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Category: food

  • Buy Honey And Help Make The World A Better Place

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    Black Bee Honey is a non-profit business founded by the youth in Parramore Kidz Zone, a program launched by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

    Buy Our Honey Online

    Palmetto

    This honey is from the Saw Palmetto, which takes 100 years to grow large enough for bees to make use of it. This full-bodied honey, with hints of citrus and smokey wood overtones, is sweet and fruity.

    Orange Blossom

    The fragrant blossoms of the sweet orange tree add a nice touch to Spring. They also bring us sweet Orange Blossom Honey with the subtle fragranced and taste of the citrus flowers used to make it. This honey is loaded with natural antioxidants and immune boosting properties.

    Wildflower

    A heavy and sweet combination of wildflowers brings this dark amber honey to life. With varying blooming flowers throughout the year, each jar will have a unique taste and composition. The mix of floral nectar adds potential health benefits including suppressing allergic reactions.

    Gallberry

    Exclusive to Florida and Georgia, Gallberry honey gets its distinctive flavor from the Holly family and is considered a southern kitchen secret. This mild, light honey, with hints of molasses and sorghum, is a perfect table honey or used in baking.

  • Who needs Refrigeration

    Since coming onto the scene in the late 19th century, modern refrigeration has made a bunch of great things possible — we’re talking ice cream, lager beer, strawberries in December, meat that doesn’t kill you, the list goes on. But those early ice-chipping inventors never could have fathomed just how reliant modern Americans would become on their electric iceboxes, cramming them full with no clue as to which foods actually require refrigeration. But believe it or not, some foods just have no chill.

    Clear up some much-needed shelf space by transferring these curiously durable edibles from the cooler to the counter — food will taste better, keep longer, and hey, there will suddenly be a lot more room for beer.

    Hot sauce

    No shame in Bey’s game. Acidity is the key to hot sauce’s durability, a quality that can dull when left in the fridge. Leaving it out maintains that spicy swag.

    Maple syrup

    As a former Vermonter, this is a huge pet peeve of mine. Like honey, real maple syrup (i.e., none of that “pancake syrup” or “breakfast syrup” nonsense) will turn gritty and congeal when submitted to colder temps.

    Apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, cherries & plums

    While some people prefer their apples a cool 35 degrees, pitted and stone fruits actually keep better at room temperature where the chilly air can’t make their sensitive internal structures mushy.

    Citrus fruits

    God gave oranges, limes, lemons, and the like tough skins for a reason — so they could withstand the harsh, warm world. Let them be.

    Tomatoes

    If a tomato had one dying wish, it would be to escape the refrigerator’s utterly cruel flavor-draining, texture-destroying punishment. Spare it the humiliation by keeping it on the counter.

    Coffee

    Coffee beans and grounds become dry and flavorless when chilled. Those precious babies should live far away from the fridge.

    Honey

    Low temperatures cause honey to crystallize, going from nice and viscous to gross and grainy. That sweet bear is much better off on the shelf.

    Jam

    Preserved foods like jellies and jams are made to last, so they’re just as safe on the shelf as they are in the fridge.

    Avocados

    Unless an avocado is on the brink of over-ripening, it should be left out as is. Time in the fridge will drain the fruit of all its good flavor and texture. A halved avocado, however, could benefit from being stored in the fridge, though no cut avocado is going to last more than a day or so, no matter what you do.

    Bananas

    Cold air causes bananas to brown and bruise before their time. Let them keep their youthful yellow by storing them elsewhere.

    Soy sauce

    Because soy sauce is fermented, its chemical composition allows it to withstand warmer temps without spoiling, which is why those little Chinese takeout packets do just fine in your office desk drawer.

    Pickles

    Pickles are another preserved item, so they’re cool with being stored at either fridge or room temperature (hence that requisite giant vat of pickles on top of every deli counter).

    Butter (in some circumstances)

    Keeping butter cooped up in the fridge limits spreadability, so many folks opt to shelf the soft, salty stuff. Stored at room temperature, though, butter only lasts for about a week before slipping into the spoilage zone, so proceed with caution if you buy in bulk.

    Whole melons

    Like their citrusy compatriots, melons were also given that elephant skin-esque rind to keep their insides soft and tasty. Stashing them in the icebox before you slice ’em can break down their flesh and make them mealy.

    Potatoes, onions & garlic

    Maybe this goes without saying, but potatoes get real starchy when subjected to the fridge’s low temps while onions and garlic grow soft and sad. These guys would rather hang out in a moderately cool, dark place like a cabinet or paper bag.

    Peppers

    The best part about fresh peppers is their satisfying, juicy crunch, no question. But drop them in the crisper and they’re bound to get a little flimsy.

    Cake

    Cake suffers from debilitating dryness when left in the cold. Covered on the counter, it should stay golden for about a week (but really, who takes a whole week to finish a cake?).

    Bread

    Bread also grows dry and crusty in the fridge, counteracting any intended preservation. A countertop breadbox is a much safer option.

    Farm-fresh eggs

    This one’s a bit controversial. Europeans never refrigerate their eggs while us Americans consider cold huevos the way to go. If the eggs are sourced from a nearby farm, there shouldn’t be any need to stash them away. However, grocery store eggs, which are processed differently in the States and are more likely to contain salmonella, are safer on ice.

    Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.Meredith Heil is a staff writer for Thrillist. She was raised in the field, she ain’t got no chill. More at @meredad.

  • Healthy Snacks That Keep You Full

    Snacking between meals is no big deal, but it’s tricky. Lots of foods out there will leave you feeling unsatisfied in no time and prone to eating more and putting on pounds later.

    “People think that for [good] metabolism you have to eat all through the day, but that’s a complete myth,” says Kimberly Gomer, a dietitian at Pritikin Longevity Center. “If you’re looking to stay full, you can do a combination of fiber and protein or fat. But if you want to stay full and lose weight, you need to eat foods that are low in calorie density.”

    In other words, that candy bar isn’t going to keep you full OR help you keep off the pounds. But you already knew that. If you want to stay full and steer clear of the office vending machine, your keys are protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Here are some ideas.

    Snacking between meals is no big deal, but it’s tricky. Lots of foods out there will leave you feeling unsatisfied in no time and prone to eating more and putting on pounds later.

    “People think that for [good] metabolism you have to eat all through the day, but that’s a complete myth,” says Kimberly Gomer, a dietitian at Pritikin Longevity Center. “If you’re looking to stay full, you can do a combination of fiber and protein or fat. But if you want to stay full and lose weight, you need to eat foods that are low in calorie density.”

    In other words, that candy bar isn’t going to keep you full OR help you keep off the pounds. But you already knew that. If you want to stay full and steer clear of the office vending machine, your keys are protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Here are some ideas.

    Greek yogurt and fruit

    Greek yogurt may be light, but it’s loaded with protein (about the same amount as you’d find in a piece of lean meat, in fact). It takes its sweet time to digest, making you feel satiated longer. Gomer suggests adding fruits like raspberries for extra fiber, and staying far away from almonds and other nuts as toppings.”Almonds are a great choice for satiety but worst choice if weight is any kind of an issue for you,” she says. “People think almonds are a great snack, but a cup of almonds is in excess of 800 calories. It sounds like a lot, but all it takes is a couple handfuls.”

    Hummus and veggies

    Hummus comes from chickpeas, and chickpeas come from the Protein Gods. But it’s also gloriously low in calories, and especially filling when paired with veggies like carrots, tomatoes, and celery, which are high in fiber and water content.But according to our dietitian, if you buy your hummus ready-made, you should also always check for fat content. “Some hummus has a lot of extra oil added in, and oil is something to avoid like the plague if you don’t want to gain weight,” Gomer says. “I like to recommend a brand called Engine 2 available at Whole Foods, which has no oils added.”

    Or, here’s a delicious 10-minute recipe for hummus you can easily make at home from scratch.

    Chia seeds

    Belly rumbles don’t just come from hunger, but also dehydration. You can always drink more water, but good luck with peeing a bazillion times — so why not try sprinkling chia seeds on your snacks, like that yogurt and hummus you’re already eating? Chia seeds are a perfect vessel for getting H2O into the body, seeing as they can hold up to 12 times their weight in it.”It’s a food that’s not only high in fiber but also gives you omega-3s, so they are one of the best ways to get that,” says Gomer. “Especially for vegetarians, vegans, and people who don’t want to eat fish.”

    Avocado toast

    It’s on every hipster restaurant menu for a reason! Avocados are chock-full of monounsaturated fats (aka the good ones), which will always leave you feeling comfortably fed. But because of that, Gomer says they can also be a “big no-no for weight loss.”If you can’t stand the thought of living in a world without guac, you can always try adding cayenne pepper to offset some calories, since it might help you eat less and burn more calories.

    Sweet potatoes

    Sweet potatoes are high in fiber and give you loads of carotenoids, which are those health-promoting antioxidants that make sweet potatoes orange. And they just feel heavy. Try ’em baked, mashed, or even cut up into fries to take to work the next day. “You can put some salsa or cinnamon on it, or even a little Greek yogurt on it is interesting,” she says.

    Beans — really any kind of plant-based protein, for that matter — will keep you feeling fulfilled for a long time. You can always do an overnight salad, or Gomer suggests mashing them up and throwing in garlic and spices to make a dip for dunking veggies.

    Edamame

    Even more low maintenance than that in the bean department is edamame, which contain 16g of protein a cup and only 190 calories.”Edamame is something very easy, and you can buy them fresh or frozen at Trader Joe’s,” says Gomer. “They’re really friendly to pack and eat on the run.”

    Oatmeal

    OK, fine — oatmeal isn’t as sexy an afternoon snack as edamame, but when it comes to beating hunger, she’s Old Faithful. People who eat oatmeal feel less hungry for up to four hours compared to those who eat cereal, and that’s real, live science, so grow up, put away the cereal, and get used to oats.

    Hard-boiled eggs

    One of Gomer’s favorite snacks is a hard-boiled egg with the yolk removed, and filled up with hummus and a sprinkle of paprika. Think of it as a deviled egg alternative.”You can make a bunch of them at the beginning of the week, and bag it along with raw veggies,” recommends the dietitian. “Convenient food doesn’t have to be processed and unhealthy.”

    Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.

    Barbara Woolsey is a Berlin-based writer with a high metabolism. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

    By Barbara Woolsey, www.thrillist.com

  • Great cheap dinners

    Great cheap dinners
    Cheap Recipes That Are So Much Better Than Fast Food
    kidscooking.about.com
    Cheap recipes don’t have to use pre-packaged foods or boring ingredients. These cheap and easy recipes let you enjoy budget meals with pizazz. You’ll find recipes here with beans, chicken, beef and more.

    •Sloppy Joes Recipe

    Not only are sloppy joes a great cheap recipe, they’re fun, easy and kid-pleasing, too. What more could you want? More »

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  • THE SUPER-EFFECTIVE WEIGHT-LOSS STRATEGY THAT ALMOST NO ONE USES

    Learn what a serving size actually is

    I’m an unabashed lover of cheese. There’s nothing better than grilling a steak, sautéing some mushrooms, and tossing a few crumbles of blue cheese on top for good measure.

    I’ve always known I was adding calories, but I never really understood how many until I decided a few years ago to start meticulously tracking everything I ate.

    (more…)