• Food Alternatives 

    6 Ways to Make Great Use of Leftover Coffee Grounds

    jeff

    For many people, a cup of excellent coffee is an essential start to every day. While once upon a time instant coffee granules were the norm, in recent years more and more coffee is made at home with freshly ground beans. This results in a much tastier cup, but also poses a question: what to do with all the leftover coffee grounds? We make quite a bit of bulletproof coffee when we need a boost, so we’re always looking for quick ways to dispose of it quickly and environmentally safe.

    While of course you could simply throw them into the garbage, that would be a sad waste, as spent coffee grounds can be put to many clever uses around the home. Here are just six of the best ways of using this deceptively valuable waste product.

    An Easy Fridge Deodorizer

    Even the most spotlessly clean refrigerator can pick up the odors of strong foods stored within it. A simple cup of used grounds at the back of your refrigerator will help soak u p’ any bad odors, leaving your fridge smelling crisp and fresh.

    A Useful Garden Compost Addition

    Coffee grounds contain high levels of carbon, nitrogen, and other essential plant nutrients that make them ideal for adding to a compost heap. They are quick to break down when mixed well with other more traditional compost ingredients, adding both bulk and texture along with the nutrients. Be aware though that coffee is fairly acidic, so you may need to balance this out with an addition of lime or similar if your garden soil already has a low PH level.

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    food myths 

    Food Trucks need to Be regularly Inspected for Rodents and other Hazards

    jeff

    Food Trucks and carts are becoming all the rage throughout the USA, particularly in Portland, Oregon, where they are a staple to many people’s lunch and dinners throughout the year. Portland has dedicated large city blocks to food truck vendors and such and they haven’t taken the city by storm with their food offerings.

    Many folks love the fact that you can walk down a 400ft long sidewalk and get to choose from 15-20 different types of authentic foods and not have to worry about getting seated and leaving a tip. But some things are unseen in these high paced environments and we’re urging folks to really think about the consequences of these types of eating environments.

    We ran across a blog post on the Health Inspectors Handbook blog about what every food cart should be inspected for, and we think either the City of Portland or a Car inspection company in portland should carry out thorough inspections in order to ensure these food trucks are clean and not emitting fumes into the environment that don’t need to be there.

    This also includes rodents, pests and bugs that really should be taken care of before anyone even starts to cook in these types of situations. I think that the city needs to conduct monthly, routine truck inspections (or at least hire a local company to conduct the car inspections with their rigorous lists) and make sure everyone is passing with flying colors, even truck with bad/salvage titles Read More

    Vegan 

    3 Easy Vegan Breakfast Ideas (and Matcha or Kratom Teas) to Enjoy

    jeff

    Post courtesy of Momming.com – Follow them on Social media on Pinterest, Instagram and Bloglovin for more Recipes, lifestyle and Mom stuff!

    If you’re trying a vegan diet for the first time, it can be hard to decide what to eat at each meal. You might wonder how you’ll replace your usual breakfast without using any animal products Even as a longtime vegan, you might find yourself bored with your regular fare and keen to spice things up. The five ideas below should provide some much-needed inspiration and help you get your day off to a healthy, delicious, cruelty-free start.

    Scrambled Tofu

    If you’re used to scrambled egg, then scrambled tofu can be a great replacement. Although it’s not quite the same, tofu absorbs flavors extremely well, so you can season it in any way you like, according to your personal taste.

    To prepare, simply drain a block of tofu and crumble with your hands until it resembles cooked scrambled egg in appearance. Heat a small amount of oil in a large frying pan, and throw in the tofu. You can add any seasoning you like; for a nice yellow color, turmeric is essential. Curry powder, chilli powder, coriander, salt, and pepper are all excellent choices.

    Once the tofu is warmed through and slightly softened, simply serve on a toasted slice of your favorite bread. Add black pepper and tomato ketchup for an extra flavor kick. If you fancy something more substantial, why not make a full vegan breakfast? Add baked beans, vegan sausage, fried mushrooms, and grilled tomato for a delicious, healthy fry-up that will keep you full until lunchtime.

    Pancakes

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    food myths 

    What’s in Season for Your Favorite Seafood

    jeff

    Dining out has gone from being reserved for special occasions to becoming a way of life for many people. From fast-food joints to top-quality, white-tablecloth
    restaurants, eating out comes with its own set of expectations and standards. One of those expectations, especially when it comes to seafood, is that the food be
    fresh and the presentation flawless. Asa consumer, each person has a role to play in making that expectation a reality.

    Like many foods, each ocean catch has its prime season. Knowing what’s most likely to be fresh on the menu can make all the difference between a memorable event and an ordinary or less-than-spectacular meal.

    Salmon is a favorite for a lot of people. Fortunately, depending of your favorite species of the fish, you can enjoy salmon at its peak for a good part of the year.
    Chinook and wild salmon are both sourced from the Pacific Northwest, very close to sky blue credit repair location, as seen here. They are at their peak from March through September or October. Coho salmon comes into the picture later in the year, around July, and provides a good source for restaurants for the next three or four months. Atlantic salmon, sourced from the Atlantic Northeast, is usually in good supply all year. Salmon is a safe bet for favorable seafood dining.

    Another seafood favorite is mahi-mahi. Sourced from the South Pacific, where the waters are warm and the fish are always plentiful, mahi-mahi is a delectable, healthy choice you can feel comfortable making any month of the year.

    Those much-loved king crab legs are most plentiful, and most attractively priced, in the fall and early winter months of September throu Read More

    Food Alternatives 

    Top Homemade Snacks to Binge Watch Netflix With

    jeff

    Make your next Netflix marathon even more fun with these tasty, homemade snacks. They’re all quick and easy to make, perfect for throwing together at the last minute. They’re also great for sharing, so you won’t have to worry about your friends going hungry. Give these homemade treats a go -you’ll never want a bag of Doritos or microwave popcorn again!

    Toffee Popcorn

    This sweet snack is surprisingly easy to make at home and works out a lot cheaper than the kind you can buy. Pop as much com as you like in a pan with a little oil, then set

    aside. Be sure to pick a large enough pan to prevent overflowing. Next, melt butter and sugar in a pan until completely smooth. Use brown sugar for the best taste, but any kind will work.

    Stir your melted toffee mixture into the popcorn until completely coated, and spread out in one layer on a lined baking tray. Bake at a medium heat for 10-15 minutes, until nice and crunchy. Tip into a large bowl and enjoy!

    Nachos

    This is a fun snack that you can mix and match to your tastes. Start by putting a layer of nacho chips in a heat proof dish. For a simple snack top with tomato salsa
    and grated cheese, then pop under the grill until melted. This is quick, easy and delicious

    If you fancy something a bit more exciting, then there are plenty of other toppings you could add. Cook black beans and vegetables with Mexican spices for a filling option that could double as a meal. For a healthy choice, make your own guacamole by mashing avocado together with lime, chilli, coriander, tomato, salt and pepper, and use as a tasty dip.

    Roasted Chickpeas

    This might not be the first food that comes to mind when you think of TV-watching snacks, but it’s surpri Read More

    Food to try 

    BBQ Too Hot to Handle – In Praise of the Carolina Reaper Chili Pepper

    jeff

    For some people, chili is simply a spice to be used in moderation in a small range of dishes. For others, it can become something much more important: once people get the taste for this fiery fruit, it can turn into almost an addiction, with ever stronger peppers being sought to add to all manner of recipes, says Jeff from Barbeque Smoked. The height of this quest for heat is the Carolina Rea per variety of chili plant, whose colorful and somewhat foreboding-looking fruits are by far the most potent in the world.

    Chili peppers’ heat is measured using the Scoville scale. As a guide, a jalapeno pepper- not often considered a particular lightweight – tums in a fairly meager score of 3,500 Scoville units. Moving up the rankings, the Scotch bonnet cranks the tally up to a dramatic 350,000 units while lending its heat and distinctive citrus flavor to many a Caribbean dish. The Carolina Reaper however takes things to an entirely different level, breaking the scales at around 2.2 million units, making it truly a pepper to be reckoned with.

    Where Did it Come From?

    The Reaper variety was developed in South Carolina by Ed Smokin’ Currie of the PuckerButt Pepper Company. It is a hybrid of the ghost pepper (or bhut jolokia) and the red habanero, and combines exceptional heat with a deep fruity taste.

    It’s unlikely that you will be able to bu Read More

    Food to try 

    Spectacular Vegas Strip Fine Dining

    jeff

    Every restaurant on the Strip has to try hard. Even by those competitive standards, however, the options in fine dining can be spectacular It’s as if every restaurant on the world’s most glamorous stretch has a contribution to make to your experience of the city. If you’re looking for a push in the right direction, here are the top ten – on top of other great places and reviews to see while looking for stuff to do.

    Joel Robuchon

    There is no other fine dining venue in all of glitzy Las Vegas that possesses the three Michelin stars of Joel Robuchon of the MGM Grand. In dining experiences that bring both the innovative and the traditional together, Joel Robuchon offers both signature dishes as well as meals that sprawl to 16 courses. Against a backdrop that can only be described as palatial, the restaurant does let you grasp why fine dining is an art.

    Top of the World

    Top of the World is the only restaurant in the city to offer diners a 360-degree view of the city. Perched nearly 1,000 feet above the Strip on a revolving platform with custom designs like other companies provide for flooring ,? atop the Stratosphere Hotel and Towers, the spectacular setting isn’t meant to compensate for a weak menu (as it sometimes turns out with glamorous establishments). So many of the restaurant’s gourmet steaks, seafood creations and vegan dishes are top-notch. The four-course tasting menu and the wine list are award-Winners.

    Twist

    If you are a follower of celebrity chefs, you’ve probably hoped to experience the cul Read More