Candy corn - over 100 yrs old!

Did you know candy corn is over 100 yrs old? Neither did I.

Check out more by clicking on the link below:

http://www.kitchendaily.com/read/candy-corn-history-halloween?icid=stnwsltr%7Ckitchendaily%7Cdaily

Stocks by Chef Gordon Ramsay

Why purchase stock when you can make your own? Chef Gordon Ramsay shows you how to make these basic stocks simple. Either use within 5 days or store in freezer in smaller amounts for up to 3 months.

Vegetable Stock

Yield - about 6 cups (1.5 liters)

• 3 onions, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 leek, washed and roughly chopped
• 2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
• 6 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 head of garlic, halved lengthwise
• 1 tsp (5 ml) white peppercorns
• 1 bay leaf
• few thyme, basil, tarragon, cilantro and parsley springs, tied together
• 3/4 cup (200 ml) dry white wine
• sea salt and black pepper

Place all items except for wine and herb bundle into a large stockpot and cover with 8 cups cold water. Bring to a boil, lower to simmer and gently simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and add herb bundle and wine. Re-season with salt and black pepper. Give stock a stir and let cool completely.

Chill stock overnight before straining it. Strain through a fine strainer into a bowl.

Either use within 5 days or store in freezer in smaller amounts for up to 3 months.

Fish Stock

Yield - about 4 cups (1 liter)

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 celery stalk, diced
• 1 small fennel bulb, chopped
• sea salt and black pepper
• 2 lbs white fish bones and trimmings (or crab or lobster shells)
• 1/3 cup dry white wine

Heat oil in a stock pot and add onion, celery, fennel and a little seasoning. Stir over medium head for 3-4 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften but not brown. Add fish bones, trimmings and wine; the pour in enough cold water to cover the ingredients. Simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool.

Ladle the stock through a fine strainer into a bowl.

Either use within 2 days or store in freezer in smaller amounts for up to 3 months.

Chicken Stock

Yield - about 6 cups (1.5 liters)

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1 onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 leek, washed and sliced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 thyme sprig
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 lb raw chicken bones
• sea salt and black pepper

Heat oil in a stock pot and add vegetables, herbs and garlic. Stir over medium head for 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are golden. Stir in tomato paste and flour and cook for another minute. Add chicken bones, and pour in enough cold water to cover the ingredients. Season lightly with salt and black pepper. Bring to a boil and skim off any scum that develops on surface. Reduce heat and let simmer for 60 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool.

Ladle the stock through a fine strainer into a bowl.

Either use within 5 days or store in freezer in smaller amounts for up to 3 months.

Optional: To make a more richer and flavorful chicken stock, try roasting the bones in the oven on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes before adding them to the stock. Then follow as noted.

Beef Stock

Yield - about 6 cups (1.5 liters)

• 3 lbs beef or veal marrow bones, chopped into 2-1/2" pieces
• 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 2 carrots, peeled
• 2 onions, peeled
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 large fennel bulb, trimmed
• 3-1/2 ounces white mushrooms
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 thyme sprig
• 1 tsp black peppercorns

Heat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Put bones in a roasting pan and drizzle with a little olive oil. Roast for 1 hour, turning over halfway, until browned. Meanwhile, cut the carrots, onions, celery and fennel into 2-inch chunks.

Heat oil in a stock pot and add vegetables. Cook, stirring frequently, over high heat until golden. Stir in tomato paste and cook for another 2 minutes. Add browned bones, and pour in enough cold water to cover the ingredients. Add mushrooms, bay leaf, thyme and peppercorns. Simmer for 6-8 hours until stock has a deep, rich flavor.

Ladle the stock through a fine strainer into a bowl.

Either use within 5 days or store in freezer in smaller amounts for up to 3 months.

DASH Diet vs. Mediterranean Diet

An interesting read on the comparison of both diets. Worth reading.

When it comes to diets which are considered to be healthy by experts, it is no surprise that two of the top contenders are balanced, nutritious diets containing a healthy variety of foods from all the food groups.  Whilst numerous fad diets may be successful ways to lose weight, when it comes to overall health, the Mediterranean diet and Dash have been shown to have the best results.  However, is one of these diets healthier than the other or is either a great choice for good health?

What is the Mediterranean diet?

The Med diet is based on the traditional way of eating for countries on the Mediterranean coast, the people from many of which have been shown to have longer lifespans and less incidence of lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity.  High in heart healthy fats from olive oil and fish, it also involves a high intake of fruit, vegetables and nuts and often includes an attractive low to moderate intake of red wine.  The diet is low in saturated fats and is based mainly on whole foods, avoiding the majority of processed foods.

The key components of the diet include eating mainly plant based foods, whole grains, legumes and nuts, consuming healthy fats rather than trans of saturated fats by replacing foods such as butter with olive oil and using herbs and spices to flavor food rather than salt.  Red meat should be eaten only a few times a month with fish and poultry the main proteins sources.  There is also a strong emphasis on being physically active and sharing food and mealtimes.

What is the DASH diet?

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, or DASH, was first created by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute as the ideal eating plan to lower the blood pressure.  It is not designed specifically for weight loss, however, due to the healthy nature of the diet this is often a side effect.  There are two versions of the diet, one which limits sodium intake to 2,300 mg/day and for those with certain conditions, a version limiting sodium to 1500mg/day.

The diet focuses on portion control, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, lowering fat intake, with a specific focus on including healthy monounsaturated fats, and limiting intake of sweets and alcohol.

What are the key differences?

Whilst the two diets share many common features such as their focus on a high intake of fruit and vegetables, fish, and whole grains and a low intake of salt, there are also some key differences.  The DASH diet tends to take a more prescriptive approach, giving more specific guidelines as to serve sizes and nutrients such as sodium.  The Med diet is a more relaxed lifestyle type diet, giving recommendations for intake rather than specific guidelines for nutrients, which may suit some people.  The Med diet is also less strict when it comes to alcohol consumption and encourages less meat consumption and more a higher intake of healthy fats than the DASH diet.

Both diets are designed for overall health and well being, rather than simply as a weight loss solution and offer a wide variety of whole foods, whilst steering clear of processed foods.

Which diet is healthier?

A ranking of the best overall diets carried out by a team of experts at U.S. News and World Report saw the DASH diet come at number one with a score of 4.1 out of 5.  The ranking system took into account the effectiveness of each of the 29 reviewed diets in categories including nutritional completeness, safety, ease with which it could be followed, long and  short term weight loss, heart disease prevention and diabetes prevention and management.

In the same ranking system, the Mediterranean diet came in at number four with a score of 3.9 out of 5.  Although it was the top plant based diet and received positive reviews from the majority of experts, the higher fat levels may mean that this diet is not quite so efficient for weight loss than the DASH diet.

Although this diet evaluation saw the DASH diet come out on top in terms of health, there is no doubt that both diets represent a healthy and varied way of eating that can have numerous health benefits.  With the majority of Americans eating a large quantity of fast and processed foods as part of a diet high in unhealthy saturated fats, sugar, salt and calories, a change to either of these diets is likely to bring about an improvement in health.

When choosing a diet for health benefits, people should not only consider the expert opinion on the health benefits of a diet, but also take into account which of the diets fits in better with their personal way of eating and will be easiest to follow for them.  A diet which involves fewer changes in eating habits and is easier to adapt to is more likely to become a long term way of eating.  Cost may also be factored into the equation and should be considered when choosing an appropriate diet.

A KEY NOTE ABOUT BOTH FROM MY OPINON: The Mediterranean Diet is more like a lifestyle than a diet. It is a healthier lifestyle, combined with food, exercise and well being, wrapped up into a big and life-changing package; whereas the DASH Diet is just that - a diet.