Utilizing Food Processors for Eating Healthy

11311077894_13f-img-4940-web-organic-food-ukraine-kiev.jpgIt seems like everyone is in a hurry these days. With work, family, and friends, most of us try to pack as much as we can into each day. Unfortunately, this often leads to grabbing fast food or chips, cookies, candy, and caffeinated beverages for lunch or dinner out of convenience. Over time, these unhealthy choices can have a negative impact on overall health, and leave us feeling sluggish, tired and irritable. Your body needs a balanced intake of healthy nutrients to function properly. Wholesome foods like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, fish, and poultry keep the body nourished and strong. But who has the time to cook these days? With the help of a simple food processor, you do. Food Processors Reduce Prep Time A food processor is the perfect solution for people with busy lifestyles who want to eat healthier. These easy-to-use appliances cut down on prep time, eliminate food waste and help you repurpose leftovers quickly and conveniently. One of the major benefits of the food processor is the significant reduction of prep time. When you spend less time preparing meals, you have more time to relax and really enjoy them, as well as more time to spend with family and friends. Food Processors Save Money Saving money is especially important these days, with our current economic situation resulting in higher food costs. For example, by using a little low fat mayo, you can use your food processor to turn tonight’s leftovers of baked chicken and vegetables into a delicious, healthy sandwich spread for lunch tomorrow. This is an easy way to reduce food waste and to save money. You can find many recipe ideas online and in cookbooks for using fresh ingredients or leftovers in the food processor to create scrumptious dips, yogurts, soups, spreads and much more. Providing nutritious and great tasting meals for the family while saving money is something to feel good about. And it’s so easy with a food processor. Whether you’re grilling steaks or chicken breasts or steaming vegetables, everyone knows that smaller pieces of food cook faster and more evenly than their bigger, thicker counterparts. Food processors can help decrease the amount of work and time it takes to prepare foods for baking, cooking, grilling, microwaving or slow cooking. A food processor also reduces your workload because you can prepare several foods individually or mixed together, without needing to dirty a new bowl for each dish. Consider how much easier it is to clean a single mixing bowl compared to a sink full of them. Food Processors Make Healthy Eating Easier Healthy snacks and meals that are made ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer for quick reheating are convenient and healthy alternatives to junk foods. It is much easier to eat healthy when you have ready-to-eat nutritious foods at your fingertips. It is cheaper and most often healthier for you to make foods and drinks at home with a food processor than it is to buy pre-packaged foods and beverages that claim to be healthy. Most food manufactures focus on making foods that are profitable, and are less concerned about whether those foods will help people to live healthier and longer. That is why it is so important for people to educate themselves about proper nutrition and to read food labels. Preservatives and additives are found in almost every commercially bought, pre-packaged food. Eliminating these unhealthy components of your diet can do wonders for your long term health. Food Processors Are Convenient Although a food processor is a versatile machine that can do the work of several appliances with the convenience of a single unit, most models do not require a lot of counter or storage space. Food processors are also easy to take along on trips, so that you can prepare healthy meals while RV camping. That certainly beats the high costs of restaurant and convenience store foods while traveling. And it also helps you and your family to eat healthier more often on the go. Is there a wedding coming up in your family or circle of friends? If you haven’t picked out a gift for the couple yet, consider a food processor. Many of the traditional wedding gifts may cost more, but most do not offer the extended use, value and health benefits of a food processor. Once you begin using a food processor at home, or while traveling, you’ll start reaping rewards immediately. Better health, increased energy, fewer trips to the grocery store, and monthly financial savings can all be yours with the simple flick of a switch when you begin using a food processor.

Prepare the Perfect Ice for Your Bar Drinks

01311077764_ribs-mar11007.jpgIf you are planning to get yourself a fine, quality liquor to make those very special bar drinks that you simply read about from a couple of online drink recipes, it’s also wise to plan to take special care in making your ice. This is most important when the bar drinks you plan to prepare are rocks drinks. You see, ice can make or break the quality of your bar drinks in more ways than one.
When making ice for your bar drinks, always use filtered water as much as you can. This way, you can be sure that your ice are clean and free from solids. If your filtration system has activated carbon, your water will be free from odors and bad tastes as well. Newer refrigerator models have built in filters these days for the purpose of making ice and for supplying water to the water dispenser.
The simplest way to make ice without using a special appliance is to get an ice tray, fill it with clean, filtered water, after which stick it in the freezer. Before long, your ice cubes will be ready for your bar drinks. But you must remember to take the ice out as quickly as possible. If you don’t, they’ll start to pick up the odors from other food in your freezer. This is something you must avoid at all cost.
However, for those who have a stand-alone ice maker, then this is not a problem. This dedicated ice machine stands in your countertop or fits under a kitchen or bar counter. Some models can also be used as freestanding units. The good thing about ice makers, specially the portable ones, is that they are the fastest ice generators in the market. Your bar drinks and drink recipes will be ready in no time. You will have your first batch of ice within ten minutes of adding water and turning the device on. The ice will have the shape and opacity that’s perfect for your bar drinks. Most of all, your bar drinks will not smell like freezer food.

Yummy Christmas Drinks

21311077794_food-1.jpgThe holidays often inspire us to eat warm, traditional meals and spend extra time with our families. Add to that the fun of making up a nice spiced drink to sip near the fire and you’re ready to bask in the holiday season! Here are a few great drink recipes for you to try out (or, as a reminder if you’ve had them before).Hot Buttered RumIngredients:
2 c. vanilla ice cream
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. butter
Rum
Nutmeg
WaterDirections: Mix the regular and brown sugars and butter in a sauce pan. Set to a low heat until the butter melts. Be sure to stir occasionally. When the butter is melted, pour the mixture into a large bowl and add the ice cream. Beat together until the mixture is smooth. To make the buttered rum drink, fill 1/4 of a cup with the mixture, add about an ounce of rum, and 3/4 of a cup of boiling water. Top with a pinch of nutmeg. The butter/ice cream/sugar mixture can be kept in a sealed container in the fridge for about two weeks, which makes it a cinch to prepare when you have unexpected company.Kahlua Egg NogIngredients:
Egg Nog
KahluaDirections: This one’s easy! In a glass, mix 4 parts egg nog to 1 part kahlua. Top with a sprinkle of nutmeg if you want to jazz it up a bit.Chilled Mocha with Bailey’sIngredients:
4 oz. of chocolate milk
2 oz. of cold coffee
1 oz. Bailey’s Irish cream
Whipped cream
Chocolate powder or shavings
IceDirections: In a large glass, add ice, chocolate milk, coffee, and Bailey’s. Mix together and top with whipped cream. Sprinkle chocolate shavings or a dash of chocolate powder and serve.Hot Mulled Apple CiderIngredients:
3 cups of apple cider
4 cinnamon sticks + 2 more to garnish
1/2 cup of cinnamon schnapps
1/2 cup of spiced rumDirections: Mix all of the ingredients together in a sauce pan (or slow cooker) and heat on a medium heat. Once the mixture is hot, reduce to a low heat and allow it to mull for about an hour. Serve warm and garnish with a cinnamon stick or two.Now your holiday recipe arsenal is stocked with some highly tasty drink recipes! Many of these recipes can easily be altered to a non-alcoholic beverage so that your youngsters can enjoy them as well, so don’t be afraid to whip up a batch that the whole family can enjoy! ‘Happy holidays!