Invention, Name and Popularity

Vienna and Frankfurt claim that it originated in their region and that is where the name “Frankfurters” and “Wiener” stem from. “Wiener” is delived from the German word “Wien” used for Vienna, Austria and the name “Frankfurters” was given by a German Butcher Johann Georghehner, a sausage maker, who got his training in Frankfurt, promoted the food product in Frankfurt, and named it after his town. However, during early days “Frankfurters” and “Weiner” were mainly sausages eaten solely with fork and knife and served during regal coronations. The bun part of the “Hot Dog” was introduced by a German Immigrant Charles Feltman who started selling sausages in a bun to fulfil demand of his customers for variety of sandwiches. He sold his sausages on a small pushcart on Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York and was concerned about the affordability of variety of sandwiches. Consequently, he invented idea of a sausage in a bun, a different kind of sandwich that satisfied his customer’s demands and was easily manageable on his pushcart. Thus, the famous dish was invented. In contrast, another theory suggests Germans eat the famous dachshund sausage with bread and hence they are the originators. Nevertheless, its popularity grew over the years; it came under limelight during the Columbian Exposition exhibited in 1893 in Chicago. Vendors sold huge quantity of sausages as people loved this delicious, easy to eat and low-cost dish. Later Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904, its association with Baseball sports and amusement parks went in making “Hot Dog” the most famous and favourite finger food until today.

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The word vegan is often confused as an abbreviated form of vegetarian food. However, this is not true. They are two different words with different meanings. Vegetarian food includes food made from plant, herbs, fruits, dairy products and sometimes eggs whereas vegan food does not include any animal products or produce. Therefore, vegan food followers do not eat eggs, dairy products or any food item that has been made from animal produce or is tested on animals.

Vegan Food does not Include Animal based Ingredients

Vegan food is considered very healthy food. Health studies reveal that if you have a proper vegan diet it helps in keeping heart, renal diseases and obesity at bay. Nevertheless, one wonders how people satisfy dietary requirements that are fulfilled by dairy products. Studies suggest that almond, grain and soymilk can easily replace cow’s milk.

All sorts of food can be eaten in a vegan diet. Pizza, chocolate cake, pancakes, curries, stews, dhal, pasta the list is huge. Vegan diet is appropriate for everyone, provides sufficient nutrition at all stages of life, and is safe to follow even during pregnancy and lactation.

A study conducted on people who suffer from type 2 diabetes but followed a vegan diet showed reduced cholesterol levels and weight. Certain independent studies also suggest some of the best athletes follow vegan diet. However, doctors insist that if proper and balanced vegan diet is not followed there may be deficiency in iron, Vitamin B12 and D, Calcium and Omega three fatty acids.

Few medical studies showed that vegan food helps in reducing inflammation of acute rheumatoid arthritis, controlling asthma to a certain extent and regretting of atherosclerotic heart diseases.

Studies depict that vegan diet is extremely good for health, light on the stomach and makes you feel fresher and energetic compared to food that includes meat.

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Vegetarian diet is healthy and equally tasty. Following vegetarian diet is largely due to religious, health and individual beliefs. Statistics show currently there are about 460 million people around the world who follow a vegetarian diet. There is vegetarian society, which deciphers parameters that would be included and termed as vegetarian.

The variety of dishes that can be made with vegetarian food is unmatched to any. People following vegetarian diet have higher energy levels, better skin and healthy body. Vegetarian foods include vegetables, fruits, dairy products and eggs to some extent.

Vegetarian diets are categorised into three types:

• Ovo-Vegetarian: diet includes eggs but not dairy products

• Lacto-Vegetarian: diet includes dairy products but not eggs

• Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian: diet includes both eggs and dairy products.

Strict vegetarians do not eat any food that includes animal produce direct or indirectly example, gluten.

Healthy, Light and Refreshing

Health studies reveal people who follow a strict vegetarian diet are less prone to the “Silent Killer” disease-Hyper tension and high blood pressure. As the diet does not include any red meat or lean white meat chances of cholesterol accumulation are less. Even more, certain vegetables help in controlling the cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Several surveys and studies have shown high rate of heart disease, high mortality rate, cancer and diabetes issues among people who consume meat and eggs. Heavy consumption of red meat leads to loss of urinary calcium, which may ultimately lead to osteoporosis.

A study published in Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry in 2011 states people following vegetarian diet have less lower body weight. It also mentioned that vegetarian food includes less calories and more components that have high nutritional value like vitamin C, fibres, potassium, iron etc. Thus following a vegetarian diet is highly beneficial.

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As the name suggests junk food or fast food, in true sense is an apt name. Fast foods are usually made quickly, are processed, mostly frozen and requires high amount of oil to cook. Several fast foods like burgers, fries, hot dog, fried chicken or beef etc are high in calorie. Meats themselves are fattening, to add to it they are fried. Undoubtedly, it is yummy food but what after effects do they have once they enter the body and its immune system.

Easily Available, Delicious But is it Healthy?

Literally, they turn into junk once they enter the body. They are difficult to digest, body takes more time to break it down and they score zero on health meter. Moreover, once these foods are broken down only a minuscule part of it is of any nutritional value most of it settles down as fat in the body. Thus increasing the chances of high cholesterol and sugar, this in turn leads to health problems like cardiovascular issue, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers etc.

Health studies conducted by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reveal that people who thrive or eat fast food on regular basis tend to gain more weight and are vulnerable to developing insulin resistance in the body. Fast food is a major contributor in the increased rate of type 2 Diabetes in teenagers and young adults. The oily fried foods and high calorie sauces not only lead to the usual diabetes and heart problems but damages the liver as well. Studies have shown that one of the functions of liver is to process fats in the blood. Eating regular fast food diet increases the amount of fat in the liver cells and liver uses its compensatory space to store all this fat eventually damaging the liver. Fast foods are unhealthy food especially when had daily and in large portions. If the fast food is taken occasionally it is nice for taste buds, so have a great time with fast food but in limits.

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Hot stone cooking has made home parties and particularly barbeque parties more fun and entertaining. Now one person need not be stuck in the kitchen for eternity cooking food and rest enjoy the party outside. Hot stone can be brought right onto the dining table or backyard and everyone can cook their own barbeques and enjoy together.

Hot stone cooking literally means cooking food on stones. However not just any stone from the roadside can be used to cook food as stones have the quality of being porous. Cooking food on stone is primitive method yet a very effective as well as healthy way of cooking food. In early days, people used small-enclosed area of stones, lit fire with coal or wood, and placed flat surfaced stone on the top where food would be cooked.

However, this method can be utilised only outdoors. Today modern cooking and especially domestic cooking requires different types of stone. Commonly used stone today is granite. It has a flat surface, heats up evenly and is available in various sizes.

An Innovative Way of Cooking

Usually this stone comes along with a set of stainless steel stand and alcohol burners. Before the stone is ready for use, it should be pre heated to a desired temperature. Granite stones can reach temperatures about 450 degrees. Once heated, it will retain the temperature for about 30 to 45 minutes. Therefore, hot stone should be used immediately for cooking.

For cooking, place hot stone on the stand and light the isopropyl alcohol burners, which will keep stone hot for another 30 minutes. Any type of food like meat, fish and vegetables can be cooked on the stone. It is a healthy way of cooking, as it requires little or no oil. Even bit of salt should help maintain the juices of the food and cook it evenly. Once cooking is done do not wash Hot Stone with hard soap instead use mild soap and warm water.

Have a nice time cooking on Hot Stones!

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First thing that hits the mind when the word wooden oven is whispered is Pizzas. Lovely, crisp, thin, smoked flavoured pizzas. An Italian delicacy, pizzas are among the favourite food savoured around the world. If they are baked in the traditional wooden oven, they taste exceptionally good.

Wooden oven is also known as wood-fired ovens, Roman ovens, stone ovens, brick ovens, masonry ovens and Black Ovens. The origin of this oven dates backs to the Roman Era. They were widely used in Europe during the medieval period. Wooden ovens then were large in size, as food befitting the entire community would be cooked in them.

Fireproof material like concrete, stone, clay or brick is used to make a closed chamber and wood is used as fuel. A chimney is attached to release exhaust gases. It works on the principal of heat radiation. Heat released from burning of fire is spread all around and absorbed in by the base, sides of the oven, and later radiates out to cook food evenly.

Usually a fire is lighted inside and is kept burning until it reaches a desired temperature. Sometimes the fire is allowed to die down a bit and then the cooking material is put inside to cook or else once desired temperature is reached, fire is not extinguished completely instead some amount is kept burning to provide constant heat.

Baking can be Fun with Wooden Ovens

Other than pizzas, cakes, meats, bread etc can be made in the same oven once it is heated completely. As per the cooking time some foods like pizzas that cook faster go in first and breads that require slow and longer time to cook go in last.

Today better and robust versions of the conventional ovens are available and are widely used in several restaurants. They are electrically heated and food is cooked to perfection however, the delectable smoked aroma is absent that, many hanker after.

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Several people love the famous chowmein noodle dish. Noodles recipes are all time favourite among the kids. Noodles are so versatile in nature that they can be used in numerous ways to spice up varied dishes. They are referred to as the Asian pasta in many countries. However, they are very different compared to the Italian pasta.

Noodles have been associated with Chinese cooking for a long time. Chinese have been making use of various kinds of noodles in their daily diet for over 2000 years. It is a staple diet in many Asian countries. They can be combined with almost any dish as soup, main course, curries, wontons etc.

Healthy and Tasty

Unlike the Italian pasta that is usually made from all-purpose flour, Asian pasta is made from different ingredients like eggs, wheat, and rice making them healthy to eat. Studies suggest average people in China and Japan live over 66 years of age. Varieties of noodles are available in different shapes, colours and sizes in the Asian market.

It is difficult to understand what types of noodles are packed inside a packet. Hence, it is best to know how they look. Famous rice noodles are small in size and dry in textures, vary in thickness and are popularly known as vermicelli or rice sticks. Rice noodle are frequently used in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine.

Popular Cellophane noodles are made from bean sprout. They are thin, long noodles. When cooked, Cellophane noodles become transparent and slide easily, thus they are called glass noodles and are widely used for main course and stir fired dishes.

Ramen noodles are curly long noodles usually used for appetisers like rolls. Japanese noodles like Soba and Somen are equally popular noodles. They are made from buckwheat and wheat flour and oil respectively. They can be served hot as well as cold with a dipping sauce and are typically used in Japanese style cooking.

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Thinking of a party at home but do not want to spend hours cooking in the kitchen. Why not try something different from standard greasy and fattening entree dishes. Something that is quick, easy, fresh and delicious. Finger food literal means eating food with fingers. Technically, finger food that does not require utensils to cook, cooks faster, is filling, easy to make and delectable. In fact, lot of Mexican finger food is made from fresh and seasonal produce that are naturally flavoured hence do not require much spicing up or cooking.

The gooey texture and yummy taste of cheese is extremely tempting. Cheese though considered unhealthy is loved by everyone and is part of several dishes made around the world. If had in the right form and right quantity it has several health benefits. It helps in having good teeth, skin, healthy bones etc. In Mexican finger food, it is an integral part as well.

Tortilla chips with salsa dip is a popular sight in cinema halls in the west and is becoming increasingly popular in the Asian countries. These chips are made out of white or yellow corn, flour or wheat. They are usually fried but a healthy alternative is to bake them, they taste equally good and crispy.

Yummy and Healthy

Another well-known Mexican finger food is the Quesadillas. A variation of tortilla chips which is made interesting and healthy by adding various kinds of vegetables, sauces and cheese. To keep the calorie meter on the lower side, just add less amount of cheese. Vegetable fillings can be changed for meatballs and shrimps for meat lovers.

There is lot you can do with Mexican finger food. Apart from tortillas Mexican sandwiches, Mexican squares made of vegetable or meat filling, shrimp Gazpacho are mouth-watering appetisers. Charm your guest with Mexican finger food and enjoy all the compliments for the lip-smacking food and no hard work.

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