[ [ * . Lin's Deli Creations . * ] ]

Friday, July 24, 2009

Muesli Raisins Biscuits



Ingredients:

To be whisk:
  • 250 gram Canola or Canola Light Buttercup
  • 2 eggs
  • 5 tablespoons sugar (add more if you want it to be sweet, but the raisins is sweet)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence

In a bowl:
  • 10 tablespoons Instant Oatmeal
  • 25 tablespoons plain flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup or 100 gram Raisins ( put more if you want to)
  • 6 packets of Cowhead Muesli (any kind of muesli)

Methods:
  1. Whisk all ingredients that need to be whisk until the sugar half dissolve.
  2. Add in all the ingredients in the bowl bit by bit.
  3. Shape it into any shape you want to.
  4. Bake it ad 130 degree Celsius for 30 minutes or depending on your oven.

You may not want to add too much sugar & raisins.
(other than than what i have stated.
As the raisins contain sugar.
It will be too sweet to eat.
For this recipe i used Sunmaid California Raisins.
I like to mix the Cowhead Muesli.
3 by 3 or 2 by 2 packets
It can be easily found at your nearest supermarket.
Thank you.
Happy baking!!

Benefits of Raisins


Raisins are dehydrating grapes that are heat dried or used in mechanical oven for drying. There are different types of raisins; there are Sultana, Malaga, Monukka, Zante Currant, Muscant and Thompson seedless. Though raisins are a dried fruit they are very sweet tasting and have a wrinkly texture. They are a great snack for kids rather than candy.


The health benefit of raisins is that they are an antioxidant. These help keep the blood clean and flowing. They get rid of all unclean impurities in the blood, raisins can't do the job alone, there are other fruits and juices that act as antioxidants and together they can cleanse the blood and make you healthier. Raisins are said to beneficial for bone density. The minerals in raisins in conjunction with estrogen in women help make bones stronger and ward off osteoporosis.

Raisins are also great for healthy gums and teeth. Though raisins are sticky and very sweet, they do not cause tooth decay ore gum disease. The key ingredient in raisins that help promote good oral hygiene is called phytonutrients and olenolic acid. Raisins are also a preventative measure for macular degeneration, which is the health of your eyesight. Just as carrots are good for your eyesight as are raisins. Overall, raisins help with eyesight, oral hygiene and they act as antioxidants. Raisins are sweet and great tasting and promote good health.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Yum Potatoes

Ingredients:

  • 6 potatoes (cut into small pieces & fry or boil & cut into small pieces, with or without skin)
  • 6 eggs (lightly beaten)
  • 1 onions (thinly slice)
  • 6 sausages(cut into small pieces, optional)
  • salt for seasoning.
  • Chillies (thinly slice)
  • Chili padi (optional if you want it spicy, fry with onions)

Method:
  1. Add 1 tablespoon of canola or olive oil or normal cooking oil.
  2. Saute onions.
  3. Add sausages & potatoes.
  4. Fry for awhile till the sausages cooked.
  5. Add salt to eggs.
  6. Pour the eggs on top of the potatoes and sausages.
  7. Turn the fire to low medium heat.
  8. Let it cook for awhile. (careful not to let the eggs burn)
  9. When the eggs cooked, turn the fire to medium high.
  10. Stir it well & serve.
  11. It can be eaten with rice or by itself with chilli sauce.
Thank You!
Happy Cooking!!

Monday, July 20, 2009

Is meat good or bad for us?


It's the best natural source of iron and protein - but it has also been linked to cancer. Maxine Frith investigates the pros and cons.

The benefits of red meat...


Zinc
Children and teenagers, particularly girls, have been found to be deficient in zinc - half of all girls in their teens do not have healthy levels of the mineral.

Some research has shown that having red meat less than twice a week can result in zinc deficiencies. Zinc is particularly important for healthy skin and a healthy immune system. During the winter months in particular a good supply may help prevent colds and other infections.

While other foods such as oysters, milk and lentils contain zinc, red meat is the most efficient way of getting it into your body.

Iron
Red meat is an essential source of iron - lean beef has 2.7mg of iron per 100g - and is vital to good health, as well as preventing conditions such as anaemia. Up to a quarter of menstruating women are thought to be deficient in iron. Meat contains more iron than most foods, and it is more easily utilised by the body than from vegetable sources.

Elderly people, pregnant women, children and those recovering from surgery could all benefit from increased iron intake. Iron helps to generate red blood cells, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Red meat is also a good source of other vitamins and minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and selenium.

Protein
Red meat is a major source of protein, which is needed for muscle and organ health. The protein found in meat is "complete", meaning that it contains all the amino acids that the body cannot make on its own. It is essential for the body's repair and renewal as well as general health.

Weight loss
Australian scientists have found that people who ate a diet high in protein, based on lean red meat, as well as fruit and vegetables, lost 25 per cent more weight over a fixed period of time than those who ate a low protein, carbohydrate-rich diet that contained the same amount of calories and fat.

The scientists concluded that some people might be more successful in losing weight on a high-protein diet because they felt less hungry and could go without food for longer. Those on the high-protein diet also saw levels of their "bad" cholesterol drop.

B vitamins
Red meat is one of the best sources for these vitamins, which are found only in animal foods, and which help to maintain nerve cells and normal blood formation.

It's natural
This is a controversial argument, but some experts have said that humans are in fact natural meat-eaters - and that to totally eliminate such a big food-group from our diets could be unhealthy. There is a theory that our guts contain bacteria that help us to digest meat, and that not to eat meat could mean that the bacteria are lying idle, so making it easier for diseases to flourish.

Pork, lamb and beef: what's in your meat
Cancer-causing, artery-clogging and brain-damaging? Or a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals that we can't do without? The debate over red meat and its impact on health continues to rage, and it hit the headlines again last week when a study suggested that a high intake could double a woman's chances of developing breast cancer.

So what is the truth about red meat? In essence, it all comes down to the type of red meat you are talking about - and how you are eating it.

* The three official red meats are pork, lamb and beef. Pork is the leanest, lamb the fattiest and beef the most nutritious.

* Beef has 2.7mg of iron per 100g, and 4.1mg of zinc. A large proportion of the population, particularly teenage girls and women, are deficient in both minerals.

* Pork and lamb also contain zinc and iron, but not in the same quantities.

* Red meat is high in saturated fats and "bad" cholesterol, which can lead to clogged arteries and heart disease.

* But lean beef is actually fairly healthy; it will provide you with essential vitamins and minerals, but it will not have a high fat content.

* The British Dietetic Association says that up to 90g of lean red meat a day (equivalent to a portion of bolognese) is acceptable.

* But the Food Standards Agency (FSA) points out that different cuts of meat will have very different nutritional contents.

A lean pork leg joint will contain around 5.5g of fat per 100g, of which 1.9g will be saturated fat; compare that with a grilled joint of pork belly, which has 23.4g of fat, of which 8.2g will be saturated.

* A lean rump steak, grilled, has 5.9g of fat per 100g, of which 2.5g is saturated.
But the same cut of beef, not trimmed of its fat, and fried instead of grilled has 12.7g of fat, of which 4.9g is saturated.

The fat content of mince will vary widely, so the advice is always to look at the label and go for the leanest versions.

The FSA recommends that you also look at the meat itself; the more white you can see, the more fat it will contain.

* Some of the concerns that exist about red meat in America do not apply here; for instance, the US still allows animals to be fed growth hormones (a potential risk factor in cancer), but the practice has been outlawed by the European Union for some years now. The things to avoid are processed meats - these will contain far more additives and fat than a simple cut of beef, pork or lamb.

* And, while red meat can have real health benefits, it is important that the food is treated simply as one part of an overall balanced diet. For example, it is a poor source of fibre, which aids digestion; other foods are required to provide that.

...and the risks

Bowel cancer
A pan-European study of nutrition and cancer found that people who ate more than two 80g portions of red meat a week were 30 per cent more likely to develop bowel cancer than those who ate less than one portion.

Scientists are still unsure why there is an increased risk, but there is a theory that the compounds haemoglobin and myoglobin, found in red meat, trigger a process called nitrosation in the gut which in turn leads to the formation of cancer-causing compounds.

Processed meats such as sausages may also be risky because the cooking process can create carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines.

Alzheimer's disease
Research has shown that a Mediterranean diet - low in red meat but rich in plant foods and fish - can reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's by up to two-thirds.

Again, there is no firm theory on this. Researchers University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) suggested last month that red meat could be linked to a build-up of iron in the brain, causing the opposite effect of antioxidants; in effect, the brain rusts. The researchers suggest it may also explain why more men develop Alzheimer's, as men eat more red meat than women.

Bones
Too much red meat can have an adverse effect on bone health. The digestive process of protein leaves acid residues in the body that need to be neutralised with alkalising minerals - and these may be taken from the bones, leading to a higher risk of osteoporosis and other conditions. While green, leafy vegetables are high in calcium, red meat has a low level and can cause excess acid to form, creating bone problems for the future.

Arthritis
Eating red meat every day could double your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Scientists believe that collagen, found in red meat, may trigger an immune system response, which may also affect the joints.
Additives contained in processed meats may also play a part in the increased rate of the disease.

Cholesterol
Red meat is one of the first foods that doctors advise patients to stop eating if they are at risk of heart disease, because it contains high levels of dietary cholesterol.
A build-up of cholesterol in the arteries can eventually stop blood flow and trigger heart attacks.
However, it depends on the type of meat you are eating; lean red meat is relatively healthy - it is the fatty chops and burgers that are more risky.
Red meat is also high in saturated fat, which has been linked to a range of cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure.

Food poisoning
The Food Standards Agency has launched an investigation into the safety of red meat after research suggested that beef, lamb and pork are the cause of one in six outbreaks of food poisoning. Experts are to test samples to find out the amount of bacteria in them, although the problems are more likely to be linked to poor hygiene in the home than to standards at abattoirs.

Breast cancer
A study from the Harvard Medical School last week suggested that eating more than 100g of red meat a day could double the risk of a woman developing breast cancer. The risk was associated with young women who had not yet gone through the menopause. Experts said the increased risk may be down to the cancer-causing compounds created by cooking meat, or by excess iron levels.

However, the study was among women in the US, where animals are given growth hormones that are banned in the EU; British experts say that women here may not be at such risk.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Eleven Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea is known to provide 10-40mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant activity greater than a serving of spinach, broccoli, carrots, or strawberries.

Studies show that green tea contains antioxidants, polyphenols, theanine, as well as a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Green tea is definitely good for your body.

Enhances Health
Tea is known for its incredible power to prolong life. In recent research into green tea, results show its power in preventing disease as well.

Prevents Cancer
The death rate from cancer is known to be significantly lower for both women & men in Japan. Why is this you may ask? As much as 5-6 cups daily are consumed in areas that produce green tea, making it the main beverage to drink. This suggests that the main ingredients of green tea (tannin, catechin); in sufficient amounts lower the standard mortality rates for stomach cancer.

Restricts Blood Cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol, one is "bad" cholesterol (LDL), and heavy accumulation of these in tissues can lead to atherosclerosis. The other is good cholesterol (HDL) that prevents accumulation of excessive "bad" cholesterol. It has been proven and demonstrated that green tea catechin restricts the excessive buildup of cholesterol.

Controls High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a serious burden on the vascular system and is known to cause heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Green tea is known for lowering blood pressure.

Lowers Blood Sugar
Green teas given to diabetes patients cause a decrease in the blood glucose levels. Green Tea has the capability of lowering blood sugar. The sugars and carbohydrates in our food are digested mainly in the duodenum, where it is converted to glucose and then absorbed into the blood stream.

The agent that regulates the intake of blood sugar into tissues is insulin. Diabetes is characterized by lack of insulin or not the body not using insulin properly, which does not allow proper absorption of glucose into tissues and leads to a high blood sugar level that must eventually be excreted into urine. If this high concentration of blood sugar continues for a long period, it will affect the vascular system and cause serious diseases including arteriosclerosis and retinal hemorrhages.

Suppresses Aging
Oxygen plays a key role in metabolism, but can also be an unhealthful agent. As a free radical, oxygen in the body can corrode cell membranes, which will damage DNA and the fats. This then leads to diseases such as cancer, cardio-vascular disease and diabetes. Lipid peroxide created by fats combined with oxygen tends to build up in the body and create aging.
Consumption of antioxidants such as vitamins E and C promises longer life, and we already know that green teas are rich in those two vitamins.

Refreshes the Body
Green tea caffeine taken in proper quantity stimulates every organ in the body and clears your mind. The small amount of caffeine (about 9 mgs of caffeine) present in a normal serving of green tea can stimulate the skeletal muscles and smooth the progress of muscular contraction.

Deters Food Poisoning
It has long been known that green tea has the ability to kill bacteria and is known to deter food poisoning. Treating diarrhea with consumption of strong green tea. Green tea is a powerful sterilizing instrument for all sorts of bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Prevents and Treats Skin Disease
Soaking in green tea has been successful as a treatment for athlete's foot. Bedsores and skin disease can be prevented or healed by using a green tea bath.

Stops Cavities
Green tea contains natural fluorine and is thought to aid in the reduction of cavities in schoolchildren. It has been known for some time that small amounts of fluorine can strengthen teeth and help prevent cavities.

Fights Viruses
Green tea catechin and theaflavin, which are both present in black tea, have a strong effect on the flu virus. It is also thought that the anti viral capability of green tea catechin may have some beneficial effect on the AIDS virus.

Additional Information
Green Tea drinkers appear to enjoy better health.
Catechin is 100 times more potent than vitamin C and 25 times more potent than vitamin E.
Green Tea drinkers have half the risk of fatal heart attacks. Compounds in the tea called flavonoids stop blood platelets from forming clots, much like aspirin does.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Fried Rice Anchovies



Ingredients:
  • 2 lengs of rice ( 1 part water to 2 parts of rice)
  • Handful of Anchovies ( fried & drain )
  • 4 eggs ( beat lightly in a bowl)
  • salt & sugar to taste
Pound mixture:
  • 1 onion
  • 4 garlic
  • 1 tablespoon of dried shrimp (soak in water)
  • 10 to 15 anchovies (wash thoroughly to remove the saltiness)
  • 10 or more dried chillies (soak in boiling water)
Method:
  1. Cook rice & let it cool.
  2. Saute the pound mixture until its oil resurface
  3. Add eggs. Let it cook for awhile.
  4. Add sugar & salt to taste (not too many salt as the fried anchovies is salty).
  5. Lastly, add the rice and stir until all the ingredients bind well.
  6. Serve with fried anchovies.
Thank you
Happy cooking

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Chicken Porridge



Recipe:
Ingredients:
  • 200gram/ 2 lengs white rice
  • 2 litre water
  • 1 bird (removes skin & debone)
  • 2 handfuls of Chinese parsley & spring onion(optional)
  • 2 tablespoon of sesame oil (put more if u like)
  • salt & pepper to taste
That have to pound:
  • 4 onions
  • 4 garlic
  • 1 inc/thumb size ginger
Method:
  1. Wash rice thoroughly & add water.
  2. Bring it to boil add in pound mixture.
  3. Cut chicken meat into small pieces.
  4. Put into pot with the bone.
  5. Wait until the rice cooked add in sesame oil and seasoning.
  6. Add water if its too dry.
  7. You may want to add the herbs in the pot or garnish.(optional)
  8. Serve with sprinkle of sesame oil and herbs.(optional)

You have to put some sesame oil if not the taste will be different.
Thank you for reading
This is my recipe
You may find it familiar everywhere
But this is my own creation
Do give comments through tag or email me at pemaisuri_lin@yahoo.com.sg
Thank you for your time
All the best!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Savory Chicken




Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of Garam Masalah
1 tablespoon of Dill powder
Salt for seasonining

Grill it for 1 hour at 190 degree celcius or depending on your oven..


Easy isnt it..
This is one of my chicken grill creation again..
It is savory yet healthy..
Please do try this.
This is very easy..
You only need 3 seasoning..
Thats all..
I'm sure you are able to do it..
More will come..
Thank you for reading..

For more information,to leave a comments or anything..
Do tag me in here or email me at pemaisuri_lin@yahoo.com.sg