Food for Christmas - A Universally Festive Gift

By Joan Saloomey

Giving the gift of food for Christmas is popular all over the world.

Picture this scenario: Snow is gently falling on the already frosted landscape. All is quiet and peaceful. You're busy at work and the FedEx delivery person is ringing your doorbell. You come to the door, and he hands you a beautiful box containing a decorative basket, chock full of your favourite gastronomic treats that are all tied up in red and gold ribbons. You see the card and open it. The gift is from one of your dearest friends. It might even be from a business associate. Now, how do you feel? Pretty good, huh? You are feeling loved, pampered, and altogether SPECIAL.

Food never goes out of style. You can never have too much food at Christmas. It's the time of year that we give way to indulgence. Temptation and dieting just do not figure in to the spirit of the season. Friends and family visit and you proudly share the food that was sent to you as a gift. There's no such thing as a chocolate taboo at Christmas. You indulge in truffles, chocolate covered orange peel, almond clusters, sugar plums and pastries, pate, cheeses, nuts, cookies, all sorts of delicacies. We all over indulge. It's Christmas! It's supposed to be Bacchanalian. Giving friends food for Christmas just adds more joy to their celebration.

One of the reasons I like to give food gifts is because food is something that everybody likes. You don't have to worry about sizes, or if the person already owns one. He or she will always have a use for food. Food is joy. Can you tell I'm a "foodie"? A lovely food gift is glamorous and practical. You consume it and it needs to be replenished. Giving food for Christmas is particularly fun when you can assemble the contents of a basket yourself. Many gift basket companies will allow you to choose the items you put into your gift. This is a great way to personalise your gift and design a little of yourself and a little of your giftee into the package. I suggest making a customised basket. Another advantage of customising your gift is that it also allows you to manage cost.

Gourmet chocolate is one of the most enthusiastically received gifts. I don't know too many people who don't love chocolate. There may be some who are allergic and it's cruel to tantalize an allergic person. You'll have to give that person fruit.

Chocolates are an excellent choice for business associates because they can be opened and shared in the office, thus adding to the joy of the season. Of course, a good brandy will make your attorney happy.

If you are visiting friends or family for the holidays, bring them a bottle or two of fine Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It's both practical and festive. It's also healthy. When considering food for Christmas gifting, another greatly appreciated gift is a basket of herbs and spices. If your friend, or your host and hostess like to cook, then this is a gift they will simply love. I enjoy cooking, so one year my cousin gave me a big box of special herbs, spices, extracts, sesame seeds and oil. It was a lovely luxurious gift.

Think about the person you are gifting and design a gift that really suits them.

Gourmet fruit is a spectacular gift, and healthy. Fruit of the month clubs are very popular, with good reason. I was once given a big box of ruby red grapefruits by a client. Those grapefruits were the best I ever tasted. That client got an A+ and special treatment the entire year from me. So you see, choosing the right gift has built in advantages for the giver.

Whatever you choose to give, choose it thoughtfully. Make it as festive as you can within your budget. The gift of food for Christmas is an all round winner! Happy holidays

-Joan S

Food for Christmas
Chocolate

© 2010 SHOPSICLE ® All Rights Reserved

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Joan_Saloomey/632839

http://ezinearticles.com/?Food-for-Christmas---A-Universally-Festive-Gift&id=5363270 

Perfect Winter Comfort Food That Warms Your Body and Soul

By Susanne Myers 

When the temperatures keep dropping outside, it's time for some winter comfort foods to warm you up. There's just something about a big cup of homemade soup or stew to warm your body and soul when it is cold and dreary outside. What is it about these winter comfort foods that instantly make us feel better?

Most comfort foods and especially those we enjoy in the winter have a fair share of carbohydrates in them. Think about Mac & Cheese for example which is a popular comfort food year around. It has plenty of starchy pasta in it. Quite a few other foods like lasagne or a big pile of spaghetti have plenty of pasta as well. Other winter comfort foods include rice (think chicken and rice soup) or potatoes (think beef stew or potato soup).

In addition to the carbs in the winter comfort food itself, we often serve it with some sort of bread. If you are making a pot of soup or stew you usually have a batch of biscuits, a cornbread or a loaf of homemade bread ready to serve along side it. This warm bread is a big part of what makes these dishes comfort foods and also adds some more carbs to the dish.

These carbohydrates can cause the human body to release a hormone called serotonin which is know to make you feel happy (along with preventing depression).

Stews and particularly soups have more liquid than other foods. In the winter time with the heat running everywhere you go, it is pretty easy to get dehydrated. Dehydration can cause headaches and I don't know about you, but I tend to get pretty grumpy when my head hurts. Getting that extra liquid from soups may be just enough to prevent this from happening. Not getting enough liquids also tends to make you feel tired and sluggish. Of course you should also attempt to drink some extra water to make sure your body has all the liquid it needs to function properly. But that can be easier said than done. While I'm find drinking cold water when it's warm outside, I just have a hard time getting it down in the cold winter months. In addition to eating plenty of soup, try drinking some warm herbal teas to get in your required eight to ten eight ounce glasses of water.

Last but not least, these winter foods make us more comfortable simply because they are hot. Eating soups and stews warms us up from the inside which is just what the doctor ordered after spending some time in the cold elements outside. Soups and stews are comforting to eat and will quickly bring your core body temperature back up. As an added bonus, you get to warm your cold hands on the bowl. Now that's what I call comfort.

And now I would like to share the recipe for my favourite comfort food with you. It's chicken and dumplings. It takes a little time to make, but is worth every minute of it. Give it a try and see if you don't fall in love with this dish as well.

Susanne Myers - The Hillbilly Housewife

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Susanne_Myers/6466

http://ezinearticles.com/?Perfect-Winter-Comfort-Food-That-Warms-Your-Body-and-Soul&id=3556365 

A Directory to a Gluten Free Lifestyle    

by Thelma T. Stapleton

Seeing that the smallest trace of gluten is adverse, it is essential that your diet be gluten free. The good news is that there are numerous delicious gluten free recipes and foods available. Be creative in planning weekly menus and use shopping lists to make things easier.

Gluten free menu ideas:

Breakfast: Cream of rice cereal with seeds or nuts; cheese and vegetable omelet with fried potatoes; cottage cheese with cinnamon and apples; turkey bacon and eggs.

Lunch and Dinner: Loaded baked potatoes; salad with toasted almonds and meats; stir-fry with fish, vegetables and brown rice; beef or turkey chili, veggie sticks and corn chips; chicken or beef kabobs.

Snacks: Rice crackers with cheese or peanut butter; corn chip nachos with salsa; celery sticks with cream cheese; pudding; yogurt; ice cream; string cheese; popcorn; baked apple.

It is very important to securely read each food label. If you are unsure about the ingredients, check with the manufacturer. Sometimes ingredients change, so labels must be checked every time. Much if the allergy statement on the label does not list wheat, read the rest of the ingredients for other grains that have gluten. Grains that must be shunned are any types of barley; bran; bulgur; couscous; durum; einkorn; emmer; farina; faro; graham flour; kamut; matzo; orzo; panko; rye; seitan; semolina; spelt; triticale; udon and wheat.

Non-food items can also contain gluten. Check the labels or talk to the manufacturer for resolution. These items include communion wafers, medicines and vitamins. Lipsticks, mouthwashes, toothpastes and other products that contain gluten can be accidentally swallowed. Playdough will not be absorbed into the skin, but wash your hands so the gluten protein is not passed on when eating.

Ward off contaminating your gluten free food by purchasing separate condiments to keep bread crumbs out of shared containers. Use several toasters or a toaster oven that can be cleaned or lined with tinfoil. Keep counters, cutting boards, utensils and pans free of particles containing gluten.

Living with celiac disease does not mean you can not enjoy eating out. Some restaurants even have gluten free menus. Call the chef or manager and let them know you cannot eat anything containing wheat, barley or rye. Be vigilant about the food you receive, since a salad may have a bread-stick in it, omelets may contain gluten ingredients, french fries may be fried in the same container as breaded items, burgers and buns may be cooked together. Ask completely how your food will be prepared. You could also bring your own crackers or bread.

Akin to a survey from the Celiac Sprue Association, over 50% of their members also had other food allergies. If you experience intestinal unpleasantness while gluten free, consult with your doctor to determine which foods are causing problems.

It helps to talk to others who are going through the same thing. There may be a nearby celiac disease support group that you can attend. Recurrently counseling is auxiliary to help with the emotional impact caused by such life-style changes.

There is a wealth of knowledge on the internet and in books, including gluten free cookbooks. In time, managing celiac disease will seem like second nature to you. Look at it as an adventure in taking control of your life to feel better and become healthier than ever before.

http://goarticles.com/article/A-Directory-to-a-Gluten-Free-Lifestyle/4921284/

 It Possible To Achieve a Gluten Free Routine   

by Breven Mavy

If you cannot tolerate gluten in your menu considering you are allergic to it or you are aching from celiac defect, you can truly spot wholesome foods without gluten that you could relish. Of course, aside from observing what foods have gluten and ought to be rejected, you could demand to catch sight of out what are the safe foods you could chew.

Celiac illness is an ailment of the digestive tract where the villi of the viscera are down and intake of nutrients from the food is made impossible. With this, the injured becomes malnourished even if how great food one might eat. People who comprise this illness do not accept gluten, a protein discovered in wheat, barley and rye, as this may ruin the villi and might block accurate consumption of nutrients.

If you are searching for foods excluding gluten to begin your gluten-free diet, begin initially with foods not having wheat, rye and barley, so you can have to flee away from bread, bread rolls, cookies, biscuits, cakes, as well as those gravies, soups and sauces that apply wheat as thickener.

Foods without gluten that may be safely involved in your nourishment can add fresh meat and fish, vegetables and fruits, herbs, fried fruits, honey, cheese, fruit juice. You may also consume beer but those that are gluten-free. Corn tacos or tortillas are also harmless. Popcorn is also cleared from gluten but you involve to examine nonetheless due to any coatings that can comprise gluten.

While in a few countries branding foods with 'gluten-free' is administered, it is also essential that you inspect the merchandise a spot further. It could not contain gluten in its constituents but be sure the development of the food does not have any gluten relish the fillers and binders and the construction is not loaded with gluten. To aid you with this, you could want to investigate forward on the distinguishing brands or foods that is dependable since those impaired celiac defect or secure help from a nutritionist or dietician to direct you. finding foods excluding gluten is also useful since those who are antagonistic to it.

It is also sensible to examine the labels of foods prior to buying them. It could be complicated that foods that you may think are cleared from wheat or gluten may indeed have an element that contain this protein, thus it is vital to scan markings and be aware on where you could observe gluten.

Keep in mind that gluten may be 'hidden' in a few foods such as luncheon meats holding fillers that may contain gluten. Soups that can involve flour, meat and fish pastes that can contain flour as thickeners, and in a few brands of chocolates.

Gluten is not just limited to foods. You may also lay hands on them in beverages and drinks, thus also aspire to check and abstain beverages primarily those with malt. You may also find this protein in cosmetics such as lipsticks, lip gloss, lip balms and may be present in a few toothpastes as well.

Start with these lists of foods without gluten but come up with more elaborate instructions to a healthier and nutritious food that you can comprise in your nourishment.

http://goarticles.com/article/Is-It-Possible-To-Achieve-a-Gluten-Free-Routine/4490715/

I have made an excellent quiche.

Quiche

Quiche is suitable snack, good for pic-nicks or could be a nutritious content of the lunch box.

Ingredients  for  2 persons

150g ½ tsp 70g 100ml  3 medium 1 cup 100ml 3 tbsp 1  2 medium 1 small 100g

gluten-free flour  mixture xanthan gum butter  water eggs milk Greek yogurt sliced green pepper sliced tomatoes chopped onion cubed cheese salt pepper

For this dish you can use doves farm plain gluten-free flour or I mix it with corm meal in 1:1 ratio. 

If you allergic to corn instead it buckwheat and potato starch mixture can be used.

Method:

1.     Making the base

·      Mix the flour, xanthan gum and the butter well then add the water carefully the pastry should be easily shaped.

·      Preheat the oven to 190-180 ⁰C .

·      Butter a 20- 22 cm diameter quiche dish and place the pastry into it. Taping with your wet hand cover the dish’s surface evenly with the pasty.

·      Place it into the oven for 10 minutes

2.     Making the stuff

·      Mix the eggs, milk and yogurt well using the hand whisk

·      Add the onion, cheese salt and pepper

3.     Take the base out of the oven and turn the oven down to 160 ⁰C

Pour the mixture into the pastry add the sliced peppers and tomatoes to decorate the quiche.

4.     Put it back to the oven for 25-30 minute.

In addition to the cheese you can use sliced ham, peperoni and mushroom. Another option to add mushroom, aubergine and pepper.

For kids or parties you can bake small quiches using the Yorkshire pudding dish or cup cake silicon tin. In this case the baking time decreases!