Can eating canned soups help you stay healthy?  The answer is both a “yes” and a “no“.

Before I get into giving you the pros and cons on canned soups,  I want to let you know that I am a believer that  canned soups contain too many additives, preservatives, and salts.  Healthy and nutritious soups come from making them yourself.

There is nothing better than eating a hearty bowl of soup you made from scratch.  You do not need to read a label to find out what is in the soup, you already know because you put the ingredients together and created your own delicious soup.

There is no substitution for homemade soup.  Canned soup just do not have the fresh flavor and wholesome taste that you get from making soup yourself.

Most canned soups are tasteless with a commercial appeal for the masses.  People  become accustomed to eating  canned soups and forget about the more healthy taste and flavor of delicious homemade soups.

I make up my soup and freeze them in pint size containers and eat soups  through out the year.

Soups are so easy to make.  If cooking time is a problem for you, try getting and storing  several  good Soup mixes .  All you need to do is add a few ingredients serve a salad with it and a delicious corn bread mix.  

If you need to lose weight, try including  Soups to your diet.    You can make a soup from just about any kind of fresh vegetable, fruit, poultry, fish, meat or combination of all. Then you only need to add the spices you like to your soup.  Always try leaving out the salt until after you finish cooking your soup.  Salt really suppresses the natural flavor of food.

Here is a very easy soup you can make.  I prefer using chicken in stead of beef although the homemade beef  & vegetable soup is excellent.  You get all of the daily nutritional requirements to ensure that  your body carries on its vital processes successfully. Our bodies must also meet  daily allowance of vitamins, minerals, and fiber to helps in the overall well-being  that armors the body against common illnesses and daily stresses.

Watch

Right  now in our food industries, there are debates  brewing over the healthiness of canned soups.  Many claim of the health benefits of canned soups  even though they contain high amounts of sodium and mono sodium glutamate.  People, especially those under dietary restrictions can still enjoy low-sodium canned soups.

One of the main advantage  of  eating canned foods is the quick and easy preparation that suits the fast-paced, busy lifestyle of urban living.  Simply open the can pour the soup in a bowl and place it in the  microwave.  Or, you can purchase the pre package bowl of soup to heat in the oven and, presto, you have a hot soup ready for lunch.

There are hundreds of stews and soups you can find in your local grocery store shelf including many of your favorite soup recipes.

The process of canning is purportedly to ensure the freshness of foods. Many canned stews and soups are sealed in their freshness that last for a maximum of two years. The process of canning is a convenient way of preserving vegetables that are in season and make them available off-season. Most companies have canneries located just a few miles from the farms, to ensure the ingredients are picked and packed on the same day.

Fortunately, many of the brands of canned soups and stews now specify the amount of sodium in each serving. As the vegetables are sealed in freshness, you are assured of getting higher levels of essential vitamins and minerals. Canned tomatoes are said to contain more of the cancer-fighting enzyme, lycopene, compared to their fresh counterparts.

Stews and soups containing large chunks of vegetables and meat can also provide equal or higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and protein compared to the fresh options. Most of the nutrients as well as protein are not lost to canning but are simply preserved in sterilized cans.

Remember, the secret to eating canned soups is to read the labels to stay on the healthy zone and to avoid eating what you shouldn’t. However, if you’re apprehensive on eating processed soups, there are always plenty of  soup recipes that enable you to make substitutions to control your intake of fats and sodium.

Make and create your own homemade  soups, it is fun and better in the long run for you and your health. 

Barbeque Maintenance Tips

When purchasing your barbeque grill, think of it as an investment rather then just another item for your outdoor entertainment.  Take care of your GRILL like you do your car.  You should expect this item to become a large part of your outdoor activities for many years to come. But like any other investments, proper maintenance and care is needed to ensure that your barbeque grill will work for you for many years to come.  While some maintenance and cleaning is specific to the type of barbeque grill your own (gas, electric, charcoal or smoke barbecue grill), the majority of maintenance that should be carried on does not change from grill to grill.

Step 1- Gathering The Necessary Items

You will need some common household items on hand when it comes time to
clean your barbeque grill.

Brass wire grill brush
Steel wool pads, preferably that contains soap already.
Mild dish soap
Sponge or dishcloth
Spray cooking oil
Dry baking soda
Aluminum foil

Step 2- Brushing Your Grill Off

The first thing that should always be done to your grill is a routine brushing. Using your brass wire grill brush (or other brush suitable to your type of grill) you should brush off all the surfaces. By routinely brushing your barbeque grill, you will prevent any type of buildup. If buildup from food is left to long, it can become increasingly difficult to remove.

Step 3- Spray Cooking Oil

Once you are sure that your grill is free of all buildup and debris, and that your grill is completely cooled off, you will want to spray it down with a light layer of cooking oil. Spraying it down with cooking oil will prevent your barbeque grill from rusting. It is especially important to make sure your barbeque grill is completely cold, as spraying cooking oil on a hot surface may cause the oil to heat up and ignite, which could be potentially dangerous to you and your barbeque grill.

Step 4- Use Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil on Your Grill

Baking soda is a very nice cleaning and polishing agent. Once you have removed any extra debris and buildup, lightly scrubbing your barbeque grill with baking soda will give it that extra shine, similar to the day that you brought it home from the store. This can also be used on handles and knobs to remove any extra buildup that cannot be taken off with a wire brush.

Aluminum foil can also be used to keep your grill looking nice. Gently rub the aluminum foil on your grill, and you will notice that it removes grim and buildup.

Step 5- Clean Your Racks

NOT THIS WAY!

The racks in your grill are especially important as this is where the food touches when it is cooking. You will have to use the wire brush to remove as much buildup as possible. Once you remove as much as possible, start washing the racks with dish soap. If the racks are really dirty, you may also want to use the steel wool pads. Be sure to completely rinse off all soap and residue before cooking on these racks again.

Step 6- Preventing Problems

The majority of problems that arise from barbeque grills comes from lack of cleaning and maintenance. That means if you notice something does not seem quite right with your barbeque grill, chances are it can be fixed with just a simple cleaning. Even if you clean it, and still find that it is having problems, at least you saved yourself the potential embarrassment of taking it to a professional only to find out all it needed was to be cleaned.

BUT THIS WAY!!

Finally, one method of preventing problems with your barbeque grill is protecting it from the outdoors.  Covers are available for grills in all shapes and sizes, so chances are, you will find one that fits your grill. If you have a cover for your barbeque grill, then all you will ever need to do is do the regular maintenance listed above.

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When you think of Texas, think really big! Almost everything comes in large sizes in this part of the United States, even the good old Texas BBQ ribs! Have you ever tried feasting on a two pound slab of pork ribs all by yourself?

If you haven’t tried it, come to Texas and sample the best Texas bbq ribs ever! The people in Texas do barbecue right.  Now, if you cannot  come to Texas to sample the famous Texas bbq ribs, don’t be sad, get glad.

You can still enjoy this delicious food right in your backyard. You are going to need good old Hickory  or Mesquite wood and  a good Grill or BBQ pit.

Now,  pretend that you are grilling your ribs under the  blue skies of Texas,  doing a shit stomping dance while being attacked by fire ants as they march off with your delicious Texas BBQ ribs, competing with your neighbor to see who can empty the most Beer Kegs, and who can tell the biggest Fishing lie in Texas.  Ohhhhh, how sweet it is!

Now, this is how you  get started!

Get your picnic tables and set them out, and call all of your family and friends  over to come join the fun as they drink their beverages, dance and sing while laughing and watching  you barbecue your ribs Texas style.

Cooking Your Barbecue  to make your Texas bbq ribs as authentic as possible, buy some slabs of pork ribs.  Several two-pound slabs of ribs or more will do nicely. A two pound slab is not too big. You are trying to come up with some authentic Texas bbq ribs here so you have to comply with the required size. (2 lbs per slab)  OK!

Do all of this ahead:To prepare your ribs for grilling, wash them with cold water and then pat the slab dry with a piece of clean cloth. After washing the meat, prepare some vinegar and salt to baste the meat later on.

You will need a good bbq grill or pit with a lid to cook your Texas bbq ribs. You will also need plenty of charcoal,  hickory wood or  mesquite wood chips to cook your ribs. One slab of ribs will need about 2 pounds of charcoal to cook. To cook the ribs, place the coal unto the grill and light it.

Wait until the coal is thoroughly lit before you spread them evenly across the bottom grill. After spreading the coal across the bottom of the grill, place a slab of ribs on the side of the grill away from the coal to prevent it from burning.

Make sure that you place the ribs rib side up. After putting the ribs inside the grill, close the grill and let it stay  closed about an hour. After one hour, open the grill, rotate the ribs and baste the ribs with a mixture of vinegar and salt. Close the lid again for about 15 to 20 minutes.

After 15 to 20 minutes, open the lid and put barbecue sauce on the ribs. Close the lid again for another 15 minutes. The ribs will get a little charred at this point so be careful with your timing.

Remove the Texas bbq ribs from the grill as soon as it starts to look charred. Put barbecue sauce on the ribs and then wrap it tightly in tin foil and place it inside the grill again for 30 minutes or more. After minutes, take the ribs out of the grill and enjoy your delicious Texas bbq ribs.

No matter what kind of  barbecue you enjoy, it is always fun and interesting to know where your style of cooking has come from.  Whether you are southern, northern, eastern, or western,  BBQ is one food that anyone in America can appreciate and enjoy.

This man loves Texas BBQ so much he has to paint about it.

Barbecuing is a lots of fun. It  brings out the creativity in you.  I started some 40 years ago barbecuing ribs in a Brown paper bag on a brick  bbq pit that I no longer use now.  Using a brown paper bag to barbecue Brisket kept the meat from drying out and the smoky flavor in and very tender.  People do not use the brown paper bag for barbecuing to much anymore.  Cooking Brisket in a Brown Paper Bag.

When using the brown paper bag  method, you must place it toward the back of the pit away from the direct heat of the coal.  What you are going to achieve is the strong  smoky flavor,  tenderness,  and retaining of moisture.   There are many other ways of barbecuing ribs to achieve the same results.  I still prefer this method when I have a lot of time.

Old fashioned True Texas Bold BBQ Sauce

Go on and put them Ribs, burgers and chicken on the Grill Video. Watch!

Is Pork Good for the Body?

Not only do pork taste good, it is good because it is actually rich in many essential vitamins and
minerals, such as B6, B12, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc.

If you’ve got a lean cut of meat, make it leaner by trimming off any additional fatty tissue.  Now, you’re looking at a meal low in both calories and fat, especially if you stick to a 3oz serving size.  When preparing your pork, no matter the cut, bring the  internal temperature of the meat up to a minimal of 170 degrees F. Cook your pork done.

Is Pork really bad for the body?

Not necessarily.  It all depends on the cut,  how it’s handled and how it’s prepared.   Remember this one thing if you do not remember anything else.  Whether pork is bad for the body or not depends on the farmers who feed, raise and slaughter the animals for human consumption.  There is a wide negative misconception about hogs.  These animals have been vilified by those who dislike them.  We will talk about that later.

But what about trichinosis? This is a parasitic disease caused by the ingestion of undercooked pork containing roundworm larvae?

The good news is that in recent years, due to stricter legislation, the number of cases of trichinosis has decreased with around 12 cases reported each year between 1997 and 2001.

The reason for this decrease is that the pork industry has now been prohibited from allowing livestock and Pigs to eat raw meat garbage which is a disgusting habit that was common in the past.  We’ve also seen a decrease due to the guidelines of commercial freezing and storage of the pork, as well as the better-informed public who is buying the meat. When everything is in place, you should be safe.

Types
As mentioned before, the effect that pork can have on body is dependent on the cut, or type, of pork you’re
planning to eat. Some cuts are leaner and, in turn, more healthy than other cuts. The pork tenderloin is probably the leanest cut of pork, coming in at around 3 grams of fat per serving.

Pig / Pork Cuts by Chart Both a boneless top loin chop and a boneless top loin roast have around 5 g of fat, 2 of which are saturated, per serving. The bone-in center loin chop has around 6, the bone-in rib chop has around 7 and the bone-in sirloin roast has just over 8 g of fat per serving.

As we learn more about the health of our bodies in relation to what we eat, each person may very well change his stance on pork. And as science advances, the way in which we raise livestock for food begins to change, finding leaner, healthier methods of bringing food to the table.   Animal Welfare Aspects of Good Agricultural Practice pig farming.

Are Pigs Nasty?
Most of the time, pigs are seen by people rolling in muddy water in the pen they are confined too. Pigs will eat just about anything. True they are omnivores just like humans. They eat both plants and animals. They eat almost any kind of food, including dead insects, worms, trees, bark, garbage and even their own dead pigs.

In the wild, they forage for their food. They mainly eat leaves, grass, roots, fruits and flowers.
They enjoy rooting up the ground and waddling in mud and water. The reason for this is to rid themselves of biting parasites and to stay cool.
These animals have been taken out of their environment. They are bred for their meat for human consumption. As a result, their natural behavior has been suppressed and weakened. The horrible conditions that these animal endure on some farms is beyond belief.

Hopefully this video will enlightened people about this remarkable animal. We cook and eat these animal daily. In captivity, these animals should be raised and grown properly for human consumption.  It is the least we can do for their very tasty meat.
The Pig – Mans’ other best friend?  Pigs are not stupid, they are  intelligent animals.

This is an excellent video on how pig farming should be done.  Hats off to this farmer.  This is quality pig farming at its best.  Happy Grilling and Barbequing.  I eat all of my pork grilled or baked.

Are you just down right intrigued with barbecuing? Do you  barbecue for all of your friends and relatives  for every event that come along?  Do your children call and ask you to barbecue something for their fund raiser at school?

Do you make your own barbecue sauce? Do you think that your barbecue is the best BBQ in the world?

Do you enjoy barbecuing wild animals also? Like this  Squirrel? Here is an Index of Wild Game Recipes put out by North Carolina Cooperative  Extension.

If you are game for barbecuing or cooking any wild animal, try some of these recipes.  Baked or Barbecued Armadillo to Stewed Woodchuck are listed as well as all of the other kinds of  animals in between. “VERY INTERESTING“!!

Well,  if you have answered YES to any of these questions, then Barbecuing really turns you on in one way or the other!!  It’s in your blood and soul and you cannot help yourself.

I enjoy grilling and barbecuing.  Have grilled and barbecued a little of every kind of meat imaginable for over 40 years. Hickory and Mesquite wood are my favorites.

One of the main things I enjoy when barbecuing is smelling the smoky flavor from the wood intermingling with the meat that  is just over- whelming with the outdoor experience that you are feeling.  You are just mesmerized by it all.

What is your favorite  barbecue unit  to cook your meat on?

Check these out from the coolest to the bazaar.

Look at this  Hanging Meat at a Street Fair Barbecue contraption. Unbelievable! Fair goers are in a trance and love to eat Barbecue.

Check  out  the  Top 10 Coolest BBQ Grills And Then Some!

It is fascinating to see all of the different unique  designs  and  machines used to barbecue our meats,  poultry,  and fish for outdoor events and family gathering.   People are so creative and artistically motivated to  make the best, biggest and extraordinary design imagined.

However, most of us like me take pride in barbecuing  on a grill or a backyard barbecue pit.  We pride ourselves in developing our own distinct rubs, seasoning mix, or using  a special BBQ sauce that we make ourselves or buy from a specialty store.

It is very easy to become mesmerized and turned on with barbecuing. Cyndi enjoys showing you how to make delicious succulent Turkey Balls that melt in your mouth.  Click the Balls to  Watch and more!

Look how eating Barbecue can turn you on.  When you eat good barbecue beef, pork, chicken or any other varmint, it really has an effect on you.  Look how Paula Deen  succumbs to Barbecuegasm.

Did you know that hot peppers have been a popular part of human diets for almost 10,000 years, adding flavor and aroma to dishes, enhancing the enjoyment of food, and providing a substantial nutritional support for your body?

The spiciness and heat of hot peppers come from the natural anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory nutrient called capsicum, now used extensively in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals for the treatment of many inflammatory diseases.

Watch this interesting video on “How to remove some of the heat from hot peppers“.  Always wear gloves.

Spiciness from hot peppers have anti-microbial effects and help keep food fresh longer without refrigeration in countries that have limited sanitation technology.

Hot Peppers are Healthy and Nutritious.  They contain  high levels of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 (niacin) and an adequate amount of pro-vitamin A (beta carotene), all of which are significant antioxidants that protect the body from oxidation stress and free radical damage.

Cooking with Hot Peppers

Capsaicin, the chemical that releases spiciness in hot peppers, is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents that occur naturally.

Now, you should always take caution when handling Hot Peppers even though they have great health benefits.  Always eat  in moderation and eat them fresh.

Hot peppers can easily trigger a variety of gastro intestinal problems, from ulcers to irritated bowel syndrome.   Many dried hot pepper powders may be contaminated with industrial chemicals that are known carcinogens.

As a catalyst, capsicum is used in combination with other herbs to increase  effectiveness and absorption. When introduced into the body, it boosts the healing power of these herbs.

Loaded with vitamins A and C, capsicum peppers are excellent antioxidants. Antioxidants inhibit free radical damage to cells, blood vessels and nerves.

Make this delicious Hot Pepper Sauce for Black-eyed Pea Video: Watch

Capsicums, both hot and mild, are high in antioxidants.  Antioxidants help to combat free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause cell damage.  Antioxidants protect the cells by stabilizing free radicals.

Eating plenty of peppers can help to supply your body with important antioxidants.  Peppers are very interesting plants. They come in many forms and shapes and colors.  You can enjoy their beauty  by visiting farmer markets,  festivals and any outdoor event that carry food and vegetable vendors.   You can even learn how to dry your own peppers for your favorite dish.  It’s fun and exciting to learn “How to cook with Hot Peppers“.

Watch this video on how to make hot sauce:

Cooking with hot peppers is fun and exciting. You will enjoy the continued joy of bringing out the best in the foods that you prepare with these incredible plants.   You can create your very own recipes on the spot as you cook.  Don’t be shy.  If you have the mouth and taste buds, experiment with different hot peppers.

If you enjoy your Chili Hot, try cooking this Hot and Spicy Chili using the Peter Pepper or habanero pepper in the Recipe. It is great!!  I prefer my Chili without the beans.

Peter Peppers

No Buggies In Your Kitchen Pantry

Cooking home food is fun and exciting. However, to prepare our food for our families we buy flour, meal, corn, rice, cereal and other grain products from the grocery store that contain unwanted creepy critters.  The insect can be in the egg, larvae, pupae or adult form.

Most of the time the insect is in the egg stage when we bring it home from the grocery store.  Therefore we do not notice any infestation.  If we use up our flour, meal, rice or other grain product in  short period of time  there is no noticeable activity of growing insects.

However, over a  period of time in a warm place,  small tiny insects will appear inside the bag.   Why is that?  Simple.  EGGS….Yes tiny microscopic eggs were inside that bag of meal, flour etc when you brought it from the store.
Watch Video:

Insect infestation in your grain products can become a serious problem if left unchecked. “Take it from me”… who experienced a very serious moth infestation in 35 lbs of my dehydrated red and green bell peppers.

The female moths were fertile once she hatched out and ready to mate immediately. It took me about 6 month to finally get rid of them. I literally had to track down where they laid their eggs and that was not an easy task. I had to get rid of every dehydrated vegetable that I had and start all over again. I really learned from my experience. Spraying helped a little, but did little to prevent the fast breeding females from laying eggs. It seemed like the eggs were immune to the spray I was using.

Solution

Always keep your food mixes, grain products Refrigerated or frozen until ready for use. The shelf
life will last longer as well. But do not forget to cook your food mixes as soon as possible.

Storing particularly susceptible foods in the refrigerator instead of cupboards is also a good way to prevent bugs from getting into products such as flour, cornmeal, rice etc.

Store these items in sealed containers in the refrigerator, and you’ll probably never again have a problem with bugs getting into food products in your cupboards.

I either refrigerate of keep all of my grain products in the freezer. No exception. Make sure you do not store your flour with your veggies or strong fruits. Flour absorb the odor from other products that surrounds it.

Enjoy cooking without the hassle of buggies in your flour and grain products.

Even though some say that these little insect critters provide protein and will not harm us if eaten…Can we be sure? I am not sure how healthy it is when these animals defecate, die and decay in our flour, meal or grain products.
Opening up a meal bag infested with beetles and moving larvae is not a pleasant or an interesting sight. Just knowing that you eat these varmints unknowingly is not a happy thought either.

Remember to remove your flour and any grain products from your cupboard. Refrigeration and Freezing of all your grain products is the key to keeping your kitchen pantry free from these wondering creatures.

Sweets are good no doubt about it.  Every body love sweets and want more of it.  People have become addicted to anything that contains sugar or even remotely associated with this remarkable substance.  Sugar is every where.  It is found in some form of every food that we eat.

Did you know that every plant produce sugar in some form whether it is sweet or not?  Our bodies have the capability of converting just about everything that we eat into stored energy in the liver.  Any excess is stored into body tissues as fat.

Have you ever eaten sugar cane? Sugar cane is a tropical plant, from where we get all the sugar for our yummy desserts and our regular cup of coffee.

It is delicious eaten raw.  I grew up eating sugar cane.  The juice taste very good.  You do not exactly eat the fiber, you simply remove the external skin from the jointed cane.  Then you just cut it in circular sections and  chew the cane fiber  while extracting the delicious juice and expelling  the roughage.  You get a good chewing teeth and gum workout.  Now a days, you have sugar cane juicers in ever shape and form.  Look at this one.

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Sugar cane is grown in our Southern States, in between January and March; October is the month for gathering the crop.

Many people in the South especially Texas where the climate gets very hot  grow sugar cane in what is called the “bottom” which is a low moist land area that is suitable for growing this Grass.

Try buying  several sugar cane stalks next time they are in season. The juice is more nutritious and more healthier than the crystal sugar it produces.

Sugarcane contain these natural minerals that are very beneficial for the body.  They are Phosphorus, calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium.  These minerals are lost during the processing of sugarcane crystals to refined sugar.  Sugar cane benefits

Watch:  Delicious SUGAR CANE JUICE.  Freshly juiced from a special sugar cane juice machine.

The right kind of sugar eaten in Moderation is advised.  It’s important to keep in mind, however, that the best form of sugar will be the natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables, which also supply antioxidants as well as fiber.  See Here!

There are superior forms of carbohydrates out there for you to put into your body. They are oatmeal, fingerling potatoes, whole grain breads, brown rice, sweet potatoes, fruits, and vegetables.

If people really want to go back to the norm, that means not putting sugar in everything that you eat. It means keeping it to desserts.  New York Times

Sugars can be Good for you

Even though most of the info we hear today about sugar is doom and gloom, the benefits of sugar far out weight the disadvantages.   Sugar and other carbohydrates are essential to our body’s health and longevity.  Only when we over indulge our sweet tooth with this exciting and tasty substance is when our health becomes compromised.

Eating  sugar in moderation is the key. Try to limit your intake of products made with processed sugar.  Take care of your health.  Think of becoming a healthy Centurion.

Sliced Pound Cake

Cravings for desserts have existed since the early beginnings of man kind. Desserts are  enjoyed by many now. That was not the case during the early years of man.

Affluent society folk were the only ones who could afford such delights in the past, and “regular” and poor people could afford desserts only on special occasions and some not then.

Advances in sugar production has allowed for more widespread distribution of it and more affordable prices for consumers. The increased sugar supply paved the way for people to enjoy desserts worldwide.  Read More.

One of the most popular homemade dessert are Cakes.  And, the most popular cake is the Pound  or Bundt cake.  These two cakes are only different in that most pound cakes are baked in a tube cake pan while others are poured and baked in beautifully designed bundt cake pans.

Food historians generally agree that the Pound cake is a Northern European recipe named for the equal weight of its ingredients. One pound of flour, one pound of butter, one pound of sugar, and one pound of eggs, although these measurements are generally not followed in most modern recipes.

What intrigues me about Pound cakes are the interesting names that people give them.  They are generally given a name that reflect its flavor or how it looks such as Lemon Pound cake, an event such as Funeral Pound cake or Death cake, Dirt pound cake,  Dump Cake etc.

Funeral Pound Cake Recipe

Pound cakes if baked correctly are excellent desserts at any time of the day.  They can be sliced and eaten as a quick  breakfast snack, given as gifts, baked for holidays and much more.

Most of these cakes were baked in earlier days in tube cake pans.  Now there are so many varieties  of  specially designed Bundt cake pans that are  very exciting.  The  Bundt cake pan comes in every artful and intricately extreme design imagined.

The most popular design is the original bundt cake pan.  Some designs are so extreme, it is hard to remove the cake without it sticking to the pan no matter how much you grease the bundt cake pan.

Cathedral Cake Pan

If you can manage to bake a cake in the cathedral cake pan and remove it without any part sticking, it is absolutely beautiful and a great center and conversational piece.   Don’t hesitate to  try baking your favorite pound cake dessert in one of these extraordinary pans.

Desserts come in many forms and fashions.  Cakes are just one of many.  They have been around for a long time.  Even though the first cakes were more bread-like, these cakes have evolved into one of our cultures most sort after comfort food.

I have been  baking pound cakes for many years.  Now, I sell them on my website.  There is nothing better than a delicious moist yummy homemade cake for dessert.  Doctored up boxed cake mixes are not the same even though they may be quicker to prepare.

Watch this exciting Video on a Classic 7-up Pound Cake Recipe. Its fun.

Try making the Funeral pound cake above.  Click on the cake image and go directly to the recipe.  Follow the directions and make sure you have all of your ingredients at room temperature.   Your cake dessert will be delicious.  Let me know how your cake turned out.

Author: Eloise Martin

Have you noticed the different varieties of potatoes the grocery stores are carrying these days? They are small and elongated called fingerling potatoes.  Their color varies from purple to a creme colored white.

The purple potato is really interesting.  It stands out from all the rest of the small potatoes.  I really did not understand just how to cook the purple potato.  At first I sort of just passed it by and dismissed it as just a genetically altered potato put out for curiosity to see if it would sell.

Fingerling potatoes

Over the years, the big brown russet potato has been low rated and demonized.  This potato has been baked,  mashed and engorged with butter, sour cream, bacon  bits and all of that extra fattening addition to enhance the flavor.  It also is cut up into strips, salted and deep fried in saturated fat which adds to the fattening effect.  We have also been told that the potato contains a large amount of starch which is fattening and causes weight gain. (Very Misleading)

The nutritional value of potatoes are excellent.

Today we know that the potato is and excellent source of calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin c.  Potato contains about 17% starch and 70-80% water.  It is one of the best natural sources of starch. One medium size potato has only 107 calories.  Perfect for a healthy diet.  Of course you cannot live on potatoes alone although some people do.

So the belief that you become fat by eating potatoes is a misconception. Of course if your potato servings contain large quantities of butter, or if you can’t keep away from those high-in-fat-and-cholesterol French fries, you are bound to become overweight.

Try baking your potato and using  just a little dab of butter (no margarine)  and pepper.  No salt.  Stop eating french fries.  Do not peel the potatoes. Eat the skin and all.  Even when you mash your potatoes, include the skin.  The skin is loaded with an important mineral called potassium(K).

Vegetable and beef soup Recipe, and Italian Sausage and vegetables soup are delicious and make  excellent meals anytime of the year.  I keep these two soups made up.  Freeze them in individual serving containers for quick meals.

Your goal is to improve your health by eating healthier to live a long and productive life.  Adding  these nutritious potatoes to your diet without all of the fattening  ingredients will help your longevity.

Watch this video for potato cooking tip video.

I love to eat soups and make them.  I include a variety of  potatoes in some of my favorite soup recipes.  The smaller finger purple potato and its related  finger potatoes are great for soups. They give a delightful color to soups.  They can be mashed just like russet potato.   They can be baked , boiled or sauteed and eaten alone. They hold their shape as they cook  and do not break apart and mush up in a soup.  Always add a little hot sauce to spice up your soup.

Author: Eloise Martin