Posts Tagged ‘desserts’

Blue Stilton Cheese – The King of British Cheeses

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Blue Stilton Cheese is one delicious cheese referred to as the King of British Cheeses because of its versatile taste complementing several flavors and recipes. It is a rich, strong-flavored British Blue Cheese that is best served with a robust red wine.

With its unique blue-green veins running all over the cheese, Blue Stilton is hard to miss. Although usually made from pasteurized cow’s milk, it can also be made from sheep’s or goat’s milk that inspires a strong stir among tasters. So people either hate it or love it.

Story has it that blue cheeses are actually a product of providence. It was believed that an unfortunate cheese maker left a half-eaten rye in the cheese caves. And when he returned a few weeks or months later, he found that the mold covering the bread had transplanted itself onto the cheese. The brave pioneer tasted the mold-infested cheese, and instead of throwing it away, blue cheese was born.

Stilton is a creamy blue cheese marbled with rich blue veins whose rich flavor mellows with additional aging. It is known for having a sharp after taste, which complements many foods as well. Because Stilton cheese is not pressed, it remains crumbly and flaky, making it a perfect ingredient for salads, pastas, and pizzas. Stilton is sometimes found on desert platter with its creamy taste adding to the variety of flavors.

This British blue is one of the few protected origin cheeses made from pasteurized milk. The milk is mixed with rennet, for curdling. The milk is then stirred with the mold in, making sure that it is evenly distributed in the cheese. The fun part of making Stilton cheese is when metal rods are inserted at random points on the cheese, in order for the air to get in. The rods are left in the cheese until it begins to grow mold from the bacteria.

It is part of the British tradition to serve Blue Stilton during Christmas, and often chased with a rich red wine. There is just a magic that happens in your mouth when you eat a pungent blue mold with salty cheese crystals while chasing it with a delicious Port, with all its sweet and fruity goodness. That unique kick of Stilton offsets the sweet Port, while the wine makes the strong blue seem less powerful and more shaded.

If not for that happy accident, we would never be able to experience a delicious cheese by the fire during the cold season. Holidays will be so much better with Blue Stilton cheese warming the cockles of your heart. But if Christmas is just too far off, make everyday a holiday by getting Blue Stilton Cheese today! Go buy it at your nearest cheese store.

A Spaghetti Story with Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

I don’t know with you, but the way I remember my first parmesan cheese encounter is still very clear. It came pre-grated one Thursday afternoon neatly wrapped in a green cardboard cylinder. It sat in the fridge for a couple of weeks until my mom finally opened it and made spaghetti. Come on, admit it. The first time you met parmesan cheese involved spaghetti as well. But America and I are no longer kids. Gourmet shops are no longer exclusive to the big cities and Italian restaurants now serve regional menus instead of pure classics. And since we are used to tasting a lot of things and making choices, perhaps it is time that we get to know Parmigiano Reggiano a little more; the cheese that is years away from being the parmesan that we know.

Made from unpasteurized cow’s milk, the Parmigiano Reggiano is partly skimmed and is medium-fat. It was initially made in a zone limited to the provinces of Parma, Reggio-Emilia and Modena, among other parts of the provinces of Mantua and Bolognia in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. The Parmigiano Reggiano is naturally prepared, and no chemical preservatives or artificial additives are used. The Parmigiano Reggiano, like fine wine, is a living product, capable of maturing and evolving in flavor.

The Parmigiano Reggiano is a simple tasting cheese, and can stand on its own. All you have to do is break off a small chunk, and that’s it. Everyone loves the taste of this cheese, and you can even pair it with a long list of other flavors that will highlight its sweetness.

This cheese is a staple for every Italian athlete’s diet, because it has protein, calcium and phosphorous, and it contains other vitamins and minerals such as B12, copper and zinc. But the main attraction of this cheese is its traditional opening, called “cracking.

In case you have never seen a Parmigiano Reggiano cut open and wonders how these cutters were able to cut into such ragged and craggy wedges, well you will be surprised if I tell you that those wedges are there on purpose. Some people consider breaking into the 1-year old Parmigiano Reggiano wheel as “cracking open happiness”. Why? Because traditionally, opening the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheel makes use of a set of official tools five different types of knives in order to make sure that the internal crystalline structure and crumbly texture is preserved and left intact.

The Parmigiano Reggiano is an expression of the cheese maker’s sensibilities and judgment the maker decides every phase of production with his hands. That makes the Parmigiano Reggiano more than just an ingredient for good pasta, but a product of an intimate process. Why stop grating? Go ahead and try the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese today!

Consume A Muffin On A Heathy Diet

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

All of us need to eat healthy to stay healthy. Your health will change with the way you eat and how you live life. And a balanced diet is what everyone should eat. A balanced diet must contain carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, mineral salts and fibre. It must contain all these things in correct proportions.

The following healthy eating guidelines will help you understand the importance of balanced diet in the life of a person.

1) Have your meal daily : You need to plan your meals in advance. It is important to consume the right amount of nutrients so that your body has energy. Skipping meals can affect your body growth and add weight. You should have three meals and two snacks each day. Try to have your snacks and food at the same time every day.

2) variety Is Key: A balanced diet will include a variety of different foods. Eating different types of food provides your body with all the nutrients required to stay healthy.

3) Don’t ban Foods: Do not ban anything from your diet unless you are allergic or intolerant to it. You will be more tempted to eat a lot if it is banned. If you friend orders a big muffin to go with their coffee, do the same if you want one. Don’t worry about your thighs or cholesterol after one muffin, so long as it is not an everyday treat you will be fine. small portions of cakes, muffins or biscuits after a meal is fine.

4) Avoid consuming Sugar : Try to avoid sweet foods as much as you can because it will negatively affect your energy levels. You can rather have fresh fruits or high protein snack instead. But remember that you can have the odd muffin without damaging effects.

5) Drink Lots Of Water: As far as your health is concerned; water is crucial. You should drink a steady supply of water throughout the day, every day. Drink more water as compared to fresh juices and fizzy drinks.

6) Avoid Bad Fats: Avoid eating high fat food such as butter, margarine, potato chips, fried food and junk food. The amount of fat in them makes these foods bad for your heart and blood pressure. But you can get good fats which can help your cholesterol like fats in nuts and fish.

Cheese Reviews: Gruyere Cheese is High Quality Cheese

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Making cheese has never been an easily regulated, scientific process. Usually, good quality cheese is a result of the dedication to make flavorful cheese by an experienced and perhaps a lucky cheese maker. Although following analytical tests of cheese characteristics may produce a good cheese, traditional cheese making has always been an endeavor of luck.

Creating a set of standards for cheese is not easy because every kind has its own unique characteristics, and the cheese that does not fit within that range will either taste bad or be inferior. For example, good soft blue cheese has high moisture and pH content, but cheddar does not.

There are certain regulations that exist to make sure that only authentic cheese are sold to consumers. France, being one of the biggest natural cheese producers in history, started granting certain regions monopolies on certain types of cheeses. Since cheese is made for human consumption, grate care is taken to ensure the quality of the raw materials used, especially if the cheese is made for export strict standards should be met and satisfied.

The Appellation of Controlled Origin or appellation d’origine controlee is a label that indicates that an agricultural product is from a specific region, maintaining a certain set of standards local to that region. Consequently, food from a certain region must also be produced in a particular way in order to qualify for an appellation of controlled origin there are national inspectors that visit and make sure that food producers comply with the given standards.

However, not everything in the market bears the appellation label. Qualifying for it indicates that the government is confident that the raw materials used to produce a certain product is of the best production quality possible. The appellation label has been established in order to assure the consumers that what they buy is authentic and is not cheap counterfeits or knockoff versions.

Wines and cheeses usually bear the appellation of controlled origin label, and one particular type of cheese that has this distinct mark is the Gruyere Cheese. Gruyere cheese is a creamy, pale cheese with small holes and a slightly granular texture. Unlike most Swiss cheeses, the holes found on Gruyere cheese are about the size of a pea and are widely immersed within the cheese. Its taste is also different from the regular Swiss, but neither too strong nor overpowering. That is why, the Gruyere cheese makes a great complement to quiches, soups, salads, and pastas. Gruyere cheese can be served sliced or grated, depending on your preference.

Next time you feel like throwing a cheese and wine party, look for the kind of cheese that passes production and state standards. You would not want to serve your guests run of the mill cheese, right?. So check for the appellation of controlled origin seal. Order Gruyere cheese today!

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Bucheron: Goat Cheese Worth Trying

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

There is a saying that goes “age doesn’t matter, unless you’re cheese.” Besides its funny connotation, there is also a slight truth in it. Ageing in cheese, sometimes called ripening, is the most important part in making cheese.

Cheese is placed in particularly controlled conditions, letting them develop the look, the texture, the flavor, and even the aroma properties that make them different from other cheeses. With aging, the bloom blossoms on Camembert, the holes magically turns into Swiss, and the veins burst through Gorgonzola.

During ripening, microbes and enzymes develop inside that breaks down the proteins and milk fat into different complex amino acids. Thus creating a cheese with a rich texture and an intense flavor.

Most cheeses are aged between two weeks and up to two or several more years. In principle, the longer the cheese is aged, the firmer, sharper and more distinctive its taste and texture becomes.

The Stravecchio Parmigiano Reggiano cheese for instance is aged for a year to three years, that is why it has a nutty-fruity taste and a hard, gritty texture.The mildest cheeses such as ricotta, and cream and cottage, are eaten fresh right away and are not ripened at all.

However, there are some cheeses that are ripened halfway through these cheeses are called semi-aged cheese for only about 5 to 10 weeks only. And one of the greatest tasting semi aged in the market today is the Bucheron Soignon cheese.

Bucheron Cheese is a goat’s milk cheese, a native produce of Loire Valley in France. is a very favorite ingredient for salads and sandwiches because of its rich taste and is widely available as well. It has a soft, creamy center that has almost the same texture as a typical chevre (goat cheese), but typical is the last word that would describe this particular cheese.

One unique feature of the Bucheron cheese is its packaging it is made in short logs and aged before it is cut into smaller rounds. Its creamy center is surrounded by a much harder and tangier cheese that has a sharp and complex taste that, a lot better than your typical chevre.

A very interesting characteristic of the Bucheron cheese is its structure it has a layer of gooey cheese around the large chalky core, and a thin bloomy layer of mold like that or brie cheese. Softly ripened cheeses age from the outside in, that is why they have an interesting center.

Buying the Bucheron cheese is like buying two different cheeses at once: a creamy, mushroomy center, and a dry, clay-like and tangy fresh goat milk at the crust. It tastes perfectly with Bordeaux’s or any other dry. Try the Bucheron cheese toady and sink slowly into heaven!

Read more about Bucheron Cheese.

A Skinny Muffin And Quick Healthy Eating

Monday, February 1st, 2010

It is possible to combine a healthy eating plan with a hectic lifestyle by thinking about foods which can be eaten on the go without adding inches to your waistline. It is even more important to keep your fitness up as well as get all the vitamins and minerals you need when you have a busy life.

Your mind and your body will be more able to deal with stress if your diet is good. However, the last thing you want to think about as you are at work or on the school run is what you can make the family for tea which is both healthy and delicious. Take a look at the following advice for how you can combine healthy eating with an ‘on the go’ lifestyle.

At Work
Every day there are thousands of workers who stop at a cafe or sandwich shop to grab a quick lunch before heading back to the office. Whilst it is easy to pick up a sandwich or something else easy and fast to eat, these quick fixes are often the most heavily laden with fat and calories. If you want something that will sustain your energy throughout the afternoon then a skinny muffin is a great choice because of the whole grains and fresh ingredients that they include.

Eating Out
When eating out you might be eating richer foods or larger portions than you normally would, so it is easy to forget about healthy eating. It’s OK to splurge every now and then, although you’ll pack on a lot of weight if you make it a habit. Be smart about the meals you choose and ask for healthy options if you want.

At The Airport
An airport can be a very stressful place, although you shouldn’t scrap your diet because of it. Instead of eating, choose mind stimulating activities or games if you are killing time or get delayed.

The Car
make sure you have something healthy to snack on in the car, that way you have something to eat which will not ruin your healthy eating plan, but you will not be tempted to eat it for eating’s sake.

In The House
Breakfast and the evening are busy periods in most homes. Making the time to eat can be hard, although you shouldn’t run out the door without eating breakfast first. Choose from anything including muffins, eggs, bagels or cereal as a great way to start the day.

Anytime you are on the go, always make sure that you make the right food decisions. Take the pain out of choosing food and take healthy snacks with you instead. Once you figure out which foods are good and which are not, eating healthily is easy. Do not deny yourself anything but make sure that you are eating more good than bad.

The Muffin In Food Service Stores

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

For office workers and many others, lunchtime means heading to the local supermarket, coffee shop or cafe for something to eat. There they can buy savoury products, drinks and sweet treats. A bad day at the office can set off a mass purchase of all things chocolaty. The muffin has become a very popular snack for people to buy with a coffee or as a pudding. They can be eaten with little mess and come in a variety of flavours so everyone can find one they like.

The muffin is now considered to be a gourmet snack by many because of its shape and flavours. The expansion of gourmet coffee shops like Starbucks has led to this in part. Luxury ingredients like Belgian chocolate chips and the freshest fruits are used so that even discerning eaters are tempted to nibble on the top of a muffin.
The development of the famous ‘skinny muffin’ which claims to be a healthier version of the sweet treats means that even those on a diet can enjoy the flavours of a blueberry or lemon flavoured muffin. Coffee houses are not losing money by driving away those on a diet whilst the customers feel like they are eating something tasty yet healthy.

our attitudes have also changed towards muffins because of their shape and size. When muffins were first introduced into coffee shops they were small and evenly shaped. Then, the top of the muffin became the most prized section and manufacturers began to bake them so that the top was larger than the bottom. This is where the term ‘muffin top’ came from which we use to describe stomachs that are being squeezed over tight trousers.

In recent years however the flower-pot or tulip muffin has become the most popular. People are less willing to eat such a big portion of sweet food all in one sitting and this new design is smaller than we have seen for a while. It is wrapped in a piece of luxury paper which is where the name flower-pot comes from.

There can be major profits made by selling muffins in coffee houses and shops, and now pubs are getting in on the action by offering their customers muffins as a sweet alternative to the more traditional savoury snacks usually found in pubs.

Opt For A Low Fat Muffin For A Speedy, Healthy Meal

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

When you are looking for a quick meal during a busy day at the office or on your way to a meeting, it can be hard finding something that is healthy, tasty and easy to eat. Pre-packed sandwiches are often full of salt and fat, crisps are the same and sugary pop can rot your teeth as well as add hundreds of extra calories into your diet. However by heading to your local shop you can find a meal that ticks all of the boxes.

A skinny muffin and a soy milk coffee is a meal that is tasty and filling as well as being healthy for you. Well it is not as bad for you as other lunch time choices can be.

but how can a muffin and a coffee be a meal that is convenient and filling as well as saving you hundreds of calories on a normal meal?

Well we know that it is convenient because they are pre-made by the coffee shop. It only takes 10 minutes or less to order and collect your meal from the coffee shop so you can be in an out quickly. Spills should not be a problem if you are walking or getting into a taxi because the lid will prevent any liquid from escaping. You also don’t need to think about a plate or knife and fork with your muffin because you can simply bite into it.

The reason behind the meal being filling and nutritious can be found in the ingredients that make this meal different from the non-healthy version of it. A skinny muffin is healthier than a normal muffin because the flour that is used is usually a mixture of wholemeal and soy flour. You feel fuller for longer when these two grains are consumer rather than white flour. You usually also get healthier flavour fillings, instead of chocolate, blueberries give the taste.

Choosing skimmed or soy milk for your coffee is better than full fat or even semi-skimmed because the protein content is high but the amount of fat is seriously reduced. Protein is a necessary source of dietary nutrient for the body and is very healthy. This is because it is digested slowly and is not absorbed as fat in the body. You should feel fuller for longer with this type of milk.

This meal option of a skinny muffin and soy or skimmed milk is convenient when you are on the move or in a rush, healthy and filling, what more could you want?

The Muffin In Food Service Shops

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

For many people, lunchtime means going out of the office to a local cafe, coffee shop or supermarket. There, you can buy savoury products, hot and cold drinks and sweet treats for afters. Sweet products are most commonly bought by people experiencing a bad day. A muffin is often the treat of choice to accompany a coffee or as a dessert. because they come in a number of flavours and are easy to use, the muffin is a convenient food as well as a tasty one.

The muffin is now considered to be a gourmet snack by many because of its shape and flavours. This is partly due to the expansion of gourmet coffee houses like Starbucks. Those who are picky over the food feel better knowing that luxury ingredients are used like Belgian chocolate and fresh fruits and berries.
The development of the famous ‘skinny muffin’ which claims to be a healthier version of the sweet treats means that even those on a diet can enjoy the flavours of a blueberry or lemon flavoured muffin. The skinny muffin benefits all because dieters have something tasty and healthy to eat whilst the shops retain customers.

There has also been a revolution in the shape of muffins and this has had an impact on consumer attitude towards muffins. muffins began quite small and evenly shaped. Then, the top of the muffin became the most prized section and manufacturers began to bake them so that the top was larger than the bottom. This is where the term ‘muffin top’ came from which we use to describe stomachs that are being squeezed over tight trousers.

The flower-pot muffin is the newest shape to hit the shelves. People are less willing to eat such a big portion of sweet food all in one sitting and this new design is smaller than we have seen for a while. many also come in a luxury wrapping around the base which gives them the flower-pot name.

Coffee stores and shops can make a lot of money from having muffins on their shelves as can pubs where customers like the sweet alternative to crisps and pork scratchings.