Archive for the ‘Nutrition’ Category

Every now and then, everyone needs to get some good old pork chops. Here is a recipe that’ll make dining on them almost guilt-free™. We are putting our chops in a healthful sauce made from olives and garlic.

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 kg pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup flour

1. Place pan over medium heat, then add olive oil.
2. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Lightly coat the pork chops with flour and tap off excess.
3. Fry in oil until golden brown.

For the sauce:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 head garlic, minced
• 3 fillets flat anchovies
• 1/2 cup black olives, pitted
• 1 tbsp capers, finely chopped

For garnishing:

• fresh basil leaves, chopped
• parmesan cheese, grated

1. Heat olive oil then put in the garlic and anchovies. Cook until golden brown.
2. Add the black olives and capers.
3. Pour sauce over the fried pork chops.
4. Garnish with some chopped basil and parmesan cheese.
5. Enjoy hot!

One of the grocery products I find so convenient is the triple-washed bag of mixed greens. These greens makes a nice base for your salad. Here are some ideas on how to make your salad heartier.

Kiwi, cashew nuts, yellow pepper, leeks and tomatoes

Minced lobster in Japanese mayo topped with caviar

Black beans and corn

Carrots, grape tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, avocado, chickpeas

Chive flowers

Cucumber and cherry tomatoes, with shredded basil and green onion

Persimmon

Green mango

Beets, beet greens and parsley

Grilled tuna on spinach with oranges, strawberries, walnuts

Wombok, coriander, vietnamese basil, mint, green capsicum, carrot, chilli, cucumber, red onion, white and black sesame seeds with chilli, garlic, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, sesame oil, sweet mirin for the dressing

I was browsing the web on my downtime this weekend and I looked at food related news and stuff. I found some interesting facts related to food and nutrition. I’d like to share 8 of the most interesting with you in this post.

1. Fruity cocktails count as health food

   Recent studies have found that the small amount of alcohol found in fruity cocktails actually enhance the antioxidant properties of fruit juices. So drink up!

2. Fast Food is as addictive as heroin

   Scientists have found that fast food eaters can become chemically dependent of the fat and sugar found in their diet. These substances affect the same areas of the brain as in the case of drug addiction. So now I know what caused my Krispy Kreme addiction.

3. You can cook food in paper

   Well not the brown grocery paper bag variety, but in parchment paper. A traditional French cooking technique wrap meat, fish, poultry or vegetables in a packet made of parchment paper. The packets are then put in an oven to bake the contents. They say it’s a good way to seal in the natural flavors of food.

4. Eating less salt is really good for you

   Recent findings has confirmed what doctors have suspected for a long time. Reducing salt intake will lower your chances of developing cardiovascular diseases.

5. Vinegar gets rid of kitchen odors

   Keeping an open bowl filled with white vinegar is supposed to absorb unpleasant food odors such as cooking cabbage, frying fish and sauteing onions. This could help those who don’t like those smells. But personally I love how a cooking kitchen smells.

6. Artificial sweeteners do not cause cancer

   US studies have found no data to show the often claimed connection of artificial sweeteners with cancer. This is good news for non-diabetics who want to use artificial sweeteners to reduce their sugar intake.

7. Fast food nutrition is confusing

   Polls have shown people are unable to tell which food from the fast food menu contains more calories. They say this is true even with so called ‘health items’ in the menu. So, that fast food caesar salad may actually have more calories than your milkshake.

8. Pasta cooks faster with less water

   For large quantities of pasta, a big bulk of the cooking time is boiling the water it’s cooked in. It was found that cooking pasta in less water is just as effective. Less water takes less time to boil, thus the pasta cooks faster.