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Start Poppin’, it’s National Popcorn Day
Celebrating National Popcorn Day today!

It’s National Popcorn Day, and here we are celebrating America’s favorite snack. Did you know Americans eat about 16 billion quarts of popcorn each year! There is no history as to when this holiday began, but popcorn can be traced back to Aztecs and Peruvians from the early 1500s.

Popcorn is a type of corn or maize which pops when ideal amount of moisture is provided to the kernels. Popcorn is often recognized as a healthy snack since it’s whole grain and low in calories. Over the years popcorn has evolved from a simple European street food to a favorite all time snack, with many new gourmet touches and seasonings added to it.

Try some new twists and seasonings to your bowl of popcorn, from these recipes from Recipebridge:
Share your favorite popcorn recipes with us!

As always, we love to hear from you. Find more popcorn recipes on Recipebridge and post your favorite ones on our Facebook page or Tweet us!
January 19, 2012
10 Spicy and Sizzling Dishes
Spicy food adds life and variety to every meal

Spices lend a certain richness, heat and complexity to every food imaginable. These attention grabbing spices not only add heat but also a well defined character to any dish, and are capable of transforming dishes with a single pinch. January 16th is celebrated worldwide as the International Hot and Spicy Food Day. Try some of these sizzling dishes to celebrate this day and add some spice to your routine dishes as well.
Did you know ‘ghost peppers’ are the hottest chili peppers in the world!

As always, we love to hear from you. Post recipes or your favorite spicy dishes on our Facebook page or Tweet us!
January 17, 2012
Your Favourite Gourmet Food Store?

Do you prefer an online gourmet food store or a brick-mortar one?

A gourmet food store can be a little hard to come by, and with most of them operating online, it is rare to see one of these great little stores on a main street in a large city. But when you do find one and it’s local, you will obviously want to rave about it – so tell us, what makes a great gourmet food shopping experience?

So you may have heard of or been to health food stores so you will know that there are many different types of shop that hold all types of food to meet the requirements of their customers. When it comes to gourmet food shopping, there are entire stores dedicated to gourmet food shopping and different ethnic varieties of food too. And why shouldn’t there be? If there are whole stores dedicated to selling wine, there should also be places you can shop to get the best quality produce as well.

The gourmet food shopping experience is totally different when it is done online. Which do you prefer? Online stores are easier in terms of access, and searching for products can take literally seconds with the help of the site’s search tools. But perhaps you prefer the live’ shopping experience, where you can enter the shop and smell the fresh food as you walk through the door. There is something exciting about collecting your food, hand selecting it and purchasing it that makes the experience a more realistic one. Also, picking out the actual product itself means that you can check any fruit or vegetables for ripeness – something you can’t do online.

A gourmet food store often carries local produce!

We hear many people talk about how important it is to buy local produce, and in fairness this statement is true because without local people buying from local businesses, the economy of that town or city could dip, and some businesses may even go bust if they don’t get enough customers. Does gourmet food shopping count if you are doing it overseas? Well, that is down to personal opinion, but gourmet foods can come from all over the world and if your country genuinely doesn’t grow a certain product, then you have no choice than to buy from overseas!

Gourmet food shopping is all about the quality of a product and its freshness and is the most important aspect in drawing us back to a speciality store. If a gourmet store doesn’t stock top quality produce, you wouldn’t go back; simple as that! And this will surely reflect in your recipes.

Please feel free to tell us about your gourmet food shopping experiences? Can you recommend any stores to us? Do you buy all your food from speciality gourmet stores or is it just as a treat? Do you buy online or go to the shop yourself? We want to hear from you! Tell us about your favourite gourmet food store on our Facebook page or Tweet us.

January 12, 2012
Cooked Pasta Dishes

Oven-baking your pasta dishes!

Pasta dishes have been around for many centuries, and have become so popular that they have become a basic food in all types of cultures. However, pasta itself of course originated from Italy. In the 8^th century, more spaghetti style pastas were being sold, and it wasn’t until the 1300s that people started to recognise how filling and nutritious pasta was.

Dried pasta can last for a long time which is why it is so popular with Italians and other nationalities alike. Pasta has been created in many different shapes and sizes and when mixed with sauces, it can totally transform the dish. Many pasta dishes involve boiling the pasta and then serving with a sauce such as fettuccini Alfredo (a cream based sauce) or spaghetti bolognaise (a tomato and mince meat based sauce).

Although buying and boiling up some shop-bought pasta is the norm, many people make their own out of 200g plain flour, 2 eggs (beaten) and a pinch of salt. These ingredients can be mixed together to create a doughy base which can then be made into whatever pasta shape you like, however creating the farfalle (butterfly/bow tie) variety may be a little tricky which is why opting for tagliatelle (thick strips) may suit you better.

Although pasta itself is simple enough to cook, it is their accompanying sauces which require a little extra effort if you want to impress your friends with your culinary skills. Lasagne, vegetable lasagne and cannelloni are just a few oven baked pasta dishes which are beautifully filling and tasty meals.

Lasagne

A meaty lasagne can include any type of meat that you like, although traditionally meat and a white cheese sauce are used. For a newer twist on the traditional recipe, try Creamy Chicken and Spinach which, although it takes a while to prepare, is a delicious combination of the various layers of pasta, spinach and chicken. Find delicious lasagne recipes on Recipebridge.

Vegetable Lasagne

Instead of various meats, the vegetable lasagne uses lots of vegetable between the pasta layers. These can include onions, broccoli and garlic, or spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes. Or you can get creative and use any vegetable you like – courgettes in lasagne is a great favourite of mine and the thick slices are great for soaking up the lasagne’s rich and tasty juices. Try vegetable lasagne recipes here.

Cannelloni

These tubes of pasta are stuffed with all sorts – and both meat and vegetarian options for cannelloni both taste wonderful. The large pasta tubes can be stuffed with their filling and then arranged in an oven dish. A tomato based sauce can then be poured over the evenly spread pasta tubes and then sprinkled with parmesan and baked for 30 minutes. This allows the filling to heat and cook, and also allows the dried pasta to slowly gain moisture from its surrounding sauces. Recipebridge has a good selection of cannelloni recipes.

What’s your favorite baked pasta dish?

Pasta is a great staple food and also makes a great cheap meal when you are cooking for a lot of people as well. So if you like soft dishes with lots of flavour and you are sticking to a budget, try cooked pasta dishes! Share your favorite pasta recipes with us on Facebook or Twitter!

January 10, 2012
Yum Cha at Home

Yum Cha – the traditional Chinese Sunday meal

Yum Cha actually refers to the traditional Chinese Sunday meal where small dishes of food (dim sum) and Chinese tea would be consumed. Yum Cha is so popular with Chinese people that more recently, they have started to have this traditional meal more often throughout the week than just on a traditional Sunday.

Drinking tea is an old tradition in China, and as a result, the dishes served during this almost ceremonial dinner have gained popularity with all different kinds of ethnic groups.

Pork buns

These are beautiful miniature doughy buns stuffed with aromatic pork. Find pork bun recipes on Recipebridge.

Pork Buns

Gow gee

A symbol of eternity, these chicken dumplings are usually eaten with a dipping sauce. Find gow gee or chicken dumpling recipes on Recipebridge.

Gow gees

Spring rolls

Tube of pastry stuffed with all kinds of filling, from various meats to shredded veggies! Find spring rolls recipes on Recipebridge.

Spring Rolls

San choy bow

Usually made of various meats with noodles and served in a bowl of lettuce. You can find recipes for san choy bow on Recipebridge.

San choy bow

Duck pancakes dim sums

Crispy aromatic duck might be fatty, but it tastes amazing spread on a layer of soy sauce, shredded onion and cucumber and tucked into a pancake! Find duck pancake recipes here.

Duck pancakes

Custard tarts

Beautiful little light custard treats surrounded in pastry. Find custard tart recipes on Recipebridge.

Custard tart

Mango pancakes

As another sweet treat at the end of your yum cha meal, mango pancakes can be created using the standard pancake recipe but topped with fresh mango and perhaps a mango puree too. Find recipes for mango pancakes on Recipebridge.

Mango pancakes

Have you ever tried yum cha at home?

It’s quite a simple chinese dim sum meal, which can be very refreshing on a Sunday afternoon. Post your yum cha recipes on our Facebook page or Tweet us!

Find more yum cha recipes on Recipebridge.

January 8, 2012
The Delightful Crepes
Crepes – gourmet and scrumptious!

Crepes, also known as the ‘pancakes’ is one of the most versatile and delightful snacks on the planet. Although most people will be familiar with its sweet flavours and the tradition of Pancake Day (the day before Lent where they are eaten in abundance), crepes are also famous as a savoury lunchtime or dinner snack too.

The origin of crepes can be traced all the way back to 15^th century Europe when people worshipped the sun, and thus made the pancake to praise it. The French word ‘crepe’ originated in Brittany, France which is still famous for its crepes today. The classic Crepe Suzette recipe is one we are all familiar with, where the crepe mixture has an orange flavour and is often ignited in some kind of alcohol.

Find a range of sweet and savory crepes recipes on Recipebridge. Try some of our recommendations here, sure to tantalize your taste buds:
Share your crepes recipes with us!

As always, we love to hear from you. Post your favorite recipes on our Facebook page or Tweet us!
January 6, 2012
Artichokes – Edible Flower Buds

Artichokes offer an abundance of health benefits

Originating from the Mediterranean, artichokes are the edible flower bud of a long life plant. Having appeared in Greek mythology and getting its name in the 15^th century, artichokes have been around for a long time and are used in many recipes all over the world.

With many ways to cook and eat these vegetables, artichokes are of great benefit to your health. The most edible part of the artichoke is the heart, yet it is the leaves which contain a whole range of nutrients.

Artichokes are great for your digestive health, and as they contain antioxidants called silymarin and cynarin, they are great for promoting a healthy liver as well. Scientific studies have even showed that artichokes even help repair the liver’s tissues.

Along with silymarin and cynarin, artichokes are also high in other antioxidants too. As antioxidants are good for cleansing your bodily systems, these vegetables are ideal for anyone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle and it is proven to be one of the highest antioxidant-containing vegetables in the world.

Artichokes are perfect for increasing your fibre intake and also reducing your cholesterol. Not only this, but it has been proven that artichokes are also great for preventing different types of cancer, more specifically breast cancer and promoting the re-growth of cells.

With its abundance of health benefits and its great taste, the artichoke should be included in more of our meals and they have even started to appear more on restaurant menus. And it’s no wonder – this vegetable is amazingly versatile and would be a great addition to many dishes.

Versatility and recipes using artichokes

Recipebridge is home to so many artichoke recipes that it would take you forever to look through them all – however, the amount of recipes means that there is something to suit everyone, no matter what you like to eat.

For an appetiser, why not create a little artichoke dip? All you need is artichoke hearts, parsley, parmesan cheese and olive oil. Once all the ingredients have been mixed together, you can easily add seasoning if you like and this dip is great for a healthy pre-dinner snack served with toasted Turkish bread, bread sticks or carrot sticks. For a light yet filling entree, you could try the Artichoke and Broccoli pasta salad which has many components and is a tasty dish to serve at a barbeque or as a light lunch time meal when it is hot outside!

Risottos, pizzas, lasagnes and casseroles all have embraced the use of artichokes, and if you try adding them to your dinners you will not only be increasing your health, but you will also be able to benefit from its gorgeous and unique flavour. Even if you want to incorporate them into a lunchtime meal, they go really well with tuna on a sandwich.

There are many methods to cooking artichokes including microwaving, boiling and steaming. If you love your artichokes crunchy yet moist, then steaming is best for you.

What are your favourite artichokes recipes? Tell us your experiences with artichokes on our Facebook page or Tweet us.

January 4, 2012
High Protein and Low Carb

High protein and low carb diet for weight loss

You will have heard the phrase ‘high protein and low carb’ if you have ever been on a diet such as Atkins. This is because a diet where you consume few carbohydrates means that you can lose weight quickly yet safely and helps you keep the weight off afterwards too. The protein you consume when you are on this type of diet usually makes up about 50% of your total calorie intake and there are fewer carbohydrates for your body to burn, which means it burns the fat in your body instead.

A high protein and low carb diet plan is popular with many people when it comes to weight loss. A low carb diet alone can not only mean weight loss, but it can also mean that your blood sugar levels are regulated, lowered blood pressure, ability to maintain muscle mass, and can even give you an increase in energy.

When sticking to a high protein and low carb diet, people say that their cravings for sweet treats are reduced and they can think a lot more clearly. As well as the low carbs, the high protein aspect of your diet has also been proven to benefit your body too. Protein takes longer to digest which means that you feel fuller for longer and therefore less likely to snack – this is great for increasing your metabolism.

Protein contains amino acids which are vital in helping us promote muscle growth and repair body cells. The protein in our diets is actually used for creating your body’s chemical reactions as well, and helps us get healthier lean muscles, skin and blood.

Creating a high protein and low carb menu for your daily meals

It’s easy enough to decide that you are going to try the high protein and low carb diet plan, but there are a lot of different meals to consider, so if you want to take part in an Atkins style diet or you are diabetic and need to get better control of your sugar levels, then you need to organise a high protein and low carb menu for yourself which will allow you to diet effectively.

For breakfast, you could try a few things such as bran cereal with milk, and some nuts and fruit to go with it. Recipebridge has many high protein and low carb recipes to choose from including the High Protein Breakfast Sandwich, or you can try the high protein muffins or pancakes!

For lunch, there are high protein and low carb alternatives to bread or you could try High Protein Lunch Nut Cupcakes or a healthy salad with green leaves, beef, avocado, and a dash of sugar free dressing – a three bean salad is also high protein and low carbs. You can even have a snack of high protein frozen yoghurt. Find these recipes on Recipebridge.

For dinner, try a high protein Vegetable Bake or omelette and you will be reaching a good amount of protein filled foods per day. With a healthy balance of the right foods, and with some concentration on high protein and low carb foods, exercise, and plenty of sleep too you will be well on your way to becoming very slim and healthy.

January 3, 2012
Recipes to Cure a Hangover

After all the overindulgence on alcohol on New Year’s eve, comes our handy-dandy recipes to cure a hangover

With New Years Eve approaching, there is bound to be a lot of celebrating. With celebrations comes an overindulgence on alcohol, and with the alcohol overload there is bound to be at least a few of you out there who are nursing a beast of a hangover on New Year’s Day. Well, I am here to tell you that you do not need to mope around the house feeling sorry for yourself; there are plenty of recipes to cure a hangover out there.

To get rid of those splitting headaches, the sickly feeling in your stomach and the dizziness, food can be the answer. First make sure you drink plenty of water and have a quick painkiller to reduce your throbbing headache. After that, you will inevitably be in need of some recipes to cure a hangover. So if you are wondering which foods can best get you functioning like a human being once again, look no further than the greasy fry up and the bacon sandwich.

Research has shown that a bacon sandwich is one of the ultimate recipes to cure a hangover. Any food that you eat when you have overindulged on alcohol the night before will be beneficial to your body because it speeds up your metabolism, thus getting rid of the alcohol in your blood stream quicker. The carbohydrates in the bread can give you more energy, and the bacon (a protein based food) breaks down into amino acids meaning that your brain’s neurotransmitters can begin to repair. Amino acids can also help strengthen the nerves in the inner ear which will help you regain balance and make you not feel so dizzy!

Healthy options and recipes to cure a hangover

Although a greasy fry up might seem like one of the best recipes for curing a hangover, many people feel the guilt of eating all that grease in one sitting. If you are looking for a healthier option, then you might want to try a healthy juice. The juice contains natural sugars which will give you the natural boost you need when you wake up. Orange juice also contains a lot of vitamin C.

One of the more bizarre recipes to cure a hangover is the orange juice and egg drink which is basically freshly squeezed orange juice with a raw egg mixed in. The egg gives an intense infusion of protein which helps keep your body energised.

If you don’t think your stomach will be able to handle the influx of greasy food or the mixtures of juice and eggs, then the best option for you will be a cup of coffee taken with an aspirin. Anti inflammatory ingredients that are found in painkillers and the caffeine content of a cup of coffee work together to counteract the effects of alcohol. Who needs recipes to cure a hangover when this scientifically proven secret is before us?

Find some carb heavy and sandwich recipes on Recipebridge to soak up that alcohol from the day before.

If you want to avoid the hangover altogether however, there is no secret – just don’t drink quite so much and know your limits!

December 31, 2011
Cocktails for New Year’s Eve

Show stopping cocktails for your New Year’s eve party!

As we are bidding bye-bye to this year, we have a selection of cocktails to welcome the new year with a bang!

Martini

One of the best known cocktail drink, martinis are often made from gin or vodka and dry vermouth, and garnished with an olive or lemon twist. Though over the years various combinations and flavors have been developed for this much loved cocktail.

Find martini recipes on Recipebridge.

Martini

Mojito

A Cuban delight, and a mix of white rum with sugar, lime, mint, ice and soda! Recipebridge has some very delightful Mojito recipes.

Mojito

Sangria

Typically a wine punch, this originated in Spain and Portugal. An exotic mix of red wine, lemonade, fruit and spices. Make this an exotic part of your new year’s eve cocktail party, and find Sangria recipes on Recipebridge.

Sangria

Pina Colada

A sweet rum-based tropical delight with pineapples, this will hit the spot with your guests at your new year’s eve cocktail party.

Find Pina Colada recipes on Recipebridge.

Pina Colada

What are your favorite cocktails?

Post your favorite recipes on our Facebook page or Tweet us!

Find more Recipes for Cocktails on Recipebridge.

December 30, 2011