CHAMOMILE, CINNAMON AND GREEN TEA RECIPE . ALSO ON HOW TO MAKE TEA FROM GARDEN HERBS

Let’s have some tea, while waiting for the winter squash to get cooked :)
Green tea, chamomile, liquorices and sage are some of my favorite teas. What’s yours?
Tea ingredients:
1 sachet green tea
A pinch of cinnamon powder
1 sachet chamomile tea
1 teaspoon honey
3 mugs boiling mineral water
Using a clay teapot along with spring/ mineral water is the best, as they bring out the flavor in your tea.

Put chamomile and cinnamon in clay pot and pour over hot boiling water and cover for 1 minute. Add green tea. Steep for 2 minutes. Drink warm. Green tea should only be brewed in cooler water and for less steeping time, to reduce the bitter taste and prevents tea oxidation
High-quality green tea can have new water added as many as five or more times, depending on variety

TEAS ARE MADE FROM THE CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAVES

TEA ESTATE AT CAMERON HIGHLANDS, MALAYSIA

Check out your allergies before creating ideas on tea blends. Applemint tastes great with the premier Indian Darjeeling tea (takes longer steeping time-4 minutes). The popular varieties of black (red) tea include Assam tea, Nepal tea, Darjeeling tea, Nilgiri tea, Turkish tea and Ceylon tea.
Oolong tea improves with reuse, the third steeping is usually the best

THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF TEA- Excerpts- betterhealth.vic.gov.au

1) Green - made by quickly steaming or heating the leaves to prevent breakdown (oxidation) of the CATECHINS. Green tea may have greater health benefits than black or oolong tea.

2) Oolong (semi-fermented) - this is processed longer than green tea, but not as long as black tea.

3) Black (fermented) - made by further processing of leaves, including exposure to heat, light and crushing and have strong flavors from fermentation.

The major difference between the types of tea is their degree of oxidation (exposure to oxygen). All varieties contain caffeine, a nervous system stimulant..

Protective compounds. Polyphenols are natural plant chemicals (called phytochemicals) found in tea, which have strong antioxidant properties and protect cells against free radicals and ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood. Tea contains a particular polyphenols, known as CATECHINS.
Green tea catechins suppress or reduce the severity of liver injury in animal studies. Preliminary research indicates that tea polyphenols may reduce the activity of platelets, which are the clotting agents of the blood. This is good, because ‘sticky’ blood can form artery-blocking clots

HERBAL TEAS- Herbal teas are made from a variety of different plants and can include leaves, roots and flowers. Most herbal teas don’t contain any Camellia sinensis leaves.
Excerpts: yahoo answers.

HOW TO MAKE TEA FROM GARDEN HERBS…For leafy herbs, crush chop until you have about a tablespoon (fresh, not dried). Bring 1 cup water to a boil and pour over herbs in a heat proof cup. Let sit 5 minutes, strain and drink. Fennel seed will measure about the same fresh or dried, so use only 1 teaspoon.

Milk- The benefits of black tea are lessened when milk is added. Add honey instead.

The Health benefits of tea
Chamomile tea is very soothing, so natural it can be given to children. Good to calm stress. Chamomile and mint (peppermint or spearmint) teas are good for insomnia, helps you to relax

Senna- On herbal laxative tea, anything with senna leaf will work. It is a natural stimulant. Lemon, chamomile, ginger and peppermint are great for your detox organs- colon, liver, kidneys

Passion flowers (Passiflora, Sawvaros, Water-Lemon, markisa). Amongst Native Americans, the fresh or dried leaves are used to make an infusion, a tea that is used to treat insomnia, hysteria, epilepsy and is also valued for its pain killing properties.

Cinnamon is rich in vitamin C, healing and antiseptic properties, thus an exceptional cure for wounds. Apply on the wound as an infusion. It has anti-bacterial, diuretic properties and serves as a digestive tonic

Lemon balm- also known as “Melisa”- contain flavonoids, polyphenolics and other important elements. Lemon balm has anti-herpes properties and regulates the thyroid function. It has sedative characteristics and has an important stimulating effect on brain functions

What about herbal tea, with flower petals and herbs from gardens? I heard, different herbs can help in different ways. The witches made herbal tea. I would like to know the ingredients.

Watch out for the witches. Some of the tea they drank, made them think they were flying around on brooms. Phycotrophic stuff. Even something that seems as harmless as mint tea can cause a pregnant woman to abort her fetus. Beware of your allergies and artificially flavored teas. Do some research and do not trust just any one to tell you witch plant is witch.

To cut down smoking- herbal tea instead of tobacco? I want to know how to roll up your fags using tea because i tried and it aint that easy at all  :(  -Can someone help? mind you.. i want to make my own now…………… Smoking tea is... pretty retarded :)
PS - clove cigarettes are worse for you than tobacco cigarettes because of artificial flavors that are added; natural tobacco doesn't cause the problems that commercial tobacco caused, because of the things added to them

HOW TO COOK WINTER SQUASH ? WINTER TURBAN SQUASH RECIPE

HOW TO COOK WINTER SQUASH  FRUIT? TURBAN SQUASH RECIPE
In this post, I don’t have a recipe to share with you. I will write one in my next post.
Recently, I came across this unique fruit in Wikipedia, which is called TURBAN SQUASH. It is a member of the squash variety, and being a squash, it is thus not far from the pumpkin and zucchini family too.


We don’t have turban squash in Malaysia and personally I haven’t seen one in the supermarkets either, though there are some other imported varieties.

I find this squash to be so beautifully crafted, colored and perhaps deliciously flavored too…yum yum :) I thought I must share this beauty with my friends and call upon any of you who knows how to cook “turban squash” to please do guest post recipe for me.
 For that, I will have back links with your blog and will give a special mention about you, your blog and your URL in the post. I don’t like to have too many back links, so I am very choosy on this- in my books, you are very lucky if selected. Excessive back links will drown your URL

Please let me know in my comment box on your interest to participate or suggestions on how to cook this exotic fruit. You can also email your recipe right away by using my email form at “CONTACT”, on the above Tab menu. Of course, I will need some photos too. Just can’t wait to get your respond on this. Would be so much fun getting a variety of recipes from all of you. I will select  5  recipes to be published.

The health benefits of winter squashes
Turban squash is categorized as a winter squash and can be harvested whenever the fruits have turned a deep, solid color and the skin is hard. Most of the crop is harvested before heavy frosts hit the planting area

Winter squash is a low-calorie and a good source of complex vegetable carbohydrates

It is an excellent source of vitamin A, a great source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber and manganese, and a good source of folate, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B1 (thiamin), copper, tryptophan, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B3 (niacin) and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid).

It is also a source of niacin, iron and beta carotene. Usually, the darker the skin is, the higher the beta carotene content

PAN FRIED FISH WITH CHILLI RECIPE. ALSO KNOWN AS SAMBAL IKAN GORENG RECIPE OR NUSANTARA SAMBAL IKAN TOFU RECIPE

NAME OF COOKING -VARIETIES RECIPE
PAN FRIED FISH WITH CHILLI RECIPE
OR SAMBAL IKAN GORENG RECIPE
Ingredients:
2 pieces medium size fish
2 pieces tofu- each cut into 8
Coarse blended ingredients:
2 pieces red chilli- seeded, but do not remove the highly nutritious white stem
2 pieces green chilli- same as above
Large red chili is called red chili pepper in wikipedia- you may use capsicum
1 large onion
1 large red tomato
2 pieces shallots
2 pieces garlic
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon thick tamarind juice
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
Blend all the above ingredients with 1 cup of water
Boil fish in water mixed with 4 tablespoons of salt until half-cooked. Drain away water.

Heat up oil in a wok. Fry tofu until golden brown. Set aside
Using the same oil, fry the boiled fish until browned. Set aside
Using the same oil ( to enhance flavor),stir fry all the coarse blended ingredients. After the saucebecomes thick or almost dry, put off fire. Arrange tofu and fish on a serving plate and pour sauce on top. Serve hot

Want to know why I always add chilli in my recipes? Read the health benefits below.
The Health benefits of chilli
Chili is a natural antibiotic
The white stem inside the chilli contains capsaicin which is extremely beneficial for health
Capsaicin in chilli produces the hot and sharp taste on the tongue “taste cells”
To overcome excessive capsaicin taste:
Chew foods containing casein. eg. powdered milk, rice, and bread. Casein dissolves capsaicin
Oil also dissolves capsaicin.
Cooking Varieites suggest you dab sugar on the hot/ burning hot spot, especially on the tongue. In just a few second the feeling will certainly go away..

The many benefits of capsaicin:
Capsaicin is a safe and an effective topical analgesic agent in the management of arthritis pain, herpes zoster-related pain, diabetic neuropathy, postmastectomy pain, and headaches
Capsaicin helps minimize stroke risks, impotence, and coronary heart disease. Capsaicin will prevent blood thickening, thus reducing blood clot problems (thrombosis).

Chilis as a whole, can relieve headaches and joint pains
Red chillis contain high amounts of vitamin C and carotene (provitamin A). A good source of most B vitamins, and vitamin B6 in particular. They are very high in potassium, magnesium, and iron.
Red color in chilli and tomato is due to lycopene, an anti oxidant of one of the compounds of beta carotene.

The health benefits of fish and tofu/ beancurd:
Both contain proteins
Fish has omega-3 fatty acids, though not as much as salmon, sea bass and sardines.
Also contain vitamins and minerals that benefits general health-
The American Heart Association recommended at least two servings of fish per week.

KIDNEY BEANS JELLO RECIPE OR RED BEANS JELLO RECIPE. ALSO KNOWN AS AGAR-AGAR KACANG MERAH

NAME OF COOKINIG VARIETIES RECIPE
KIDNEY BEANS JELLO RECIPE
OR RED BEANS JELLO RECIPE
ALSO KNOWN AS AGAR- AGAR KACANG MERAH
Ingredients
1 packet (300 grams) sea grass (agar2).
OR use 300 grams jello, follow cooking instructions from the box
3 ½ cups water
½ cup kidney beans –soak overnight in the fridge OR use ½ cup red beans
½ cup sago beads
2 eggs- use the white only- blend/ beat up until foamy and fluffy
Rock sugar to taste
1 screw pine leaf- shred, for a fragrant aroma or 1 drop vanilla essence
Permitted food coloring- deep red
Wash kidney beans that had been soaked overnight in the fridge.

Boil until really soft. Drain water and mash a little.
Wash sago beads and  mix with beans. Set aside
Boil sea grass in water until all dissolve.
Add in kidney beans, sago, screw pine and red permitted food coloring
Stir continuously until sago becomes translucent
Add in sugar. When sugar dissolves completely, add in egg white and put off fire.
For a quick check, put 3 tablespoons of mixture on a saucer and put it in the fridge to cool. Test and see if your jelly is of the right mix- not too soft or hard.
If it’s a bit hard, add some water and reheat. Pour into a mould or casserole and leave to cool

GARDEN TEA

The Health benefits of kiidney beans:
Kidney beans contain protein which is good for healthy hair, high cholesterol-lowering fiber.
The high fiber prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after meals, making them a good choice for individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia-

Sulfites are a type of preservative commonly added to foods like delicatessen salads and salad bars.
Persons sensitive to sulfites, may experience rapid heartbeat, headache or disorientation. Reaction to sulfites, may be due to insufficient molybdenum stores to detoxify them. One cup of cooked kidney beans supplies 177.0% of the daily value for molybdenum.

Contains magnesium –which makes veins and arteries breathe a sigh of relief and relax. This lessens resistance and improves the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body
Thiamin (B1) in kidney beans is needed for the synthesis of acetylcholine, the important neurotransmitter essential for memory. Lack of this is a contributing factor in age-related impairment in mental function (senility) and Alzheimer's disease.

The Health benefits of Sago:
Sea grass and sago has a cooling effect on the body.
In Ayurvedic sago is used to "cool and balance one's body heat" when taking strong medicine or antibiotics

The Health benefits of Seaweed or Sea grass (agar -agar-a seaweed product):
Rrich in calcium, magnesium and iodine
Iodine is necessary for thyroid function and to prevent goitre. Excess intake of seaweed may raise iodine to toxic levels, however.

Seaweeds may have curative properties for tuberculosis, arthritis, colds and influenza, worm infestations and even tumors.
Other seaweed pills exploit the same effect as gastric banding, expanding in the stomach to make the body feel more full.
Absorption of excess salt in the body.
Contains calcium ten times higher than milk- prevent osteoporosis.
High nutritional content improves hormonal, lymphatic, and nervous system. Increase the body's defense function, improve heart and blood circulation, and digestive system

NUSANTARA VEGETABLE URAP (SALAD) RECIPE OR INDONESIAN COCONUT URAP RECIPE OR URAP-URAP SAYUR NUSANTARA RECIPE

NAME OF COOKING-VARIETIES RECIPE:
VEGETABLE URAP RECIPE

NUSANTARA VEGETABLE URAP (SALAD RECIPE)

URAP-URAP SAYUR NUSANTARA RECIPE

Vegetable Ingredients (Al-dente)

6 pieces long beans- cut 6 cm slices -boil crisp tender(al-dente)
12 stalks kangkung or water spinach or water morning glory- cut 6 cm- al-dente
1 cup cut cabbage- cut into smaller pieces- al-dente
1 cup bean sprouts- wash clean- eat raw

Ingredients for urap paste:
2 cups fresh grated coconut-
4 cm cekur-cut into fine slices (optional, a rhizome family)
2 red chilies- cut into fine slices
2 bird chilies (green)- minced
1/2 cube anchovies
2 pieces shallots
1 teaspoon sugar and salt to taste
Coarse blend  all the above ingredients except grated coconut.
Boil water in a steamer pot. Mix blended ingredients with grated coconut and wrap them up. When water starts boiling, steam "wrapped-up ingredients" for 6 minutes only.
Boil the above vegetables separately until crisp tender. Do not overcook.
When ready to serve, mix all vegetables with "wrapped-up ingredients"

The Health benefits of Long Beans
Protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, iron, phosphorus, and potassium,very good source for vitamin C, folate, magnesium and manganese.
Protein is required for the growth of body and hair cells
Iron, magnesium, manganese and potassium are very essential for body metabolism.
Manganese is a co-factor for the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which is a very powerful free radical scavenger.
Potassium is important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure.

The Health benefits of Kangkung or Water spinach or Water morning glory
Nutrition value Per 100g serving of kangkung: 30 kcal, 2.7 g protein, 60 mg calcium, 2.5 mg iron, 2.9 mg vitamin A, 45 mg vitamin C

The Health benefits of Cabbage
Half cup of cabbage provides the same calcium as an 8-ounce glass of milk.
The  Health benefits of Bean sprouts
Bean sprouts have more vitamins than in the seeds. During germination, the vitamin B increased by 2.5 to 3 times.
Vitamin E, also increase from 24-230 mg per 100 grams in dried beans to 117-662 mg per 100 grams in SPROUTS. Vitamin E-an antioxidant, protecting cells from free radicals
No Vitamin C in soya bean seed, but starts to form on the first day of germination and reaches 12 mg per 100 grams after 48 hours in sprouts.
Natural Estrogen in sprouts can increase bone density and structure, and prevent bone loss (osteoporosis)
Silica in sprouts- helps in the absorption of vitamins and minerals, lack of which will reduce absorption of these nutrients. Silica is for healthy hair growth and slows down baldness

SEAWEED MANGO SALAD RECIPE OR SEAWEED WRAP RECIPE OR SEAWEED SALAD RECIPE

IMAGE OF SEAWEED MANGO SALAD RECIPE

NAME OF COOKING-VARIETIES RECIPE:
SEAWEED MANGO SALAD RECIPE OR
ROASTED SEAWEED SALAD RECIPE
Ingredients:
1 mango- Type: medium ripe, crispy/crunchy. Peel and cut up mangos as in the picture.
1 teaspoon dates vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons water
6 or 7 pieces of roasted seaweed (17 cm x 9 cm size )- Cut each into 6 pieces (along the width)
Mix vinegar, sugar and salt in water. Marinate mango with these ingredients for 1 hour.
Stir and turn them over occasionally, to ensure mango is properly marinated.
When done, remove excess water, to avoid seaweed from getting soggy.
Wrap each piece of mango slices with seaweed.
The moisture on the mango is enough to make the seaweed stick on it .Ready to serve.

Health benefits of seaweed or sea grass
Japanese Scientists uncover, seaweed extract can lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Consuming sea grass can absorb excess salt in the body.
Contains calcium ten times higher than milk- helps prevent osteoporosis
Iodine content helps to prevent goiter
It is rich in fiber and helps prevent colon cancer and indigestion.High nutritional content improves hormonal, lymphatic, and nervous system. Increase the body's defense function, improve heart and blood circulaton, and digestive system
The seaweed is very Japanese, but the recipe is not. My father, in his teenage days (like 70 years ago) used to follow a group of fishermen to sea at one of the “Trengganu” coastal waters, Malaysia. These fishermen will always bring back some seaweed as vegetable from the sea. It is fresh, chewy, delicious and nutritious

Health benefits of mango:Mangoes are a rich in iron and a must have for pregnant women and anemic patients. Contain phenolic compounds, which are rich in anti-oxidants and this helps in fighting cancer. Also provides relief from respiratory problems, fever, constipation, etc a ripe mango contains about 15% sugar, up to 1% protein, and significant amounts of vitamins A, B and C

SPICY BEEF BALLS RECIPE OR SIPCY MEAT BALLS RECIPE OR OATMEAL BEEF BALLS AND COMPLEMENTED WITH MIXED VEGETABLE PITA

NAME OF COOKING-VARIETIES RECIPE:
SPICY BEEF BALLS RECIPE
Ingredients:
1 cup minced beef
2 pieces shallots- minced
½ cup quick cook oats
1 medium size potato- boil and mash
2 teaspoon minced cilantro (see photo)
1 teaspoon instant yeast
½ cube beef stock
½ teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon garlic pepper powder
½ teaspoon fennel seed powder
¼ cup low fat milk
¼ cup suji flour

Use non stick pan. Boil minced beef, beef stock, salt, pepper, fennel and onions with 3/4 cup water. Stir until beef is cooked and water completely dries up. Blend and put in a mixing bowl.
When cooled, add in oats, milk, mash potato, cilantro, sugar and yeast. Mix well and set aside for 1 hour.
Shape into balls, roll over suji flour and fry until golden brown. Dip in tomato or chili sauce.
Complement with  pita bread filled with mixed vegetables of your choice.

The 5 color pigments and nutrients in vegetables and fruits:
Health Benefits of Chlorophyll
Green color in leafy vegetables contain Chlorophyll which has been proven effective against cancer and free radicals. The darker the green, the higher is the content of vitamins. (Examples-broccoli, lettuce, zucchini, kiwi, coral salad)

Health Benefits of Carotenoids
Yellow/orange colors in fruits and vegetables are due to Carotenoids, a substance that is converted to vitamin A in the body. Rich in antioxidants and soluble in oil (papaya, carrots, oranges, lemon, sweet potatoes, mangoes, apricots and cantaloupes/ honey dew melon). Help enhance immunity system, protection against developing certain cancers ( lung, skin, uterine, cervix, gastrointestinal tract) and cataracts.

Health Benefits of Anthocyanin
Red/blue/purple coloring is due to Anthocyanin- antioxidant compounds (e.g. blackberries, blueberries, grapes, cranberries, raspberry, black raspberry-one of the best, blackcurrant, cherries, beets, eggplant peels, black rice, figs, jalapeno, apples, violet petals, blood orange and red cabbage) Anthocyanin has a better effect than aspirin. Wikipedia- Work on laboratory cancer models has shown that black raspberry anthocyanins inhibit promotion and progression of tumor cells.

Health Benefits of Allicin
White and Brown group. Their particular phytochemical is Allicin, helps prevent certain cancers and is good for heart health (Garlic, onions, bananas, white cabbage and mushrooms ). Wikipedia- Allicin also decrease blood pressure, normalize Lipoprotein balance, reduces atherosclerosis and fat depositon, anti inflammatory activities.

Health Benefits of Lycopene
Red group. They contain Lycopene. (an antioxidant) one of the compounds of beta carotene. (tomatoes,pink grapefruit,goji (wolfberry) pink guava, dragon fruit, red capsicum, rosehips). Studies by the WHO shows that Lycopene in tomatoes increased 10 fold when cooked. Wikipedia-Evidence for Lycopene’s benefit was strongest for cancers of the lung, stomach, and prostate gland.

3 COCONUT WATER RECIPES. COCONUT SMOOTHIE RECIPE. COCONUT SMOOTHIE WITH DRAGON FRUIT- COOKING-VARIETIES “WATER IS LIFE” RECIPE SERIES.

CUT GREENS WHEN IMMERSED  IN WATER, WILL REMAIN FRESH  FOR  A WEEK.

NAME OF COOKING VARIETIES RECIPE:
COCONUT AND DRAGON FRUIT SMOOTHIES
COOKING-VARIETIES "WATER IS LIFE" RECIPE SERIES

COCONUT SMOOTHIE WITH DRAGON FRUIT

Ingredients: from cooking-varieties "Water Is Life" original recipes collection. Serves 4.
Water from 1 half ripe coconut (about 2 glasses)
1 medium size red dragon fruit (about 2 glasses)
1 cup yogurt or 1 glass yogurt
Peel dragon fruit and blend with coconut water and yogurt. Serve immediately with ice cubes. Use chilled glasses if you don’t like ice cubes. Coconut water is slushy and has a uniquely delicious taste.

UNRIPE COCONUT FRUIT SUITABLE FOR DRINKING IT'S JUICE

Health benefits of Dragon fruit
The dragon fruit or( Pitaya thanh long in vietnamese) contains a lot of water, is rich in vitamin C, minerals and fiber. Eating dragon fruits can help prevent colon cancer and diabetes, neutralize toxic substances, lower cholesterol level and high blood pressure. The red dragon fruit variety is rich in antioxidants.
Health benefits of Coconut water
Coconut juice has a cooling effect on the body, thus a cure for fever and lower down body temperature.
Fruits contain a lot of water. Water covers 70.9% of the Earth's surface and is vital for all known
forms of life. The human body contains from 55% - 78% water, depending on size
The next essential element after oxygen for human life is water. WATER IS LIFE. Water should be highlighted in cooking-varieties recipes
The UN General Assembly recognized WATER AS A HUMAN RIGHT. 

DRAGON FRUIT SLICES

Global rivers are in severe crisis due to pollution of all sorts, loss of wetlands, changing climates, and other natural disasters such as earthquakes.
 Earthquakes too have gone global, not just in Indonesia but also Mexico, New Zealand, Japan, The Philippines and latest quake at Myanmar, with the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami being the hardest hit.
The Fukushima nuclear plant, still emitting radioactive vapour that made the Japanese capital's drinking water unsafe for infants and sparked a global food scare.
Water is used in every cooking, Keep your rivers and water sources clean.,
'WATER IS LIFE' RECIPE SERIES FROM COOKING-VARIETIES

PASTA VARIETIES WITH BEEF AND MUSSELS RECIPE- AND A TOUCH OF NUSANTARA SPICES



Image-of-Pasta-with-Beef-and-Mussels

NAME OF COOKING-VARIETIES RECIPE:
PASTA VARIETIES WITH BEEF AND MUSSELS
Ingredients:  from cooking-varieties pasta collections
Pasta for two persons- Use a mixed variety of pastas for this recipe. Boil pasta until cooked (10 minutes or more). Drain water, fold in 1 tbsp olive and mix well, this is to prevent the pasta from sticking to each other. Set aside.
1 large white onion- cut into cubes
2 pieces garlic- minced
1 cup minced beef
8 pieces green mussels.
2 slices young ginger root- minced
2 tablespoons chili sauce
4 tablespoon tomato puree
1 stalk leek- cut into slices
4 tablespoon olive oil
Salt to taste
Parmesan cheese
Heat up oil in a non stick pan. Add in onions. Stir until golden and add minced beef, ginger and garlic.
It’s good to add in ginger, it helps empower the beefy smell
When water/juice from minced meat is almost dried up, add in mussels and 2 cups of water.

When water boils, add tomato puree, chili sauce and salt. After mussels already cook, add pasta and leeks. Stir for 2 minutes and put off fire. Serves hot and garnish with parmesan cheese.
BEEF AND SEAFOOD (MUSSELS) PASTA RECIPE--   

PASTA
BEEF AND SEAFOOD  PASTA

Health benefits:

Pastas are made from refined wheat grain. Most refined grains are enriched. This means certain B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid) and iron are added back after processing. Fiber is not added back to enriched grains

Mussels contain omega 3 fatty acids- decreases heart disease, reduces blood pressure, helps prevent arthritis and abnormal heart rhythms and promotes healthy brain function.
Tomato is rich in vitamin C and potassium. Diets rich in potassium helps maintain a healthy blood pressure
Health experts recommend eating lots of green vegetables- green color is formed by chlorophyll, the compound that has proven effective against cancer.

SALT CRUSTED OR SALT CEMENTED FISH BARBEQUE RECIPE



 SALT CRUSTED OR SALT CEMENTED SEA BASS FISH BARBEQUE

NAME OF COOKING-VARIETIES RECIPE:
SALT CRUSTED OR SALT CEMENTED FISH BARBEQUE RECIPE.
SEA BASS FISH BARBEQUE WITH NUSANTARA DIP RECIPE
Ingredients:
1 large sea bass fish. Do not remove the scales.
Alternatively you can use any very scaly fish of a reasonably large size.
Clean the fish and towel dry the scales and inside of fish properly.
Blend the following into a paste and marinate fish with this paste for 1 hour
3 pieces garlic
3 cm ginger
1 teaspoon sugar

You can now get your barbeque set ready and light up coal etc
Place 2 layers of aluminium foil wrapper on flat surface- the size must be big enough to wrap and totally seal your fish. Put 2cm thick of coarse rock salt on the foil, spread it wide enough to fit size of fish. Put the fish on top of salt.

Next, spread also 2cm thick rock salt to cover top of fish. Put more salt at the sides and ensure that the fish is totally covered with salt. Wrap up fish with foil and ensure its properly sealed. thus forming a salt cement when heated up and hardened. The salt cement will turn brown after barbeque.

Barbeque fish for an hour, by then, the outer layer of salt will turn brown in color and the fish inside is really cooked. The outer part of the salt is really cemented together and not loose. This also depends on how hot your coal (fire) is, if your are not sure, add another 15-20 minutes. This means, the fire must be hot enough to turn the salt into cement and not loose as this will make the fish salty. That’s why it’s very important that the fish must be towel dry, before putting salt on it..

Serve hot. Put the whole thing on a large serving plate. When ready to eat, break the salt and put aside.
You may want a dip, here is a nusantara dip recipe for fish… Mix the following ingredients and leave for an hour before serving.
Dip Ingredients:
4 tablespoon dark soy sauce
3 pieces garlic –minced
1 tablespoon dates vinegar
1 large onion- cut into paper thin slices
1 red/green chili- cut into slices
The health benefits of Sea bass
I have researched Sea bass and found that it - contains omega 3 essential fatty acids, which helps to reduce cardiovascular disorders, improve heart, arteries and veins, and other parts of the cardiovascular system. Essential fatty acids lowers the 'bad' LDL cholesterol, and increase the 'good' HDL cholesterol levels in the body.
Study shows, a regular intake of sea bass, significantly lower blood pressure levels.Sea bass also has good phosphorous and protein content and of course fish oil is good for the eyes.Two servings of

fish in the diet per week, can reduce instances of death from heart diseases

From the Washington Health Department:-Fish is brain and heart food. Fish with omega-3 fatty acids,provides protection from heart disease and are great brain food for you, your children and if you are pregnant, for your unborn child. It is important to continue to eat fish to gain the healthy heart and brain benefits