My Food and Drink Blog

Archive for February, 2010

If you are after the freshest, most flavorful cup of coffee in the morning – you NEED a clean coffee maker. A build up of oils from your coffee beans and hard minerals from your water – yes, even filtered water – will dramatically effect the taste of your coffee, and the life of your coffee machine.

Having a clean coffee machine IS VITAL – in not only having the best tasting coffee you can, but also in adding to the life-span of your coffee maker. It doesn’t need to be a big deal to clean your machine, but if you let it go too long, it will definitely reduce the life of your beloved coffee machine.

How to clean out your coffee brewer:

1. Throw out any old coffee grinds from your filter and rinse everything with boiling water.

2. Make your vinegar cleaning mix (2/3 hot water and 1/3 vinegar). Fill your coffee decanter and coffee machine’s water reservoir and let stand for at least 10 minutes.

3. Put your machine through a full cycle. Don’t forget to empty out your decanter first of course.

5. When the cycle has finished, let the machine sit for another 15 minutes or so.

6. If you haven’t cleaned your machine in a while, you might want to repeat steps 2-5 a second time.

7. Now give everything a good rinse with fresh hot boiling water. Run one or two cycles through your coffee brewer to get rid of the vinegar taste.

8. And there you have it… You now have a clean coffee maker!

Cleaning out the inside of your coffee maker is very important, and not really that difficult. If you are in the habit of using your coffee machine everyday, you really should be cleaning out your machine every month or so. And even if you don’t use your brewer everyday, things should be cleaned out thoroughly every few months or so. So you don’t forget, write yourself a reminder on your calendar or phone so you don’t forget… Happy drinking!

Billy’s site is a guide to coffee machines including where to find the best coffee makers. Find independent reviews and ratings of coffee machines and more information on cleaning coffee makers.

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Fat on the stomach is reckoned to be harder to get rid of than any other; and it’s the fat we want rid of most. There are ways to burn this fat off however, if you have the motivation.

We all know that it’s what we eat that determines our body shape, so this is the first thing to change. You can’t have all those fattening treats and have that flat, sexy stomach that you are yearning for. So remember: fat treats equals fat stomach.

You should stop eating as soon as you start to feel full. Eating slower is the key here. If you wolf down your food, your brain doesn’t receive the signals to stop so you carry on, and inevitably end up with a nasty case of indigestion or heartburn as you are simply too full.

You don’t need me to tell you that sugary, sweet snacks are a no go area. All these do is add to the fat your body is already storing; high in calories and fat, your body won’t be able to burn these off successfully.

There are a great variety of low fat treats, which will satisfy your sweet tooth without the calories. If you feel that you must have a rich pudding, have it only when necessary, like at a party or such like.

Another think you should cut down on, or cut out completely, are diet drinks such as soda. These will not help you lose weight and drinking a lot of cans of the stuff can be very bad for you.

The mistake many people make with diet sodas is that they think hey can drink much more than they normally would thanks to it being low calorie. Ok, 5 calories isn’t a lot, but if you drink several cans a day it quickly adds up.

Yeah yeah, we all know that exercising can be incredibly boring, well sorry but if you want rid of that stomach fat it’s a must! A work out at either the gym or in the comfort of your own home will both reap results.

Small but significant changes can bring exercise into your life where there wasn’t any before. Walk instead of driving, take the stairs instead of the elevator, combine these with some stretching and you will soon feel the benefits.

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categories: stomach fat,fitness,exercise,nutrition,weight loss,health,muscle building,recreation,sports,women,self improvement,advice,education,food

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Christopher Columbus, one of most famous explorers, fell in love with the Dominican Republic at first sight. He described it as paradise, a very apt description of an island of beauty and wonder.

This small island is steeped in history and is very cultural. One of the most popular places for vacations; he Dominical Republic has much to offer the tourists with many luxurious resorts dotted around the island.

There is much to appeal to the visitor, not least its quality golf courses. Guided tours through the dense forests are always exciting, as is finding a real bargain in the numerous shops. A trip to a local distillery or to see cigars made will also make for a fascinating day out.

Punta Cana, in the East of the Dominican Republic, has evolved into a luxury resort. It can now proudly boast to be one of the top tourist attractions in the world.

The vast expanses of golden sands and luxurious yet affordable hotels are just two of the many things that make Punta Cana so appealing. You are literally spoilt for choice here if you like to go all inclusive on your vacations.

Surfing and wind surfing are incredibly popular pastimes, and if this is what you want from your trip to the Dominican Republic, head for the golden sands of the Playa Dorada, in the beautiful Northern resort of Puerto Plata.

If you enjoy museums full of local history, the south Eastern resort of La Romana is for you. It doesn’t have as many resorts offering all excusive as the first two I mentioned, but is still worth a look. A trip over to Catalina Island is also a great day out.

The oldest American city, which also houses the oldest Cathedral, is Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic’s chief city. All inclusive is the way to go here, with a great choice of resorts.

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categories: caribbean,beach,tourism,destinations,travel,leisure,recreation,hobbies,advice,education,food,family,outdoors,free

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In the dark days of winter, we pile on layers of extra clothes and turn up the fire in an attempt to banish the cold. We are warm on the outside, but why should our insides do without? They deserve to be warmed up too!

Top of the pile is everyone’s favorite winter warmer: hot chocolate. There are so many ways to enjoy this drink, so why not try some these variations. Some you will have tried, others may appeal to you and make you want to try them.

Two obvious ones are cream or marshmallows; these basically act as sweeteners and don’t add much to the taste.

Why not add mint to your hot chocolate? This can be done easily with peppermint or even a candy cane to give different strengths of minty taste. If you are a fan of peppermint bark, imagine it warmed up in a cup, sounds good doesn’t it?

Real hot chocolate doesn’t come out of a jar or a packet, it is hot milk and pure chocolate mixed together to produce a creamy richness that no amount of powder can give. Heat the milk then pour it over the chocolate and stir, that’s all there is to it; simple to make, and simply amazing.

If you fancy something a bit different as your hot winter drink, why not try something fruity? An apple drink such as Cider is both warming and delicious; add a few spices for extra warmth.

Hot Cider could just be the drink that you’re looking for. Add some spices to give it a kick, or sweeten it up by adding something like Caramel.

If you are a fan of Hazelnut coffee, why not throw some chocolate into the mix by adding Nutella to your coffee? This drink then ends up almost like a dessert, and you will be pleasantly surprised by how well the 3 flavors combine.

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categories: drinks,winter,food,cooking,recipes,nutrition,gourmet,desserts,hobbies,family,advice,education,fun,teens

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The foods that are found in nature impart the crucially important nutrients that our bodies crave. Plant-based and whole foods give our bodies the outstanding nourishment that our bodies require to support the functions of living.

It is suggested that we consume at least 5 fruits and vegetables every calendar day. Some nutritionists suggest as many as 10 per day. The benefit of most fruits and vegetables is that they are rich with fiber and nutrients yet they are packed in a low calorie concentration.

Including a diversity of wholesome fruits and vegetables to your day by day food intake also provides an selection of imperative antioxidants and phytonutrients. Phytonutrients (the word “phyto” is Greek for plant) are nutrients found in plant matter that are non-vitamin, non-mineral, and non-caloric components of plants that supply considerable benefits for your fitness.

It may be rather shocking but most of the folks who are overweight are malnourished. Our bodies generate undue weight in answer to nutrient-poor foodstuff. Many cravings are truly our body’s way of telling us that it needs good nutrients.

By including nutrient rich foods in your daily pattern of eating, you can defeat any nutritional deficiencies. What is even more fascinating is that you may also be able to trigger your own body’s mechanisms for burning fat and calories. Nature will automatically kick in and the nutrition from natural whole foods will merge with your body’s own natural wisdom and intelligence and the undue fat will come off.

You will also be strengthening your immune system and you will be able to halt the normal declines that come with aging and check illness. Many of the maximum nutrition foods work together in concert to help all of the systems of your body such as the heart and circulatory systems, the immune system and your brain.

Getting a range of colorful foods, such as green broccoli and spinach, orange carrots and pumpkin, assorted beans and legumes and nuts and seeds in temperance will benefit your health. Almost every form of berry is also very beneficial with the acai berry from Brazil leading the way with one of the utmost antioxidant capacities of any food found on the earth.

The acai berry too comprises essential fatty acids and 19 amino acids along with a healthy quantity of fiber. The supplement of stellar nourishment from superfoods including the acai berry can help you return to your naturally beneficial weight.

Acai berries provide critical nutrients our bodies need to lose weight. For more information about http://acaiwow.com stop by my blog at http://acaiwow.com

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Do you want to lose that loose arm fat? Are you cutting out dietary fat? If so, you better increase that fat intake ASAP. You need to eat fat to burn fat. Crazy, but it’s the truth.

Dietary fat plays too much of an important role in the female body for it to be excluded from any effective arm toning nutrition plan, it’s that important.

So without further ado, here are 6 common dietary fat falsehoods:

1. Downing a bunch of fish oil pills is healthy. Do this and you run the risk of messing up your blood lipid profiles. Excessive fish oil consumption can lead to atherosclerosis.

2. Small amounts of trans fat are fine. Major mistake because of basic physiology. Trans fat will mess up your metabolism like nothing else. And Harvard researchers have clearly demonstrated that NO amount of trans fat is healthy.

3. Plant saturated fat is just as bad as animal saturated fat. There is a huge difference between the two. And plant saturated fat is very healthy for you. Coconut, for instance, does wonders for the female body.

4. Omega-3 fats can be kept out in the open. Keep your omega-3 fats (i.e., walnuts and flax seeds) in the refrigerator. If you don’t, they can go rancid very quickly.

5. Omega-enhanced chicken eggs can be very good for you. The omega-3 in the egg does not buffer the negative effect of the saturated fat in the egg. As long as eggs have saturated fat in them they will not be healthy.

6. The less fat the better. Actually, the more fat the better because as your intake of dietary fat increases so will your levels of loose arm-fat-burning hormones. Eat fat to burn fat at a maximum rate!

Avoid the above misconceptions to optimize your fat intake. And remember that dietary fat is your best friend for losing loose arm fat. So the next time somebody tells you to cut out fat from your diet, ignore them! Only then will you be able to get sexy and lean arms.

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Have you heard about Xtend Life Cholest-Natural? You will find that there is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of cholesterol lowering pharmaceutical products on the market. You will want to consult with your doctor before starting any type of therapy of course for your condition.

But if you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol you might want to try a natural supplement like Xtend Life Cholest-Natural before going on any prescription medication. There are many side effects to prescription medication but you might have to take them anyway due to your health. This again is between you and your doctor.

He might explain that your health situation is based on your heredity and your diet. You may be prone to high levels of cholesterol due to your genes but this is not a sentence imposed upon you. You can take control of your health situation one way by controlling what you eat.

Cut out the excess fat in your diet. You also need to exercise regularly. But you can also take a natural product like Xtend Life Cholest-Natural. This product claims to actually reduce cholesterol production of your body.

Just think if you can get your body to produce less cholesterol then you are on the way to reducing it in your system. It is also supposed to lower the blood fats in your blood stream. Xtend Life Cholest-Natural also claims it will dissolve cholesterol particles that are already in your blood system.

It seems that if one can use this product and if it does what is says then you will not have plaque build up in your system that causes a blockage. Take a good look at Xtend Life Cholest-Natural and talk it over with your doctor.

Looking to find the best way to lower cholesterol levels naturally, then visit http://www.naturalcholesterolsupplements.com to find the best natural cholesterol supplement for you.

categories: supplements,health,alternative medicine,cholesterol,hypertension,heart health,women,men,society,family,wellness,fitness,sports,heart disease

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Wouldn’t it be easier if someone could just beam us to our intended location whenever traveling? After all, there’s so much to worry about and so much to do whenever we’re flying by air.

There are so many little components associated with traveling to the point where we often forget about some of the things that would make our experiences much easier. After all, a simple nuisance can easily ruin a day.

No matter how we try to remedy the situation, there are certain things that we may find to be time consuming and tedious no matter what. On the other hand, a few extra measures taken in advance can make everything far less painful and even pleasant at times.

I’m going to share two ideas that I believe you’ll benefit from as long as you make a few preparations in advance. The goal is to limit the number of headaches associated with air travel, and these two measures will help.

One of the biggest headaches with many people comes with checking luggage. I’m the kind of traveler who always likes to travel with my bags, and I benefit greatly from this. Sure, you might need to pack a smaller bag, but you’ll save a lot of time in the process.

Not only do you need to worry about spending extra time after your flight while waiting for your bags, but I have plenty of friends who have had their bags lost or misplaced by the airline. This can all be avoided if you bring a smaller bag with you onto the plane.

If you haven’t flown in a while, you may be surprised to learn that very few flights actually come with free meals anymore. You’ll likely have to pay for what you get, and the food won’t be too great to begin with. I would recommend bringing some snacks with you onto your flight.

Whether you’re getting a few things inside the airport or bringing them with you from your house before you arrive at the airport, it’s key to have a few things to satisfy any hunger cravings while you’re flying. You never know how long you might be stuck on a plane for with delays and all, so some smart planning can help to make the best of this situation in the event that you’re hungry.

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categories: airplanes,airports,travel,leisure,tourism,advice,education,food,drink,health,stress,money,free,time management

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Some of the nutritional supplements being marketed on the Internet are scams. There are supplements for everything from weight loss to anti-aging to acne and the prevention of illness. Yet, when the reality is established many of these supplements are utterly of no use.

Dietary supplements have been around for a long time. People love the thought of just being able to apply a supplement and treat whatever dilemma they may have. However, there are always a multitude of elements that contribute to any of our problems and it is exceedingly uncertain that any solitary supplement can work out a quandary.

The acai berry has a brief but intriguing history as a dietary supplement. It has been marketed for everything from weight loss to disease prevention and anti-aging. However, there have never been any real studies about the acai berry and how helpful it can be for any of these ailments.

The advantage of the acai berry and its associated supplements is that it is a naturally occurring fruit that is located on the acai palm tree in the Brazilian rainforest. Just like a blueberry, a cranberry, a raspberry and other better-known berries, the acai berry has intrinsic nutrition that makes it healthy and beneficial.

The acai berry is essentially one of the most nutritious fruits ever located on the planet. When compared to other foods, the acai berry has the highest antioxidant facility of any food and only a few spices and brans exceed it. It is weighed down with vitamins, minerals, fiber and wholesome fats and all of these essential nutritional elements can be an advantage for fat loss, anti-aging, disease prevention and more.

Nevertheless, at this point in time it is not possible to partake of fresh acai berries outside of Brazil. These berries are remarkably perishable because of their elevated fat content and they must be processed within 24 hours of being removed from the trees in order to uphold the vital nutrition. Many different processing methods are used on acai berries but some methods are superior to others when it comes to maintaining the essential nutrition.

At this point the most valuable technique to process acai berries is through a freeze-drying process. There are other methods being used, but they are substandard to freeze-drying when it comes to maintaining the significant nutrition. If the acai berry product has been processed in any other manner, much of the most important nutrients have been lost.

Other important things to look for in an acai berry product are the amount of actual acai berries contained in the products. Many products out there claim to be acai berry but in truth contain a higher dilution of further factors such as grape or pear juice than definite acai berry. Some products also contain a “proprietary blend” which actually makes it impossible to know just how much acai berry is in the product.

So while acai berry supplements can be extremely useful because of their natural occurring nutrition, you will not receive the full benefits unless you choose a quality product that contains mostly acai berries that have been freeze-dried. Study the label or the website thoroughly before making a determination in order to make sure that you are getting the highest possible advantages.

Acai berries give critical nutrients our bodies need to lose fat. For more information about acai research stop by my blog at AcaiWow.com

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When the kitchen floor is flooded, plumbing has gone bust, and the home insurance man comes around, if you have put any of the following down there then he will probably refuse to pay out on the basis that it was your fault.

Paper – The inside machinery gets clogged up as soon as the paper gets wet.

Plastic – This is simply too tough to process.

Bones – Even small ones a problem because they get wedged in the disposal tube.

Eggshells – Bad, they only clog your disposal system.

Grease – The same way it will clog your kitchen sink drain, it will clog your disposal system.

Stringy Vegetables – These do not do well in the garbage disposal because they become balls that clog the entire system up.

Coffee Grounds – A basket full of grounds from your coffee maker? You are looking for trouble.

Rice & Noodles – The high starch content causes a bad reaction with the other items put in with them.

You must be wondering – so what can I put in there? Anything that is easily chopped up and blended is fine. Apply some common sense and follow the golden rule – “If in doubt, keep it out”.

Now you know what to keep out of your garbage disposal, here are some additional tips to keep your garbage disposal in top condition…

- Whenever it is on, make sure the water is running too.

- Throw some ice in there – it will freeze anything that may be stuck and knock it out.

- Put lemon or lime juice in it to keep it smelling fresh.

Doing all of the above will ensure that your garbage disposal remains in good working order for as long as possible. Repairs are expensive so, to prevent needing to have an awkward conversation with the guy from your home insurance provider, make sure that you look after yours.

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