Italian Risotto Rice Dish - What Makes It So Delightful

Risotto is a rice dish originating from Italy, particularly the Northern Italian region. It is a very popular food made by sautéing the rice in olive oil, onion, garlic or whatever herbs the recipe calls for then adding ladles of simmering stock at a time while constantly stirring, until the rice absorbs the stock. Cooking or "toasting" the rice in hot oil or butter is essential to help the rice absorb liquid more easily producing a tender but not mushy rice dish. It usually takes about 20 to 25 minutes to cook a risotto.

The secret to a perfect risotto lies in using Arborio rice, which is a short grain variety capable of absorbing large amounts of liquid while keeping its shape. The starchy rice when combined with the stock during cooking creates a wonderful sauce giving risotto its nice and creamy appearance. Along with its basic ingredients oil, onion starchy rice, hot stock and cheese, a risotto can be made using many kinds of vegetables and legumes, meat, poultry, seafood, fish and any type of wine and cheese. You can even include fruits of your taste.

Aside from Arborio rice, other Italian short-grain varieties are Vialone Nano, Carnaroli and Baldo. Short-grain rice is starchy which Italians find the most perfect rice for risotto. When cooking a traditional risotto, it is best to use a cast iron heavy-bottomed pan or skillet. Cast iron works better by transferring even the lowest heat to the food extremely well and the even distribution of heat during slow cooking helps starch release from the rice producing marvelous results.

A traditional Italian risotto dish is completely satisfying. It can be simple or complex. If you're in Italy, you will experience the many versions of full-flavored risottos from all-vegetable to fish to meat and poultry to mouth-watering cheese risottos. This creamy Italian rice dish is a versatile food. You can serve it as a main course, a side dish and you can use leftover risottos to make a new dish like rice cakes and fried rice balls or simply use it to thicken soups or broth.

Although Risotto is easy to prepare, the first time you make it may not be the best. It may take some time to learn but once you've mastered the technique, it would be easy to make your own risotto dishes for all occasions. Here is a traditional Italian Vegetable Risotto recipe that you could start with.

Ingredients

• 1 medium zucchini
• 10-ounce pumpkin or squash wedge
• 1 beefsteak tomato
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 large onion
• 4 cups hot stock (chicken or vegetable)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup risotto rice
• 1 tablespoon dry sherry wine (or any wine)
• 4 canned artichoke hearts, drained
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley

Directions

Trim zucchini and cut into small cubes. Peel pumpkin or squash, remove seeds and cut into cubes. Cover tomato with boiling water for 30 seconds then plunge into cold water. Peel away skin, remove seeds and cut into fourths. Peel onion and garlic and slice finely. Bring stock or broth to boil then simmer. In a large heavy-based skillet, heat the oil and slightly sauté the onions. Add the risotto rice and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the garlic then the sherry wine. Gradually add stock in small batches, stirring over low to medium heat until every batch of liquid has been absorbed. Let it sit for about 20 minutes to cook.

Add remaining stock along with the zucchini and squash and cook for 10 minutes more, stirring constantly. Cut artichoke hearts into fourths and add into risotto, Season with salt and pepper then transfer to warm soup bowls. Sprinkle each with tiny-chopped tomato and garnish with parsley leaves.

Bon Appétit!

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Terry Retter
Managing Editor, Chef Wannabee.com

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Thai / Lao Spring Rolls Made with Rice Paper

The Thai / Lao Spring Rolls are easy to make and healthy because they are not deep fried. You can fill the rice paper with any ingredients you wish.

Spring Roll Basic Instructions:

1. Place a damp cloth over a flat surface.

2. Submerge a rice paper into hot water for less than 4 seconds.

3. Place the rice paper over the damp cloth.

4. Place fillings onto rice paper and arrange neatly.

5. Roll the rice paper tightly while tucking in vegetables.

6. Fold in the sides and finish rolling.

7. The rice paper should complete two rotations.

lf the spring rolls are made in advance of serving, place the damp cloth over the spring rolls to keep the rice paper moist.

Spring Roll Dipping Sauce:

Because this sauce is so good, you'll want to double dip. Therefore, each person must have his own spring roll dipping sauce sprinkled with crushed toasted peanuts.

Spring Roll Dipping Sauce Ingredients:

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup rice vinegar or fresh squeezed lime

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup fish sauce

1 garlic clove minced

1 teaspoon dried crushed chilies

In a sauce pan, heat the water and vinegar to dissolve the sugar. Once sugar is dissolved, add garlic, chilies and fish sauce. Once cooled, this sauce can be stored in the refrigerator.

Toasting Peanuts:

I like to purchase whole roasted peanuts where I have to individually remove the shell and membrane. Do not roast salted peanuts--it removes the authenticity. Always garnish with crushed toasted peanuts.

Toasting Peanuts Instructions:

Toast unsalted peanuts in a shallow pan over medium heat. Shake the pan or stir the peanuts often to toast peanuts evenly. Stop toasting when 75% of the peanut surface is dark. Use a mortar and pestle to crush the peanuts into broken pieces. Sprinkle the crushed toasted peanuts over the Spring Roll Dipping Sauce before serving dipping sauce with the rice paper spring rolls.

At http://www.thai-laos-food.blogspot.com, there is a free video where you can see how to roll a spring roll.

Manivan Larprom, a Thai / Lao girl, teaches you how to cook Thai / Lao food with her home made videos at http://www.thai-laos-food.blogspot.com

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All About Arborio Rice

Arborio rice, a short grained rice, gets its unique name from a small town in northern Italy and is one of the starchiest of all types of rice. Both white and brown varieties of Arborio rice are available and because of its great starchiness, it is used as the primary ingredient for making creamy risotto.

Although once grown exclusively in Italy, Arborio rice can be found growing in the US and you will find imported and domestic varieties widely available.

Some ideas for making delicious dinners with Arborio rice include basic risotto, risotto with vegetables such as mushrooms and onions. Leftover Arborio can be added to a variety of dishes for adding flavor, bulk, and texture. Stir the cooked rice in with cooked chicken or turkey and mix in your favorite cheese, vegetables, and seasonings for a filling and simple meal.

Along with poultry, Arborio rice also pairs well with beef, fish, and vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, and peas. Arborio rice is a popular ingredient to use when making sushi.

Much like pasta, Arborio rice should be cooked to al dente consistency for the best results. It generally takes about 15 to 20 minutes for the rice to cook properly. You will know it is done when it is tender on the outside but firm in the center.

If you do not have any Arborio rice on hand, medium or short grain rice can be substituted in a pinch for a somewhat similar taste and texture in most recipes including risotto.

Chicken, Risotto, and Caramelized Onions Recipe

What You Need

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
1/4 cup dry white wine
4 cups hot chicken broth
2 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped

How to Make It

Heat half of the olive oil over medium heat in a medium sized saucepan. Add the chopped onions and saute for 15 to 20 minutes or until they are a dark golden brown color.

Remove the onions from the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar and set aside.

Heat the other 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat in a separate, large pan. Add in the rice and stir to mix well. Heat the rice for 2 minutes then add in the wine.

Reduce the heat to medium low and begin slowly adding the broth 1 cup at a time. Once a cup of broth has been absorbed by the rice, add more until all is absorbed. Cook the mixture for about 20 minutes or until the rice is al dente.

Stir in the onion and vinegar mixture and allow it to heat through over low to medium heat. Remove from heat and then stir in the cooked chicken and the butter. Season the mixture with salt and black pepper to taste.

Garnish with fresh thyme and serve the chicken, risotto, and caramelized onions immediately.

Serves 4.

Make extra fried chicken so you will have plenty for leftovers for lunch the following day. Serve chicken fried steak with creamy mashed potatoes made from buttermilk and chicken broth along with gravy, a vegetable or side salad for a complete and filling meal.

SouthernFriedChickenRecipe.com When it has to be Real Fried Chicken

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A Stainless Steel Rice Cooker Can Provide Healthy Rice Cooking While Keeping it Warm!

Many people steer clear of attempting to use a stainless steel rice cooker due to the tough challenge it seems to present. However once you decide to start using one to cook rice you will find it really helpful because not only is it cooked perfectly but you can keep it inside which is especially helpful if you have guests over!To successfully make an acceptable pot of rice, you must depend on a precisely correct ratio of water to rice, keeping the temperature high at the beginning and lowering it to simmer. Also, the reason you would specifically want a stainless steel version is because they will last a very long time and theirs no chance of rust being in contact with your food.

Although this may seem overwhelming, an automatic stainless steel rice cooker can make an otherwise difficult task much easier. They range in prices from affordable to the higher-quality expensive models, there is also alternatives for those who don't have the need or time to make a lot of rice.. "rice ball cookers." These minimal-proportion rice cookers are usually made of stainless steel or mesh and work much like a tea infuser - keeping the rice inside while the warm water circles through it until cooked. To break everything down, I will try to give the most simple explanation on how to use a stainless steel rice cooker easy and efficiently.

First open the cooker and make sure it is clean and ready for use, on the inside and outside. Measure out about 1 to 3 tablespoons of preferred cooking oil and pour it on a paper towel. Use the towel and wipe around the rice cooker to cover the entire surface, this is not always necessary but will help keep the rice from sticking to the steel. Fill up the cooker to about the half-way point in the vessel, no need for precise measurements but standard rice cookers hold about 2 cups - be sure not to overfill the cooker or else the rice will not have enough room to expand. Fill the cooker pot up with water and turn it on to bring the water to a boil. Next, you can put the vessel into the boiling water. Make sure the the chain is hanging outside of the pot so you won't have to pull it out of the boiling water when the rice is done cooking. Let the rice cook for whatever time you prefer, depending on what kind of rice you're using.

Generally, this takes anywhere from 14 to 20 minutes.. brown rice can take a bit longer. After the rice is completely cooked, remove the rice from the water using a potholder or towel - suspend it over the water pot and let the remaining water drain from the rice. Use your potholder to open the rice cooker and empty the rice out into a bowl or serving dish.. let cool for a few minutes and enjoy!

For more information on a stainless steel rice cooker or how to get a proper stainless steel electric skillet follow my links!

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Rice Diet - Brown Rice Detox Recipes

Nowadays, people are getting more aware about the importance of maintaining their health. There are many things that people do in order to keep healthy such as exercising regularly, doing yoga or meditation, quitting smoking, reducing the consumption of alcohol, avoiding unhealthy foods, doing a detox program, going on a healthy diet and many more. For those who are overweight or with a serious health problem, doctors might suggest them to go on the Rice Diet. This diet is an excellent weight loss program; you can lose between 20 to 30 pounds in the first month, and 2.5 to 3.5 pounds per week in the later stages. The program consists of very low-calorie, high-complex carbohydrate, low-fat, low-sugar, low-sodium, low-protein diet that will help detoxify and treat chronic health problems. The diet plan requires the use of brown rice. Regular white rice contains a lot of sodium, sugar, and bad fats which are some of the major causes of weight gain and many diseases such as diabetes. On the other hand, brown rice is rich in fiber and healthy fats that help lower bad cholesterol levels.

Besides fiber and good fats, brown rice is also rich in iodine, potassium and essential minerals that are good for your body. It also helps detoxify your body and enhance your energy levels as well mental awareness. Furthermore, it can help you lose weight quickly. Most people do not like the taste of brown rice. However, you can easily turn them into delicious dishes by following easy brown rice detox recipes that can be found in various diet books or on the internet.

The detox program does not require you to consume only brown rice throughout the day. For breakfast, you are allowed to consume one serving of fruit, such as banana, apple, pear or citrus. For a wholesome breakfast, you can try the following rice porridge recipe. Combine ½ cup of brown rice, 1 cup of almond milk and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg powder in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring frequently. Cover the pan and reduce the heat. Simmer for about 45 minutes and serve with walnuts, ground flaxseed and chopped Fuji apple.

For lunch and dinner, you must consume about 1 to 2 bowls of fresh vegetables in each meal. You can choose whatever vegetables you like, and they do not have to be the same every day. The following Brown Rice Pilaf is very easy to make. Chop 1 medium onion and 1 green pepper and sauté them in a large pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add 1 ¼ cups of brown rice and 2 cloves of garlic; stir until the rice is lightly browned. Add 1 ½ cups of water, 1 cup of chicken broth, a pinch of dried thyme and a pinch of pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. Simmer for 40 minutes or until the rice is tender. This dish serves up to 6 people, and you can serve it with a side of green salad.

Going on rice diet is the best way to live a healthy life. Brown rice detox recipes will help you to maintain your rice diet program and bring back the healthy you.

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Cook The Eggs With Rice Cookers

Eggs are known for having a lot of nutrients to offer. Protein is very prominent in eggs. These proteins are vital in the build up and repair of the muscles of the body. You have to know that eggs are also economical to have. There are a lot of eggs that you will find in the market. Some of the famous ones are that of chicken and quail. These eggs can be boiled in pots or pans or fried. You have to realize that you can also cook eggs using the rice cooker that you have at home. The eggs come with the rice that you will cook. There are some tips that you have to keep in mind for you to have a guide in cooking the eggs. These will surely help you a lot.

The first thing that you need to do is to gather the materials that you will need for you to cook the eggs. Make sure that you have the equipment with you, rice, eggs and water. These are the basic things that you will need. You have to wash the eggs carefully before proceeding. It is very important for you to remember that the eggs will mix with rice. It is just right that you will clean it well to avoid any contamination.

Wash the rice that you will cook. Measure the rice that you will cook and the water that you will add. Put them together in the equipment. Turn the equipment on as soon as you are finished. Observe of the equipment is really functioning.

Try to observe the rice that you are cooking. You may put the eggs inside if the rice is half way done. The eggs can be cooked now. Push the eggs inside. Make sure that you have submerged at least 80% of the eggs body. This will ensure that the eggs will be cooked with the rice. It will just be enough for the eggs to be cooked with the rice.

After the rice has been cooked, try to make sure that you will allow the egg to stay in the equipment for 15 minutes. Leave it there first. You have to know that you need to cool down the egg after. Try to use running water so that you will not be burned. This will also prevent the egg white to stick with the shell.

The tips mentioned will surely help you a lot in cooking eggs in rice cooker. These will guide you well. You have to know that the tips mentioned are important as they can help you save a lot energy. Time can also be conserved. You have to remember the tips mentioned for you to have a guide. These will help you for sure.

You may also use Toaster and Egg Maker to cook eggs. A nice equipment that you can have is Princess Egg Boiler. It is such a helpful tool.

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Adzuki Beans and Roasted Vegetables With Brown Rice

I have been inexplicably excited to write about this dish for days now. I'm beginning to take for granted how often I eat incredibly delicious, nourishing food. So when I make something that compels me to audibly proclaim how good this food is, I appreciate anew the bliss of eating this well.

This dish was inspired by a recipe from Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet, but I completely revamped it the second time I made it. The original dish is an adzuki bean stew with kabocha squash, seasoned only with a touch of soy sauce and some parsley. When I first prepared this recipe, I liked it, but only because it made me feel virtuous for eating something so healthy, even if it didn't taste amazing. Adzuki bean stew is a very traditional macrobiotic dish focusing on whole foods without a lot of seasoning. As Alicia describes it, in the macrobiotic diet, "Herbs and spices are used in moderation: Spices like cayenne and curries are powerful and have a strong effect on the body. If we want our bodies to come to a centered, relaxed place, it's important to use simple food - at least for a while. Many [macrobiotics] use herbs and spices here and there to create variety, but don't get into a habit of putting them in every dish. To the [macrobiotic] tongue, simple food tastes fantastic." I was skeptical when I read this, never having heard of any reputable study denigrating flavorful food; I was most definitely not converted after eating this dish.

Now for the good part. I rehabilitated this dish using good old fashioned aromatic flavorings, like onions and garlic, and a touch of salt and pepper. It was spectacular. Roasting the onion, carrot, garlic, and squash created a mellow warm flavor, beautifully grounded by the adzuki beans, and a fantastic brown rice medley. My first memory of this dish was one of uniform texture, and not a lot of flavor. But, now I remember it as warm, homey, and full of sweet, savory, and fresh goodness.

This dish also happens to be incredibly good for you. I don't have to expound on the merits of whole grains any more to you readers, but adzuki beans are new to this blog. Ounce for ounce, adzuki beans are one of the best foods you can put in your mouth. Like all beans, they are a great source of fiber, low in fat, and chock full of nutrients. Adzuki beans are a prominent part of many Eastern diets and contain high quantities of magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc copper, manganese, and B vitamins. So, the next time your feeling culinarily adventurous, or just hungry, think of this dish!

1/2 cup dried adzuki beans
1 bay leaf
1 onion halved and sliced thinly
1 carrot halved and chopped roughly
2 cloves garlic peeled
1 acorn squash halved and sliced into 3/4" wide wedges
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup brown rice*
2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Place dried beans in a shallow dish. Cover with water 1" or 2" above the beans. Let sit overnight.

Place beans and the bay leaf in a small pot, and just cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until beans are tender. Remove bay leaf and set aside.

Heat oven to 375º. Place onions, carrot, garlic, and squash in a shallow dish. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until tender. Remove the squash from the peel, and cut into medium chunks. Add the squash, carrots, onions, and garlic to the beans.

Bring vegetable stock to a boil in a medium pot. Add the rice and simmer for 35 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Combine the rice, beans, and vegetables. Add the cilantro, and taste for salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

* I used Trader Joe's Brown Rice Medley, with long grain brown rice, black barley, and daikon radish seeds. Yum!

Colleen Boucher is the creator and writer of the blog Dinner Peace ( http://dinnerpeace.blogspot.com ). She is an evolving vegan eater, and recipe creator, health advocate, and wellness specialist. Dinner Peace is a blog for current vegans, vegetarians, and anyone interested in occasionally trying to go meatless, lose weight, or just get healthy.

Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle can be intimidating, and Dinner Peace was founded to combat that apprehension with numerous examples of delicious, plant based, healthful, compassionate, cruelty-free and animal-free dishes, ranging from breakfast to lunch to snacks, dinners, and desserts. The vegan lifestyle is also an effective tool for weight loss, or just to achieve your optimum level of health. If you are looking to make a positive change in your life, or just get a sense of the reality of a vegan diet, check out Dinner Peace!

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Spanish Recipe - Simple Recipe for Spanish Rice

Here's an easy to follow Spanish rice recipe for you to make delicious meal economically. You need just a little package of minute rice and a little bit of something else. It is enjoyable to make a rice meal according to a Spanish recipe. Follow the recipe and you can also add some vegetables or meats as you like.

Ingredients:
Minute rice (2/3 cup)
Chicken Soup (2/3 cup)
Onion (2 teaspoon chopped)
Green pepper (1/4 cup chopped)
Water (2 teaspoons)
Garlic (1/8 tablespoon)
Salt (1/2 teaspoon)
Tomato (1/2 cup, fresh and chopped )
Pepper (1/8 tablespoon)
Chili powder (1/8 tablespoon)

Method:

Once you get ready the rice package, follow the instructions below to do it and enjoy its easiness. Remember it's better to use chicken soup instead of water, for it adds much more flavor to the Spanish rice. Put it aside as soon as it's done. Continue to cook the rest, you should take a large skillet and salt in this green peppers, onion, celery and garlic, season them all until they are tender. Finally, before all is almost done, add tomatoes, salt and chili powder, pepper and rice. Keep all in a frying pan heat for a few minutes and enjoy as it is quite clear. Serve a child with salad or the flesh.

This Particular Spanish recipe for rice will truly cause you to be desperate to try out it. It is rather quick and it's also simple, also you need to know that's very great tasting. Keep an end browse such steps ahead and stay able to indulge in this particular rice at your residence your dinnertime.

Go to Spanish Recipe for more healthy recipes.

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Fried Rice Recipe Ideas

Fried rice is a popular dish in most countries around the world. In America, the dish can be found at any Chinese-American restaurant or on tables in many homes. Cooking this dish is a wonderful way to use up leftover rice and spice up a humdrum dinner. Fried rice can be made with vegetables and served as a side dish or with the addition of meat, poultry or seafood, fried rice can be a meal by itself.

The basic ingredients in the dish are pre-cooked white, long-grain rice, scallions and egg. The wok is pre-heated, an oil with a high smoke point such as peanut, canola or grapeseed oil is added, and then the egg is fried until it is just soft. The egg is pushed outward up the side of the pan while the rice heats. To finish the dish, the egg, rice and scallions are stirred together until heated thoroughly. Soy sauce or oyster sauce can be added at the end, although some people believe that the rice should be seasoned with nothing more than salt.

Fried rice is a versatile dish that can be made to suit any person's tastes by adding a few extra ingredients. Vegetables like carrots, broccoli and pea pods make a colorful, tasty side dish that go well with chicken main courses, while adding bean sprouts, water chestnuts and bamboo shoots makes a wonderful accompaniment to a beef meal. Garlic, onions and bell peppers also make a great tasting dish that complements just about any entrée.

Adding diced beef, pork, chicken, shrimp or prawns to fried rice creates another dimension to the dish. A popular Japanese dish is Omurice, or Omelette Rice. In Omurice, the dish is made with vegetables and meat, encased in an egg omelette and seasoned with ketchup. Yangchow or Yangzhou Rice is a Chinese dish named after the city that the dish is believed to have originated from. It mixes prawns, roast pork, peas and scallions, and is sometimes found in Chinese-American restaurants under the name of Special Rice.

Authentic recipes often include the flavors and ingredients indigenous to the area they are created in. For instance, Thai Fried Rice uses aromatic Jasmine rice instead of white rice and is generally served with cucumber slices and a spicy sauce made with fish sauce, Thai chili and garlic. Hawaiian Fried Rice combines egg, peas, carrot and green onions with either Spam or Portuguese sausage, or sometimes both. The best recipes incorporate the cook's favorite ingredients stir-fried in a seasoned wok to produce a splendor of flavors.

Fried rice is a perfect example of the classic method of flash cooking has influenced cuisines throughout the world. Check out our collection of delicious international dishes and find the right fried rice recipe.

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Don't Buy Red Yeast Rice Until You Read This Article

If you learned about a natural product that could help lower your cholesterol, wouldn't you want
to buy it? Of course you would. Well, guess what. There is such a product. Because of
government controls, however, you can't get this product anymore, at least not in its original
cholesterol lowering form. Why would the government do that, you may ask. Here's why.

Red yeast rice is a form of rice fermented using red yeast. The Chinese have used this rice for
years as a spice, food preservative and colorant, as well as a dietary supplement. For more than
1,000 years, these people have also used red yeast rice medicinally claiming it improved blood
circulation, and relieved indigestion and diarrhea.

Active Ingredients

More recently, scientists have found that one of the active ingredients naturally produced when
rice is fermented by red yeast is Monacolin K, or Lovastatin. For those of you not familiar,
Lovastatin is the generic equivalent of one of the statin drugs; a class of the strongest, most
effective cholesterol lowering prescription medications. Unlike prescription Lovastatin which
contains 10 mg or more of this active ingredient, red yeast rice contains less than 2.5 mg of the
cholesterol lowering medication per 600 mg capsule. Red yeast rice has been marketed as a
dietary supplement under the names Cholestin and HypoCol.

Until 1999, red yeast rice was readily available as a dietary supplement. However, it was in that
year that clinical studies confirmed the effectiveness of red yeast rice with Lovastatin as one of
its ingredients in lowering cholesterol. When the Food and Drug Administration caught wind
there was a dietary supplement being sold that included a prescription medicine, they decided to
pull the supplement from the market. They defended their decision by claiming that since the
supplement contained a drug that normally required a doctor's prescription; the red yeast rice
could not be sold over-the-counter in an unregulated form.

The Big Stick of the FDA

The FDA's decision met with some controversy and was actually overturned later that year by the
court of the District of Utah. In 2000, however, the FDA triumphed when the 10th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals ruled that since red yeast rice does contain the prescription medicine
Lovastatin, even though it does occur naturally, it is subject to FDA rules.

After that time, most forms of red yeast rice disappeared from the shelves of pharmacies and
health food stores, in its original form anyway. You can still buy the supplement but because of
the FDA order red yeast rice is made using a different fermentation process which does not
produce Lovastatin.

So, that is the story of red yeast rice. Used by the Chinese for hundreds of years as a way to
increase blood circulation, federal government regulations forced vendors to clear this natural
supplement from their shelves. You can still buy red yeast rice, but don't expect it to have any
big effect on your blood pressure. To have the benefits of the cholesterol lowering ingredient of
red yeast rice, you must get a doctor's prescription.

Get the latest in red yeast rice know how from the only true source at http://www.lowercholesterollog.com. Check out our red yeast rice pages.

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How Vietnamese Cultivate Wet Rice?

Some 70 per cent of Vietnam's population is engaged in agriculture, which uses over 20 per cent of the country's area and produces 15 per cent of its GDP. Vietnam has two huge deltas: the Mekong in the south and the Red River in the north.

From time immemorial the Vietnamese have known how to build dykes and avoid flooding, creating more land for wet -rice cultivation. Thousands of kilometres of dykes have been built along the Red River to protect this vast fertile delta and its population. Recently my friend Huong Do and I visited her uncle, who is a farmer in Hai Duong province in the very heart of the Red River delta. The host, Mr. Hien, was very enthusiastic about showing us rural life.

Generally they cultivate two types, sticky rice and ordinary rice. The first is used for special events and ceremonies such as Tet ( lunar New Year) and weddings. Talking about wet-rice-cultivation, Mr. Hien recites a Vietnamese proverb:'Nhat nuoc, nhi phan, tam can, tu giong'. This translates as 'First one needs water,then manure,then diligence, and finally high quality seed'. 'In the north we have two rice crops and one subsidiary one, according to the weather', he said. The winter -spring crop begins in the 12th lunar month and finishes in the fourth. The summer -autumn one lasts from the sixth to the 10th lunar month. After these crops there is time for the land to heal and we plant maize,taro, potato and sweet potato'.

To Start a crop we have to prepare the land. We empty the water from each field. Then we plough deep and rake it carefully with the help of the buffalo. The buffalo is well cared for and respected in the same way that many foreigners care about dogs'. There are three things that are critical to every Vietnamese farmer's life: purchasing a buffalo, getting married and building a house. 'In order to prepare the land we put down fertiliser, either natural or chemical.water is constantly needed too'.'Different varieties of rice are very important. Normally we select the best species from previous crops, using techniques passed down through generations.

"In order to germinate it we put the paddy in a jute sack and soack it in water for 24 hours. We then take it out of the water and arrange it in a dark, damp place to facilitate germination. After 12 hours we repeat the process. In cool winter weather straw ash is mixed with the paddy in order to keep it warm.when the roots reach two to three centimetres you can sow rice in a small prepared area. During this period the young rice plants need water, but not too much. After one month you pick the young shoots and transplant the rice seedling to another field.

'Working the fields requires diligence, During the three- and-a- half months of rice development you have to constandy watch your field! You need to pull out any weeds growing with the rice. This work is normally reserved for women. There has to be water in time for each period of development of the rice'. The ethnic minorities in mountainous areas practice wte- rice-cultivation on terraces.

It is not until you actually take off your shoes, roll up your trousers and muck in that you really appreciate the skill and energy required to harvest rice. As Mr Hien says,'when the rice is mature the whole family has to work. We cut the rice with sickles and bring it home by ox cart. Fortunately, machines are now used for separating the paddy and straw. Last year we had a big harvest. This year we have had to work very hard due to floods'.

With a trace of sadness Hien adds that the farmer's life is till difficult. 'We depend on rice but if the price is too low there is no profit. The government should pay more attention to our life, to build processing zones for agricultural products and find markets for us'.

Famers in the south harvest three crops a year and the wet-rice-cultivation technique is also different.

Pham Ha is the founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Co., Ltd (http://luxurytravelvietnam.com)

26 Dong Khoi Street, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City
5 Nguyen Truong To Street, Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi, Vientam.
Website: http://www.LuxuryTravelVietnam.com

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Rice Wine, Barley Wine and Pinot Noir

Rice wine is a wine famously known as sake. This is a Japanese alcoholic beverage. Rice wine is made by fermenting naturally sweet grapes, in addition to other fruits. Rice starch is fermented to make rice wine. The fermentation turns the rice starch into sugars. This process is very similar to the process used to make beer except a mashing process takes place.

There are many different types of rice wine. These types include Tuak from Malaysia, Raksi from Tibet, Lihing from Sabah, and much more. Korea also makes an unfiltered rice wine that is known as snake wine.

Barley Wine

Barley wine originated in the 19th century. It actually came from the 18th century ales brewed in October and November. This is a terminology used but it is actually a beer. However, this is as strong as wine but often misconstrued as a wine because of the name.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir comes from the variety of species of grapes known as the Vitis vinifera. These grapes are primarily for red wine. The name is French and means 'pine' and 'black'. This refers to the tightly clustered pine cone shaped, purple colored fruit. These grapes are most commonly known as coming from Burgundy France.

These grapes are difficult to cultivate but are known to produce the finest wines in the world. This wine is also considered to be one of the most romantic wines in the world also. Pinot wine tends to have a light to medium body with an aroma that might remind you of black cherries, raspberries, or currants. When the grapes are used young the wine is often much lighter than other red wines. Pinot Noir is also used with Chardonnay.

Many of the places around the world known for producing Pinot Noir include the United States, Italy, Australia, Austria, Moldova, new Zealand, Canada, England, Switzerland, Germany, France, and Spain. There are California wine regions in the United States known for producing Pinot Noir which include the Sonoma Coast, Monterey County, Carneros District of Napa and Sonoma, and San Luis Obispo County / Arroyo Grande Valley.

Scott Wells writes for http://MakeChristmasCrafts.com where you can learn to Make Christmas Crafts just in time for the holiday season.

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The Best Microwave Rice Cookers

Even rice can be cooked using a microwave nowadays. A microwavable container specifically for rice is now being sold and gaining popularity. The microwave rice cooker consists of three parts: an outer bowl, a fitted lid with steam vents and an inner bowl in a finely perforated base.

There are four factors to consider when buying this type of rice cooker:

1. Affordability - Ask yourself this question: How much is my budget for this particular item? Is the price of the rice cooker within my budget? Remember that better the brand, the higher will be the price and the least the cost, the lesser it lasts.

2. Easy to use - Many homebodies would opt for a kitchen gadget that is easy to use. Nobody likes a utensil which has a lot of buttons to press or a lot of wires to connect. A microwave rice cooker is always accompanied by a written instruction; you just have to follow it faithfully.

3. Easy to clean - Since you always wash your cooking paraphernalia after each use, you would naturally choose one that is easy to wash. You would prefer a microwave rice cooker that is washed simply by using soap and warm water and is dish washer-friendly.

4. Healthy - A microwave rice cooker that cooks rice and other food that can retain much of its nutritional value is an ideal buy. Its material must be non-resistant to rust and corrosion and must not react to acidic and other food.

The following brands are considered the best:

* Sanyo - ECJ -D55S -There is no problem in cooking rice; it is easy to use and easy to clean. (5.5 cups) $101.00
* Krups FDH2 - It is easy to use and clean and has a warming function. It has a non-stick pot. (10 cups) $90.00.
* Black Decker HS2776 - It is easy to use and clean. Durable quality. (7 cups) $37.00
* Zojirush NS TGCIO - It has the same features as the others. (5.5 cups) $154.00.
* Renal RC 61 -It is easy to use and has warming function. $17.00.
* Oster 5711 - It has the same features as the others. (10 cups) $32.00.
* Miracle ME81 - It has a warming function. $72.00.
* Sanyo ECJ-HC55S - It is easy to use with a warming function. (5.5 cups) $115.00.

You can view these products with complete information online.

Weenie Rifareal is an Asian homebased online worker dealing with SEO, internet marketing and article writing. Asians are basically rice eaters and cooking rice is more convenient with this type of cooker. To read more of this topic go to http://www.microwavericecookers.com

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Rice Cookers - Make Good Use Of Yours

Do you have one of those rice cookers that you've stashed away and in fact, it is now hiding in a dusty cabinet? You do? Right then, it's time to take hold of it, put it on the countertop and start doing some absolutely incredible rice based meals.

First of all, don't allow the name "rice cooker" fool you. Whatever you have is essentially a huge (depending on the volume you have chosen) machine. What this means is virtually any dish that requires wet cooking will do wonderful in a grain cooker. If you love cooking food and having Middle Eastern or Caribbean or ethnic ingredients, it is the perfect way to help whip up a number of really tasty meals using chicken, sea food, steamed vegetable facet dishes and poached super fruit puddings. They're great ideas regarding putting your unit to work, along with making soups in addition to hearty stews.

With beef that has recently been browned, just add veggies with herbs, wine beverages and tomatoes, give it enough time as well as liqui. It will provide a delicious very long-simmered recipe and you are not going to have to worry about incredibly hot or a boiling stove. How's that to get a busy cook's closest friend. It's like having your very own chef cooking available for you while you carry out other things!

Are you aware how long cooking bean meals take? Use your oven to make softer pinto beans with regard to your personal handmade refried bean food. Take a piece of fish, season it in addition to wrap it inside a foil pouch as well as steam it. Delicious so healthy for you.

For those who have a steam plate you could make long-grained wild rice concurrently and presto, all of your dinner is all set at one time. Think about spaghetti? Just cover your pasta by 50 % and allow your rice cooker accomplish it's thing! Are you able to see? The possibilities are usually virtually endless!

Consequently, if you don't have any rice cooker or maybe are looking to invest in a new one or possibly larger one, the advice would be to search for the best rates, especially if you make an online purchase. There are countless companies and many models, but common viewpoint is the Japanese brand of rice cookers like Panasonic, Hitachi, Sanyo and a brand called Zojirushi - work most effectively as rice cookers, BUT, they may be expensive.

Undertake some research,make your purchase and then get preparing!

A Panasonic Rice Cooker is one of the better brands we review over at Rice Cooker Ratings. Visit today to find out more on rice cookers.

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Automatic Rice Cooker - Every Last Thing You Should Know About Rice Cookers

Automatic rice cookers are kitchen appliances that you utilize for cooking rice. However, lately, these can be used not only to prepare rice but for cooking different recipes as well. Basically, it works by preparing the rice through the usage of the heating element which is placed at the bottom of the pan. A lid is placed on the top of the pan to hold in the steam.

This kind of kitchen appliance also has a thermostat that lowers down the temperature once the cooking is done. When getting an automatic rice cooker, it is essential to know the following features.

Type

There are two kinds which include the cool-touch and the pot rice cookers. It is important to acknowledge the differences between the two as both work differently to present the same effect in preparing perfect rice.

· Cool-touch: This is made to insulate the inside of the pot. This makes the outside portion cool to the touch. It has a hinge lid that keeps in steam and only has a conservative capacity when cooking rice.

· Pot rice: This is the usual type that uses a pot and a lid with a hole which lets the steam out. This is the kind that is usually more used in traditional kitchens.

Capacity

Most rice cookers provide various capacities and features. If you choose to cook for many individuals, it is important that you select a one that can make rice in different capacities.

Other Features

You can also choose automated ones that have a clear lids to determine whether the rice is done already. It is also important to select one that has the automatic warmer. Some of these appliances are actually a set of pieces that makes it usable for other types of cooking. For example, some of them can also be used as steamers for steaming other food. These features can only be found among the best electric rice cookers.

For more information on about the subject go to rice cooker reviews at beststainlesssteelricecooker.com. You'll find great information on related category.

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Sausage Spanish Rice Recipe

Rice it is a very good company to every kind of meat and when you don't have much time to cook a lot then add simple sausages and you have something else to serve, take advantage of this suggestion and learn how to cook it by following these simple instructions. You will not regret it.

You will need:

Pork sausage (1 pound, bulk)
Onion (1 medium, chopped)
Celery (1 cup, chopped)
Tomatoes (1 can or 28 ounce, undrained)
Water (2 1/2 cups)
Rice (long grain, uncooked, 1 ¼ cups)
Chili sauce (1/2 cup)
Cheddar cheese (1 ½ cup and shredeed)

How to make this dish:

First take a large skillet and in here cook the onion, the celery and the sausage, do this at medium heat until the sausage turns a little brow, but no dot let it burn, you have to make sure the vegetables are also tender and then you can drain the excess of fat and be ready to add the tomatoes, water, rice and chili sauce. Once you have everything in the skillet leave it to cook for about 30 minutes but be sure before you do it to have lower the fire and have a medium- low flame. After the 30 minutes the rice will be tender and it will be ready to remove. Once you have this done remove from the heat and sprinkle the rice and sausages with cheese. Let the cheese melt and after a few minutes it is ready to serve.

If you would like to get more information on Spanish Rice or similar recipes, please visit our site at Spanish Rice Recipes

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Rice Cakes and Weight Loss

If you are dieting you may want to reconsider rice cakes and how they may effect your diet efforts. Successful dieting requires you to cut back on calorie consumption and eliminate bad food choices from your everyday diet. Stepping up the amount of exercise you are currently getting will help speed weight loss along. Junk foods are the dieting enemy for anyone wishing to lose weight.

Most people assume cakes made of rice are a great choice for those on a diet. These cakes are low in calories and easy to grab for those on the go. You would think rice cakes would be the perfect diet snack food, right?

When dieting there are more things to consider than just calories. Yes eating cakes made out of rice for a snack will be a low calorie choice but if you are wanting to burn fat and at the same time build up muscles then rice cakes aren't necessarily a good dieting choice for your muscles.

Rice type cakes are made up of rice and if you have ever had one of these tasty cakes then you know how they can be addicting, one never seems to be enough, these cakes can in fact make you feel more hungry. Rice cakes are not filling therefore most people do not feel satisfied or full after eating one.

So what's the perfect snack for those on a diet? Generally it's best to go with a low fat lean meat. Meat will make you feel fuller and by choosing a low fat or lean meat you won't be consuming a lot of calories. I'm not recommending a low carb diet because your body does need carbohydrates. Carbs are necessary for energy. After an intense workout is the best time to eat a rice cake if you are feeling a little hungry but these cakes should not be a daily snack or something you reach for whenever hunger strikes.

Simply avoiding rice cakes can help you speed up your weight loss efforts and get you looking and feeling lean.

Shelly has been writing articles online for several years. One of her favorite websites is Crazy Creek Quilts dot com. Free Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns, free jean quilt patterns, and more great quilting ideas. Please stop by for a visit!

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Using Quinoa As a Replacement For Rice and Cous Cous

Quinoa is very versatile in the kitchen. One of the simplest ways of using it is as a straight replacement for rice or cous cous. Now if you are interested in authentic Indian curries or Moroccan cuisine then you are not going to want to substitute anything for the correct ingredients.

But it is actually a very healthy alternative because it is full of vitamins and nutrients. It also has a nutty and crunchy texture that lends itself very well to these dishes.

Quinoa instead of rice.

This very simple substitution works very well for mild and medium spiced foods. If you like hot curries then quinoa is not quite as good as rice at reducing the strength of the food. In this case it is best to over cook the quinoa to help combat the spiciness of the curry.
For other dishes such as tabouleh and risotto it is ideal instead of rice. I would say preferable to rice because you do not get the starchiness. No post rinsing is needed. You can serve it straight from the pan. You can use it instead of rice in desserts but it does not perform as well here as with the savoury dishes.

Quinoa instead of cous cous

Cous cous is found very often in salads mixed with other vegetables. You can combine it with peppers and green leaf salads to make an endless combination of quickly prepared meals. Quinoa is an ideal replacement for cous cous but it does not keep as well once it has been prepared. You can keep it in a fridge for 2 days in an airtight container quite safely. After that it can lose its texture. It is better to prepare what you need on the day. Any left overs can be used as a packed lunch snack.

The best way of finding out about replacing rice and cous cous with quinoa is simply to try it. Be adventurous and you will find it very easy to use in your favourite recipes.

Find out how simply it is to cook quinoa. There are more and more quinoa recipes coming out now. You can find out how to cook quinoa Learn the superb health benefits of eating quinoa and include quinoa as part of your diet.

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Eggplant, Mushrooms, and Onions With Wild Rice

Skillet style side dish is the perfect accompaniment to beef, chicken, or pork. Sautéed eggplant, button mushrooms, and chopped yellow onion are seasoned with garlic, Italian seasoning, coarse sea salt, and fresh ground pepper. Vegetable mixture is combined with chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup, half-and-half, and cooked wild rice. Simmered 15 minutes until liquids are absorbed and flavors have had a chance to mingle. Serve hot with your favorite entrée.

Cook's Notes:
As eggplant can be bitter, I recommend lightly salting the eggplant cubes and placing them in a strainer or colander for half an hour. The salt draws out any excess liquid, resulting in a milder flavored eggplant.

Substitute your favorite mushroom, such as shiitake or Portobello for a heartier dish.

Eggplant, Mushrooms, and Onions with Wild Rice

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons Salted Butter
3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
1 Large Eggplant, peeled and cubed
1 Medium Yellow Onion, chopped
1 (8 ounces) package Sliced Fresh Button Mushrooms,
1/2 teaspoon Garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/4 teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
1 cup Low Sodium Chicken Broth
1 (10.75 ounces) can Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 cup Half-and-Half
1 cup Cooked Wild Rice

Preparation:

1. Heat the butter and 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet.

2. Stir in the eggplant, and fry until tender, which takes about 5 minutes.

3. Remove the eggplant from the skillet, and keep warm.

4. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to the skillet.

5. Stir in the onion and mushrooms and fry until they are tender, which takes about 5 minutes.

6. Return the eggplant to the pan, and season with the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.

7. Cook and stir for one minute to blend the flavors.

8. Stir in the chicken broth, and simmer for about 5 minutes, until most of the liquid is reduced or absorbed.

9. Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, half-and-half and the cooked wild rice.

10. Simmer the mixture over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

11. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if desired.

A cooking class is a great way to learn how to prepare and cook eggplant the way the professionals do, or head over to http://www.EggplantRecipes.net, for the best, taste-tested eggplant recipes.

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Organic Brown Rice Good for Health

If you consume brown grain a couple of occasions daily, for example with breakfast and lunch together with veggies you will notice a large difference together with your skin as well as your energy. Brown rice has been consumed for centuries in Asia. The diet of the Asian people influenced their health and well being over time. It can be seen today in their physical appearance. Their skin looks good and they have good digestion, generally speaking. However, you need to chew rice it a great deal because like anything else it's not easy to digest. Should you really have trouble with digestion you need to soak brown grain rice over evening not less than six to eight hrs.

It is good to use stainless kitchenware from Europe to organize brown grain. Special cook ware will influence the quality of the final brown rice, especially when you are eating at a public establishment where they cook higher volumes. You may also prepare veggies within this cook ware without water, which will help preserve nutrition since the vegetable is ready in the own juice. Try to follow quality recipes and alter them based on the season. During the cold months prepare more meals that need more cooking. During the time of the summer season prepare salads, raw veggies, but also have cooked veggies.

To prepare the brown rice you utilize single serving of brown grain with 2 glasses of water and get it to boil. Boiling the water does not take very long. You utilize a pinch of salt per cup. When it reaches the boiling point use the simmer for just one hour. Brown grain is among the simplest methods to prepare grains. It's not necessary to soak before you mix it throughout the entire process of cooking. However, soaking can improve the cooking process.

Use short grain organic brown grain. The main difference between brown and whitened grain is the fact that brown grain has got the fiber. The fiber in whitened grain is polished off. Fiber is essential for digestion. Brown grain can also be just like a vacuum in your body, it will help to digest and clean harmful toxins in the body. Consuming brown rice on a regular basis will help you detox as well as give you the nutrition you need to stay healthy. When dining out make sure you visit a cafe that serves organic brown rice.

Aneta Arutcheva is the founder of Antalee Cafe in Glenview, North Shore Chicago. Organic North Shore serves organic brown rice, among other things.

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Fried Rice Recipes With Dried Shrimp

Ingredients for the Fried Rice recipes with Dried Shrimp:

3 tablespoons oil
1 egg, beaten with 2 teaspoons water
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 spring onions, chopped 1/2 cup (60 g/2 oz.) dried shrimp, roughly chopped
4 cups (750 g/1 1/2lb)
cold cooked rice (see HINT)
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 teaspoons Golden Mountain sauce
1 cup (30 g/1 oz.) coriander leaves
1/4 pineapple, cut into pieces
1 cucumber, chopped chilli sauce for serving

Directions for the Fried Rice recipes with Dried Shrimp:

1. When you want to cook the Fried Rice recipes with Dried Shrimp you should start by heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok. Pour in the beaten egg and swirl the wok until the egg sets. Cut into quarters, flip each quarter and cook the other side. Remove the egg from the wok and cut it into thin strips.

2. Add the remaining oil and stir-fry the garlic, spring onions and shrimp for 2 minutes. Add the rice and stir-fry for 5 minutes over high heat until the rice is heated through.

3. Add the sauces, coriander and omelette strips to the wok and toss well. Arrange the rice on a serving platter. Mix together the pineapple and cucumber and serve as an accompaniment to the rice, with a little chilli sauce on the side.

Nutritional Value for the Fried Rice recipes with Dried Shrimp:

Protein 5.5 g;
Fat 16 g;
Carbohydrate 40 g;
Fibre 2 g;
Cholesterol 45mg;
Energy 1380kj(330cal).

Hint for the Fried Rice recipes with Dried Shrimp:

You will need to cook 1 1/3 cups of raw rice to get 4 cupfuls. Do not forget to cook the rice the day before and leave it in the fridge overnight so the grains can dry out and separate before frying.

Shirley M. Duran is a mother of two and a cooking enthusiast and at her website you can find recipes like the rotisserie chicken recipe and others similar as well. For more informations you can visit: http://rotisseriechickenrecipe.info/

Copyright © Shirley M. Duran, All Rights Reserved. If you are interested in using this article make all the urls (links) active. Thank you!

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Jamaican Food Recipes - Rice and Peas

The most Jamaican of Jamaican food recipes has to be Rice and Peas. The world may know us for jerk chicken, but Rice and Peas is our comfortable old friend that we just cannot do without.

We eat it so often that it has become known as our "Coat of Arms". Ask a Jamaican about Sunday dinner, and the words "Rice and Peas" will almost definitely be in the answer. Some of us will eat it every day, and with every type of meat. Or with just gravy. Or all by itself.

Other countries in the world have variations, but none is exactly like ours, made delicious with coconut milk and the perfect blend of seasonings.

Before powdered and canned coconut milk and canned peas came on the market, the preparation of rice and peas was a lengthy process. A dry coconut would have to be split, the coconut meat taken out and grated, then put through a sieve and the milk squeezed out. Some people still prefer to do it this way, but in addition to being time consuming, grating coconut is not easy on the fingers. So those of us who treasure our hands are grateful that we have easier alternatives to grating!

Ready to cook?

Jamaican Rice and Peas

2 cups parboiled rice1/2 cup red peas, dried or canned4 cups water1 50g sachet of coconut milk powder, or 1/2 of a 400ml can of coconut milk1 tsp salt1 small onion, chopped1 stalk escallion (crushed)1 sprig thyme1/4 tsp pimento (all spice)pinch of black pepper1 whole green scotch bonnet pepper (or other hot pepper)

If using dried peas, soak them for a few hours (or overnight) in water to soften. Boil peas in cold water until tender. Pour off stock from peas and measure. Add enough water and coconut milk/coconut milk powder to make 4 cups of liquid, and add to peas.

If using canned peas, there is no need to cook them beforehand. Just add the four cups of liquid as described above.

To the mixture of peas, water and coconut milk, add all the seasonings and spices. Allow to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

Add the rice to this mixture, and stir well. Increase flame until liquid boils. Then reduce heat and cover. Simmer until rice grains are tender. Apart from the first stir, try not to stir the mixture again while cooking, as this might make it sticky.

A delicious alternative to red peas is gungo (pigeon) peas. This version is especially popular at Christmas time when gungo is in season. Use canned or green gungo peas. There is no need to soak green gungo. Merely boil until tender, then continue the recipe as described.

Rice and Peas makes a nutritious, filling and tasty accompaniment to a wide array of meat dishes.

It also makes a good meal for vegetarians, as the peas provide a lot of protein.

Rice and peas is just one of our scrumptious Jamaican food recipes. Jamaica is an exciting place, and so is Jamaican food!

Allison Morris' website about St. Elizabeth, Jamaica is also a storehouse of information about Jamaican culture. Visit this entertaining and information-packed site at http://www.real-jamaica-vacations.com

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How to Make Homemade Chicken Chow Mein and Rice

When it comes to cooking Asian-style food, I find it difficult to find easy to prepare recipes that use ingredients that I can readily find at my local supermarket.

This particular recipe was given to us a few years ago by a friend. His wife is a fantastic cook and was gracious enough to share her recipe with us.

Time Saving Tip: If you want to save some time, chop up your fresh vegetables, precook your chicken and rice the day before and then refrigerate in separate containers. The next evening when you get home from work, you can have this meal on the dinner table in less than 20 minutes.

Chicken Chow Mein And Rice Recipe

12 oz. cooked chicken, de-boned and diced into pieces

1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

2 oz. water chestnuts

1 cup bean sprouts

1/2 cup celery, chopped

2 tablespoons onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons of warm water

1 cup cooked white rice

1 cup warm water

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

In a large sauce pan, simmer the chopped onion and celery in 2 tablespoons of water for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the 1 cup of water, cornstarch, soy sauce and ground ginger. Simmer this mixture over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Stir in the diced chicken and remaining ingredients. Heat this mixture over medium heat for approximately 10 minutes. Your vegetables should be crisp and tender but not soggy.

Serve over 1/2 cup of cooked white rice. This recipe makes 2 hearty servings.

Shelly Hill has been working from home since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Shelly enjoys cooking and baking for her family and friends and trying out new recipes. You can visit Shelly online at http://www.workathomebusinessoptions.com or at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com for additional free recipes and cooking tips.

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Spanish Chicken and Rice Recipe

Once you have practice dong a recipe you can begin to add a little extra touches that can make it more enjoyable to the family and friends. Take a look at this recipe for rice and chicken and you will have a masterpiece of culinary art. Enjoy.

You will need:

All purpose flour (2 tablespoons)
Salt (1 teaspoon, divided)
Pepper (1/4 teaspoon)
Chicken breast (2 halves with bone)
Butter or margarine (1 tablespoon)
Onion (1/2 cup, chopped)
Green pepper (1/4 cup)
Garlic (1 clove, minced)
Pimento (1 jar or 2.5 ounce, drained)
Uncooked Rice (1/2 cup)
Chicken broth (1 ¼ cups)
Turmeric (1/2 teaspoon)
Chili powder (1/8 teaspoon)

How to do it:

First take a large resalable plastic bag and combine here the flour and ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper, in here add the chicken and shake until it is well coated. Now that you have the chicken prepared take a large skillet and a brown chicken in butter over medium heat, remove the chicken from fire and set aside, but keep it warm. Now take the pan drippings and sauté onion, green pepper and garlic until tender. In here add the pimento and the rice, now reduce the heat but keep cooking for another two minutes and remember to stir constantly. Now add the broth turmeric and chili powder, you can stir the remaining salt too and keep everything cooking until it reaches a boiling point. Finally before you finish pour into an ungreased baking dish and top it with the chicken. Bake this during 45 minutes at 350º degreed or until the juices from the chicken are almost gone and the rice is tender.

If you would like to get more information on Spanish Rice or similar recipes, please visit our site at Spanish Rice Recipes

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What Happened to Throwing Rice at Weddings? How the Wedding Rice Toss is Changing at Modern Weddings

It's one of those old-fashioned images we all remember from childhood: a newly married couple rush down the steps of the church to their car while their friends and family shower them with wedding rice. The idea of throwing rice at weddings may still be in our popular consciousness, but if you've attended any weddings in the past 20 years chances are you've seen few, if any, actual examples of wedding rice in practice. Although people have been tossing rice at weddings for thousands of years, its use at the contemporary wedding is in decline. Fortunately there are a couple of eco-friendly wedding rice alternatives for all you modern brides that's bringing back this traditional image in a unique way.

History and the Decline of the Wedding Rice Toss

But before we discuss alternatives we're left with the questions, "Where did the wedding rice toss come from, and where did it go?" Weddings are nothing if not an outlet for traditions, and throwing rice is one of the oldest that's still practiced today. Tossing rice at weddings owes its origins to the ancient Celts, for whom it was a symbol of growth and fertility. This special symbolism, possibly combined with the fact that it's simply fun to throw confetti and it looks beautiful airborne, has made throwing rice a ubiquitous part of weddings in western culture for most of its history.

Two developments have changed that in recent decades. First is the popular misconception, sometimes attributed to Ann Landers, that the rice tossed at weddings gets eaten by birds, expands in their stomachs, and hurts or kills them. The good news for birds is this myth is completely untrue -- birds actually eat grains of rice in the wild to supplement their diets, with no ill effects. Unfortunately for the tradition, however, this myth continues to be widely circulated.

The second and most significant reason for the practice's decline is simply that many churches and venues prohibit it. Tossing all that rice at your wedding can make a huge mess, one that the venue is left to clean. There is also an issue with the shape of rice grains, which are usually round, as they can roll underneath shoe heels and create a slipping hazard, making rice an insurance liability that many churches are unwilling to accept.

Bubbles as a Wedding Rice Alternative

If you were contemplating a wedding rice toss at your ceremony, don't worry, because there are wedding rice alternatives you can try instead. If you were ever a kid you should already be familiar with our first suggestion, and that's blow bubbles. That's right, bubbles are an airy, almost dream-like wedding rice alternative that look spectacular and leave nothing to clean up. You can even find wedding bubbles that are packaged in bottles with shapes like hearts, doves, and bells to distribute to your guests. Imagine 30 or more of your friends and loved ones, all blowing bubbles simultaneously, and you can get a sense of just how grand this practice can look.

And if you're worried about that soapy water getting in your hair or on everyone's nice clothes, don't be. Most wedding bubbles are made from a solution that is non-toxic and non-staining, making them safe for kids and your dress. In fact, you can even place a few kids in charge of the bubble blowing on your big day. This is a great way to make children feel like an important part of your celebration, and we guarantee you won't find a more enthusiastic group of blowers.

Biodegradable Wedding Rice Alternatives

The second wedding rice alternative gives the tradition a real 21st century makeover. Ecofetti is a water soluble tossing confetti that's also fully biodegradable. Ecofetti can be thrown like wedding rice, only it's lighter and tends to stay airborne a little longer. It's described as being safe for the environment, does not present a slipping hazard, and once your wedding is over it can be hosed away in minutes or, according to the manufacturer, left to dissolve on its own within about 48 hours.

Ecofetti has the texture of finely cut paper, much like traditional confetti, but is also available in a variety of "rice cuts" that look and feel a little more like classic throwing rice. Ecofetti also comes in a wide variety of colors that can be mixed, matched, and combined -- it still comes in white, too.

Compressed Wedding Rice

But if these wedding rice alternatives just don't do it for you and you're still committed to the original tradition, there's a modern day option for you here as well. Designer wedding rice is available that uses a process to compress rice grains into a non-round shape, usually something like hearts. This compressed rice lies flat when it hits the ground and can be crushed under foot, minimizing the risk of falls. It also breaks down faster than regular rice grains and will gradually dissolve on its own. Like regular rice it's also safe for birds, so don't feel bad if the local wildlife does a little of the post-wedding cleaning for you.

Talk to Your Venue about Your Options

Many venues that prohibit wedding rice tosses are willing to make exceptions for these alternatives, so be sure to discuss your options with the administrators of yours. Chances are you'll find a way to make those indelible wedding images a part of your special day, and you'll be helping to revive a timeless tradition that's been around for almost long as there have been weddings.

About the Author:
Brian Cross regularly writes articles and guides related to do-it-yourself wedding planning for BridesVillage.com, a wedding accessories retailer. He is also a freelance writer, researcher, and content developer.

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Delicious Chicken Creole Over Brown Rice

When we think of Creole cooking, Louisianna in general and New Orleans in particular come to mind. Creole cooking is a combination of French and Spanish cookery with influences from African Americans, native Americans, and other settlers of Louisiana. Creole dishes are quite often spicy and usually have peppers, celery, tomatoes, hot pepper sauce, and more. The dish presented here uses several of these ingredients and is usually served over cooked long grain brown rice.

Although this recipe calls for chicken breast, you could easily substitute shrimp, cut up fish, lobster, or any other food from the sea. A combination of chicken and shrimp would make a good "surf and turf" dish and I am sure would be delicious also. Next time you are in the mood for a traditional Southern recipe try this one. Your guests will be pleased!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 chicken breast 'tenders' cut into bite size pieces
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, diced
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
4 oz mushrooms sliced

Instructions

1 - Heat olive oil in large skillet
2 - Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic
3 - Saute' until onion is translucent
4 - Remove vegetables and set aside
5 - Add chicken pieces to same skillet and saute' until browned
6 - Add back the reserved vegetables and add all the spices.
7 - Cover and simmer under reduced heat for 20-30 minutes.
8 - Add mushrooms and simmer another 5 minutes.

Comment - Served over browned rice it tastes great!

My name is Frank Ernhart. I am a retired engineer, self-made chef with over 1600 recipes, some original, some previously published all FREE. I hope you will click on some advertising links while there to help it grow. The website is http://www.frankernhart.com

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How Dangerous Are Red Yeast Rice Side Effects?

What are red yeast rice side effects? Is it a safe natural alternative to help support balanced cholesterol levels?

These are valid questions especially in view of the controversy generated around red yeast rice the last several years as several popular brands of red yeast rice (RYR) supplements were pulled from the market by the FDA.

RYR has been used for over a thousand years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a promoter of blood circulation and a digestive stimulant.

Recent research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concludes that red yeast rice has significant cholesterol-lowering effects.

Based on recent research, 62 people who were unable to continue treatment with prescription cholesterol lowering drugs due to adverse side effects, took RYR supplements and made lifestyle adjustments for six months. After three months, the LDL (so-called "bad" cholesterol) levels of those taking the active supplements had declined 27%, compared to 6% in the placebo group.

Red Yeast Rice Side Effects - Is It Safe?

In 2007, several brands of popular RYR supplements were pulled from the market by the FDA. The official reason given was safety concerns because of the use of standardized extracts which FDA tests found contained high levels of lovastatin, the active ingredient in Mevacor, a prescription drug approved for marketing in the United States as a treatment for high cholesterol.

Although safety reasons were the official explanation for pulling the RYR products, there has been legal dispute as to whether RYR is a drug or a dietary supplement, involving the supplement manufacturers, the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry, particularly producers of so-called "statin drugs."

Apparently, the safety concern is based on the known risks and side effects of prescription cholesterol lowering statin drugs which rely on lovastatin as the main active ingredient. The safety concern was for only certain red yeast rice supplements containing high levels of the standardized extract lovastatin. This is why manufacturers of holistic herbal remedies don't use or approve of the standardization process.

The standardization process involves the isolation and concentration of a single ingredient (lovastatin for example). This is done with harsh chemicals, traces of which can't be fully removed from the final product. It's a well known principle in traditional herbalism that isolation and concentration enhances the potency of a single ingredient while also increasing the risk of side effects.

Another recent example of the dangers of using this manufacturing process includes the development of liver toxicity from using Kava Kava standardized extract, an herb which has been safely used for hundreds of years.

Red yeast rice in its natural state consists of 14 monacolin compounds such as monacolin K, a natural lovastatin. From a holistic point-of-view these other monacolins, along with its naturally occurring fatty acids, anti-oxidants and other nutrients, work together to enhance its cholesterol-balancing and other health enhancing benefits without producing negative side effects.

The mainstream medical community is slow to accept red yeast rice as an alternative to statin drugs, even though there is no solid evidence that RYR is unsafe. The quality of nutritional supplements on the market does vary and it's the responsibility of the supplement user to locate high quality products manufactured by companies that follow agreed upon good manufacturing practices (GMP).

If you have concerns about red yeast rice side effects, look for supplements produced without the use of standardized extracts. Take a little time to read labels and research products. If you have questions or concerns, consult your health care provider before starting any supplementation program.

Max Wardlow is an independent natural health and nutritional supplement researcher and helps manage a website about natural remedies. Visit today to find out more about safe, high quality red yeast rice supplements.

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