Coffee Talk... Episode 4

www.livingbettercafe.blogspot.com/coffeetelevision

On episode 4 of Coffee Talk, I will be discussing on "What Anaphylaxis is"?

If you enjoy watching Coffee Talk and think someone you know can benefit from this, consider "sharing" because it's not only helping you it can help others as well.

French Onion Soup

Serves: 1

1 c. sliced onions
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. Margarine
1 Beef flavor ramen packet
Course Himalayan Salt
Freshly grounded pepper
1 slice French bread
1 slice provolone cheese
1/2 slice Swiss cheese, diced
1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. Fresh thyme

Directions:

1. Melt Margarine with olive oil in an 8 quart stock pot on medium heat. Add onions and continually stir until tender and translucent. Do not brown the onions.

2. Add beef flavor, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 30 minutes.

3. Heat the oven broiler.

4. Carefully Ladle soup into a oven proof safe serving bowls and place one slice of bread on top of each. Layer each slice of bread with a slice of provolone, Swiss and Parmesan cheese. Place bowls on cookie sheet and broil in the preheated oven until cheese bubbles and browns slightly.

Orange juice cookies

Adapted from: http://catcora.com/recipes/desserts/lemonade-cookies/

When I made Cat Cora's delicious Lemonade cookies for my family one spring day. I thought to myself that theses cookies can also be made using a different kind of juice, and I so happened to think Orange Juice.

Serves: 3 dozen approximately

1 6-oz. Can of Frozen orange Juice concentrate
1/2 lb. Unsalted margarine (2 sticks) (Softened)
1 C. Pure cane Sugar (Plus extra to sprinkle over the cookies)
2 Tbsp. Orange Zest (Finely Grated)
2 Large Eggs
2 1/2 C. All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp. Baking soda
1/8 tsp. Course Himalayan salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. Fill a metal large bowl with warm water, and place unopened can of orange juice inside to thaw... meanwhile mixing the cookie dough.

3. In a large glass bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar with a hand mixer, or electric mixer. Add in the orange zest, if desired. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until the mixture is light and creamy, 4-5 minutes, then set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.

4. Measure out about 1/2 cup of the thawed Orange Juice and set the rest aside. Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture to the creamed margarine and sugar. Stir, then add about one third of the 1/2 cup orange juice. Continue adding the flour and orange juice alternately, stirring after each addition, until the mixture shows no signs of flour. Beat on low speed with the mixer just until all the ingredients are combined.

5. on a ungreased cookie sheet drop teaspoonful of dough 2 inches apart.

6. Bake the cookies, checking them after 8 minutes. When the edges are just starting to brown, remove the cookies from the oven. (The centers will still look soft.) Using a pastry brush, immediately brush the top of each cookie very lightly with a little of the remaining Orange juice concentrate, then lightly sprinkle with sugar. Transferring the cookies to a rack and allow them to cool completely.

Money Saving Tip Tuesday... Margarine

Picture From: Tabletmag.com

Welcome to another edition of Money Saving tips.
In this edition I will be sharing some cool tips that won't break your bank, and will keep you smiling from ear to ear all the time.

Once again thank you for sticking around for, this third edition of money saving tips for this January edition. I will be bring you different money saving tip's daily on saving cash in your wallet, every Tuesday. This week on money saving tip's Living Better Cafe wants to, help you save more cash in your wallet than ever before. This week I will be giving you tip's on how you can make your own margarine at home. Yes, margarine can become quite expensive at times but, why spend a lot of money when you can spend less and make it yourself. So, I am here to give you some tips which also included a recipe that you can follow.

First there seem to be a battle over what is more healthy butter or, margarine as I have done researched plenty of times. While there is one research that really still stands out to me, and that would be back in the year of 2005. Reading after reading news paper articles and even going online. Researcher claimed that margarine was basically melted plastic. Weird hey? Yeah but, to each's own there is always going to be someone saying something negative about food.

So, you can read about the truth here at Living Better Cafe or, you can believe what the next researcher say's.

As I really could not rest until I got to the truth behind Margarine, and which I can finally say and hope you all can rest as well.

But, before I do I just want to point out that, every margarine company out there is not the same. For example, one company may use a scientific name for the ingredients they chose to place into their margarine. Which makes it harder for you and I to understand.

Yes, there has been rumor escalating around since 2005 but, I can finally help put these rumors to rest.

Some company's came to realize that the ingredients that they have been using was not good at all. So, they made a much better choice in going a different route. They swapped out the old and brought in the new, and what was the new? They started using vegetable oil or, canola oil.

Now let's get to the base on whether Margarine is good....Calorie wise!

Both butter and margarine carry the same amount of calories, and each of them carries about a Tablespoon.

I hope that I have helped you brighten your horizon on Margarine, that this make you rethink when you take your next trip to the grocery store. Why maybe your next trip will be going out and grabbing a few items to make it yourself.

So, Here is that recipe that I have mentioned.

1 C. Olive oil
1 C. Cold water
1 Tbsp. Liquid lecithin
7 Drops of yellow food coloring

Directions:

1. Add 1 c. each of oil and water to mixing bowl.

2. Add in lecithin and food coloring.

3. Mix until completely blended together.

4. once completely blended store inside your refrigerator to allow it to set.

*Flavor enhancer:
if you want to add flavor to make your Margarine pop, you can add the followings.

1. salt

2. Pepper

3. herbs

4. Spices

* Note:

What is Lecithin?

Lecithin is found in many animal and vegetable sources, including beef liver, steak, eggs, peanuts, cauliflower, and oranges. Commercial sources for lecithin may come from soybeans, egg yolk, or even brain tissue.

Now your next questions lies, where can you find Lecithin?

Lecithin can be found in most health food stores.

Next would be but, what if I can not find Lecithin?

Now, Now do not worry I have you covered, with common and scientific names.

So, lets start off with Common names first.

1. Lecithol

2. Vitellin

3. Kelecin

4. Granulestin

Now here are the scientific names

1. 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine

Living Better Precautions:

With everything you take in there is always a side effect. So, read the labels carefully and do ask questions? by going to the health pharmacist.

Hot out of the oven... Low sodium diet

Picture from: myemail.constantcontact.com

*Note:Please continue to read this blog article.

Living Better Cafe is bring you Fresh out of the oven news, that you're going to love. That no other blog source will ever take you close into the story. I say more good reasons to love L.B.C, not only are you revising original recipes. Your saving money while eating the way you want in a healthier way.
Welcome to Hot Out Of The Oven food news, I have yet another edition of food news coming straight from no other source but, Living Better Cafe of course. As you have read through many editions of (H.O.T.O), since I have started this food news addition. You have became more wiser about what you buy,and place into your mouth. While I am very happy to continue to keep "Hot of the oven" going as much as you keep enjoy reading it every Monday. In this second January edition I will be bring you the benefits of Low sodium diet.

Most people throughout the united states eat much more sodium (salt) than they need. Which this can lead to health problems like high blood pressure. Even people with normal blood pressure will have lower (and healthier) blood pressure if they lower how much salt they eat. Your doctor may tell you to eat no more than 2,300 mg a day when you have these conditions.Like for some people, 1,500 mg a day is an even better goal.

How do we go about lowing our sodium intake? Try by eating a balanced diet.

Start by buying fresh vegetables and fruits whenever possible. They are naturally low in salt. Canned foods often contain salt to preserve the color of the food and keep it looking fresh. For this reason, it is better to buy fresh foods. Also that includes buying:
fresh meats, chicken or turkey, and fish, plus fresh or; frozen vegetables and fruits.

How do we go about searching for these words on the label? We start by looking for these key words.

1. Low-sodium

2. sodium-free

3. No salt added

4. Sodium-reduced

5. Unsalted

Then we check all labels for how much salt foods contain per serving sizes.

As the ingredients are listed in order of the amount the food contains. Avoid foods that list salt near the top of the list of ingredients. A product with less than 100 mg of salt per serving sizes is good.

We want to stray away from foods that are always high in salt. For example:

1. Processed foods, such as cured or smoked meats, bacon, hot dogs, sausage, bologna, ham, and salami.

2. Anchovies, olives, pickles, and sauerkraut.

3. Soy and Worcestershire sauces, tomato and other vegetable juices, and most cheeses.

4. Plus many bottled salad dressings and salad dressing mixes.(Hint: you're best bet is to make you're own dressing)

5. Most snack foods, such as chips, crackers, and others.

Now when it comes to us cooking, replace Ms. Dash with other seasonings. Pepper, garlic, herbs, and lemon are good choices. Avoid packaged spice blends. They often contain salt.

You want to use garlic and onion powder, not garlic and onion salt. You want to be on the look out for foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG), which you do not want to eat.

Feel like treating yourself to a night out, stick to steamed, grilled, baked, boiled, and broiled foods with no added salt, sauce, or cheese. If you have any concerns about the restaurant using monosodium glutamate (MSG), ask them not to add it inside your meal.

Now how do we go about adding the taste of salt without the salt? Simple just by, using oil and vinegar on salads. Add fresh or dried herbs. Eat fresh fruit or sorbet for dessert, If you have a salt shaker at your dinning room table. Replace it by, using salt-free seasoning.

Now if you have any medical conditions ask your doctor if a salt substitute is safe for you. Especially antacids and laxatives which contains little or no salt, if you need these medicines. Some have a lot of salt in them.
*Note:Please continue to read this blog article.

Living Better Cafe is bring you Fresh out of the oven news, that you're going to love. That no other blog source will ever take you close into the story. I say more good reasons to love L.B.C, not only are you revising original recipes. Your saving money while eating the way you want in a healthier way.
Welcome to Hot Out Of The Oven food news, I have yet another edition of food news coming straight from no other source but, Living Better Cafe of course. As you have read through many editions of (H.O.T.O), since I have started this food news addition. You have became more wiser about what you buy,and place into your mouth. While I am very happy to continue to keep "Hot of the oven" going as much as you keep enjoy reading it every Monday. In this second January edition I will be bring you the benefits of Low sodium diet.

Most people throughout the united states eat much more sodium (salt) than they need. Which this can lead to health problems like high blood pressure. Even people with normal blood pressure will have lower (and healthier) blood pressure if they lower how much salt they eat. Your doctor may tell you to eat no more than 2,300 mg a day when you have these conditions.Like for some people, 1,500 mg a day is an even better goal.

How do we go about lowing our sodium intake? Try by eating a balanced diet.

Start by buying fresh vegetables and fruits whenever possible. They are naturally low in salt. Canned foods often contain salt to preserve the color of the food and keep it looking fresh. For this reason, it is better to buy fresh foods. Also that includes buying:
fresh meats, chicken or turkey, and fish, plus fresh or; frozen vegetables and fruits.

How do we go about searching for these words on the label? We start by looking for these key words.

1. Low-sodium

2. sodium-free

3. No salt added

4. Sodium-reduced

5. Unsalted

Then we check all labels for how much salt foods contain per serving sizes.

As the ingredients are listed in order of the amount the food contains. Avoid foods that list salt near the top of the list of ingredients. A product with less than 100 mg of salt per serving sizes is good.

We want to stray away from foods that are always high in salt. For example:

1. Processed foods, such as cured or smoked meats, bacon, hot dogs, sausage, bologna, ham, and salami.

2. Anchovies, olives, pickles, and sauerkraut.

3. Soy and Worcestershire sauces, tomato and other vegetable juices, and most cheeses.

4. Plus many bottled salad dressings and salad dressing mixes.(Hint: you're best bet is to make you're own dressing)

5. Most snack foods, such as chips, crackers, and others.

Now when it comes to us cooking, replace Ms. Dash with other seasonings. Pepper, garlic, herbs, and lemon are good choices. Avoid packaged spice blends. They often contain salt.

You want to use garlic and onion powder, not garlic and onion salt. You want to be on the look out for foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG), which you do not want to eat.

Feel like treating yourself to a night out, stick to steamed, grilled, baked, boiled, and broiled foods with no added salt, sauce, or cheese. If you have any concerns about the restaurant using monosodium glutamate (MSG), ask them not to add it inside your meal.

Now how do we go about adding the taste of salt without the salt? Simple just by, using oil and vinegar on salads. Add fresh or dried herbs. Eat fresh fruit or sorbet for dessert, If you have a salt shaker at your dinning room table. Replace it by, using salt-free seasoning.

Now if you have any medical conditions ask your doctor if a salt substitute is safe for you. Especially antacids and laxatives which contains little or no salt, if you need these medicines. Some have a lot of salt in them.

Breakfast lasagna

Adapted from: http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/breakfast-lasagna/45f932a9-98e0-4cb4-bfb0-3489b1a83de6

Serves: 8

1 lb. lasagna noodles
8 eggs
1 c. mozzarella
1 c. cheddar
1 c. crumbled blue cheese
1 c. ricotta

Sauce Builder:

3 Tbsp. margarine
3 Tbsp. flour
3 Tbsp. Crushed red pepper flakes
2 c. milk
1 lb. ground breakfast sausage
1 onion
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes

Directions:

1. Brown the ground sausage and remove from the skillet. In the same skillet pan, cook the onions to lightly brown. Add in the margarine and flour and stir well, cooking for about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and add the sausage back into skillet. Strain the diced tomatoes and stir into the sauce.

2. Cook the noodles in a pot of salt boiling water until tender.

3. In a small glass bowl, crack and whisk two eggs. Prepare a frying pan to cook the eggs that is the same size as your round baking dishes.

4. In a glass baking dish, start with a thin layer of sauce, following by the first layer of noodles, then some more sauce and all three cheeses. Cook the first egg round for only a few minutes without flipping until it has just barely set on top. Transfer the egg to the top of the noodles then repeat with another layer of everything.

5. Top with a final pasta layer and a little more cheese and sauce and bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes.

Moon Pies

Adapted from: http://www.forkandbeans.com/2014/03/07/gluten-free-vegan-moon-pies/


Serves: 8

1/4 c. vegan butter
1/4 c. coconut sugar
1 Tbsp. molasses
1 Tbsp. flax seed meal + 2 Tbsp. warm water, thickened for 5 minutes

Dry ingredients:

1 c. All-Purpose Blend (see ingredients blow)
1/4 c. teff flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Building the marshmallow filling:

2 c. vegan marshmallows
2 Tbsp. vegan butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Cacao coating:

1 c. cacao nibs
1 Tbsp. Vegetable oil

Directions:

Building the cookies:

1. In a large sized glass mixing bowl, beat margarine with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for about 30 seconds or till softened. Add sugar, molasses, and flax seed "egg" until well-combined.

2. In a medium sized glass mixing bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together. Slowly add in the flour into the wet ingredients mix and stir with a wooden spoon until a nice dough forms. It shouldn't be sticky at this point. If so, add more flour by the tablespoon.

3. Divide the dough into 2 balls.

4. Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.

5. Roll one ball dough into 1/4"-in /3-mm thickness between 2 pieces of parchment paper. If the dough starts to become difficult this means it the dough is too warm. place into the freezer for about 10 minutes.

6. Using a 2 5/8"-in /68-mm biscuit cutter, cut dough into circles.
Place on the baking sheet and bake for about 5 to 7 minutes or till edges are firm. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transferring cookies to a cooling rack.

Building the marshmallow filling:

1. In a saucepan over low-medium heat, stir the vegan butter and marshmallows until almost completely melted. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.

2. Allow to cool down and harden up just briefly for a couple of minutes, then by the spoonful scoop onto one cookie and sandwich between the other. Add in a little more onto the top of the cookie and sandwich with another cookies. Allow to set. You can also even places into the freezer.

Building the cacao coating:

Once after the cookie sandwiches have set, melt the Cacao nibs and add vegetable oil for a shine. Dip each cookie sandwich into the bowl of melted cacao until it is completely covered. Allow to set on a piece of parchment paper. You can freeze them for a faster setting time or leave them out on the counter, which will take more time.