April 3, 2009

Chocolate Coated Banana

Posted in Food tagged , , , at 6:19 pm by jeraguilar

We love bananas! Aside from being yummy, bananas are natural remedies for many diseases such as anemia, constipation, painfuf PMS, depression and high blood pressure. A banana has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals compared to an apple. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

And to make banana-eating even more exciting, my friend Shaun Olmstead shares this easy and yummy Chocolate Coated Banana recipe.

Ingredients:
• ripe but firm bananas
• 6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped, or semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup granola, chopped pecans and walnuts, or sprinkles (optional)

Procedures:
• Line a baking sheet with nonstick foil or parchment paper.
• Peel the bananas and insert a Popsicle stick into each half. Place them on the baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the chocolate with the oil in a Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave (check it every 30 seconds) or in a half-full pan of simmering water (about 2 minutes). Stir until smooth.
• Roll each banana half in the chocolate, then quickly sprinkle with the topping of your choice.
• Freeze until the chocolate sets, for about 30 minutes. Serve or freeze in an airtight container for up to a week.

March 26, 2009

The Love Apple

Posted in Food tagged , , at 3:54 pm by jeraguilar

The tomato is the most popular fruit in the world. It is the key ingredient in 78% of Americans’ most favorite recipes. It is also one of the vegetables that contribute the greatest amount of nutrients to the American diet.

Tomatoes are rich in Lycopene, an antioxidant, which gives tomatoes their rich red color. Lycopene was found to reduce the risk for certain cancers and heart disease.

These versatile fruits are delectable raw or cooked and can be used in everything from pasta and pizza to Bloody Mary’s and barbecue sauce and can be stuffed, boiled, stewed, pureed, deviled, glazed, pickled, grilled and fried.

Tomatoes were found to have originated from the South American Andes as a wild plant with berry-sized fruits. The tomato fruit, as we know it today, was developed in Mexico where it was known as tomatil and was brought to Europe by the conquistadors.

According to my friend Shaun Olmstead, tomatoes are called poma amoris in Italian, which means “love apple” and are considered aphrodisiacs.

Easy and Healthy Tomato Salad

Ingredients:
1 pound ripe tomatoes, sliced
1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil

Preparation:
Slice tomatoes and arrange on a small platter or medium plate. Drizzle with oil and lemon juice. Add pepper and sprinkle basil.
Serves 4-6

Per Serving: Calories 42, Calories from Fat 13, Total Fat 1.5g (sat 0.3g), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 157mg, Carbohydrate 6.3g, Fiber 1.2g, Protein 1g

January 14, 2009

Healthy Bananas

Posted in Food, Health tagged , , at 3:12 pm by jeraguilar

Bananas are one of my favorite fruits. They are available and can be enjoyed all year round plus they are packed with vitamins and minerals making them one of the most nutritious food items around.

These wonderfully sweet and creamy fruits are a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, and manganese. And according to recent studies, they can help cure or prevent hangovers. Hangovers are caused by dehydration and depletion of potassium, both direct results of alcohol consumption. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium with over 450 mg. per one banana serving, as well as being high in magnesium, which can help relax those pounding blood vessels causing that nasty hangover headache. My friend Shaun Olmstead drinks two glasses of water and eats a banana before heading for bed after a night of partying. He swears it works!

Bananas are also a natural antacid and will get rid of a nasty case of heartburn in most cases. It’s a good idea to eat bananas if you suffer from elimination problems. A bout of diarrhea can quickly deplete your body of important electrolytes. Bananas can replenish your stores of potassium, one of the most important electrolytes, which helps regulate heart function as well as fluid balance.

Aside from eating them raw, or as a peanut butter and banana sandwich drizzled with honey (one of my all-time favorite comfort foods), they can also be served in a variety of ways such as in salads and baked goods.

Below is a simple and healthy banana bread recipe. Applesauce is used to minimize the use of butter and sugar. This bread will surely turn out wonderfully moist, and will fill the whole house with its mouth-watering aroma while baking.

Wonderfully Healthy Banana Bread

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp butter, softened
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup ripe bananas, mashed (3 small)
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Combine softened butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed, for about three minutes or until well combined. Add the egg and applesauce, and beat another 2 minutes. Fold in the mashed bananas.

3. Lightly spoon the all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine the two flours, baking soda, and salt in a separate large bowl.

4. Add the flour mixture to the banana mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until moistened.

5. Coat one loaf pan with cooking spray. Pour the batter into the loaf pan.

6. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a wooden pick inserted in center of the bread comes out clean.

7. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Remove the bread and cool completely on a wire rack.

This recipe yields one loaf, 10 servings.

Per Serving: Calories 100, Calories from Fat 23, Total Fat 2.5g (sat 1.4g), Cholesterol 14mg, Sodium 108mg, Pro 2g, CHO 17g, Fiber 1g

October 22, 2008

Strawberries for health and beauty

Posted in Food, Health tagged , , at 7:00 pm by jeraguilar

I just love strawberries! They are not only yummy, they are also very nutritious. They are a good source of fiber, low in calories and very high in vitamin C. In fact, strawberries were found to contain more vitamin C than citrus fruits, ounce for ounce. Vitamin C is known to be a deterrent to some forms of cancer and also helps prevent oxidation of LDL or bad cholesterol. Strawberries are fat-free and have no cholesterol. Once cup of sliced strawberries has 50 calories, 11.5 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, and 45 mg of potassium.

Most importantly, strawberries are one of the few sources, along with grapes and cherries, of ellagic acid, a compound which has been shown to prevent carcinogens from turning healthy cells into cancerous ones.

Aside from being consumed fresh, strawberries can be frozen, made into preserves as well as dried and used in such things as cereal bars. Strawberries are a popular addition to dairy products, as in strawberry flavored ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies and yogurts. Strawberries are also popular fillings for pies and pastries.

Cosmetically, they are supposedly used for whitening teeth. Just mash several strawberries well in a bowl and then brush your teeth with them like normal. The malic acid in the berries will clean and gently remove stains.

They can also be crushed and made into an exfoliant for the skin. Madam Tallien, a great figure of the French Revolution, who was nicknamed Our Lady of Thermidor, used to take baths full of strawberries to keep the full radiance of her skin.

And to cap all these, my friend Shaun Olmstead shares this trivia: strawberries are the only fruit that have seeds embedded in the skin.

September 3, 2008

Fruity Personality

Posted in Food, Lifestyle tagged , at 5:59 pm by jeraguilar

Tell me what your favorite fruit is and I’ll tell you who you are! Yes, your favorite fruit can tell what kind of personality you have! Take the test below!

Which fruit would you pick first if you were handed the following:

  • Orange
  • Apple
  • Banana
  • Coconut
  • Pineapple
  • Papaya
  • Mango
  • Cherry
  • Black Grapes
  • Peach
  • Custard Apple
  • Pear

Here’s what your favorite fruit tells about you:

ORANGE
If an orange is your favorite fruit, it speaks of a person who has enduring patience and willpower. You like to do things slowly, but very thoroughly and are completely undaunted by hard work. You tend to be shy, but are reliable and a trustworthy friend. You select your partner with care and you love with all your heart. You avoid conflict at all costs. (I think this is me, I love oranges!)

APPLE
If an apple is your favorite fruit, you are an extravagant, impulsive and outspoken person, often with a bit of a temper. While you may not be the best organizer yourself, you make a good team leader and are good at moving things forward. You can take quick action in most situations. You enjoy travel immensely. You ooze with charm when you are with your partner. You have an enthusiasm for life, unmatched by most. (Sounds very much like my friend Shaun Olmstead! And he loves apples!)

BANANA
You are a softie! Loving, gentle, warm and sympathetic by nature is the banana lover. You often lack in self-confidence and are quite timid by nature. People often which everyway, both for take advantage of your sweet temperedness and sheer vulnerability to a situation. You adore your partner in their mental and physical beauty!

COCONUT
The coconut lover is a serious, very thoughtful and contemplative person. Though you enjoy socializing, you are particular about the company you keep. You tend to be stubborn but not necessarily foolhardy. Shrewd, quick-witted and alert, you ensure that you are right on top of any given scenario, especially at work. You need a partner with brains and while passion is important it certainly isn’t everything for you.

PINEAPPLE
You are quick to decide and even quicker to act. You are brave in making career changes. You have exceptional organizing abilities and are undaunted by the size of the task at hand. You tend to be self reliant, sincere and honest in your dealings with others. Though you don’t often make friends very quickly, once you do, it is for life. You rarely, if ever, make romantic overtures. Your partner is often impressed with your sterling qualities but disappointed in your ability to show affection.

PAPAYA
You are truly fearless and take much that happens in life in stride. You give considerable thought to things you do. You have a sense of humor that along with your generous nature keeps you in most people’s good books. You are a go-getter in your professional life, and have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. You enjoy meeting new people and seeing new sights whenever you can. Your sense of humor is what attracts members of the opposite sex to you more than anything else. It is simply charming!

MANGO
A mango lover is a personality to be reckoned with, quite often it’s a person who has quite fixed ideas, and influencing you is not an easy task. You tend to be an extremist with strong likes and dislikes, and at times even like to control a situation. You enjoy getting involved in something that presents mental challenge. Strong as you may be, you are like a kitten when you are with your partner. You accommodate the love of your life, and make up for all the strong will elsewhere! (This is so true! This personality type best describes my friend Jane Barcy who can eat an entire truck of mangoes in one sitting!)

CHERRY
If cherry is your favorite fruit, life isn’t always as sweet for you. You often face ups and downs, particularly professionally, and find that you make small sums of $$$, instead of a lump sum. You have a fertile imagination and are often involved in creative pursuits. You are a very sincere and loyal partner, but find that expressing your feelings is not very easy. Your home is your haven, and you love nothing more than being surrounded by close family and your beloved partner.

BLACK GRAPES
You are a polite person in general, but do have quick flare-ups of temper that cool down just as quickly. You enjoy beauty in all forms, including beautiful people. You are very popular because of your warm, gregarious nature. You have a zest for life, you enjoy everything you do, right from the way you dress, to your style and your day-to-day life. Your partner must share your zeal and zing for life to enjoy all you have to offer!

PEACH
Like a peach, you enjoy the juice of life and all its lush ripeness! You are the friendly sort, and are quite frank and outspoken, which adds to your charm. You are quick to forgive and forget; and value your friendships highly. You have an independent and ambitious streak in you, that makes you a real go-getter. You are the ideal lover, fiery and passionate but sincere and faithful in love. You don’t however like to display all that passion in public.

CUSTARD APPLE
You are a modest and conservative person who can be quite sensitive at times. You tend to be thoughtful and contemplative, and therefore are rarely rash in doing things. You are quite ambitious and are good at anything that requires much detailing or working with numbers. You are quick at finding fault with others. While looking for a partner, you value a person’s intellect far above their looks or good old passion. You are quite shy and not very comfortable demonstrating affection.

PEAR
If you put your mind to something you can do it successfully, but by and large you tend to be fickle and have trouble completing a task with the enthusiasm you started it with. You need to know the results of your efforts almost immediately. You enjoy mental stimulation and love to get into a good discussion!