You are here: Home / Archives for Food

Top Foodie Locations Around The World

August 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Pierre Marcolini Chocolates Belgium One of the reasons I love travelling is the food and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Trying different foods and regional specialties is such a treat and I always look forward to seeing what I discover when I arrive in a new location. One of my favourite things to do when visiting a new country is to visit a supermarket where you can find all kinds of different and unusual foods and ingredients. Of course I love to visit markets and eat out too. Below are some of the best foodie locations for travellers.

Great Foodie Locations Around The World

  • Donghuamen Night Market, Beijing, China – noodles, stir fry, meat skewers as well as more interesting foods like grasshoppers and scorpions.

  • Gelateria di Piazza, San Gimignano, Italy – delicious ice cream in Tuscany.

  • La Grande Epicerie, Paris, France – one of the most incredible supermarkets in the world.

  • Tokyo Fish Market, Japan – a fascinating fish markets where you can try the freshest sushi and sashimi you’ll ever get.

  • Pierre Marcolini, Brussels, Belgium – inventive and unusual chocolates.

  • Darjeeling, India – tea, tea and more tea.

  • Spice Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey – fantastic Turkish delights.

  • Maison Mercier Épernay, France – try the best champagne in the world.

  • Roquefort Caves, France – smelly, mouldy French cheese which tastes great.

  • San Miniato National White Truffle Market, San Miniato, Italy – get rare white truffles from this hilltop Italian town.

Share your favourite food locations in the comments.

Filed Under: Eating Out Tagged With: , , ,

Salted Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

July 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I’m not a big cookie eater and I almost never cook them but I had the sudden desire to make them the other day. I decided to go for a salted butter chocolate chip biscuit and after checking a few recipes went for this one. I deviated slightly from the recipe by using 250g of self-raising flour instead of a mix of plain and self-raising flour simply because I didn’t have any plain flour.

Biscuit Stack

Salted Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • 125g salted butter, softened
  • 110g caster sugar
  • 90g brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 egg
  • 250g self-raising flour
  • 200g chopped chocolate

Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla using an electric mixer until pale and creamy. This takes around 5 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined. Fold in the flour, salt and chopped chocolate. You can let the dough rest overnight if you like but I was too impatient to do that.

Kitchenaid Mixer

Chopped Chocolate

Cookie Dough Balls

Form 1 tablespoon of dough into balls and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Squash down the balls so they are flat and place in a pre-heated 160 degree oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and tap them with a spatula to ensure they are flat. Place back in the oven and cook for a further 2-3 minutes. The longer you cook them the dryer and less chewy they will be.

I overcooked the first batch because I didn’t take into account my super hot oven but the next two batches turned out ok. Next time I will probably only use half as much chocolate so it’s more biscuity and less chocolatey but that’s just my personal preference as I don’t like chocolate that much. I might add some shredded coconut next time too.

Salted Chocolate Chip Biscuits

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: , , ,

Moroccan Breakfast

July 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I had a great time travelling around Morocco earlier this year. It’s a fascinating country and somewhere I’d like to spend more time. I managed to visit Marrakesh, Fes and a few villages in between and loved every minute of it. One of the highlights was the food. I’ve always loved Moroccan food which I’ve eaten outside of Morocco and was not surprised that food I ate while there was 100 times better. One of my favourite meals each day was the Moroccan breakfast.

The Moroccan breakfast most tourists will experience is really a mixture of French and Moroccan specialities and it’s a combination which works perfectly. Fresh fruit, including the spectacular Moroccan orange juice, is served with a Moroccan muesli type dish, Moroccan pancakes with jam, butter and honey, French pastries and baguette as well as hot tea and coffee. It may seem simple and I suppose it is but sometimes it’s the simple things in life which are the best.

To add to the fantastic Moroccan breakfast food was the great atmosphere found in the Riads where we stayed. Eating breakfast on the roof terrace overlooking the city was a delight we experienced each morning.

Moroccan Breakfast

A few photos of our Moroccan breakfast:

French Moroccan Breakfast

Breakfast in Fes

Riad Terrrace

Breakfast in Morocco

Have you been to Morocco? What did you eat for breakfast?

Filed Under: Eating Out Tagged With: , , ,

Vegetarian Paella Recipe

July 5, 2011 By 2 Comments

I made this great vegetarian paella a few months ago and even though I can’t find the recipe, which I think was a combination of a couple of different vegetarian paella recipes, I thought I would share the photos and the gist of the recipe here.

Vegetarian Paella Recipe

Here is a very rough explanation of how I made the paella:

Ingredients:

  • carrots
  • zucchini
  • eggplant
  • broccoli
  • onion
  • garlic
  • paprika
  • saffron
  • vegetable stock
  • paella rice
  • salt
  • pepper

Method:

Dice up carrots, zucchini, eggplant, onion, garlic and paprika and fry in olive oil in a paella pan. When they start to turn brown, add tin tomatoes and some stock infused with saffron. Add one handful of rice per person. Make sure all the rice is submerged in the liquid. When the rice is half done, add small broccoli florets. When the rice is al dente, it’s done. Simple.

Even though the recipe is a little vague, this Spanish inspired dish is really easy to make and it tastes delicious. I could happily eat this every day.

Vegetarian Paella

Vegetarian Paella Recipe

If you have made vegetarian paella, please share your recipe in the comments.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: , , ,

B Foods for Fitness

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Healthy Lentils In the modern world there are a lot of food options available. This sometimes makes it difficult to eat healthy. If you're getting serious about fitness and staying in shape, you're going to have to seriously look at your eating habits and maybe even change them. Organic foods are a good option for fitness, but there are some basics that you should think about if you want to eat to help with your fitness goals. With that in mind, here's a look at five foods that start with the letter B that can help you reach all your fitness goals, no matter what they might be.

  1. Beans-Legumes - These beans provide protein and Vitamin B, which helps your blood and circulation.

  2. Bananas - An almost perfectly portable snack food, the banana contains a lot of potassium, which can help keep your blood pressure down to normal levels.

  3. Beef - Zinc, iron and, of course, protein are provided by beef, which should be a staple of your fitness diet.

  4. Broccoli - From folic acid to calcium to magnesium to iron to Vitamin C and protein, broccoli may be a superfood for those who want fitness success in their life.

  5. Brown Rice - For complex carbs and more fiber than white rice, brown rice is a strong part of any diet for those who are serious about fitness.

Many other foods exist that you should be concerned about if you want to succeed with all your fitness goals, but this should give you a general idea of the direction you want to go in. These are just the ones that start with the letter B! While there are many bad options for food out there these days, there are a lot of good eating options for better success with your fitness goals.

Best Foods for Fitness

Different women need different things at various times in their life. If you make an effort to match the foods you eat with what your body needs, you're going to find it easier to live a happy life full of energy. We've just broken the ice with the best fitness foods that start with B. If you do some more research, you're going to find a list of foods that help you no matter what stage of life you're at. Most modern women would agree that eating for fitness makes the most sense.

Filed Under: Healthy Eating Tagged With: , , ,

Roast Lamb in Parchment

June 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Roast Lamb in Parchment Growing up in Australia, it’s not surprising that I love lamb and in particular lamb roast. The Sunday lamb roast was a regular family gathering which I never missed. Now that I no longer live in Australia, I still like to cook a lamb roast now and then and I recently came across this roast lamb in parchment recipe which is my new favourite. I got this Greek recipe from Kalofagas, my favourite Greek food blog. If you like lamb or if you like tender, slow cooked meat, then this recipe is for you.

Roast Lamb in Parchment

The recipe is quite simple. Mix melted butter, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, thyme, rosemary, paprika, salt, and pepper and pour over lamb shanks and potatoes. Wrap them in parchment paper and tie with string to keep the steam in. Cook in a moderate oven for 2 hours. Then cut open the parchment paper and let it cook and brown for another 15-20 minutes. It’s really simple and the meat will just melt off the bone, as it should with lamb shanks.

You can find the full recipe with great photos over at the Kalofagas blog. I don’t have my own photos because I ate it before I had a chance to get my camera out!

This is my new favourite roast lamb recipe. I never thought of cooking lamb in parchment paper (en papillote as they call it) but it works really well.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: , , ,

Lemon and Rosemary Grilled Chicken

June 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Lemon and Rosemary Grilled Chicken We eat lot of chicken in our household but sometimes I end up making the same dishes again and again to the point of never wanting to eat it again. So lately I’ve been trying out a number of new recipes including a few I’ve discovered at Rouxbe, one of my favourite cooking sites.

Lemon and Rosemary Grilled Chicken

This recipe is super, super simple which is one of the reasons I love it, that and there isn’t really any way to stuff it up. Foolproof works well for me. Most of the flavour in this chicken dish comes from the marinade. Olive oil, lemon juice, rosemary, chili flakes (optional), garlic, salt and pepper is all that you need. Mix together, pour over the chicken breasts and marinade in the fridge for an hour or so. When it’s done marinading, fry it in a hot pan or on a grill. Better yet, cook this on the barbeque for a great result.

Read the full recipe here.

You could serve this with a Greek salad or some grilled vegetables. Here are a few other ideas on how to serve this quick and easy lemon and rosemary grilled chicken recipe, courtesy of Rouxbe.

Any leftover chicken will make delicious sandwiches. Place onto a crusty bun with some pesto mayonnaise (simply mix a bit of pesto with some prepared mayonnaise), crispy lettuce and sliced fresh tomatoes. You'll have one gourmet sandwich in an instant!

I made this dish and loved it. It so simple, yet tasty. Next time I’ll have to remember to take photos and post there here.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: , , ,

Benefits of Eating Organic

June 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Organic Fruit When it comes to organic foods and eating organic, there are some things you should think carefully about. When we're talking about organic, we should point out that we mean food which is grown without artificial chemicals and compounds. The benefits of eating organic are simple. The biggest is that your body is going to get more vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. Processed food usually has less taste and isn't as beneficial for your body. Beyond personal benefits, eating organic can help you have a positive impact on the planet as well. As you'll see, this combination is why eating organic makes sense if you're a modern woman.

Basic Benefits of Eating Organic

When it comes down to it, if you eat organic, you're going to benefit personally from being able to get more nutrients out of the food you eat. Processed food is sometimes less expensive and more convenient or easy to get, but by insisting on organically grown food, you're going to make sure your body gets what it needs to stay healthy. For most women, this is the basic thought behind why they decided to eat organic.

Global Benefits of Eating Organic

If you haven't heard it yet, sustainability if going to be a word used often in the near future. As the population on the planet expands, it becomes harder and harder to keep up with food supply for all of them. So, sustainable, organic methods of food production are very important for the future of the planet as a whole. Organic gardening helps with biodiversity. The lack of biodiversity is one of the bigger problems facing the environment around the world. Eating organic helps promote this good type of farming and food production for the planet.

Best Benefits of Eating Organic

When it comes down to it, eating organic is good for you and the planet as a whole. Anytime you can find something than benefits yourself and those around you, it's a win-win situation that any woman should jump at. There are some setbacks as organic food is usually more expensive, but it's definitely worth it. This winning combination is why so many people have made the switch to organic eating. The benefits are worth the extra price you pay for the quality, especially if you think fitness and staying in shape is important for a long and happy life.

Filed Under: Healthy Eating Tagged With: , , ,

Top 10 Superfoods

June 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Avocado - Super Food When it comes to foods that can really help your body, there are many that you've heard you should eat. It helps to know a little about the why you should eat them regularly. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of the top 10 Superfoods that you can put to use for you in your life. You may not like all of them, but if you add them in moderation to your daily diet, you're going to see the positive benefits of these foods.

  1. Avocados - The high amount of protein found in this green fruit is enough for most people, but it has plenty of other benefits for health as well.

  2. Sweet Potatoes - Even though the word sweet is in the name, these potatoes are actually more healthy than their cousins. In addition to fiber, they have plenty of vitamin C and potassium.

  3. Blueberries - No matter if you eat them frozen or fresh, blueberries are jam packed with antioxidants that will help you stay healthy.

  4. Whole Grains

  5. Turmeric - This little known spice can help with digestive aid, which can lead to better health because your body processes nutrients better.

  6. Oregano - A little as a half tea spoon of oregano will give you a super boost of antioxidants. It can also help clear up your congestion.

  7. Cinnamon - Help with high blood glucose levels and a good source of antioxidants are two of the reasons fresh cinnamon is so good for your body.

  8. Yogurt - This will help ensure your body gets the proper doses of calcium, phosphorus, and protein. It also contains probiotics, which can help with your health.

  9. Sardines - A great source of Vitamin D, sardines are a very sustainable source of protein for the world.

  10. Sesame Seeds - Some sesame seeds can help you control cholesterol. Not only that, they're a great way to add a little zest to your bread or other foods you might eat. Sesame sticks can be a great, healthy treat if they don't have too much salt on them.

There are, of course, other great superfoods out there, but adding these to your daily diet is one sure way to have a happier, healthier life. You're encouraged to research some more on your own to see if there are special foods that could help you personally in your life, whatever type of woman you might be.

Filed Under: Healthy Eating Tagged With: , , ,

Start the Day with an Acai Smoothie

October 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Acai Smoothie Want to know how they kick it in Brazil and South America? In Rio and many other cities, the acai smoothie is a daily part of life. While this healthy and tasty treat was only available in certain areas of South America, thanks to the wonders of the modern world, more and more people are able to enjoy acai smoothies. To understand why this is such big news, it's important to know a little about the history of the acai smoothie as well as where we are now. After giving you this information, we'll show why getting an acai smoothie at home is such a good idea.

History of the Acai Smoothie

The acai berry has been used by natives of the Amazon jungle for hundreds of years. In the 20th century, it began to make its way to Rio and other cities in Brazil. Here it became an even bigger hit as shop-keepers used the purple berry to create delicious and healthy smoothies. Over the years, more and more health nuts and surfers in Rio (it's a very health conscious city) began to enjoy the energy boost from an acai smoothie before a big workout.

Future of the Acai Smoothie

The future of the acai smoothie is now. Today, all over the world, people are able to get the benefits of the acai in a great tasting treat. There may be more advances for the acai smoothie over the next century, but you can be sure that more and more people are going to be adding an acai smoothie to their daily routine. From the general health benefits to the extra energy you can get from acai, there are many reasons the acai smoothie is good for you. That it tastes great is just an added bonus. Some of the changes in acai smoothies in the next few years may center around taste or quality, but you can be sure they're going to be easier and easier to get at home.

Acai Smoothie at Home?

In the recent past, this may not have been possible. Today, however, many people are able to enjoy the taste and health benefits of acai smoothies at home without having to go to a juice bar or some other health store in a large city. This has made the acai smoothie even more popular. As you might imagine, many people love the fact they can get the great taste of a blended acai smoothie.

Filed Under: Healthy Eating Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts