I was excited when I received the opportunity to do a taste test through the Foodbuzz Tastemakers Program. The objective was to compare Sargento Natural Cheese with processed cheese. This was an easy challenge for me since I’m already a fan of Sargento cheese.

I will admit, as a child, I loved a simple grilled cheese sandwich made with those plastic wrapped processed cheese slices. As I grew older, and cooked more, I quickly learned that there are much better quality cheeses out there. Sargento cheeses are all natural and never processed.

Processed American Cheese Quesadilla

Sargento Natural Cheese Quesadilla

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY FAJITA QUESADILLA RECIPE

I don’t know about you–but I can not function in the morning without a cup of coffee.  Call me lazy, but I hate brewing a pot of coffee just for myself and then pour half of it down the drain.  I love a nice cup from Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, etc–but that gets way too expensive.  With all that in mind, you can image how delighted I was when I was given the opportunity to try out a Tassimo Brew Bot.  I have been hearing a lot about these new single serve coffee machines, but until now had not experienced it for myself.  I was so excited when my package arrived last week.  I quickly unpacked the box and within a few minutes I was brewing my first fresh cup of joe!  At the end of this post you will find some information on how you can get your own Tassimo Brew Bot for FREE!

Let me tell you a little bit about the Tassimo Brew Bot.  I am using the T20 BrewBot made by Bosch.  It is a small design that fits easily on your kitchen counter.  This is important to me because I live in an apartment with a small kitchen so my space is already limited.  The BrewBot can make a wide variety of beverages like cappuccinos, lattes, espresso, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.  The machine brews each drink using T-Discs that come in a variety of brands and flavors including Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, Maxwell House, Gevalia, Tazo and more.

The BrewBot is super easy to use.  It features one button automatic operation, variable drink strength, low energy consumption and automatic cleaning.  One of the best things about the Tassimo Brew Bot is that the flavor from one drink does not carry over to the next.  So I can make a caramel macchiato now and then a regular coffee next, and each drink will taste perfect.

I can honestly say, my mornings are now better with my BrewBot!  Seconds after I roll out of bed, I place a T-Disc in my BrewBot and press the start button.  In 2 minutes I have fresh cup of coffee that tastes like I paid a few bucks for it at the coffee shop.  I found the price of the T-Discs to be very reasonable, especially when you compare it to Starbucks retail prices.

SAVINGS TIP: Bed Bath & Beyond frequently sends out coupons for “20 % off one item”.  I believe they also give you a 20% off coupon when you sign up for their email list.  So that is an easy way to save 20% on your replacement T-Discs.

SPECIAL OFFER: Purchase a Tassimo T20 Brewbot online here and save $25 and
get 2 free T DISCS!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A FREE TASSIMO T20 BREWBOT?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder that mainly affects people with bad eating habits. There’s no certain cause of IBS but a person is diagnosed with IBS due to acute gastrointestinal infection that occasionally occurs in a bad case of food poisoning. Symptoms include chronic diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain that is relieved by a quick bowel movement and a bloated stomach. Basically, a person affected by IBS will not feel normal and will make more than needed trips to the bathroom.

Types of IBS Patients

* Diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D)
* Constipation-predominant (IBS-C)
* IBS with a regular stool pattern (IBS-A or pain-predominant)

The Fight against IBS

In a research conducted by the health organization, it has been found that IBS affects more women than men. The fight against IBS is often harder for a woman especially during her menstrual periods. IBS is basically the silent enemy attacking us when we least expect it. If not properly taken care of, IB patients may find themselves with a permanent back pain and other health problems.

For now, there’s no permanent cure for IBS but in cases where patients have no control over this disease, they are prescribed several medications by doctors such as stool softeners and laxatives to help reduce IBS symptoms. But medications alone won’t solve the problem. The problem can only be overcome with a good and healthy diet.

Healthy IBS Diet

Since there’s no cure for IBS, patients are advised to keep a healthy diet so as not to trigger the symptoms. Several IBS sufferers may find it hard to stick to the diet but there’s no other initiative to take when it comes to this. A healthy diet is the only option to keep IBS patients healthy, period! When observing a healthy IBS diet, patients of irritable bowel syndrome will be able to let the walls of their intestines grow stronger again. IBS patients are advised to note down their food intake in a diary so that they will be able to track down and know what food triggered their symptoms. Though the diet might go on for a long period of time, IBS patients will come to realize that it was a worthy sacrifice when they are able to live normal again.

Don’ts in an IBS Healthy Diet

It’s not possible to list down what are the foods that trigger the IBS symptoms as the reactions experienced from the IBS patients differ when it comes to consuming these foods. This is where the IBS food diary comes in hand.

Nevertheless, here are a few important instructions to follow for IBS patients on the road to a healthy diet. It is not necessary for every IBS patient to have the same reaction to the following foods.

Avoid

* Gassy Foods

It is important to avoid eating too much of food that will cause intestinal gas. The following forms part of the gassy food criteria:

* Vegetables (broccoli, artichokes, beans, cauliflower, green peppers, lentils, etc)
* Fruits (oranges, apples, raisins, prunes, bananas, etc)
* Milk Products (milk, cheese and anything containing milk)
* Whole Grains (barley, oat bran and wheat)
* Snack Foods (candies and gums with sorbitol, nuts and seeds)
* Caffeinated Drinks (coffee and sodas with caffeine)
* Carbonated Drinks (sodas)
* Fruit Juices (fructose, sucrose and sorbitol)

The foods mentioned here do not mean that IBS patients can’t take them but they should be able to know based on their experience on what they can or cannot take. If they are able to consume certain foods, they should do so moderately but if their system is not strong enough to take some of them then they should eliminate the intake of these foods in their diet until they are fit and strong enough to consume them.

Important Reminder

In order for a healthy diet to be effective on an IBS patient, certain daily habits such as chewing gum, smoking and heavy intake of alcohol should no longer be continued. Other than that, if a person affected by IBS is not confident of creating his/her own diet then he/she should consult a registered dietician for a proper suggestion.

Find Nutrition Supplements: http://www.findnutritionsupplements.com/

1. Never skip breakfast – it’s as simple as that. If you like a cooked breakfast, go ahead and eat up, just limit your portions and the fat content. Cooked or uncooked, breakfast is a must. It is the most important meal of the day because it boosts your metabolism and helps you lose weight faster. Also, it provides you with enough energy to last through the day and prevents you from gorging on snacks as you get hungry sometime before lunch. If your mornings are rushed and you’re in the habit of skipping breakfast, change your routine by waking up 10 minutes earlier and eating a bowl of cereal and some fruit before you leave home.

2. Don’t allow temptation to get the better of you – I love snacking on chips and every other salty and sugary snack that was invented. Every time I read or watch TV, I automatically head for the kitchen and come back with a bag of goodies that don’t turn out to be so good for my health and weight. When my weight started ballooning up in spite of all the exercising I was doing, I decided to remove temptation from the way. So the next time I shopped, I did not buy a single snack. The craving did call when I took out my book, but because there was no snack at hand, I had to go without. It was difficult at first, but in a matter of days, abstinence became a habit that replaced unhealthy snacking.

3. Allow yourself the occasional treat – The reason it’s easy for me to stick to my diet is that I’m always looking forward to the one day I allow myself to eat anything I like. And even though this day comes once a fortnight, I still manage to stay true to my healthy eating habits because I know I can have that ice cream I desire and the cake I crave two Sundays from now. If you think this is a bad idea because you’re going to eat up all the calories you’ve lost in the past two weeks in one day, don’t worry – your instincts automatically prevent you from pigging out and you limit yourself to small portions of your favorite food. And even if you do binge once, the following weeks become easier to control.

So there you have it, a few easy ways to eat healthy and become a healthier and fitter person.

This guest post is contributed by Shannon Wills, she writes on the topic of physical therapy assistant . She welcomes your comments at her email id: shannonwills23@gmail.com.

I invite you all to read the interview here:

http://www.halfhourmeals.com/food-for-thought/featured-community-member-cheftomcooks/

Ninja Master Prep

On Thursday, September 24, I was invited to attend the Euro-Pro New York Event featuring Robin Miller of Food Network fame. The event took place at the beautiful Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City. The ballroom that the event was held in had an amazing view of the city and Central Park. The purpose of this event was to become familiar with the new Ninja Master Prep. There was a group of about 50 bloggers who attended to watch Robin Miller use this exciting new product.

Prior to this event, I had not had a chance to view Robins Food Network TV show, but was pleased with her fun personality. Robin was very familiar with the Ninja and was able to answer all of the bloggers questions with ease. She used the Ninja to prepare some delicious recipes including a Cuban guacamole, curried cashew chicken salad, miso-mushroom soup, sorbet and a yummy frozen mojito.

The Ninja is a blender and it is a food processor and it features a double set of blades. The major stand-out difference between the performance of the Ninja and other blenders/processors is how it handled ice. Using a pulsing action Robin was able to turn ice into snow. Great for frozen drinks and snow cones. After the demonstration, we all had a chance to sample the recipes she prepared, and it was certainly delicious!

I have a Ninja in my home now and have been putting it to my own tests in the kitchen. I am very pleased with the size of the unit. It is easy to handle and store. In my small kitchen, I mostly use the smaller container to chop garlic and onions or make smoothies. I like how the top of the container seals so that I can store my leftover chopped garlic in the fridge without stinking up everything else in there. I will be sharing some videos of me and my Ninja in action very soon, so stay posted to this blog for more on the Nijna.

Until then, I will share a few videos and pictures from the Ninja Blogger Event with Robin Miller below.

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Not only is food being used as a natural cure for certain conditions, but it can even be a home remedy in helping to prevent certain ailments. Think about any health conditions for which you currently suffer or are worried about preventing in your future. There are bound to be some more natural measures that you can take to ensure that you maintain the picture of health or help to get yourself on a better track. If you want to lead a healthier lifestyle and turn to the right foods to do that, educating yourself on the right options is the first step in the process. It’s true when they say you are what you eat.

Lowering Your Cholesterol One Food at a Time

Having high cholesterol seems to be quite common these days, and that’s likely due in large part to the poor food choices that people are making. Sure high cholesterol is a genetic predisposition, but by eating the right foods you can do wonders in lowering your cholesterol or preventing an increased level in the first place. One of the single best foods you can eat to lower cholesterol is walnuts and almonds as they offer the “good fat” that does wonders in keeping your levels in check. Another important food to consider is Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil. Whether you eat foods such as salmon directly or take this through a supplement, this can be a powerful aid in lowering your cholesterol level.

The Power of Blue

Blueberries are one of the single best foods that you can eat, often being referred to as a “super food”. Not only are blueberries low in calories and high in fiber, but they are loaded with antioxidants. This means that they can help to prevent heart disease, lower your risk of certain types of cancer, and help to fight off any potentially dangerous cells in the body. These are a surefire way to eat healthier and feel better!

The Ever Curing Garlic

At the center of so many home remedies, you will find garlic. Garlic is a super power when it comes to foods because it has virtually unlimited remedies. Eating a couple of cloves of garlic a day can help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, can help to naturally prevent the common cold, and can even help to clear up many stomach conditions. If you combine garlic with onions, you find an even more potent combination. These foods should be consumed each and every day, preferably raw, to help maintain a better picture of health and to get rid of any ailments overall.

Nature has been taking care of its creatures for tens of thousands of years, and making progress all the time. While modern medicine is a terrific advancement, there is a lot we can do for our own personal health without having to turn to more harsh and chemical alternatives for every ailment.

Mary Ward writes about various health care career topics, including how to obtain a masters in health care degree.

• To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove top.
• Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won’t be any stains.
• Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
• When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.
• Don’t throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces…
• Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to..
• To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.
• Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops, rubbing alcohol on paper towel will help remove it.
• Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical. Now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get ‘sharpened” this way!
• Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
• To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!
• Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (Or longer, if necessary).
• Unclog a drain Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.

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I wanted to take a moment and describe my garden pest problems, tell you about the solutions I tried, and to ask for some suggestions. First, I’d like to show you some pictures I took today of my problem plants. I apologize for the blurry pictures, I need a new digital camera badly!

You can scroll through the photos by using the arrows below each picture.

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My garden problems:

• Something is eating the leaves on my pepper plants.
• I have aphids all over my plants.
• Slugs are going after my zucchini and squash plants.  By the morning I find my buds on the ground.  Slug trails all over the leaves.

Here are some of the remedies I tried:

• Lady Bugs – They say lady bugs are the gardens best friend.  They hang out and eat most of the bugs you don’t want like aphids.  I purchased a bunch of live lady bugs and released them at night as directed.  They stuck around for awhile, but after a few days they were all gone.
• Fence – I put a wire fence around the garden to keep out rabbits and especially my dog!
• Marigolds – They say Marigolds are good for keeping some bugs away.  I planted a ring of them around my garden but did not notice much difference.
• Beer – Yes, beer,  if you leave a shallow container of beer near your garden it will attract and kill the slugs, but you must change the dish daily.
• Constant Attention – Whenever possible, I try to observe my plants and hand pick any pests off.  At night I’ll go out with a flashlight and flick off any slugs I see on my plants.

What experiences have you had with your garden ?

In my book, the answer would be no, because, in spite of a recipe, a good cook knows:

• That a dish turns out completely different when made by different people following the same recipe
• That cooking is much more than just following a set of written instructions
• That minor and subtle alterations are what makes a dish taste the way it does, and that only someone with a flair for cooking would know how and when to effect these.
• That recipes assume you have a basic knowledge of the cooking process. And if you’re a total novice, even the simplest of recipes could stump you.
• That the quality of the ingredients and how they are selected play a major role in how the final product turns out
• That the times mentioned in recipes are just ballpark figures and that it’s up to the cook to intuitively know if an item needs to be cooked for more or less time
• That it takes skill to cook a dish exactly right, not too much and not too little.
• That you need to be aware of the alternatives in case some ingredients are not available.
• That you need to constantly taste food to ensure that it is cooked right, so you need to know how a dish tastes before attempting to prepare it
• That climate conditions affect the outcome and taste of a dish and that recipes have to be suitably altered.
• That there are shortcuts that you can take if you’re running short of time, shortcuts that will not affect the end result.
• That good cooks become better cooks by experimenting, making mistakes and learning from them, not from cookbooks and the recipes they hold.
• That great cooks learn from experience and from watching others do the deed, not just reading from a book.
• That recipe books must serve as the third and fourth wheels on bicycles, the ones we use to learn to ride. Once they serve their purpose, they must be relegated to the waste, and the art of cooking must be ingrained in us if we are to become truly good cooks.

This post was contributed by Heidi Taylor, who writes about the masters in health care online. She welcomes your feedback at HeidiLTaylor006 at gmail.com