from grapes that range in color from bluish gray to pinkish gray which is where they get their name. In fact, clusters of grapes on the same vine can be of different colors.
The grapes have varying levels of sweetness, which tends to dissipate as the grapes ripen. There are different names for the grapes and thus the wine made from them depending on the country in which they are grown. In Burgundy they are known as Pinot Beurot, In Germany, they are called Rulander, not to be confused with Riesling (http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/Riesling/).
The main area for production of Pinot Grigio is the Fruili region of Italy. There are also sizeable vineyards in Alsace, France and Oregon in the US. In Alsace, this grape is known as the Tokay d