The Food Snob: Making a Baby Carriage

The Food Snob: Making a Baby Carriage: "Ever wanted to randomly create a Baby Carriage out of a Watermelon??? Wellll Just in case you were curious, here are some steps!: Always..."

Making a Baby Carriage

Ever wanted to randomly create a Baby Carriage out of a Watermelon??? Wellll Just in case you were curious, here are some steps!:

Always wash your fruit. Watermelon carries germs and dirt on it's skin so if you cut into it without washing, you are transmitting that dirt and germ via the knife into the melon..same with all tough flesh fruit (Cantaloupes, Honeydews, Oranges...)

Cut a thiiiin slice off the bottom so it can sit flat. Usually the Melon will have a natural flat point (from growing on the ground)



 

A little past the half way point on the melon, draw a line over across the melon (leaving space at the bottom, and connect the line across)



Carefully carve along the outside of the drawn line.



This is what you end up with

If you have a melon baller you can scoop out little balls and add to a bowl of mixed fruit. The mixed fruit will be placed in the watermelon once everything is done.



Carve out the rest of the meat. The rest can be used for soup, smoothie or a nice libation :)



Carved out Melon



Here I am carving out little ridges with a small knife. Be gentle.



End Result

Remember this piece? We are going to cut out that odd shape.



The Wheels are Naval Oranges put in place with toothpicks.

I added some cherries to the wheel. Some people use kiwi fruit.

Tah Dah! Congratualations!

Finale of Eating Healthy Series: Salt and Peppa

This one is real short..Just some tidbits on Salt and Pepper

Salt is used to:

• Preserve Foods
• Make Ice cream
• Aid in Fermenting Yeast
• Melt Ice (ahh hmmm Atlanta..)
• Enhance the flavor of foods- (Even on a low sodium diet- a DASH of Salt brings of the flavor of what you are cooking)
• Balances Bitterness and Acidity

(hit me up if you are interested in the different types of salt and what is used for what)

Pepper:

• Can boost your immune system!
• Peppercorns are red as they mature. When left in the Sun they turn black (ah ha!)
• White pepper is just black pepper with the husk removed..
• Vital to good digestion of fatty foods
• Black peppercorns contain the most essential oils so it has the most Powerful punch!

The Food Snob: Double Whammy! Grains and Being Fiberific (Eating ...

The Food Snob: Double Whammy! Grains and Being Fiberific (Eating ...: "Holier Than Thou Whole Grains: Whole Grains are the entire edible portion of the grain. Refining grains removes the bran (outer shell)..."

Double Whammy! Grains and Being Fiberific (Eating Healthy 4&5)

Holier Than Thou Whole Grains:

• Whole Grains are the entire edible portion of the grain. 
• Refining grains removes the bran (outer shell) and the germ (embryo). When we lose the bran and germ we lose Fiber, Antioxidants and Vitamins. :( :(
•  examples of refined grains: Cornmeal and White Flour
• Make sure that when you buy multigrain that it is not made with refined flour. The First Ingredient on the label should be Whole Wheat Flour or Whole Grain Flour

W(holy) Examples:
Oatmeal (not instant)
Popcorn
Whole Wheat Bread or Pasta
Wild Rice
Barley
Brown Rice
Buckwheat
Bulgur (Cracked Wheat)
Millet

Being FIBERIFIC!!

• Fiber makes you feel fuller longer!
• Lowers LDL (Bad) Cholesterol from the body
• Promotes Regularity (eh hmm)
• Prevents Gastrointestinal Issues (eh eh eh hmm)
• Slows down the Absorption of glucose into the blood stream

Where do I This Amazing Fiber???
-Fruits                       -Vegetables                     -Legumes (peas and beans beans the musical fruit)      

The Food Snob: Are You Fatty?? (Healthy Eating Part Tres)

The Food Snob: Are You Fatty?? (Healthy Eating Part Tres): "What do Fats do?? They Moderate the speed of absorption of High GI foods. Fats are stored in the body for energy, but is not produced by th..."

Are You Fatty?? (Healthy Eating Part Tres)

What do Fats do??

They Moderate the speed of absorption of High GI foods.

Fats are stored in the body for energy, but is not produced by the body

Fats contain Fatty Acids that aid in growth and development, especially with children.

FAT MAKES THINGS TASTE GOOD..YUMM

BUT EVERYTHING in MOD-ER-A-TION!!!!

Types of Fat:

Unsaturated fats- Come from Plant sources

           Liquid at room temperature

Saturated Fats- Come from Animal sources

           Solid at room temperature

Healthier Fat Options

1. Use Olive Oil (Check out Mediterranean Diets) or Flavorless oils such as Grape Seed Oil (has a high smoke point FYI), Canola Oils. Sometimes I do half oil half butter depending on the recipe..
2. Use store bought salad dressings in moderation. Fat-Free dressing often replaces the fat with sugar or refined carbs and can leave you hungry.... Try making you own or just use oil and vinegar (see below for a couple Salad dressing recipes)
3. Processed meats can host bad fats and carbs. Nothing wrong with Chicken breast, but it can be pricey. Try using Chicken thighs but trimming the fat off before cooking.
4. Choose low-fat dairy. Because dairy is an Animal by-product it contains Saturated Fats. Limit that intake when possible.
5. Eat Fatty Fish!: Salmon, Tuna, Sardines contains high levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids (which can improve cholesterol)  
6. EAT Avocados- they contain good and heart healthy fats (Thanks MH) 
   
7. Cook at Home (OR HIRE ME!). Fried foods in restaurants tend to have hig levels of Trans Fats.

                (Trans fats (or Trans Fatty Acids) are created in and industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. Another name for trans fats is "partially hydrogenated oils." So keep an eye out when reading package labels!)

BEST Ways to cook to minimize the added fat:

• Roasting
• Grilling
• Baking
• Poaching
• Steaming

Honey Mustard Dressing
1/2C Mustard
1/2C Honey
Mix

Basic Vinaigrette
1/2c Vinegar (Apple Cider, Balsamic, Raspberry, etc)
1C  Oil (Olive, Grapeseed, Canola)
1 shallot, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
2TBSP Dijon Mustard or Honey

Combine Vinegar, Shallot, garlic, Mustard and/or Honey. Blend in Oil slowly (Easier: Process in blender)