History Of The Humble Cupcake

History Of The Humble Cupcake

Cupcakes are special dessert treats that have been around since the early 19th century. They have been spreading delight and enjoyment for over a full century and they are still going strong, maybe stronger than ever now.

History shows that they came about due to measuring tools and what was the most practical manner in which to bake. In fact, much of what was eaten when these mini cakes were first invented was created in smaller portions. Portions today are sometimes actually two or three times what a single portion should be. For some reason as time has gone by, we have continued to super-size everything, including cakes which are now large varying sized cakes: double layered, tripled layered, full-sheet, and so forth.

Because they have been around for such a long period of time it is not surprising that they have become a widely enjoyed, widely hailed dessert treat. Big companies such as Hostess, for example, have created their own versions along with Ding-dongs and Twinkies. Other such companies have followed suit creating a wide assortment of miniature sized cake treats.

The popularity of cupcakes continues for many reasons. They are proportionally one serving size. They are easy to carry and pack. They are convenient and easy to clean up after. There is versatility in the packaging, decorating and shapes. They were first made in muffin tins and now they can be made in tins that have special shapes like hearts, stars, and many more options!

It is amazing to think back and realize that the origin is that it actually was a cake! It makes one wonder with time why we might have decided to bake larger cakes? Possibly it could to have been to have more decorating options, to be able to serve more people at one time, or a plethora of other possibilities.

It has become such a large part of this country's dessert staple that people not only still bake them, bakeries bake them, and some even go so far as to specialize in the sole production of them. Companies will produce products made specifically for them, i.e. pans, decorations, and other such items. Organizations will have bake sales, birthday parties will still often have a spread of multi-colored cupcakes abound, and oftentimes they are even brought to the office!

There is just something intrinsically different about them. They are small petite packaged desserts that make people feel like a kid again. Maybe it's because they are small and individually wrapped and decorated. Maybe it's because they just seem to make you smile. If you hand one to even the most masculine of men, suddenly he looks like a little boy again. The little treat suddenly makes him seem more like an approachable teddy bear. Truly, there is just something about them that make them a universally enjoyed treat. Children and adults love them equally. They are a treat that will continue to be enjoyed for decades to come!

Gas Station Diet

The Gas Station Diet



A couple of months back I saw this great television cooking show that challenged contestants to make a meal out of the gas station quick mart nearest to them. What ensued was pure creative cooking at its best.

The gas station diet is not the ideal diet for someone trying to eat right, and have energy year round. That said, it's a nice compliment diet for someone that is visiting friends out of town, or is on a budget and only has access to a local quick mart. The best part of the gas station diet is that most everyone lives, or works near a quick mart, and thus it can generally be utilized by anyone who chooses to eat quick mart foods.

The best way to shop for gas station food is to buy things one meal at a time or two at most. The format of most quick marts is that of short term merchandise. There are not many bulk quantity items available for purchase; therefore it makes sense to shop for the now, rather then for the long term. Keep this attitude while shopping and it will help take away any anxiety of stocking up on goods that don't seem to be available at the gas station.

The second key ingredient to the gas station diet is a microwave oven. Don't worry if you don't have one available, most gas stations offer their own microwaves for the people who don't have one at home. You should be prepared to microwave about half of what you will buy from the gas station unless you want chips for dinner.

Once you've got the ground rules down start buying your foods. Grab some hotdogs from the hotdog warmer, and a few buns from underneath. Reach for a few hot pockets, and select your favorite kind of crackers.

If you are going to be staying for several days you might want to think about getting a small loaf of bread and a small jar of peanut butter. If you can find peanut butter with jelly mixed in, that is even better. Both of these items do not need refrigeration and can make a tasty and inexpensive lunch or dinner.

You may also need some snacks and again the choices are almost limitless. Grab some peanuts for a late night snack, and some chocolate bars for desert. Another good high protein snack is beef jerky or beef sticks. One more excellent snack is popcorn. You can frequently find bags of already popped corn or can pop it yourself in the microwave.

OK, then you will need something to drink. Well, your options here are almost unlimited in this category. You can get soft drinks (just about any kind is available), fruit juices (these may be a little more limited), milk, beer (just the popular domestic ones), and in some states where the law allows, you may even be able to get wine. Remember, this is a diet so you might be well advised to stick with some sort of diet drink especially if the rest of the food you have chosen is high in calories.

There are so many choices that this diet can be varied so that you can enjoy something different every day.

Chocolate

Can You Beleive That Chocolate Could Actually Be Good For Your Heart?



Chocolate has long been a favorite confection for people of all ages and now this tasty treat is receiving recognition for being good for your heart health as well. Studies have found that dark chocolate contains antioxidants, which help promote a healthy heart by improving the blood flow. This lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

What is an Antioxidant?

Antioxidants remove free radicals from the blood stream. Free radicals are a natural product of blood cells. The world is also filled with environmental toxins that also contribute to their production. There has been research that has discovered that eating dark chocolate lowers the risk of heart attacks and high blood pressure by removing the free radicals and ensuring that the blood can flow more freely through the veins. It is important to note that it is only the dark type of chocolate that has these benefits. Tests run on white and milk chocolate did not show these positive benefits.

What Research Was Done on Chocolate?

A Swiss team of researchers ran tests on 20 volunteers who were smokers. They were given 40 grams of chocolate and were not allowed to eat any other food that was rich in antioxidants like certain vegetables. After 2 hours, there was a marked improvement noted in the volunteers who ate dark chocolate that was made up of 74% cocoa. The improvement noted was in the improved flow of blood through the veins. The research also showed that the chocolate significantly reduced the risk of blockages by half.

How Much Chocolate Should I Eat?

You should try to include a portion of dark chocolate everyday, but before you run out to the grocery store to fill the larder with dark chocolate treats, remember that it also contains a lot of sugar and fat, right along with those antioxidants. Before you add it to your regular diet, decide how much you can safely eat without expanding your waistline. Naturally the more active you are, the more you will burn calories.

This would be true of people who exercise regularly or have jobs that require a lot of physical activity. If you have a sedentary job where you sit at a desk all day, or do not follow a regular exercise plan, than you should lower the portion of chocolate that you eat. If you don't follow an exercise plan, then consider starting one. Exercising three times a week for 30 minutes has also been shown to strengthen the heart. While you are improving your health with chocolate, you can get even greater benefits by including exercise to your regimen.

These new health benefits of dark chocolate will let you please both your heart and your palate.

Organic or Locally Produced Food

Fairtrade, Organic or Locally Produced Food?


Should I buy food and products that support workers in Third World by buying Fairtrade labelled products even though these goods normally travel thousands of miles from Africa, South America or South East Asia? What if these foods were produced with the use of pesticides and additives? It makes sense then to look for and to buy Fairtrade, organic food to both help the producers in the Third World and fulfil my lifestyle choice to eat healthy and additive/pesticide free food. Thankfully, many producers are now wising up to this dilemma by increasingly producing organic and Fairtrade labelled products. I am currently using Fairtrade, organic t-bags at home! Now comes another important question, should I buy Fairly Traded organic sugar from Kenya that has travelled thousands of miles, or should I buy apples grown in the UK (ideally from a farmers market) that have only travelled only a few hundred miles which means less carbon dioxide and other nasty emissions from the lorries that you see constantly on the motorways in the UK? Buying UK products not only ensures less food miles but also supports local farmers, communities and economies. Unfortunately, choice is often limited and can be more expensive then food produced in other countries--- Decisions, decisions, it's probably best to abstain from eating and give your choice making brain a rest!

But I can safely say that I make attempts to avoid food or products that have travelled from far away destinations such as Australia even if they are organic! Next time you are in the supermarket or wherever you buy your food from check the labels and you will be surprised by how far your food has travelled. Also look at the amount of unnecessary wrapping such as individually wrapped peppers, mushrooms and kiwi fruit in wrapped boxes. When I buy from the local market I tell them to throw it all into one bag, the customer next to me often has 10 individually wrapped portions of fruit and veg. That's 11 (10 plus one big plastic bag) bags into the landfill site that day. For maximum eco efficiency we need to be using jute or other bags made from recycled materials and putting all the loose food into that.

For recycled bags, Fairtrade and Organic companies, products and food see GuideMeGreen.com

What is Fairtrade food?

What is Fairtrade food?

This means that Fairtrade goods are often more expensive in the UK than those without the Fairtrade logo. Although people are now arguing that supermarkets are fuelling their excessive profits by adding large mark-ups to these products This premium that the producer charges covers the basic food, housing, health and education needs of the local communities in countries such as India and Brazil. The Foundation awards a consumer label, the Fairtrade Mark, to products which meet internationally recognised standards of Fairtrade. It is the only such certification in the UK.

Examples of Fairtrade products:

? Fairtrade coffee
? Fairtrade Tea
? Fairtrade Chocolate
? Fairtrade Bananas
? Fairtrade Honey
? Fairtrade Sugar
? Fairtrade Fruit Juice
? Fairtrade Wine and Snacks
? Fairtrade Babyfood

The list of goods certified Fairtrade is growing daily as is the range of products available. The co-op changed all their own brand chocolate to Fairtrade a few years ago and now all the other big supermarkets are beginning to move into the Fairtrade market. Nestle have just released a Fairtrade brand. There has been huge controversy over this as many people are asking how a company that is subject to a boycott can pertain to have Fairtrade and therefore ethical principles?

Why buy Fairtrade?

Millions of small farmers around the world cannot get enough money to feed their families, send their children to school or invest just a few pounds into their farm. This is because people want to buy the cheapest goods possible and don't think about the people that working in poor condition and often receive less than £1 per day in wages.
Buying products that display the Fairtrade logo ensures that the producers of products such as tea, coffee and chocolate receive a decent income. Rather than being hit by the ever-changing price of their product on the world market, or being fleeced by a middleman who takes a chunky share of the profits, producers in a Fair Trade scheme are guaranteed a decent, stable price for their produce.

By buying Fair trade products that buy direct from farmers at better prices, consumers are improving the lives of producers all over the world. In Eithiopia, farmers can often get more then twice the price for their fair trade coffee then those that sell it on the open market. This extra money enables the farmers to educate their children and to break the cycle of poverty.

Many people struggle to find a reason not to support Fairtrade. Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers. Fair trade is not about charity, it is about settling the imbalance which exists.

How do I know its Fairtrade?

Look for the Fairtrade Mark when you shop and make the choice to support small farmers and workers in the developing world, and encourage your workplace to switch to Fairtrade tea and coffee.