In this series of articles, we will be writing about buying healthy food straight from farmers, which ensures better quality, better taste and better health for all. Our first article is about Herbs de Provence, which is a great natural spice. Herbs de Provence is a mixture of natural herbs grown and mixed together in Provence, France. These mixtures usually consist of savory, fennel, and basil. Even though lavender flowers are sometimes added in other countries in the world, they are not a part of the traditional French recipe. The actual blend depends on the manufacturer and you won’t receive the same mixture of herbs from every producer.

Herbs de Provence are often used to add flavor to grilled foods like fish or meat. In fact, they are perfect for BBQ! They can also be added to vegetable stews and salads. You should be very careful when buying Herbs de Provence . Unfortunately, these herbs are found in different parts of the world and their sellers claim that they were grown in France. However, this isn’t true and lesser quality herbs are usually grown in Middle East and North Africa.

Most of these herbs don’t taste as good and contain dust. This is why you need to be very careful that you’re purchasing real herbs de Provence to ensure that you are going to receive the quality and taste you are looking for. Luckily, customers can purchase herbs de Provence from an authentic French company known as Saveur du Jour. (more...)

Cream is perhaps one of the most versatile ingredients any cook has at their disposal and is used in a huge variety of deserts, dishes and cakes. Cream can be left in its natural state, or whipped to produce twice the volume of cream in the form of whipped cream. Whipped cream with vanilla creates a product called Chantilly cream which is a French speciality and is often added to French pastries or savoury dishes. Whipped cream became popular in the 16th century and was referred to as ‘milk snow’. In 1545 the English recipe called ‘A Dyschefull of Snow’ which includes whipped egg whites as well and was flavoured with sugar and rosewater. Cream is usually whipped by hand with an electric or metal whisk. Whipping cream in this way produces a cream that keeps its form and can be used in cakes and deserts, which can be kept for consumption at a later date. Conversely, whipped cream produced by a pressurised container will create an unstable cream and will return to a more or less liquid state within half an hour or so. This type of whipped cream is perfect for deserts that will be eaten immediately. Cream Chargers direct sell a range of pressurised containers that whip the cream, producing four times the volume of cream – twice the amount than by hand whipping alone.

A healthy packed lunch will keep you fitter and more energetic than you will be if you constantly indulge in too much carbohydrate and junk food at lunch-time. Processed foods are very high in refined carbohydrate which is probably the number one factor that causes people to put on too much weight. Some fat in our diet is not, as some would have it, a bad thing so long as it is healthy fat. It is a mistake to forgo all fat and buy processed "low fat" foods since they are high in carbohydrates in order to compensate for the lower fat content and much less healthy than the manufacturers would have you believe.

The key to healthy lunch boxes is to use fresh ingredients wherever possible. You need not worry about sandwiches being unhealthy because of the bread, provided you use whole wheat bread which contains more fibre and vitamins, and some fresh lean meat or cheese. Salmon and cucumber together, are always a good choice of sandwich filler, with healthy omega -3 fatty acids and good protein. Other good choices are lean roast beef with watercress, and lean chicken with red pepper strips or perhaps some freshly chopped parsley or chives just to enliven it somewhat. A garnish of salad or herbs is always a good idea to give added appeal to an otherwise plain sandwich.

The alternative to the traditional sandwich is a wrap or a pitta bread with a suitable filling. Chicken with guacamole and grated cheddar is great and easy to make. It keeps best if rolled in cling film to seal. Pitta bread is good with hummus plus a bit of greenery like watercress. (more...)

Cooking is an art that is practised by people who love and enjoy doing it. It is true that many of us love to cook but there are only few who have the magic in their hands. The secret behind this magic lies not only in the method but also in the ingredients used. If you have the right skills then you also need the right herbs and spices. Even the best chefs would be helpless, if they don't get the quality raw material for cooking the delicacies that brings them name, fame and money.

Spices and herbs have always been an attraction for traders all across the world. Certain parts of the world are blessed with some specific herbs and spices found only in that region. The reason is simple as the same favourable climatic conditions and the soil quality isn't found in any other part of the world.

One such region is Provence in France, a beautiful location that is the source of world's best olives, Provence herbs and several other Provence products. If you have ever visited this region and had been lucky to get the taste then you better know the wow factor that we are talking about in the gourmet food or epicerie fine as known in French. Even, if you have never been to this place then too you don't need to dishearten yourself as there are several online stores from where you can purchase them easily at affordable rates. (more...)

Nothing sums up a nice meal like a dessert. A dessert is a sweet dish that is served last, especially when you are done with the main dish. Dessert can comprise of biscuits, cakes, pies, ice creams and pudding. It adds a final touch to your meal. However, to prepare a good dessert, one has to be careful with what he/she is about to choose as their preferred dessert.

When you choose cakes as your preferred dessert, first get everything well set, the pan, the ingredients, and any other stated by the recipe. Make sure you use the right pan to bake in. the outcome of the cake is determined by the kind of pan you use. If you would like to use a glass to bake in, turn the temperature down by 25 degrees. When you using a shallow pan, reduce the baking time by a fourth whilst when using a deeper pan, increase the baking time by a fourth. Make sure you take precautions like wiping counter tops, washing dishes and hands often. This is to avoid errors that may occur during baking. If you are baking it in an oven, place the pan at the middle, this gives the cake a balanced baking temperature, for top and bottom side of the pan. Another one of the important dessert preparation tips is to remember to grease you pan and lightly dust it with flour before you pour in the mixture to avoid the cake sticking to the sides. However, you do not have to do this if you are baking sponge-type of cakes.

If you would like to serve cream, there are ready-made but it is best if you made your own to bring out a different taste altogether. Chilled cream, bowl and beaters make the whipping of cream faster and make it smoother. You can also add a few drops of lemon juice to add both flavour and softness to it. (more...)