How do the strips get inside fortune cookies By Raju Hasan

"A secret admirer will soon send you a sign of affection. And so love blooms are begun by it and its credit would go to a Fortune Cookie. With more than 60 million fortune cookies made yearly, messages of love and inspiration are what we seek, even if the cookie crumbles. How do the strips get inside fortune cookies.

Whether this delightful end to a meal was devised in China, Japan or America is not known. There are four legends behind the cookie in the Marketing blog:

Legend One:

Some time in the 13th or 14th Century, Mongols occupied China. The patriotic revolutionary, Chu Yuan Chang planned an uprising against the Mongols. To keep his plan top secret and share the date of the event, messages were hidden in ""Moon Cakes"". It was the right strategy as ""Moon Cakes' contained a ""yolk"" made from Lotus Paste, that the Mongols found to be unpleasing. Chu Yuan Chang replaced the ""yolk"" with a rice paper message. His plan foiled the Mongols and the Ming Dynasty came to be.

Some say this legend inspired the Chinese 49ers who worked on the American Railway through Nevada to California. When the Moon Festival time was to be celebrated they had number ""Moon Cakes' and improvised with biscuits, How do the strips get inside fortune cookies in the Marketing blog.

Legend Two:

Meet Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese immigrant and designer of the renowned Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco Bay Area, California. This legend gives credit to Hagiwara for inventing the History of fortune cookies in 1914. While doing work for an anti-Japanese Mayor, Hagiwara was fired. He endured great hardship until a later Mayor reinstated him after great public outcry. To show his gratitude for his supporters, Hagiwara created cookies that contained a little ""thank-you"" note inside. Their popularity grew and the fortune cookies were exhibited at the 1915 World Fair in San Francisco.

Legend Three:

Round the same time as Hagiwara, a Chinese immigrant by the name of David Jung, founder of the Hong Kong Noodle Company is thought to have devised the fortune cookie in 1918 in L. A., California.

Witnessing the unemployed and poverty near his store, he created a rolled up pastry and tucked inside an inspirational message published by way of a local Presbyterian Minister. Then handed the pastries out to give aspire to his ""neighbors"".

Legend Four:

Also in La, this legend could be the story of a Japanese-American baker named Seichi Kito. His cookies were created and inside he put haiku versus and sold the creations to Chinese restaurants.

To the day, Seichi Kito's bakery, Fugetsu-Do still remains part of L. A.' Little Tokyo and celebrated its 100th anniversary. Displayed prominently in Fugetsu-Do's window is the form purportedly used to make the initial cookies.

In 1964, Edward Louie of San Francisco's Lotus Fortune Cookie, devised a machine to make the cookies after being hired to make cookies that solicited ideas for a Pepsodent Toothpaste jingle.

Most people enjoy a fortune cookie - a wafer biscuit that some historians believe came from the 12th and 13th centuries. Macaroons are still popular as they were in the late 1700's with their crisp exterior and soft inside. Peanut butter cookies did perhaps not come on the scene until 1922, but remain a favorite among adults and kids alike. Chocolate chip cookies remain the greatest choice and they were introduced in 1937."

Discover Fijian Food By Hugh Mcinnes

The cuisine of Fiji is a wonderful treat for travellers, one that perfectly captures the essence of the nation?s colourful culture and traditions.

Traditional Ingredients

Fijians use many fresh ingredients to cook their meals. Common ingredients include vegetables such as sweet potatoes, cassava and eggplant. Many dishes also feature fruits like bananas and oranges. Fiji, like many other Pacific island nations, is also famous for its coconut consumption. Certain tribes partake in spear fishing to use in their meals. Wild boar is used to make many of the pork dishes.

Curries

Influences from Indian cuisine have been used in Fiji food in recent years. One of the most common examples is the use of spicy curry recipes to supplement meals. Fijian raita, which consists of chili peppers and yogurt, is a popular condiment used with curries. Coconut chutney is also used to accompany curry dishes. The spicy influences of curry are even used to create spicier versions of fish and meat dishes.

Popular Meals

Many of the popular meals in Fiji share ties with Asian countries and other island nations. Palusami, a common dish used in many Polynesian cuisines, consists of corned beef, onions and an assortment of other vegetables wrapped in taro leaves. Kokoda, a chilled fish salad, is another one of Fiji?s specialties. A favourite delicacy served during many traditional ceremonies is a coconut, banana and tapioca mixture known as kassaua.

Lovo

This traditional Fijian food preparation method is often used during special ceremonies. A fire pit is made in the ground using stones. Leaves and wood are used for kindling. Pork, chicken, seafood or other foods are wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over the fire.

Additional Fiji Tips

Travellers visiting Fiji can find holiday package deals on Fiji flights and hotels. For more adventurous travellers, another Fiji accommodation option is to stay in a local village in order to achieve a better understanding of the culture. It is important to always be respectful of Fijian traditions and ceremonies. Dressing modestly around villagers is also appreciated.

Fiji?s exquisite cuisine is likely to be a favourite for many travellers. The fresh ingredients and attention to detail used in the creation of these meals enhance the overall quality of the food selections. Fijian cuisine is definitely worth discovering.

Port - A Magnificent Sweet Red Wine By Elena Castillo

Port is a fortified sweet red wine that is considered the sweetest of any type of red wine. (It should also be noted that Port can be dry and white, so one must take care to read the labels!) As a fortified wine, brandy has been added to the Port during the fermentation process, resulting in a higher alcohol content ? around 17 ? 20%. This process of adding brandy to wine began when ship crews on long voyages of several months, or more, found that the addition of alcohol to their wine barrels prevented the wine from going bad. The process continues today, though not for the same reasons. Today, Port is matured in either sealed glass bottles, or wooden barrels.

Port originated in Portugal and the grapes are from the Douro Valley. The wine takes its name from the Portuguese city from which it was shipped ? Porto. While many would consider the only true Port to come from Portugal (just as the only true champagne comes from France), it is also made in America, Argentina, Australia, Canada, India, and South Africa.

Sweet red Port is generally viewed as a dessert wine, but it can also be served as an aperitif, or as an after dinner drink. Due to its high alcohol content, the Portuguese serve Port in very small four-ounce wine glasses. Then, they only fill the glass halfway!

There are three styles of sweet red Port: Ruby Port, Tawny Port, and Vintage Port. Ruby Port is, as its name suggests, a deep, rich red color. It does not need to be decanted and is served best at room temperature. As a dessert wine, Ruby Port pairs well with fruity desserts, or rich, creamy desserts.

Tawny Port is a lighter color that Ruby Port with categories of ten, twenty, thirty, and over forty years. Tawny Port does not need to be decanted and can be served at room temperature, or slightly cooler. It may be served after dinner, or with desserts. Fruity desserts, rich and creamy desserts, or milk chocolate are excellent compliments to Tawny Port.

Vintage Port tends to be the lightest in color due to the length of aging. It represents only 2% of all Port produced and in Portugal, a "vintage" year is declared about every three to five years. Vintage Port is considered to be the very best. It does need to be decanted by using a small funnel with a strainer. It should be served at room temperature as an after dinner drink, or with the dessert as a dessert wine. It pairs well with fruity desserts, rich and creamy desserts, or dark chocolate.

Propane to Natural Gas - Is it Worth Converting Your BBQ Grill? By Les Fenton

If you set out to buy a BBQ grill today, one of the options facing you is whether to fuel it with propane or natural gas. But what if you already have a propane gas BBQ. Is it worthwhile converting it?

In this article we'll help you weigh up the pros and the cons.

The Relative Costs of Natural gas and Propane

Technical tests on both gases indicate that although natural gas is much less expensive than propane (by up to three or four times for one cubic foot) you?ll need twice as much to cook the same meal. But this is more than compensated for by the much lower cost of natural gas. However, that?s not the complete story.

Grill Conversion Costs

To change your grill from propane to natural gas you?ll also have to carry out a technical conversion. This conversion involves taking out your existing gas regulator and feed pipes and replacing these with similar items designed specifically for natural gas. The conversion process increases the flow of gas to your barbecue grill to compensate for the fact that natural gas produces less cooking heat than propane.

It's possible to carry out this conversion yourself, but this is not recommended because the work involved demands a certain level of technical skill. It?s much more sensible to employ the services of a natural gas technician who will also be able to install a patio gas supply point at the same time.

However, the conversion cost is likely to be quite high ? probably in the region of $100 -$200. Therefor, you may well decide that it?s more sensible to put this money towards the purchase cost of a new natural gas grill.

Other Factors to Consider

As well as weighing up the cost savings against the conversion costs you should also consider the following factors:

Factors against Conversion:

Grill Mobility - You?ll not be able to use your grill anywhere. You?re going to be restricted by the position of the natural gas supply point.

Taste - Natural gas contains a smelly substance called mercaptan. Its deliberately mixed with the gas so that you can tell if you've got a leak. Some people reckon that this substance imparts an unpleasant taste to the food. However, don?t get too hung up about this. It?s not a frequently voiced complaint.

Environmental Protection - Natural gas is not environmentally friendly. If it escapes into the atmosphere,it gets converted into other substances which are detrimental to it.

Factors for Conversion:

Convenience - Your fuel supply will be on tap and you won?t have to carry bottles of propane around anymore or change a bottle half-way through a BBQ.

Make a Choice. Propane or Natural Gas?

Hopefully my article will help you make a choice about whether to convert your grill or not. If you?re already using natural gas in the home this could be an opportunity to save money on the costs of operating your BBQ grill, but don?t forget those conversion costs. It may make more sense to wait until you need to purchase a new grill

Discover Fijian Food By Hugh Mcinnes

The cuisine of Fiji is a wonderful treat for travellers, one that perfectly captures the essence of the nation?s colourful culture and traditions.

Traditional Ingredients

Fijians use many fresh ingredients to cook their meals. Common ingredients include vegetables such as sweet potatoes, cassava and eggplant. Many dishes also feature fruits like bananas and oranges. Fiji, like many other Pacific island nations, is also famous for its coconut consumption. Certain tribes partake in spear fishing to use in their meals. Wild boar is used to make many of the pork dishes.

Curries

Influences from Indian cuisine have been used in Fiji food in recent years. One of the most common examples is the use of spicy curry recipes to supplement meals. Fijian raita, which consists of chili peppers and yogurt, is a popular condiment used with curries. Coconut chutney is also used to accompany curry dishes. The spicy influences of curry are even used to create spicier versions of fish and meat dishes.

Popular Meals

Many of the popular meals in Fiji share ties with Asian countries and other island nations. Palusami, a common dish used in many Polynesian cuisines, consists of corned beef, onions and an assortment of other vegetables wrapped in taro leaves. Kokoda, a chilled fish salad, is another one of Fiji?s specialties. A favourite delicacy served during many traditional ceremonies is a coconut, banana and tapioca mixture known as kassaua.

Lovo

This traditional Fijian food preparation method is often used during special ceremonies. A fire pit is made in the ground using stones. Leaves and wood are used for kindling. Pork, chicken, seafood or other foods are wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over the fire.

Additional Fiji Tips

Travellers visiting Fiji can find holiday package deals on Fiji flights and hotels. For more adventurous travellers, another Fiji accommodation option is to stay in a local village in order to achieve a better understanding of the culture. It is important to always be respectful of Fijian traditions and ceremonies. Dressing modestly around villagers is also appreciated.

Fiji?s exquisite cuisine is likely to be a favourite for many travellers. The fresh ingredients and attention to detail used in the creation of these meals enhance the overall quality of the food selections. Fijian cuisine is definitely worth discovering.

Why avoid eating before bedtime? By Dorian Foreman

It is late, you are sleepy, but, you still want to eat something before bed. Sound familiar? Probably yes and there is nothing wrong with that, but if you get used to treat yourself with some evening meals, must be very careful and not eat just anything.

Chocolate

Yes, it is tempting. Although very tempting, regardless any time of the day, but night is the most uninspired choice you can make. Chocolate will cause insomnia and you will have a restless night. The next day morning, you will be tired like after a night of party. Perhaps half a square will have very strong effects, but this is the version that you can consider in case you really desire is.

Cheese

Cheese can fall hard on the stomach and really bad problems occur when you are lactose intolerant. Avoid cheeses night before bed and leave them for the next morning.

Spicy Food

If only passed more than two hours after dinner, and you try to taste a food spicy, no doubt it will cause stomach pain that will not let you sleep. Avoid spicy foods, even in a minor way. Here enter and chips with pepper or similar products.

Cookies cake or ice cream

You have a cake of ice cream in the freezer, and you only think about it? You know you will not be limited to a small spoon and you'll be tempted to eat more, more and more until you feel your stomach hurts. Avoid sweets evening, especially if you know you can not take just about a mouthful. This will cause your stomach and you will have insomnia.

Hamburger

Yes, delicious, we know, you have not eaten hamburger for some time, and fast food is 5 minutes from you, but the burger is the most uninspired choice culinary normal and much less at night. It is full of fatties, which will be submitted to your body quickly, especially at night. Remember that fatties are deposited on blood vanes and block blood flow, and oxygenation efficiency of the brain.

How do the strips get inside fortune cookies By Raju Hasan

"A secret admirer will soon send you a sign of affection. And so love blooms are begun by it and its credit would go to a Fortune Cookie. With more than 60 million fortune cookies made yearly, messages of love and inspiration are what we seek, even if the cookie crumbles. How do the strips get inside fortune cookies.

Whether this delightful end to a meal was devised in China, Japan or America is not known. There are four legends behind the cookie in the Marketing blog:

Legend One:

Some time in the 13th or 14th Century, Mongols occupied China. The patriotic revolutionary, Chu Yuan Chang planned an uprising against the Mongols. To keep his plan top secret and share the date of the event, messages were hidden in ""Moon Cakes"". It was the right strategy as ""Moon Cakes' contained a ""yolk"" made from Lotus Paste, that the Mongols found to be unpleasing. Chu Yuan Chang replaced the ""yolk"" with a rice paper message. His plan foiled the Mongols and the Ming Dynasty came to be.

Some say this legend inspired the Chinese 49ers who worked on the American Railway through Nevada to California. When the Moon Festival time was to be celebrated they had number ""Moon Cakes' and improvised with biscuits, How do the strips get inside fortune cookies in the Marketing blog.

Legend Two:

Meet Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese immigrant and designer of the renowned Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco Bay Area, California. This legend gives credit to Hagiwara for inventing the History of fortune cookies in 1914. While doing work for an anti-Japanese Mayor, Hagiwara was fired. He endured great hardship until a later Mayor reinstated him after great public outcry. To show his gratitude for his supporters, Hagiwara created cookies that contained a little ""thank-you"" note inside. Their popularity grew and the fortune cookies were exhibited at the 1915 World Fair in San Francisco.

Legend Three:

Round the same time as Hagiwara, a Chinese immigrant by the name of David Jung, founder of the Hong Kong Noodle Company is thought to have devised the fortune cookie in 1918 in L. A., California.

Witnessing the unemployed and poverty near his store, he created a rolled up pastry and tucked inside an inspirational message published by way of a local Presbyterian Minister. Then handed the pastries out to give aspire to his ""neighbors"".

Legend Four:

Also in La, this legend could be the story of a Japanese-American baker named Seichi Kito. His cookies were created and inside he put haiku versus and sold the creations to Chinese restaurants.

To the day, Seichi Kito's bakery, Fugetsu-Do still remains part of L. A.' Little Tokyo and celebrated its 100th anniversary. Displayed prominently in Fugetsu-Do's window is the form purportedly used to make the initial cookies.

In 1964, Edward Louie of San Francisco's Lotus Fortune Cookie, devised a machine to make the cookies after being hired to make cookies that solicited ideas for a Pepsodent Toothpaste jingle.

Most people enjoy a fortune cookie - a wafer biscuit that some historians believe came from the 12th and 13th centuries. Macaroons are still popular as they were in the late 1700's with their crisp exterior and soft inside. Peanut butter cookies did perhaps not come on the scene until 1922, but remain a favorite among adults and kids alike. Chocolate chip cookies remain the greatest choice and they were introduced in 1937."

The Healthiest Foods to Add to Your Grocery List By Wadner Tranchant

"Super-foods" are staples that research shows are richer in nutrients without the high calorie content. As a consequence they have so many health benefits, and they are not even expensive at all. The healthiest food that we have is full of essential vitamins and minerals. There are so many health foods already available out there. And they are already in grocery stalls but we just don?t buy enough of them. Once your grocery list is full of vibrant and healthy ingredients then you are on your way to a healthier lifestyle. And you can rest assured that you are doing what you need to do in order to lower your risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and even certain forms of cancer. Green and Leafy Vegetables

Leafy green vegetables are super healthy foods and amongst the best of them is spinach which is very rich in iron. Here?s one important tip about spinach?it is most nutritious when eaten cooked and not raw as popularly believed. Spinach is a dark leafy green vegetable and they are the healthiest types containing not just vitamins, minerals and many other nutrients, but a lot of fiber as well. Eating a lot of dark green leafy vegetables Oatmeal, Cereals, and Whole-grain Bread

Oatmeal has so much fiber that if you take five to ten grams a day, you lower the bad cholesterol in your system. Other fiber rich foods such as cereals and whole grain bread are also ideal diet staples because they have a lot of iron and Vitamin B as well. In addition, slow release carbs such as oatmeal increases fat burning when eaten a few hours before exercising. Whole-grain bread has a similar effect, and that is why they are ultimately the better choice over regular white bread.

Citrusy Fruits Antioxidants are widely known for their anti-carcinogenic effect. They contain free radicals that help lower the risk of developing certain cancers. Citrus fruits have a lot of antioxidants aside from the vitamins that they have become popular for. One lemon for example has all the Vitamin C that you need for one day. And that?s not the only benefit of having one lemon a day. It also causes an increase in high density cholesterol. One way to take your lemon is to squeeze some into your cup of green tea. And in addition to that, the lemon in your tea would facilitate the body?s absorption of the antioxidants that the green tea contains. Soy Products One of the most popular Vegan Foods is soy. Soy products are popular in many circles for their many nutritional benefits. It is a primary protein alternative to traditional source such as meat, fish, and poultry. The amino acids that they contain are similar to that of meat and thus the health benefits are similar. Soy is thus a complete protein source. There are many ways to prepare and eat soy products. One of its most popular preparations is steaming. Its most popular form is tofu. And there?s also soy milk that has become quite the craze these days.

Canned Mackerel - a Healthy Food Choice? By Patrick Mayer

Mackerel can be canned in water, salt water, tomato sauce, olive oil and other vegetable oils. Of course, fresh fish taste much better when compared with canned fish.

As lean fish protein source, many people prefer mackerel canned in salt water, while mackerel canned in various oils or tomato sauce they generally avoid. Mackerel canned in olive oil taste much better than mackerel canned in salt water, but it is also much more caloric - single tablespoon of olive oil has around 15g - 135 kcal. To reduce amounts of fats in such canned mackerel, many people put canned fish in strainer and wash it using plenty of fresh lemon juice. On the other hand, those who are worried about sodium levels should choose mackerel canned in plain water - it can be almost tasteless - just taste of fish, but those cans contain nothing but the fish meat and plain water.

Content of mercury in canned mackerel is relatively low, especially when compared with mercury levels of large predatory species like tuna or marlin. Some mackerel species, like king mackerel can have moderate levels of cadmium, mercury and other heavy metals and pollutants.

For example, FDA's (Food and Drug Administration) reports from 1990-2010, state that levels of mercury in swordfish:

- 0.995 PPM (parts per million) on average

- 3.220 PPM maximum

This is statistics for 636 samples.

Statistics for mercury in King mackerel:
- 0.730 PPM on average

- 1.670 PPM maximum

This is statistics for 213 samples.

Levels of mercury in Atlantic mackerel:
- 0.050 PPM on average

- 0.160 PPM maximum

This is statistics for 80 samples.

According to NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and FDA, children, pregnant woman and those women trying to get pregnant should eat no more than:

- King mackerel - generally this kind of mackerel should be avoided,

- Mackerel (Spanish, Gulf) - consume no more than three 180g (6 oz.) servings per month,

- Mackerel (North Atlantic) - consume no more than two 180g (6 oz.) servings per week.

Other people can safely follow these recommendations - after all, what is safe for children and pregnant women, it is also safe for others. Mackerel from much cleaner seas (some parts of Mediterranean, for example) can be eaten more often - it is very important to read the labels and follow the recommendation guidelines regarding mercury levels in the fish.

Various canned mackerel recipes enable every person to enjoy this type of food avoiding boredom. Generally, when planning such meals, one should try to consume some healthy fiber source (leafy or green vegetables, salads, whole grain bread etc.) with canned mackerel - such foods are very voluminous when compared to usable calories that body can digest. Also, they are very low on simple carbs and rich in complex carbs and digestive fibers - they are digested slowly and such meals supply the body with more or less constant flow of macronutrients avoiding strong rise of blood sugar and insulin spikes.

If you are hard gainer and you want to gain weight, preferably muscles, then add some source of simpler carbs like potato salad, sweet potato, brown rice etc. to increase daily amount of calories - according to your dieting plan. Such meals provide more calories and are easier and faster to digest.

Although exact nutritional values depend on mackerel specie, fishing grounds, seasons etc., canned mackerel is great source of fish protein, fat soluble vitamins (like vitamin D), minerals and healthy fats and it should be part of healthy diet of anybody wanting to become and stay fit. Just be careful about what mackerel specie you are consuming ...

Why We Love Food Trucks By Rey Pollo

Do you eat at Food Trucks? They are what you can call Food on the Wheels!

Good news since diners may finally have alternatives to gourmet meals now offered on wheels. Austin has swept the food truck revolution. It may not be considered as a tenable lifestyle, but you get the benefit of eating more truly satisfying meals outdoors. Looking for some good tacos al pastor, carne asada al carbon, or ever tasted the most juiciest, authentically mexican charcoal grilled chicken marinated with special spicy herbs and ingredients? These are just some of the numerous variety of quick and inexpensive dining options you can get out from eating on food trucks.

Here are other reasons why eating on a food truck can be fun:

Diversity - It's a mobile restaurant for just about anything. They offer a diverse selection of affordable, sustainable and nutritious food that will surely satisfy even the most capricious tastes. The main goal is to provide a healthy option for quick and easy food for diners.

Affordability - Never judge a restaurant by how it looks but by how the food taste like. The quality and creativity at some of these food trucks are often better than other restaurants that can cost you a month's salary for just one dish. And people these days are more willing to try a new food if it is more affordable.

Food on the Go - Food trucks only limit their menu to only a handful of items yet are able to serve high-quality gourmet food faster. Its an Eat and Go where you can get tons of options to grab a quick bite to eat. With just so many food trucks to choose and with a variety of different cuisines from Asian to Mexican to Japanese and more, it's hard to know just where to begin.

Meeting New People ? If you are looking to meet new friends in your city or just about anywhere, food truck gathering is one place where you can start engaging and getting to know people or strike up a conversation with other diners. Wouldn't it be more enjoyable to eat with others than to be eating alone by yourself? Additionally, you get to eat more and spend less than you would in a restaurant.

Food truck craze ? what is the fuzz all about? Do not be the last person to know. Experience Austin's finest gourmet meals on wheels. With food trucks, you don't only get a tasting, delicious and affordable foods but a diversity of various cuisines in your every stop.

How Make Homemade Wine By Phil Bermann

Winemaking is also referred to as vinification, which is a process of wine production. The process starts with selecting the types of grapes and ends with bottling of the final wine product.

Most wine is usually made using grapes, but it could also be processed using fruits or even non-toxic materials from plant.The process of winemaking is divided to two major categories namely, still wine production and sparkling wine production. Still Wine Production is made without
carbonation while Sparkling Wine Production is made using carbonation. The principle of winemaking and finished wine is called oenology and the person who is involved in the principal is referred to as the vintner or winemaker. After harvesting, the grapes are usually taken to winery and the necessary preparations are made
for the primary ferment. This is where the divergent of red and white wine making occurs. Red wine is usually made from must have of the black or red grapes and they undergo fermentation alongside the grapes skins while white wine is made through juice fermenting. The juice is obtained from crushed grapes pressing.

At this stage the skin is removed and has no role further. Blending white and red wine makes rose wine.

In making red wine, yeast should be added onto the pulp (must) during primary fermentation stage or allowed to occur naturally in form of ambient yeast or in the surrounding air.
Fermentation normally takes one to around two weeks a during this time, yeast is in a position to convert simple sugars from the grape juice into carbon dioxide and ethanol. Carbon dioxide gas escapes to the atmosphere. After primary fermentation, free run from the red grapes is pumped into tanks while the skin remains behind to be pressed in order to extract the remaining wine and juice. The wine is then kept warm as the rest of the sugar get converted to form carbon dioxide and alcohol then the wine is taken to
secondary fermentation. During this stage certain bacteria are involved in the fermentation and they convert Malic acid into Lactic acid. The process aims to decrease the level of acid in wine as well soften the wines taste. In some case's red wine may be transferred to oak barrels in order to mature it for duration of several weeks or months in order to impart the oak aromas into the wine. Prior to bottling and filtration, the wine should be settled and the correct adjustments made. Time for consumption from harvest may vary from months to decades for top wines and Beaujolais nouveau wines.

Home winemaking is gaining popularity among individuals, as it has been taken as a rewarding hobby.

The equipment may be purchased from a wine shop or home brew for as low as $100. Wine can be made at home using home winemaking kits, which derives fruit juice from grapes.

The derived fruit juice has a concentration, which has a different range depending on region and the grape variety. The kits make around 30 - 750mls of wine. Equipment like plastic carboys and glasses are usually geared to producing about 23 litres of wine. The juice may be purchased using six gallon buckets for around $45 - $60 per pail, yeast and around five pounds sugar bags. The wine's quality is highly dependent on the grapes quality. Its variety, weather, acidity, and soil minerals, pruning method or harvesting time, may affect the quality of the grapes. In tradition winemaking the grapes could be crushed through trampling over them or using inexpensive crushers.

The stemming decision makes the whole difference between white and red winemaking.

In white wine making, the fruit is just crushed while the stems are pressed alongside the berries. In making red wine grapes and stems are normally removed just before fermentation since stems have high content of tannin. If the stems contain less tannin, the wine maker might decide to leave them in order to give them vegetal aroma. This is, however, acceptable when the stems are ripe and are turning brown. Since red wines get their colour from the skin of the grapes, the contact between skins and the juice should be emphasized in order to extract the colour. It is also very possible to produce white wine using red grapes. Pressing fruit fastidiously and minimizing the contact between the skin and grape juice can achieve this.

This is done to reduce the chances of tannin extraction from the grape-seeds or skin. In other times, some wine makers opt to crush the grapes for short durations in order to increase skin
contact normally for 24 hours.

This help's extract tanning and flavour from skins and also potassium ions, which helps in Bitartrate precipitation. In making rose wines the grape fruit is normally crushed together with the dark skin and left for long periods to extract colour according to wine makers desire. Then, the must should be pressed followed by fermentation like that of white wine. The primary fermentation may be aided with natural yeast, but this may produce unpredictable results according to the type of yeast extracts. It may also lead to an incomplete fermentation with some sugars remaining unfermented. For red wine production the fermentation temperature should range from 22 - 25 Degrees Celsius while for white the temperature should range from 15 - 18 Degrees Celsius.

For a production of 12 sugars in the must. In secondary fermentation, the wine could be fermented in stainless steel. However, it is highly advisable to put it in oak barrel to complete fermentation, but most home wine makers use carboys glass for fermentation.

Top Three Diet Meals Low in Carbs for a Slimmer You By Wadner Tranchant

Carbohydrates are a staple in our diet and most people who are compelled to lessen their carbohydrate input find it very hard, especially those raised in rice-eating cultures to resort to low Carb Diet Meals. Even people who don?t eat rice but are used to having pasta and/or sandwiches twice or thrice a day have a difficulty letting the carbs go.

And since desserts are primarily carbohydrates as well, dieters are required to say goodbye to cake, ice cream and all other sweet and creamy wonders. But the fact is, to increase your chances of losing weight and keeping it off, you need to let go of starches and grains so that your body will resort to burning up the stored fat that?s causing the numbers to add up on the weighing scale.

The default option is to resort to greens and put together healthy salads. This is all good, but you need not sustain yourself merely with green tips and vinaigrette. Here are three balanced low-carb meals to keep your appetite up while your weight stays level on healthy on what is ideal for your height and built.

#1: Chicken Cordon Bleu

It is difficult to go wrong with this dish. It is flavorful and nutritious. And though it sounds rather sophisticated, it is not difficult at all to prepare. The ingredients needed are very basic?boneless (and skinless) chicken breasts, sliced cheese, ham slices, all purpose flour, cornstarch, olive oil, chicken bouillon, and white wine. You may also use spices such as paprika and other herbs that you like.

The chicken breast must be thin enough. Ham and cheese slices are placed on the chicken breast slices which are folded and secured with toothpick. The flour and spices are mixed and used to coat the chicken breast with filling. The alternative is to use bread crumbs to coat the assembly after a quick dip in egg.

Use extra virgin olive oil and fry the cordon bleu until brown. You can add the bullion and white wine and cook in low heat for 30 minutes. Let it simmer until the juices have evaporated. Mix the bowl and cornstarch in a bowl and whisk them together. Before serving, make sure that the toothpicks have already been removed and then pour the thickened sauce on the chicken.

#2: Pan-fried or Grilled Steak

A nice slab of beef that is pan-friend in extra-virgin olive oil or grilled on a cheery flame is one meal that will surely fight off hunger. And if you get good protein from an organic farm then you might even forget that you?re missing the huge side of potatoes or rice, if that?s what you prefer. This dish makes a good lunch or dinner. The mushrooms and peppers add carbs to the meal but the amount is almost insubstantial so you can add them as garnish.

#3: Grated cauliflower or veggie pasta instead of rice

Cauliflower that is grated may not taste like rice but is a great low-carb alternative. In fact, cauliflower almost has no carbs. You may use it as a rice substitute in all your meals.

Another great substitute for rice is pasta that is made from vegetables. This is widely available in health stores these days, and even in major grocery stores and supermarkets.

Low Carb Diet Meals are essential in your weight loss diet plan. Try out our recommendations and find out how delicious they are. They are also well balanced and thus very good for your overall health

All The Marvelous Uses For Decorated Cookies By Kathleen Westley

Decorated cookies are the perfect addition to any occasion. They're beautiful and stylish, but also small and simple to transport. They make wonderful gifts and ideal party snacks. And above all, they're delectable. You can order specially designed cookies with any theme, to match any event. No matter what the situation is, it can be made better by decorated cookies.

The most expected time of year to use decorated cookies is the holiday season. From Thanksgiving to Hanukkah to Christmas to New Year's, holiday cookies are essential. They do well big office parties, at small family events, as gifts for friends, or just to have handy around the house, to get into the holiday spirit.

But the end of the year isn't the only time that calls for decorated cookies. Amplify your Halloween with some spooky, scary cookies. Complete your Easter with cookies that have the looks and flavors of spring. Or gift cookies to your mom on Mother's Day, or your dad on Father's Day, that depict, in a fun way, what being a parent is all about. They even make marvelous birthday gifts. Whether they're for children's parties, key milestones like 18 and 21, or a gentle rib at someone who's getting older, birthday cookies are sure to be a hit.

Is somebody in your family ready to graduate from high school or college? Bring cookies to the party, in the shape of diplomas, or graduation caps. Or simply a universal "Congratulations!" cookie, to let them realize how proud you are of them. Perhaps someone is about to get married. Hand out beautiful and delicious tuxedo and bridal gown cookies as party favors at the engagement party or wedding shower. Afterward use an arrangement of stylish and elegant white cross and dove cookies as table centerpieces at the wedding reception. Cookies are also a great way to welcome a new baby. Serve personalized cookies for either a boy or a girl at the baby shower, and even have the baby's name printed on them! Or choose from an array of fun designs that can welcome in either a boy or a girl. No matter what kind of party you're planning, decorated cookies are a fantastic way to express the theme visually and make it stand out.

You don't even need to have an even to have decorated cookies. Send them to a friend or family member, to let them know you're thinking of them. Is someone you love sick, in the hospital, or recovering from an ailment? Get Well cookies will help everybody feel well again. In times of of sorrow or loss, sympathy cookies are a tasteful and considerate way to let somebody understand that your thoughts are with them during difficult times. Or send cookies for no reason at all! Surprise your significant other and let them know you're. Add some fun to your children's morning snack, by giving them cookies shaped like dinosaurs, or monkeys. Take them to celebrate a favorite sport, from baseball to basketball to ballet. Or give some to a friend you haven't seen in a while, just because.

There's literally no limit to the ways you can make use of decorated cookies. Let your imagination run wild. There's a cookie for every occasion. They're enjoyable, thoughtful, and tasty. Anything that you have organized, decorated cookies will add a bit of tastiness.

Turn Leftover Bread into a Delicious Dessert Using Bananas By Amanda Millen

Bananas are rich in calcium and potassium and should be included in your regular diet. They can be used to prepare a number of interesting dishes and given below is the recipe of one such simple and tasty dish in bread pudding recipe. You can use this banana bread pudding recipe anytime to prepare a yummy dessert.

Items needed:

- 7 cups of bread cubes (remove the crust of the bread before cutting)
- 6 large eggs at room temperature
- 3/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/2 cups of half and half
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup of dark brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons of butter (unsalted and at room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice (if you are using concentrate then use only 1/2 tablespoon)
- 4 medium-sized ripe bananas

Preparation:

- Roast the bread cubes in the oven at 350F for about 7 minutes until they are dry. This will prevent the bread from getting too soggy.
- Remove from the oven and set aside to use later.
- In a bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract and salt and combine well.
- In a heavy bottom saucepan, whisk the cream and half and half over a medium flame. Remove from heat.
- Add the cream mix to the egg mix and whisk well until the ingredients are mixed.
- Sieve the custard and set it aside to cool to lukewarm temperature. Make sure there are no lumps in the mix.
- In a separate saucepan, take the butter and brown sugar and heat them on low heat until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves.
- Cut the banana in half lengthwise and then in thin slices crosswise.
- Put the banana slices in the above-prepared sauce and stir in for 30 seconds until the banana pieces are coated on both sides.
- Remove from the heat and cool.

To assemble the pudding:

- Lightly grease an 8x8x2 inch baking dish and scatter 1/3 of the bread cubes at the bottom.
- Pour 1/2 of the banana slices and sauce over the bread.
- Cover with 1/3 of lukewarm custard.
- Add another layer of bread cubes, banana and custard over the top of the first layer.
- Add the third layer of bread and custard, press the top lightly and cover with aluminium foil.
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Place the glass dish in a water bath. To prepare the water bath, fill a large, metal baking dish half way with water.
- Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 45 minutes
- Remove from the water bath and set aside for 15 minutes.
- Serve warm.

Supplying Industrial Cleaning Solution to MITIE (Retail) Ltd and Tesco By Scott Moore

ICE first presented to MITIE (Retail) Ltd in November 2009 and over the next year became our sole supplier of cleaning machinery. They brought to the table an enthusiastic approach which was innovative, flexible and accommodating in those times of need. This was a supplier partnership and it was both encouraging and rewarding for both parties. Two specific mobilisations come to mind which I believe gives a good indication of ICE as a company, one which was the largest ever single machinery order placed by MITIE for the Co-operative Group stores and one is this case study for Tesco Stores in September 2010.

Background:
MITIE was awarded significant growth in the Tesco store cleaning Tender in July 2010. Up to this point we were using ICE to supply machinery into the existing smaller convenience Express stores. We had chosen the RA431 compact scrubbing machine for these stores, following their presentation. This proved to be a low maintenance, cost effective machine that the operators liked because of the simplicity. ICE had supplied with the machine both pad drives and brushes so we could utilise the machinery in almost every area of the store, achieving that machinery driven approach we were aiming for. This machine later became our utility machine of choice in the large format stores for use throughout the trading day on the shop floor.

Tesco has an agreement term within its Tenders that on site machinery will transfer between suppliers providing they can reach agreement on the net book values etc. Although this seems a fair approach it does have its complications and, in this case, negotiations had not been going well with the incumbent contractor. We were now entering minus four weeks to start date and we were starting to get concerned. I arranged a meeting with ICE and fully explained the situation. Without any firm commitments from MITIE, ICE immediately `got on board` with a contingency plan on our behalf. This involved considerable expense to ICE, surveying the stores, speaking to Switzerland on delivery timescales and eventually taking the ultimate risk in placing an order with Cleanfix without a guaranteed order from MITIE. This showed a huge amount of commitment from ICE and enabled MITIE to have a contingency plan for Tesco who were aware of the situation.

With two weeks to go to start date MITIE decided to end negotiations with the incumbent and officially place the order with ICE to supply a ?1.5 million order for floor cleaning machines into all Express stores across our regions and all large store format stores in the South East and South West Regions of England. This amounted to approximately 230 sites.

Logistics:
The machinery roll-out started 2 weeks prior to start date. Fortunately, following the commitment ICE had made by arranging for machinery to be delivered into the UK, this was possible. If ICE had not taken this approach then we would have needed to either go back to the negotiating table with the incumbent contractor and pay well over the net book values for the machinery or request that the customer postpone the start date. Both scenarios would have been unacceptable to MITIE as options.

The machinery for each store had been specified on the surveys initially carried out and, upon delivery, training took place with not only the machine operator but all staff on the shift. This gave us the multi skilling of operatives we were looking for. Every member of staff received a training certificate prior to contract start date.

ICE had taken a simplicity approach and banded the stores into machine bundles so we were aware that a specific store would receive certain machinery. This gave us a very easy communication line with our field teams as we issued them all a matrix which they could refer to if questioned. As with every multi-site contract, however, there will be unique stores that the bundle matrix does not fit. These idiosyncrasies, which were unknown to ICE, on survey lead to the need to change some machinery for larger or smaller models and this was done without any objection and at a further cost to ICE which was never passed onto MITIE. All unique changes were carried out prior to the contract start date.

Machinery Types:
The machinery we procured was the RA431 compact scrubbing machine for the Express stores. The RA561 tough and powerful machine for hard and soft floors and the RA 900 Sauber ride on scrubber drier were chosen for the larger stores. We also purchased additional machinery including vacs, single rotary machines and car park sweepers from ICE.

Summary:
Whenever I am asked to provide a reference for a supplier, the first question I ask is firstly `Did they go the extra mile for MITIE?` and pull out all the stops as a supplier to `Make it happen`. We need our supply chain to, at times, gamble to aid the cause. The world of contract cleaning can throw all types of issues at you and you need to have a supplier who is in there with you when the going gets tough. I found ICE ready and up for the challenge and when we asked them to `step up to the mount` they certainly did so. The commitment they made considering the MITIE policy for purchase ordering went well over and above what was expected and probably saved what could have been a mobilisation disaster. I have no hesitation in recommending ICE as a supplier because there will be some tough times ahead for all of us and we all need suppliers like ICE to support us through difficult times.

Many People Do Not Comprehend The Necessity Of Proper Nutrition By Sheree Sonne

As you continue to read you'll be pleased to realize that we will be speaking about the importance of nutrition whether individuals are dieting or not.

Carbohydrates are generally one of the first things which dieter's will wind up eliminating from their daily routine. These men and women don't recognize that carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for an individual's body. Many men and women end up becoming very tired and lethargic by not consuming carbohydrates, but these carbohydrates can reverse this. Obviously this is something which will have to be limited, mainly because if you eat way too much carbohydrates it'll be stored inside your body as fat. Obviously in relation to eating carbohydrate you want to try and do this in the healthiest way possible, through fruits and vegetables.

Protein is yet another one of those items that you are going to have to consume each day in order to maintain a healthy body. Something about protein is that it can be quite important to be able to help you maintain your muscle mass, and it can also help in repairing tissues. Protein is additionally used to be able to help individuals create hormones that are going to end up being vital to your state of health. As many of you are aware there a lot of various kinds of meats that a particular person can consume and the majority of these are packed with protein. There are a number of vegetables that contain a good deal of protein but you are going to also see that nuts and peanut butter will be a good choice as well.

One more thing a lot of individuals try and eliminate from their diet are fats, but fats are an essential part of a healthy and nutritious diet. In relation to these different fats you are going to find that they are split into two categories, unsaturated fats and saturated fats. The fats which are not good for your body and can actually lead to different types of health problems are the fats generally known as saturated fats. The unsaturated fats that you can find in foods are actually a healthy option.

Getting enough vitamins and minerals is another thing that you're going to need, and this is primarily because all of the organs inside your body need these to function properly. Veggies and fruits will be able to offer you almost all the minerals and vitamins your body requires every single day. You are going to see that just about every vitamin and mineral you are going to require for your body is going to be found in various fruits and vegetables. With regards to the actual amount of fruits and veggies you should be eating every day, you need to understand that it's no longer three servings a day but five.

By making certain you're eating the correct kinds of foods you are going to see that you'll be able to have a much healthier body.

Yes to Health by Eating Healthy Organic Food By Wadner Tranchant

With the current lifestyle we have these days, there is no question why more and more people are looking for ways to keep fit and healthy despite all the stress, irregular meals and unhealthy fast food chains luring them to keep up with the fast-paced life. But with the flourishing number of organic food stores, there might be hope yet for all of us.

Organic Food: The what?s and the why?s

Organic foods are, principally, produced without the involvement of any modern man-made inputs such as chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. A natural organic food is not processed with the use of industrial solvents, chemical additives or irradiation. Most people believe that foods that are grown organically are much safer, tastes better and are more nutritious compared to those grown in a conventional manner. With such belief, the demand for this type of produce has increased despite being quite costly.

Taste Better?

There is a 2009 literature review that held most studies have shown that conventional food and natural organic food taste the same. There is no noteworthy difference on the taste between the two types of foods. However, there are some well-designed researches regarding vegetables and fruits that show a more favourable vote on organic produce. It has been found out that an organic fruit is much drier than that grown conventionally. With such, the flavouring substance is much concentrated, thus giving it a more intense taste.

Step up and be Healthy!

Changing your eating habits may be time-consuming and tricky at first. You need to chuck out that junk food habit and lift up the nutritional knowledge. Take time to read labels and identifying organic foods. The most crucial part is to get those taste buds on your side! Give them some time to take pleasure in the natural tastes because loving natural organic food is the secret to eating healthy.

? Keep your refrigerator and kitchen pantry healthy. Stash organic and healthy foods instead of your usual junk, instant foods and microwave dinners. Help yourself to eat unprocessed foods and fresh foods such as organic raw veggies and fruits. Check the labels if they contain the USDA certification.

? It would be better if you cook your meals so you will know what you are eating. You don?t need to prepare exotic recipes (but if you can, why not?).

? Plan your meals in advance. Writing them down on a piece of paper helps you stick to your organic diet. There are several healthy recipes available on the internet, try checking them out to have variety.

? If you have time, why not grow your own organic farm? All you need to remember is to keep everything natural - no synthetics. You eat what you grow. More natural,much healthier! But if you do not have the time and place, check the organic food stores near your place. Eating organic is beneficial for everyone.

? It helps keep you healthy.

? It helps keep the farmers healthy since they won?t be exposed to pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

? It helps keep the animals healthy. No more exposure to chemical vitamins, antibiotics and growth hormones.

? It keeps our environment healthy. So say yes to health! Start eating healthy organic food.

Port - A Magnificent Sweet Red Wine By Elena Castillo

Port is a fortified sweet red wine that is considered the sweetest of any type of red wine. (It should also be noted that Port can be dry and white, so one must take care to read the labels!) As a fortified wine, brandy has been added to the Port during the fermentation process, resulting in a higher alcohol content ? around 17 ? 20%. This process of adding brandy to wine began when ship crews on long voyages of several months, or more, found that the addition of alcohol to their wine barrels prevented the wine from going bad. The process continues today, though not for the same reasons. Today, Port is matured in either sealed glass bottles, or wooden barrels.

Port originated in Portugal and the grapes are from the Douro Valley. The wine takes its name from the Portuguese city from which it was shipped ? Porto. While many would consider the only true Port to come from Portugal (just as the only true champagne comes from France), it is also made in America, Argentina, Australia, Canada, India, and South Africa.

Sweet red Port is generally viewed as a dessert wine, but it can also be served as an aperitif, or as an after dinner drink. Due to its high alcohol content, the Portuguese serve Port in very small four-ounce wine glasses. Then, they only fill the glass halfway!

There are three styles of sweet red Port: Ruby Port, Tawny Port, and Vintage Port. Ruby Port is, as its name suggests, a deep, rich red color. It does not need to be decanted and is served best at room temperature. As a dessert wine, Ruby Port pairs well with fruity desserts, or rich, creamy desserts.

Tawny Port is a lighter color that Ruby Port with categories of ten, twenty, thirty, and over forty years. Tawny Port does not need to be decanted and can be served at room temperature, or slightly cooler. It may be served after dinner, or with desserts. Fruity desserts, rich and creamy desserts, or milk chocolate are excellent compliments to Tawny Port.

Vintage Port tends to be the lightest in color due to the length of aging. It represents only 2% of all Port produced and in Portugal, a "vintage" year is declared about every three to five years. Vintage Port is considered to be the very best. It does need to be decanted by using a small funnel with a strainer. It should be served at room temperature as an after dinner drink, or with the dessert as a dessert wine. It pairs well with fruity desserts, rich and creamy desserts, or dark chocolate.