Tea is the world's most popular beverage, next to water. But, some people are still fairly new to tea drinking, and are still learning the popular varieties and deciding which ones are they like best. One of the tea varieties that's most popular today is white tea. White tea comes from the same plant as black and green teas, the camellia sinensis. What makes white tea different is when it is harvested and how it's processed. White tea is...more
In recent years, America has seen the rise of the soda, with millions of gallons of soda consumed in the country each year. Many people drink multiple sodas each day and drink away hundreds of calories in the sodas alone. Newer studies are showing that some sodas that are filled with sugar and empty calories may be contributing to obesity in the nation, as well as other health problems as well. Some are beginning to recognize the dangers and...more
Many tea drinkers are unfamiliar with Imperial Formosa oolong teas. Oolong teas, in general, are not as well known in the Western world as other teas, but they are certainly worth investigating. Oolong teas are those that are fermented for a shorter period of time than black teas. This shorter fermentation period creates a tea that is a bit blacker than green tea, but a bit greener than black tea. This "middle ground" that is oolong tea produces an extremely fragrant cup of tea, with slightly more complex flavors than other teas. Oolong teas originated, like most other teas, in China many years ago. Formosa oolongs, however are different than these traditional Chinese oolong teas. Formosa oolong teas are produced in Taiwan. They are referred to as Formosa oolong teas because Formosa was the original name for Taiwan. Oolong teas are different from other teas in the special attention that they require for proper processing. Oolong leaves are plucked by hand, and then allowed to wither and dry. Chinese oolong teas typically wither in sheds while Formosa oolong teas are withered and dried in the sun. Then the tea leaves must be bruised slightly to begin the oxidation process. During...more
Most people associate oolong tea with China. And, it's true that China is where oolong tea originated and that most of the oolong tea produced in the world today is produced in China. However, oolong teas from Taiwan, known as Formosa oolong teas are delicious too, and should certainly be part of your regular collection of teas. Taiwan, in fact, is...more
Preparation is the key when you're going to cook asparagus. There are several methods of cooking boiling, grilling, steaming, or roasting. The microwave is also a good option when cooking asparagus. Cut the asparagus into sections and you can use it in stirfries you can also blanch the asparagus and use it in vegetable dips. Of course, there's...more
Southern Cooking - Add Some Spice With This New RecipeBeing born and raised in the deep South, I do not know where my recently developed taste for spicy food came from. I do not remember much spicy food being served at the dinner table when I was growing up. Although life has taken me far from the South, my love for the Southern cuisine has never diminished. And, this new love for adding "spicy" to my Southern dishes has me a little pleasantly surprised. I was unaware that my taste for spicy food or additives had blended into my daily diet of Southern dishes. But, recently I recognized that I was on to something. Maybe, the rest of the world has been eating like this forever, but it was new to me. And, as I searched the internet to see if anyone was suggesting adding spicy flavor to Southern recipes, I could not find any.You may argue that cajun food has always been spicy. Some may consider that Southern food, since it originated in Louisiana. And, yes, I agree cajun food is spicy. However, to me Cajun food is a breed of it's own. It's not what I would call traditional Southern food.I'm talking about green beans, fried okra, black eyed peas, cornbread and turnip greens. And,...more
If you're new to flavored teas, there's a real treat in store for you. There's a tea for every taste and with so many blends to choose, from you'll likely have difficulty deciding on just one or two. The best flavored teas are created from blending...more
If you own a restaurant or are having a large family get together, serving lobsters for dinner isn't as expensive as you think. While a fancy restaurant might charge 30-40 dollars a plate, you can order live Maine lobster for as little at 6 or 7...more
People want to eat healthy foods today, and a good way to accomplish that is through poultry. There are some chicken cooking tips that can help you in the kitchen and protect your family as well.Here are a few of the best chicken cooking tips...more
Baking can be complicated if an individual does not know what they are doing. Here are some cooking tips and guidelines to assist these individuals. Before an individual gets started, there are a few steps that should be followed first. These cooking...more
Does the idea that good food has to take a long time to make keep you from spending time cooking? There are many ways to help speed and efficiency in the kitchen. The arrangement of your kitchen, as well as the tools you use, make all the difference....more
Get ready, a cooking revolution is at the kitchen door. What the cell phone did for the telecommunication industry, induction cooking is now doing for the food industry. While the technology has been around for decades, in recent years it has been...more