Understand the Benefits Of Green Tea

Green tea is a drink widely consumed in China, Japan, and other Asian nations and is gaining popularity in many Western nations. The tea is made from dried and steamed leaves of the Camellia sinesis bush, a plant native to Asia.

Green tea is also promoted as a herd that has the ability to avert certain bacterial infections. Apart from tasting great, green tea has long established a reputation for conveying splendid health benefits, and is particularly suggested for the ill. The benefits of green tea are becoming more apparent.

Green tea is prepared by delicately steaming fresh tea leaves, whereas black tea is made from leaves that have been dried out and roasted, and that therefore looses a lot of their medicinal power.

Studies into the compounds found in the tea do suggest that the optimum way to obtain the greatest health benefits of green tea is to drink it freshly made, after soaking the leaves for up to five minutes.

In order to gain any health benefits, a regular daily intake, ideally three to four cups per day of green tea or green tea extract is thought to help your overall well being.

Green tea has been attributed with offering a variety of health benefits, several of which have not as yet been uphold by any scientific evidence and some that may just be folklore.

These are just a few of the health benefits of which green tea has been linked to - reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering cholesterol levels, cancer prevention, weight-loss, improved memory abilities, increased immune system response, and recently even been claimed as a possible way to reduce rheumatoid arthritis pain. Green tea is readily available in health food shops, chemists, and all over the internet.

Regardless of whether the benefits of green tea are as widespread as some sources allege, a few mugs of either green or black tea is an ideal addition to a diet as an alternative to high calorie fruit drinks and sodas.

Cooking for Two

Cooking for two doesn't have to be time consuming or a struggle. In fact, I have found simple ways to actually prepare simple meals that are quite pleasing in taste, looks, and with ease.

When I think back to having grown up in a large family, and then having family of my own; there were many evenings of long, drawn out dinner plans and preparations. Now that it's just my husband and I, those big meals and time preparations just didn't feel right any more.

I know a good many of folks, where there is only one or two of them, so they stop off at the local burger joint or grab a sub from a nearby deli, and stock up on tv dinners. But we all know that eating like that isn't very healthy for us.

After sitting and thinking on afternoon about the nights meal, a brainstorm erupted. I was watching 'Little House on the Prairie' on television, when the thought and idea struck. I noticed that more often than not, they sat down to one-pot meals for dinner. For some strange reason, I wanted to learn just a little more, and question my father on this subject and time era, beings he grew up pretty close to that time span. He confirmed that yes, many meals were done in that manner. So naturally, the first thought that came to mind would be stew. Nope. That wasn't the answer I was looking for. A good stew takes hours to simmer, and I wanted something quick.

I have found a way to cook a one-pan meal, that resembles stew, has an awesome taste, and is quick and easy to prepare. I dug out my large family sized skillet, that hadn't been used in a while. Then I took two large chicken breasts and cut them up so I had 4 pieces all total. Next, I sliced up about a cup each of celery, onions, carrots, peppers, and potatoes, making sure they were good bite-sized pieces. (The hearty cut) is what I call it.

All of these items I then placed into the skillet at one time. Then I added about 1& 1/2 cups of water and a few good shakes of soy sauce. Cover and let cook on med flame/heat about 30 minutes. My husband loved it and so did I. The best part is, it's plentiful, healthy, and re-heatable. I had enough left over to seal in a container and serve it up on a night that I felt lazy.

You can do this combination in many different ways, such as using cubed steaks, or even hot dogs for that matter. You can also change some of the veggies around, such as alternating broccoli instead of peppers. You can even omit the potatoes, and serve this dish over rice. Every combo makes a wonderful tasting and appealing dish.

Tea Of the World

Tea is the worlds most consumed drink. It was invented almost 5000 years ago by the then Chinese emperor Shen Nung quite accidentally, during his temporary halt in a jungle. After that the drink grew in popularity in China. The Chinese were pioneer in making this beverage. Later after the East India Company had the monopoly in tea trading, they brought to several other countries where British colonies had been set up. After the company lost its monopoly, the countries started their own trade and gradually tea trading became a profitable business.

Tea is grown in several countries of the world. The major tea producing countries are China, India, Japan, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.

India

India is the largest producer of tea in the world. It was the East India Company which introduced tea into India when India was one of its colonies. Today, the Indians consume the highest amount of tea. They contribute to almost half of the total production of tea in the world (as of reports in 2006). Black tea is the mostly grown tea in India. India has several tea plantations in the north east valleys in Assam (in the Brahmaputra valley), in the foothills of the Himalayas (Darjeeling) and the Blue mountains in the south west known as the Nilgiri Hills. India is the second largest exporter of tea, second only to China. It has the maximum import of tea in the world.

China

China is the pioneer in tea production. They are the ones who invented this wonder beverage and for centuries, tea is the most popular drink there. China has the largest international market of tea in the world. China grows four types of tea namely, green tea, black tea, oolong tea and scented tea. More than half the tea grown in China is the green tea. The best known tea are Chunmee, young Hyson, Hyson, and Sowmee green teas. Green tea is the healthiest of all teas.

It has medicinal properties unmatched by any other tea. It helps to control diabetes, heart-attack, prevent cancer, helps to build strong bones and gums and also reduce body fat. Oolong tea is another type of tea produced in this country. Oolong tea lies somewhere in the middle between green and black tea, a unique balance between green tea's delicacy and black tea's depth. The most famous green teas come from Ti Kwan Yin and Phoenix Mountain.

Sri Lanka

The next country in the Indian subcontinent, to the south of India, which produces tea is Sri Lanka. Today Sri Lanka is the third largest producer of tea in the world. They produce the blank teas very similar to the ones produced in India having a floral aroma and taste. The black tea produced here are also referred to as Ceylon tea.

Some other black teas are pekoe, orange pekoe and broken orange pekoe. Initially Sri Lanka produced large quantities of coffee which was its main drink. However, a coffee rust affected and destroyed the coffee crops by the middle of the nineteenth century. Thomas Lipton was the pioneer in tea production and tea export in this country exporting large quantities to Britain. A famous tea company has been named after him.

Japan

Japan is an avid tea-drinking nation producing large quantities of green tea which have different flavors. Some of the famous Japanese green teas are sencha, matcha and bancha. These teas are famous for their wide varieties in taste, color and flavor.

Taiwan

This country is a significant exporter of tea and produces mainly oolong tea and pouching teas, which have a fruity and flowery taste.

In addition to these, tea is produced in countries like Brazil, Bangladesh, Kenya, Argentina, and several other African countries. Besides these teas grown from leaves and brewed henceforth, several other forms of easy-to-use teas are being sold commercially. With the fast lifestyle catching up with people, consumers are relying more and more on readily available items. As a result, canned tea, herbal tea and fruit tea are very popular. Countries like USA and several European countries export these forms of tea. It is a commercial growth influenced by tea.

Best Potato Salad Recipe: Baked German Potato Salad Recipe

This is a great hot potato salad recipe to serve at dinner time. It features, familiar German potato salad ingredients like: potatoes, bacon, celery, onion, cider vinegar and pickles. It's a fairly easy to make baked potato salad recipe and delicious served warm.

6 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed


4 slices bacon, chopped


2/3 cup celery, chopped


2/3 cup onion, chopped


2 tablespoons flour


3/4 teaspoon salt


1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper


3/4 cup water


1/2 cup cider vinegar


1/2 cup sugar


1/3 cup dill pickle, chopped


1/4 cup sliced radish, thinly sliced (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a covered saucepan, cook the potatoes in boiling water for 12 to 15 minutes until tender; drain.

In a large skillet, cook the bacon until nice and crisp; drain. Leave the bacon drippings in the skillet. Add the celery and onion to the skillet and cook for 1 minute; stirring constantly.

Stir in the flour, salt and pepper. Cook mixture for another minute while stirring constantly. Stir in 3/4 cup of water and the vinegar. Stir mixture until it thickens and is bubbly. Stir in the sugar.

Combine the potatoes and bacon in a 2-quart casserole dish. Stir in the celery mixture into the potatoes.

Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Stir in the pickle and radish. Serve warm.

=> Best Potato Salad Recipe: Easy Potato Salad Recipe

This simple potato salad recipe doesn't require much work and is great when you are craving some potato salad, but don't want to go through a lot of fuss. After you finish cooking the potatoes, just add the other few ingredients and you're done!

6 to 7 potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes


2 1/2 teaspoon salt


2 teaspoon sugar


3 teaspoon celery seed


2 teaspoon vinegar


1 small onion, chopped


1 1/2 cup mayonnaise

Directions

Cook potatoes in boiling water; drain. Transfer potatoes to mixing bowl. Mix in the seasoning and the vinegar. Mix in the onions and the mayonnaise. Toss lightly and refrigerate.

=> Classic Potato Salad Recipe: American Potato Salad Recipe

Ah, here is the popular mustard potato salad recipe with eggs that is served at numerous picnics, potlucks, and dinners. It's truly an American classic dish. To add a little twist, you can try using different flavors of mustard.

1 cup Miracle Whip Salad Dressing (or mayonnaise)


1 teaspoon mustard


1/2 teaspoon celery seed


1/2 teaspoon salt


1/8 teaspoon pepper


4 cups potatoes, cooked and cut into cubes


2 hard boiled eggs, chopped


1/2 cup onion, chopped


1/2 cup celery, sliced


1/2 cup sweet pickle relish

In a large bowl, combine the salad dressing, mustard, celery seed, salt and pepper; mix well

Add in the potatoes, eggs, onion, celery and pickle relish. Mix all ingredients together until completely combined. Chill in the refrigerator.

=> Best Potato Salad Recipe: Red Potato Salad Recipe with Sour Cream

Many people enjoy red potatoes. This recipe is colorful, nutritious and lighter than traditional potato salad. Also, it's very quick to make.

6 large red potatoes


1/2 cup sour cream


1/2 cup plain yogurt (or light mayonnaise)


1/4 cup fresh chives, finely chopped


1 teaspoon salt


Ground black pepper

Directions

Scrub potatoes. Leaving the peel on, cut into quarters (if you are using larger potatoes). Boil the potatoes with the skins on until tender; drain and dry. Cut potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes.

In a salad bowl, combine the potatoes, sour cream, yogurt and chives. Toss all gently until potatoes are completely coated. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill salad in the refrigerator.

=> Best Potato Salad Recipe: Sweet Potato Salad Recipe

Sweet potatoes and sour cream add a delightful uniqueness to this potato salad. It tastes great and makes a very attractive presentation.

3 pounds red potatoes


2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes


1/4 cup white wine vinegar


1/4 cup olive oil


1 clove garlic, minced


1/4 cup dill pickle relish


1/2 cup red onion, chopped


1/3 cup mayonnaise


Pinch ground black pepper


1/3 cup sour cream


1/2 cup parsley, chopped

Directions

Cook potatoes in a large pot of salted boiling water until tender, but firm; drain. Let potatoes cool. Cut potatoes up into quarters or cubes.

In a large bowl, combine the vinegar, olive oil, garlic, dill pickle relish and the onion. Add all to the potatoes.

In a separate bowl, use a wire whisk to mix mayonnaise, pepper, sour cream and parsley. Mix mayonnaise mixture in with the potatoes and combine completely. Chill salad in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.

Classic Cookie Recipes

Chocolate Chip Cookies

There is nothing quite like a fresh chocolate chip cookie. This particular recipe has become my favorite over the years. It is soft and chewy and full of chocolate. Whenever I make this, I always have memories of coming home from school to a house filled with the smell of chocolate chip cookies. All five of us with chocolate smeared all over our faces. Great memories!

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 packages (12 ounce) semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the butter and sugars in a large bowl. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract. In a different bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir in the chocolate chips. Roll into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 9 to 10 minutes.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

My husband is not a sweets man but he loves these cookies. The first time I made these it was for some friends. They almost all disappeared in one night! My husband and another friend of ours (also not a sweets man) were eating these the way I eat chocolate (with both hands, one right after the other). Whenever I make these, I always find my husband sneaking one when he thinks I am not looking. He will just look at me, smile sheepishly and say, "What? They're good." Ah yes, the highest compliment any baker can receive. :-)

3 eggs

1 cup raisins

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat the eggs, stir in the vanilla extract, and then stir in the raisins. Refrigerate this mixture for at least one hour.

1 cup butter flavored shortening

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups oats (quick cooking kind)

In a large bowl, mix together the shortening and sugars. Add in the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add in the raisin mixture and the oats. Roll it into balls and bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 10 to 12 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Buy Tea Online

Don't you just love waking up in the morning before the suns rises and putting a kettle on the stove? You wait for it to whistle, and when it does you almost get giddy like a child hearing the last bell at school letting them out for the summer. You run back into the kitchen and pour yourself a cup of tea from the kettle and take the steaming cup outside with you as you watch the sunrise. Beautiful, isn't it? Now this fantasy can be a reality if you decide to buy tea online. Tea is one of the oldest and best tasting drinks that the world enjoys. In fact, if not for tea and a few other things, America would not have been discovered by Christopher Columbus.

The first thing you must know is what country you want to buy tea online from. China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka and Great Britain are all known as the best countries in the world that produce tea for export. Depending on what your taste preferences are will depend on which country you buy from.

Another question you must ask yourself when you buy tea online is what kind of tea do you want? Black, green, white, Oolong, Pu-erh, flavored and herbal are all different types of teas that you can choose from depending on your taste preferences. If you are fan of many teas and you cannot be forced to choose just one tea style, then you may want to consider getting a sampler of tea with many different types of tea from many different countries and regions.

Make sure that when you buy tea online, you buy it from an accredited website. Some sites will offer very inexpensive teas to their customers but the tea will never arrive, arrive late, or arrive on time and taste old or expired. That is why you should order from a larger site that the rest of the members on the information superhighway have reviewed and given thumbs-up to.

Now that you know what to look for when you buy tea online, what are you waiting for? Start looking now and don't stop until you find the absolutely, positively best tea on the market. Even if you have to order from all the way from Sri Lanka, it will be worth it on those days that you get up early to watch the sunrise.

So here we go

I thought it was about time that we, the public, had our say on the eating scene in Dubai.

So, please leave any comments (anonymous is fine) about any experience that you've had.

So, I'll start with The Underground at Habtoor Grand, Service is a bit hit and miss, depending on who's on on the night, bar food is great, mains are expensive for what you get.

More (Garhoud, not been to the one at Al Murooj). Fantastic food, service is abysmal, I recommend one of the Tangines - the Moroccan one is fantastic.