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Perfect Italian Gravy with San Marzano Tomato

October 6, 2020 by Mandy

San Marzano Tomatoes are the best varieties of tomatoes that are grown in the volcanic soil of Italy. Botanically San Marzano tomatoes are called Solanum Lycopersicon. These are small oval-shaped tomatoes having a thin elongated pointed tip. The skin of San Marzano is dark in color, which is smooth and easy to peel. These tomatoes are fleshy and thick which make it perfect for making San Marzano tomato sauce and also it has low moisture content with a mildly acidic flavour. That makes the sauce sweet, complex and jam-like which has made it favorite of all top row chefs in Italy and other countries too.

Nutritional Description

The San Marzano tomatoes are not only famous for their rich flavors, but they also have great nutritional value. They are the perfect source of Vitamin A and C having a higher content of antioxidants which helps in making a strong immune system and increase collagen production, which is best for the skin.

These tomatoes are also filled with fibre, potassium and folate that helps the body fight against free radicals. Moreover, these properties are even restored in the San Marzano canned tomatoes, making it ideal to be used in all food items.

Applications

These tomatoes have firm flesh, fewer seeds and lower juice content which makes them perfect for making best quality San Marzano pasta sauce. You can use canned variety in pasta, pizzas, lasagna or ragus by roasting or cooking them. The fresh San Marzano tomatoes are mostly used for sandwiches, salads and bruschetta either cut into thin slices or baked into a savoury tart drizzled with olive oil and some rock salt.

The canned San Marzano Tomatoes are whole peeled and packed in puree too and are mainly used in making tomato sauces for pasta and pizza. However, you can also find San Marzano tomatoes in dried and grounded form as a powder or may be made into a tomato paste to be used for a longer time.

You can use San Marzano tomatoes paired well with any herbs like basil, parsley, thyme and oregano which works like magic in so many dishes. And you can use any version of San Marzano tomatoes in them whether freshly picked from farms or canned. Each will give the same sweetness and acidic flavour.

How to Know If They Are Fake Or Real?

As it is said, all good things are subject to fakery these days, with time these Italian San Marzano tomatoes are being grown outside the official region of them and becoming available everywhere. These tomatoes can be of the same type as San Marzano canned tomatoes grown in similar soil and then preserved in the same way. However, they are not true DOP San Marzano. A can of best San Marzano is labelled as “Pomodoro San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese Nocerino DOP”. However, you should look for an important part which is ‘DOP’ which stands for Denominazione d’Origine Protetta (Protected designation of origin). Its certification is ordered by the European Union and administered by the Italians which guarantees that San Marzano canned tomatoes are available.

How to Make San Marzano Tomato Sauce?

San Marzano tomatoes where to buy from, this is one of the biggest questions that worries most housewives out there. But what if we tell you that you can prepare the san Marzano tomato sauce in your home itself? Will you believe? You should believe us as here is the simple and easy recipe of making it.

You need to sauté minced garlic for around 30 to 60 seconds on the medium heat and don’t forget to continue stirring it. You have to use tons of garlic while making this recipe so that your tomato sauce has amazing flavor.
Now add tomatoes in it and cook it slowly at low heat. This will allow the sauce to thicken the sauce and helps in richening the flavor.
Now you need to add herbs to the recipe to give it a fresh and vibrant herb flavor to give it finishing touch.

Ditch Your Morning Coffee: 5 Best Herbal Supplements for Energy

September 7, 2020 by Mandy

More than 30% of adults in the United States get fewer than 7 hours of rest each night.

Many medical professionals recommend getting at least 7 hours of sleep so that your mind and body can recharge.

If you are on the threshold of not getting enough rest or constantly feel tired, there are supplements that can help.

Continue reading to discover the best herbal supplements for energy so that you can feel rested and awake!

1. Blueberry and Gogi

Blueberry and Gogi berry herbal supplements are becoming a popular choice for improving energy.

These types of berries are rich in antioxidants, which help reduce toxins and fight off free radicals. Simply walking through the city and breathing in air pollution can build up toxins in your body, meaning that any defense will be helpful.

Without these toxins, your brain and body will be protective. These supplements can even improve your memory and mood!

2. L- Theanine

An excellent choice of herbal supplements for anxiety and energy is L- Theanine.

L- Theanine is an herbal supplement that comes naturally from green tea. You will feel more alert taking this supplement because of its concentration- increasing benefits. Unlike many other energy supplements, L- Theanine can have relaxing effects, but it won’t make you drowsy.

3. Vitamin D

Without vitamin D, muscle fatigue is bound to happen.

If you have been sluggish, you may need vitamin D. People that primarily stay indoors and don’t drink milk are at risk of having lower vitamin D levels. It is important to monitor your vitamin D intake so that you can get the supplements it needed.

4. B6 and B12

One of the best herbal supplements for energy is B vitamin.

Both B6 and B12 can help increase mental energy, which is needed for school and work. In order for the brain to function properly, you need to get enough of these vitamins.

There are many ways to take B vitamins. Capsules are a common way, or you can get powders and gummies. Learning about what’s in your herbal supplements is important when it comes to buying B vitamins. By getting the purest form of B vitamin, you can improve your mood and energy.

5. Creatine

Have you ever noticed that you get energy after eating red meat and seafood?

The amino acid, creatine, that is found within these proteins are responsible for the increased energy. Many athletes and gym-goers use creatine because improves their muscle recovery times.

This is an excellent supplement to try if you live an active life and want to prevent sports-induced injuries.

Try These Herbal Supplements for Energy

There are many herbal supplements for energy that you can try.

Depending on your type of lifestyle, there are certain supplements that will make you feel more energized. Creatine and vitamin D are excellent for active people. Gogi and blueberry supplements are another great option for when you feel sluggish.

Each supplement has various benefits that your body will be happy to receive.

Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about the best supplements and how they can improve your health and happiness!

How to Go Vegan on a Budget: Your Complete Guide

March 25, 2020 by Mandy

If you’ve scrolled through social media posts for vegan recipes or diets, it may seem like a massive and expensive undertaking. It doesn’t have to be. You can achieve a healthy vegan lifestyle without breaking the bank.

Keep reading for tips on how to go vegan on a budget!

Reasons to Go Vegan

If you’ve spent your life as an omnivore you may wonder why people go vegan. The answer varies from person to person. Someone may live a vegan lifestyle:

To reduce their carbon footprint and produce less waste contributing to climate change
To adopt healthier eating habits
To help control or reduce your risk for a chronic disease
For personal or spiritual reasons
In opposition to animal cruelty and industrial farming

Cutting consumption of animal products may help you lower your risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and lower your cholesterol. Plant-based diets come with a lot of benefits and changes.

What Happens to Your Body When You Go Vegan

You may find going from omnivore to vegan to be a difficult process. You’ll likely feel the effect of the lifestyle change after a few weeks. You may experience:

Changes in weight (either loss or gain)
Different food cravings
GI discomfort
Boosted energy levels
Clearer skin

It is important to monitor your nutritional intake and consult your doctor before any drastic dietary changes, as you may need to take supplements (such as B-12 or Iron) when giving up certain foods.

How to Go Vegan on a Budget

According to the USDA, the average American can meet the daily nutritional requirements of fruits and vegetables for less than $3 a day. You can easily save money and meet all of your dietary needs with healthy vegan foods.

Fresh v. Frozen

Frozen fruits and vegetables are just as healthy as fresh ones. The vegetables in the freezer aisle were picked at peak ripeness, unlike the fresh produce. Fresh produce is picked a few days shy of ripe in order to extend its shelf-life.

Frozen fruits and vegetables are often cheaper and are good additions to meals like stir-fry, soup, and smoothies.

Buy in Bulk

Many vegan staples can be bought in bulk. This is often cheaper than buying in smaller quantities. Here are some common vegan staples:

Legumes (dried beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc.)
Tofu
Rice and/or quinoa
Pasta
Nuts
Oats
Nutritional Yeast
Nut Butter

You can use these foods in recipes or eat them on their own. All of these listed also have a long shelf-life, so you can stock up without worrying about expiration dates for a while.

Cook Your Own Food

Plant-based products, such as burgers, have been added to many fast food and quick service restaurant menus, but this is not the most cost-effective option for a vegan lifestyle (nor a healthy one). Making your own vegan dishes at home will save you money.

Maintaining a Vegan Lifestyle

Now that you have a better idea of how to go vegan on a budget, you can start incorporating these tips into your life.

Adopting a vegan lifestyle is affordable, sustainable, and one of the best choices you can make for your health!

Cook Italian: 4 Ingredients Truly Authentic Italian Recipes

February 19, 2020 by Daisey Bell

There’s a whole lot more than Pizza and spaghetti when it comes to Italian food. There are a plethora of ingredients that enhance the flavor of all Italian Cuisine. Not only is Although Italian food seems heavy or bold, in essentiality, it’s rich and textural at so many levels, and not at all heavy! Let’s not intellectualize Italian Cuisine, it truly comes from a place of evocatively emotional heart, making it one of the heartiest cuisines globally. Unlike most other cuisines that are governed by protein, Italian is an eminent celebration of produce and a huge selection of cured meats. Today, let us focus on the produce that Italy imbibes through and through, in all their major recipes.

Staying traditional to the authentic produce from Italy is what makes Italian Cuisine enjoyable. Trying to recreate the Italian recipes without authentically sourced Italian ingredients is a call for failure on the very first step in the process of trying to emulate this Cuisine.

These are the verifiably sourced Italian produce that sets apart authentic Italian ingredients:

Cheese: Truly, any discussion of Italian Cuisine would not be complete without mentioning cheese sourced from the various regions of Italy. Cheese is not just a part of the Cuisine, but a dominant part of the Italian culture and daily life. Veneto, Lombardy, and Piedmont are some of the quality producers of fine cheese in Italy. Italian food wouldn’t be the same without the presence of its humble cheese production. Some have a delicate flavor, and others are very strong. Parmigiano Reggiano is among the most famously known Italian cheese worldwide. It also termed “The King of Italian Cheeses.” They are aged to perfection.
Olive Oil:In the year 2018, Italians consumed 557,000 tons of olive oil. In comparison, the US consumed 315,000 tons. That above-mentioned figure should be able to put things in perspective with regards to the importance of olive oil in Italian Cuisine. This oil has been a staple of the region for thousands of years. Just as all produce, olive oil is also graded on its quality. Apart from the Cuisine, Italians use olive oil in many different ways. It is common to assume that Italians use the best quality of their olive oils – “the extra virgin” one to cook their food – NOT TRUE! They use lesser quality, less flavorful versions of their extra virgin olive oils while cooking, whereas saving the quality oils from drizzling over portions of pasta, bread, salads, and everything else. Some of the best Italian olive oils are Partanna olive oil, Partanna Sicilian olive oil, and Partanna extra virgin olive oil.

Also Read This: Italian Olive Oil: The Benefits it Give and How to Find an Original Product

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are one of the most commonly used ingredients in Italian cooking. Tomatoes find their way into all kinds of recipes – from lasagna to spaghetti, salads to side dishes, stuffings to paella. All recipes celebrate tomatoes. Today some of the largest producers of tomatoes are Italy – from the regions of Puglia, Sardinia, Campania, and the coveted Sicily. San Marzano is the most popularly known and used tomato sauce. It is a long shaped tomato with very fleshy meat. It contains a minimal amount of seeds and thus deemed perfect for making sauces for pizza toppings, pasta, and other bases. They have just the mild sweetness and the perfect amount of acidity. Make sure to source these products from Italy, if you are trying to get the authentic flavors of Italy.
Mushrooms: Italy’s landscape is home to many forests and fields, and they hold many types of mushroom growth. The rainy and sunny climate is the perfect climatic condition for the growth of mushrooms. During summer and the autumn season, mushroom harvesting is a common household chore across Italy. They are a meaty vegan alternative to game and poultry. They are also eaten in many different ways and even used as stuffings for many recipes. Italians even go to the extent of preserving mushrooms in high-quality extra virgin olive oil and then plate them as starters at mealtimes. Porcini Boletus Mushrooms preserved in extra virgin olive oil is one of the best starter foods all over Italy.

These four ingredients are what makes Italian Cuisine impeccably and authentically Italian. Source these from the right places. Italian food online stores carry a variety of these ingredients and also ships them to your desired address. Begin your journey experiencing Italian Cuisine the right way.

Author Bio:-I am Daisy Bell a pro-level blogger with years of experience in writing for multiple industries. I have extensive knowledge of Food, Fitness, Healthcare, business, fashion, and many other popular niches. I have post graduated in arts and have a keen interest in traveling.

6 Delicious Jakarta Street Food That Will Make Your Doctor Frown

November 15, 2019 by Mandy

With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia is considered to be the largest archipelagic country in the world. The metropolitan area of its capital city, Jakarta, is home to more than 31 million people, making it the second largest city in the world next to metro Tokyo in terms of population. As the city draws more people from different regions of Indonesia and from different countries, Jakarta’s food culture also continues to evolve and absorb new influences.

The food in Jakarta—especially the street food—are some of the most decadent and flavourful in the world. That’s why while visiting the city’s attractions on your Jakarta tour package, you should make sure not to miss out on the unique gastronomic adventure that only Jakarta’s must-try street eats can offer.

Satay (Sate)

Start off your food crawl with one of the most iconic dishes in Indonesia (and probably the healthiest in this list). Satay, a grilled meat skewer dish, originates from the island of Java and comes with endless varieties such as goat, pork, beef, chicken, and more. While similar to other meat skewers like yakitori in Japan and shish kebab in Turkey, satay is dipped in a unique peanut butter and soy sauce mix whose flavour can vary depending on the vendor’s recipe. In addition, the portion of meat is deliberately kept small so you can taste more variety of satays without getting prematurely full.

Stuffed Pancake (Martabak)

Martabak is a fried “pancake” that comes in two main varieties: savoury or martabak malabar, and sweet or martabak manis. The savoury variant comes with a stretched wheat dough that’s fried, then layered with an egg mixture that includes minced meat and shallots. The excess dough is folded to make a rectangular “pancake,” then sliced into bite-sized pieces. Meanwhile, the dessert variant of martabak uses pancake batter and is layered with a variety of death-defying ingredients like margarine, butter, condensed milk, chocolate, sprinkles, cheese, and Nutella. Needless to say, if you are diabetic, you’d better stay away from this dessert, as tempting as it is!

Fried Foods (Gorengan)

Gorengan is at the top of the most popular street food for locals. These carts often appear at the most opportune times to save hungry commuters from Jakarta’s legendary traffic.

Gorengan literally translates to “fried things,” and these “things” vary widely depending on who’s selling them. From sweet pineapples to savoury tofu, there’s no way to tell what could be under all that flour batter unless you ask! What’s more, people don’t even mind that the oil is so black from being reused countless times. As long as the mystery fritter is piping hot and crispy, it’s all good.

Duck Egg Omelet (Kerak Telor)

Kerak telor is one of the traditional Betawi dishes of Jakarta with a unique cooking method. The omelet starts with glutinous rice, coconut, and egg mixed together, then carefully spread on the surface of the wok. Next, the wok is turned upside down over the fire to roast the omelet. It’s unclear how the mixture defies gravity, but after a topping of fried shallots and dried shrimp, you get a crunchy roasted rice omelet that’s unlike anything else you ever tasted.

Grilled Bread (Roti Bakar)

For breakfast, the locals usually go for a “ropita” or “roti bakar.” These are thick toasts that come with a variety of toppings like strawberry, chocolate, and cheese. As if there are not enough sweets on this breakfast, condensed milk is drizzled generously on top to finish it off.

If you’re really testing the limits of your pancreas, you can up the sugar level even further with the additional scoops of ice cream!

Fried Banana (Pisang Goreng)

One of the favourite quick snacks in Jakarta is the pisang goreng or fried banana fritters. Before coating the banana with the usual flour batter, it’s sliced thinly and spread out like a fan. This ensures a wider and flatter surface for a crispier banana fritter. Another thing that separates this fried banana from similar dishes in Singapore and the Philippines is the sambal dip that comes with it. It adds a spicy kick to the rich and oily snack.

Jakarta has such a wide variety of rich street food that tasting them all might put you in a serious food coma. If you ever find yourself in this megacity hungry and craving for sweets, be sure to have your insulin shots ready because the city is going to indulge you, big time!