Jalapeño Frittata

My jalapeño crop is growing like crazy this year and what better way to use up a bunch than to a make a nourishing and filling frittata. Perfect for breakfast and a good dinner too. I know 12 peppers sounds crazy, but when they are baked with eggs and cheese, the heat is not unbearable. This is an easy frittata to make because you cook it in the oven and don't have to worry about flipping it onto a plate from the frying pan. Stress free. I do so love my cast iron skillet and consider it an essential cookery item for a well stocked kitchen. Now, if only I could find more room for all my staple food stuff and cookery.

Fall is setting in, and I don't like it one bit, especially considering there has been nothing but days and days of constant rain and high winds here in Ontario. I much prefer warm sunshine and fresh air without having to bundle up. Let us hope winter holds off for a good few months at least, or maybe "global warming" or "climate change" will fix the problem of all the snow we get here in Ontario. I suppose more cooking will be going on to warm me up.

Jalapeño Frittata

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup grape tomatoes
1 onion, sliced
1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, torn
8 large eggs
12 fresh jalapeño peppers, seeded and sliced into rounds
1 1/2 cups extra old grated Cheddar cheese

Heat a large wok over medium heat. When hot, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, wait a few seconds, then swirl around to coat the pan. Toss in the grape tomatoes and stir for just 30 seconds or so to blister the skins. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add the onions to the hot oil and sauté for 5 minutes until soft. Toss in the basil, stir quickly, and remove the pan from heat.

Break the eggs into a large bowl and beat well with a whisk. Add the grape tomatoes, onions, basil, jalapeños, and 1 cup of the grated Cheddar cheese. Mix until combined.

Preheat an oven to 350°. Meanwhile, heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or oven-safe frying pan with straight sides over medium heat. When hot, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, wait a few seconds, then swirl around to coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Pour in the egg mixture and let cook undisturbed for 4 minutes to let the bottom set.

Transfer the frying pan to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the eggs are set in the centre, which you can test with a cake tester. As soon as the frittata is set, turn on the broiler and move the oven rack up to the top level. Remove the frittata from the oven, sprinkle the last 1/4 cup of Cheddar cheese over the top, and return the pan under the broiler for another couple of minutes until the cheese is bubbling and the top is nicely browned.

Remove the pan from the oven. Run a rubber spatula around the edges of the pan to loosen the sides, then slide onto a large serving plate. Cut into wedges and serve hot. Serves 4-6.

Wrap any leftovers in aluminum foil and reheat later at 350° for 12-15 minutes.

Your Guide for Hiring a Good Baby Sitter

Most parents sometimes need to find a baby sitter while they are at work or when they feel like taking a break for a while. There is no doubt that being a parent is very hard and the best way to ease the stress you experience while taking care of your baby is to get a trustworthy baby sitter to help you out. I'm sure that most parents realize that child care might sometimes be the only option, especially when you cannot take off from work every time your child sneezes or can't go to school. However, parents who are fulltime taking care of their children also need some extra childcare because they badly need to recharge mentally as well as physically. So, if you need a break but have no one to turn to, then you should consider hiring a baby sitter you can trust.
I would first recommend you ask around to some other parents if they know anyone suitable for this highly responsible job. Of course, you might also find a neighbour who is willing to give you a hand with child care from time to time. Even though it is quite clear that finding a good baby sitter is a difficult thing, you should not think that only because a close friend of your neighbours watches their children this means that this baby sitter will take good care of your own little ones. What any parent should do is to interview baby sitters and check their references. There are some parents who expect the baby sitter to be an exact copy of themselves. This is hard to find and it is actually not that good.

The real qualities any babysitter should possess are flexibility, kindness and consciousness. Of course, we should not underestimate the value of education, experience to interact with kids, and knowledge how to act in case of emergency. While conducting an interview it is a good idea for parents to talk about hourly rates and ways of transportation. Of course, in case you hire a baby sitter living in the neighborhood, transportation would not be a problem, but what if they live across the town and don't have a driver's license?


When taking a baby sitter to watch your kids you should not allow her to give meditations as she is not a nurse. All she should give is simple first aid for minor bruises and swellings. Parents should remember to always give the baby sitter their phone numbers, address to contact them or nearest relatives, too. Information including emergency services in case of emergency should also be provided. If you have never had previous experience with baby sitters or you have just got a new one, then it is best to arrange a meeting between the children and the baby sitter with your presence.

That way the children will get used to the new person and the latter will know what to expect from the kids and how to deal with them. From my point of view, there are certain issues that should also be mentioned when interviewing baby sitters. First of all, they should not be allowed to have friends over because the latter distract them. Secondly, making random phone calls should be forbidden, only phone calls approved by the parent are allowed. Last but not least, the baby sitter should never answer the door to strangers, only the parents. After all, what is really important is the safety and security of the children.

Curried Quinoa Salad with Lentils and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Inspired by Valerie of City Life Eats who was one the winners of the August No Croutons Required Challenge featuring lentils, I adapted this recipe based on her Curried Quinoa Salad with Lentils. I just couldn't wait to try it as it contains some of my favorite ingredients and I never can resist the goodness and nutty flavor of quinoa. Known to the ancient Incans as the "mother of all grains," quinoa is not really a cereal grass but is used just like a grain, with the important difference that is contains a food value that no grain can match. With an almost perfect balance of essential amino acids, quinoa is an unusually complete source of proteins in the plant kingdom, and is also a very good source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins and vitamin E.

This tantalizing salad is perfect for a summer meal. I served it to my family along with a leafy green salad. A crowd pleaser for sure. An interesting range of textures and flavors all in one dish, the crunch of the vegetables, the nutty fluffiness of the quinoa combined with lentils, the flavors all come together with the spices and cashew dressing. Refreshing, perfectly balanced, making this dish an excellent choice for vegetarians.

Instead of the curry powder and other spices, you can use 2 teaspoons of fresh curry powder made up of a dash of asafetida, 1/2 teaspoon of ground mustard powder, 1/2 teaspoon of fennel seeds, 1 - 2 green chilies, seeded and finely chopped, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom, a pinch of saffron, freshly cracked black pepper and 3 tablespoons of dried fenugreek leaves and also 2 teaspoons of garam masala.


Feel free to reduce the recipe for a smaller serving and do increase the spices if you like it hot like I do. I was a bit more modest with the spicing than usual as I was serving it to my family who are not used to the heat like I am.

Curried Quinoa Salad with Lentils and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Adapted from City Life Cooks

1 cup of uncooked quinoa, rinsed and soaked overnight in two cups of water
1 cup of green lentils (or brown lentils)
3/4 cups of raw cashews, broken into pieces, and dry roasted
juice from two lemons
1 teaspoon of curry powder
dash of mustard powder
freshly cracked black pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon of ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon of garam masala
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
1/2 cup of water
1 - 2 teaspoons of honey
1 large red pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 - 3 jalapenos, seeded and minced
1/2 cup of scallions, both green parts and white parts, finely chopped
6 sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes and finely chopped

Bring the quinoa to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover and simmer until the liquid is absorbed - roughly 15 minutes. Rinse the lentils, transfer to a medium pot and cover with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover and simmer until the lentils are tender - roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Drain off any excess water. Combine the cooked quinoa and lentils in a large bowl.

To make the dressing, blend the cashews, lemon juice, water, honey, spices and salt in a blender or food processor until creamy. Add some of the dressing to the quinoa and lentils and toss. Now add the red pepper, jalapenos, scallions and sun-dried tomatoes. Add the rest of the dressing and stir well to combine.

Why Soft Drinks Are So Bad For Your Body - Part Three

In part two of this article we talked about the negative consequences of diet soft drinks in the diet of many Americans. The article continues.

Carbonated Beverages Deplete Calcium Levels
Soft drinks that contain bubbles have an ingredient called phosphoric acid, which has been known to seriously deplete the blood calcium levels in the body. Calcium is a critical component to healthy bones. If there is a lower amount of calcium in an individual's body for a sustained period of time this can reduce bone mass causing lower bone density. Therefore, drinking large quantities of soft drinks and even carbonated water adds to an increased risk of suffering from osteoporosis.

The Negative Effects Of Caffeine
When you add in the additional caffeine that is contained in soft drinks you're adding even more problems to your health. It is well known that caffeine has the potential to decrease calcium in the body, in addition to affecting the central nervous system adversely, which can result in additional stress, difficulty concentrating, and even some medical conditions such as insomnia and anxiety.

SOFT DRINK REPLACEMENTS
Plain Old Freshwater
The most basic and essential beverage that is good for your health is water. Every cell in your body requires water to carry out its primary functions. Unfortunately, there have been many studies that prove that typical tap water contains all types of contaminants including antibiotics, low traces of medications and other substances that are not good for your health. To make sure your water is pure you should consider purchasing a carbon-based water filter that would render your tap water pure.

Pure Fruit Juices
If you enjoy drinking juice you might want to consider cutting it with water so that it reduces the sugar content. Make sure you get 100% organic juice such as pomegranate, acai berry, or cranberry and dilute the juice by one part juice to three parts filtered water. This will provide you with a mild sweet taste plus you will receive the additional benefits of the added antioxidants. In a matter of weeks, you will be free of the need to have sweet sugary juices.

Popovers

Hot popovers slathered with butter and sprinkled with salt and pepper fresh out of the oven have long been among my favourite late-night treats — provided I've got the patience to wait the half hour that they take to bake, time that's usually spent gazing through the oven door with anticipation. But any patience exhausted by waiting on baking time is compensated for by a quick and easy preparation, and rewarded by light and fluffy treats with a delicious egg-y flavour. A perfect Thanksgiving treat to go along with your meal.

A close relative of yorkshire pudding, popovers are not only a great snack but also make a great addition to any number of meal ideas. Like yorkshire pudding, popovers are simple to make but are very sensitive to precise mixing techniques, temperature and timing. The instructions below should guide you through the process of making perfect popovers, among which perhaps the most important is DON'T OPEN THE OVEN DOOR! I can pretty much guarantee that once you've made popovers the first time you'll be making them again soon. You will find it hard to resist eating the whole batch once they come out of the oven.

Note that the instructions call for filling alternating cups in muffin trays. There is a product available in kitchen stores called a popover tray. If you have a popover tray, disregard the instructions about alternating cups and filling empty cups with water.

Popovers

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
3 large eggs
1 cup milk

Preheat an oven to 450°. Using two 12-cup muffin trays, butter five alternating cups of one tray and four alternating cups of the second tray. Warm the trays in the oven while preparing the popover batter.

Combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and milk until light and foamy. Whisk the egg and milk mixture into the flour mixture until just blended. Do not overmix.

Sprinkle a little flour into the buttered cups and fill the empty cups 2/3-full with water. Fill the buttered and floured muffin cups 2/3-full with the batter. Bake at 450° for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350° without opening the oven door. Continue baking for 10-15 minutes or until the popovers are a deep golden brown. Do not underbake.

Remove from the oven and remove the popovers immediately onto wire racks. Smother with butter and sprinkle with a little salt and fresh ground black pepper, and serve hot.

Yields 9 popovers.

Safe Breasts With Breast Self Exam

Most lumps in the breasts are not a cancer. In fact, nine out of 10 lumps that women may feel in their breasts or around are benign. They are due to fibrocystic changes in the breast tissue corresponding to hormonal changes over the menstrual cycle. Cancerous lumps can develop in ducts that carry the milk to the nipple or in the lobules that make it or in other parts of the breast tissue. Most of the times, it starts in the milk channels and spreads into the breast tissue.

Breast cancer is the most pervasive type of cancer around the world. Because of its non-visible symptoms in its early stage, it's sometimes known as a silent killer. Early detection of this disease is a key to its successful treatment and enhances your chances of immortality. So, it's strongly recommended that every woman should be aware of her own breasts before it catches the fatal malady. The most prescribed and easy way to make these lumps less frightening for you is to carry out your monthly breast self exam (BSE) in order to know what your breasts normally look and feel like. Once you get familiar with your breasts, once you start knowing the normal look and feel of your breasts, you will start feeling confident of your observations and any unusual change during your BSE may alarm you of the disease.

Many women are frightened, uncertain or just uncomfortable in performing BSE, they are aware of the benefits, though. Beth Mairs writes in 'A Handbook for Women with Disabilities' that about 70% women do not perform BSE regularly. Although the author counts the reasons of not performing BSE among women with disabilities, the following are common among their normal and healthy counterparts:

    * you may think that it will never happen to you.
    * you may feel uncomfortable touching your breasts or having someone else touch your breasts.
    * Your mammogram was negative so you feel safe.
    * you may feel that it is out of control.
    * you may be avoiding something which would be dangerous.
    * you may not even want to know if a tumor is growing inside you.

Think and re-think about your own worry and see if you are one among those who make such lame excuses! After making this great decision, see how BSE makes you aware of the structure, shape and growth of your breasts. If it any moment you come to find a dark spot, shadow or any other change, contact your health care professional immediately for further tests. Most of the times, it will not be a cancerous lump but it's good to be on the safe side.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6291968

Why Soft Drinks Are So Bad For Your Body - Part Two

In part one of this article we talked about how sugar is a major culprit in the diet of most Americans. The article continues.
One of the results of taking in excessive amounts of simple sugars is that your insulin levels are raised as a result. When insulin is raised beyond normal levels this can cause medical conditions such as immune system depression, which has the effect of weakening your ability to fight off certain diseases.
Another thing to take into consideration is that all of this excess sugar is stored as fat in your body tissues, which ends up resulting in weight gain and other conditions such as a higher risk for heart disease and cancer. One documented study showed that when participants received certain amounts of refined sugar, as a result they had a significant decrease in white blood cell levels for many hours afterwards. An additional study showed that when rats were fed a diet high in sugar they were at higher risk for breast cancer as compared to the control group, which was not given sugar.

Diet Soda Has Negative Health Consequences
Most people believe that drinking diet or sugar-free soft drinks is a better choice than drinking regular soft drinks. Mass marketing of these products ingrains this type of thinking into the American public. However, one particular scientific research study found that ingesting one or more soft drinks daily, regardless of whether it was regular or diet, increases the incidence by 30% that weight would be gained in the belly region.
Diet soft drinks are loaded with sweeteners that are artificial in nature such as sucralose, aspartame or saccharine. It has been documented that these types of artificial sweeteners have a negative impact on your health. For example, saccharine has been determined to be a carcinogenic substance, and scientific research has indicated that it can produce bladder cancer in rats.
One of the new artificial sweeteners aspartame, better known by its trade name as NutraSweet, is an artificial chemical that tricks the brain into thinking food is sweet. Chemically, aspartame is broken down to aspartic acid, methanol and phenylalanine when they reach a temperature of 86°F (your stomach temperature is approximately 90°F). A University of Texas research article has recently found that obesity results from the use of aspartame. In a convoluted process, aspartame ends up stimulating the brain in a way that causes an individual to crave more sweets than normal and it also induces a condition known as carbohydrate loading.

Part Three will continue the discussion.