http://articles.ethnicfoodsplus.com/rss.xml A blog about ethnicfoodsplus.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.ethnicfoodsplus.com/?a=35135 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>For a lot of people it is difficult to eat healthy without it breaking their wallet. If you take some of the following suggestions into consideration you find that you can eat healthy and stay within your budget.<br /><br />The first culprit is most cases is junk food. Don't take the kids to the grocery store with you or even your spouse if they are junk food junkies. Do the grocery shopping by yourself and you will find that all of those junk food items no longer mysteriously appear when you get to the checkout line.<br /><br />Buy water, milk, and natural juices instead of colas and other soft drinks. You can splurge when you go out but at home you should eliminate these costly non nutritional items. Milk isn't just for kids, everyone needs it.<br /><br />Always buy fresh fruit when you can, if you have a produce stand nearby go shop there for your produce and buy large quantities that you can freeze and put away when that fruit isn't in season. <br /><br />For your protein consumption you will need meat and beans, lean meat is going to be more expensive than meat that is fatty. Lean hamburger costs three times as much as regular hamburger meat. Canned beans are a bargain giving you a good source of protein for low prices.<br /><br />Occasionally, you should use beans in place of meat for meals to cut back on fats and cholesterol. Since there are many varieties of beans you can do this quite a bit without repeating the same types of beans. The best thing to do is to put them cooking on a low temperature in a crock pot while you are working, that way by the time you get home they are done.<br /><br />According to the US. Government you should have beans for part of your meals at least four times a week for the protein and finer benefits they offer. If you suffer gastric problems with beans try washing them before you cook them, then cover them with water, boil, drain the water off, and then refill the pot again. If this doesn't help you may want to try a product such as Beeno.<br /><br />If you are lucky enough to live in a coastal area and I am. Take advantage of the abundance of fresh fish and make them a staple in your diet planning. If you catch them yourself they cost you nothing and even if you have to buy them they are fairly inexpensive if you live close to the source.<br /><br />Another great budget saver is peanut butter. Peanut butter with jam on wheat bread is the food I ate as a young bodybuilder. It was cheap, gave me my protein and carbohydrates, and I didn't have to cook!</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Bahamian food and <a href="http://www.ethnicfoodsplus.com/">ethnic foods</a> at http://www.ethnicfoodsplus.com</p> 2006-07-22T15:12-04:00 http://articles.ethnicfoodsplus.com/?a=35134 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>When you are traveling whether on the road or airport hopping finding good food to eat at a reasonable price is an important consideration. When you are traveling eating out at fancy restaurants can take you over your budget in a hurry. Take a look at some ideas to help you keep your food costs down and still enjoy your dining experiences. <br /><br />First off, always be sire to eat a healthy breakfast if at all possible. If you are on the road you can stop in at a spot like a Waffle House or even better yet a mom and pop spot that will fill you up without killing your wallet. Don't go for the quick fix of a bag of donuts from a convenience store. Eat something healthy like a bowl of oatmeal with some fruit and wheat toast. If you are lucky enough to be traveling in the Bahamas, try the local favorite, Fish and Grits!<br /><br />Eat your largest meal at lunch time. Many establishments offer lunch specials that are bargains during this time. My advice is to sample the local cuisine, especially if you are in another country. This is always a cool experience and generally cheaper than try to find a burger! Also, you never know when you will be on a sightseeing tour and your stomach decides for you that it is time to stop and get something to eat. Take along some healthy snacks, like fruit, nuts, raisins, or peanut butter and crackers. <br /><br />Many people think going to a grocery store while on vacation is totally taboo. The truth is you can save a ton of money and pick up some local favorites at a grocery store. If you are staying at a destination for more than a week or so grocery shopping pretty much becomes a necessity. When we stayed in the Bahamas last summer for a month we hit up the grocery store three days a week at least. With three teenage boys to feed, I had no choice! <br /><br />If you are in an area that has small family owned or independent diners give them a try. You will often find much better process as well as better and friendlier service than the larger establishments. By taking advantage of the ideas I have shared with you, you will enjoy your vacation much more because you will not have to worry about the cost of each meal that you eat and hopefully I have convinced you to try the local fare.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Bahamian food and <a href="http://www.ethnicfoodsplus.com/">ethnic foods</a> at http://www.ethnicfoodsplus.com</p> 2006-07-22T15:09-04:00 http://articles.ethnicfoodsplus.com/?a=35133 <p>by Gregg Hall </p><p>I spent a month last year in the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, never heard of it? It is a long thin and somewhat unpopulated island on the far eastern side of the Bahamas. I have to say that one of the most enjoyable aspects of the trip was the Bahamian food, of course I love that about every place I visit! I love trying out all the local dishes and the Bahamas was no exception.<br /><br />Food is probably not the first thing you think about when you think about the Bahamas with all the beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise and azure water. If you don't allow yourself the indulgence of as much Bahamian food as you can experience you will regret it later. <br /><br />The cuisine gets the attention it deserves at the local island restaurants showing a diversity that is unexpected with many international styles mixed in. The exact native food that you experience will even vary from island to island and also depend upon the species of fish being served. As one might imagine a great many of their dishes are seafood based with the abundance of water the islands all share.<br /><br />Get ready to experience food choices and tastes you have never had because in the Bahamas the chefs enjoy being unique and distinctive.<br /><br />One of the foods that you will probably not experience anywhere else on so large a scale is the meat from the Conch. This is the favored food of native Bahamians and is used in just about every possible dish you can imagine. When I was living there last summer I had conch salad, conch fritters, conch chowder and even conch burgers! One of my favorites though was raw conch with lime juice, hot peppers, and fresh tomato and onions. But beware, when I say hot peppers, I mean hot! Being of Cajun descent I was raised on hot food and not even the peppers in Mexico are as hot as these!<br /><br />Another popular dish among the locals especially is fish and grits. The fish is cooked with salted pork, peppers, and onions and served with grits as a breakfast fare. I got quite used to having it every morning.<br /><br />You have to try the local variation of fish chowder on whatever island you stay as well. Although the exact recipe may differ slightly it is usually made with fresh grouper, which are abundant there, tomatoes, lime juice, and dark rum, absolutely delicious.<br /><br />Don't be afraid to try these and the many other fine local foods offered if you get the opportunity to travel to the Bahamas.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Bahamian food and <a href="http://www.ethnicfoodsplus.com/">ethnic foods</a> at http://www.ethnicfoodsplus.com</p><p> </p> 2006-07-22T15:05-04:00 http://articles.ethnicfoodsplus.com/?a=34837 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>First get these ingredients:<br /><br />2 &quot;Ready to Bake&quot; pie crusts<br />5 large eggs<br />1 1/2 cups Half &amp; Half<br />8 oz. Cheddar/Monterey Jack Cheese (shredded fine)<br />12 oz. bacon (fried crisp)<br />1/2 cup diced green bell pepper<br />1/2 cup diced red bell pepper<br />1/2 cup diced green onion tops<br />1/2 cup diced yellow onion<br />1 large pickled jalapeno (seeded &amp; vein removed) chopped fine<br />4 oz. button mushrooms (sliced)<br />2 Tablespoons fresh garlic, chopped fine<br />1/2 stick butter or margarine<br />2 Tablespoons Olive oil<br />1 Tablespoon Gebhardt's Chili Powder <br />1 Tablespoon Fiesta Fajita Seasoning<br />1 Tablespoon Salt<br />1 Tablespoon Coarse ground Black Pepper <br /><br />Directions: <br /><br />Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare pie crusts according to directions for 'pre-baked' pie crust and bake for 8 - 10 minutes or until ridge just starts to turn light brown. Remove from oven and set on a cookie cooling rack. Fry the bacon until crisp, remove and drain on paper towel. When cool and crisp, chop until fine (1/8&quot;). <br /><br />In a small frying pan, heat the olive oil and 1/2 of the butter or margarine. Add the mushrooms, bell peppers, yellow onions and garlic. Saut&eacute; until mushrooms change to a light tan color (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and cool in a bowl. At this time, take the remaining 1/2 of butter or margarine and put in the freezer section. <br /><br />In a large bowl, break eggs and beat by hand like making scrambled eggs. Add the 1/2 &amp; 1/2 and mix well. Add the green onion tops, the diced jalapeno, the shredded cheese, and all the spices listed. Add the chopped bacon and mix again. Add the saut&eacute;ed mushrooms, bell peppers, garlic, and yellow onions using a slotted spoon to remove any excess liquid. Mix again until egg mixture is combined with all other ingredients. <br /><br />With a large ladle, fill each cooled, pre-cooked pie crust until 1/4 inch from the top ridge. Take the 'frozen' butter or margarine and cut into 1/4 inch pieces. At random, put about 10 pieces of the 'butter chunks' on top of the egg mixture. <br /><br />Bake in a 350-degree oven for 35 minutes or until top (egg mixture) just starts to turn a golden brown. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack. Let sit 1 hour. Slice into 8 equal portions and serve with a fresh Caesar salad. Cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated. Best served when slightly warmed or at room temperature.<br /><br />Yield: Two 9&quot; quiche pies.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses. Get all your ethnic foods from <a href="http://www.ethnicfoodsplus.com/">http://www.ethnicfoodsplus.com</a></p> 2006-06-24T15:47-04:00