Category: General Food Recipes

Easy And Refreshing Fruit Salad Recipes

Fruit salad is probably one of the easiest and tastiest things in the world to make. Any seven-year old can whip up their salad in no time at all. In fact, for a real bonding time with your kids, you can involve them in the kitchen and have fun whipping up this fabulous desert.

This is particularly popular during the summer when fresh fruits abound, however, summer or winter, it doesn’t really matter as fruits grow all year round. There’s really nothing to putting together fruit salad rcipes. The secret is really just in picking out the best fruits. Below are fantastic fruit salad recipes you can do in your very own kitchen:

FRUIT SALAD WITH CITRUS-CILANTRO DRESSING

1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained (or better yet, 2 1/2 to 3 cups fresh pineapple chunks)
3 grapefruits, peeled and sectioned
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 mango pitted, peeled and sliced
1/3 cup orange juice
1/3 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons honey

1.Combine pineapple, grapefruit, strawberries and mango in a large serving bowl; set aside.

2.In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, lime juice and cilantro. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain and discard cilantro. Stir in honey. Pour over fruit mixture and toss until evenly coated.

FLUFFY PISTACHIO FRUIT SALAD

1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, not drained
1 (4-serving size) package instant pistachio pudding mix
1 (12-ounce) container non dairy whipped topping, thawed
2 large bananas, sliced
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 (17-ounce) can fruit cocktail, drained
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

Pour instant pudding mix into a large mixing bowl. Add pineapple, and mix well. Mix in nondairy whipped topping. Stir in bananas, marshmallows, fruit cocktail, and mandarin oranges.

Cover, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Delight Your Senses With These Crab Salad Recipes

Unrivaled in sweetness by any other of its lot, the crab is has shown its versatility as an ingredient. It ads an interesting twist to any dish served with a shred or two of this amazing seafood.

As a part of salad, the Crab gives an interesting texture. It does not matter whether it be imitation or authentic crab meat, the ways on how to prepare this dish is just infinite. Below are some salad recipes that are guaranteed to bring your dishes to life.

FRESH CRAB SALAD RECIPE

1 lb Fresh crabmeat; flaked
1/2 c Minced celery
1 ts Grated onion
1 tb Minced pimento
1/4 ts Salt
2 tb Lemon juice
Mayonnaise to taste
Lettuce
2 tb Minced parsley
1/2 Cucumber; peeled and thinly sliced

Combine crab, celery, onion, and pimento in a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and lemon juice; toss to mix. Add just enough mayonnaise to moisten; mix well. Spoon onto bed of lettuce; sprinkle with parsley. Garnish with thin slices of cucumber.

ANTIPASTO CRAB SALAD RECIPE

Ingredients:

8 ounces frozen Alaskan King crab
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
1 (6 oz.) jar marinated artichoke hearts
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon crushed black pepper
1 tomato, cut into wedges
1/4 pound Swiss cheese, sliced and cut into triangles
Lettuce

Directions:

Thaw, drain and slice crab.

Combine mushrooms and cucumber slices. Drain artichoke hearts, reserving liquid. Combine liquid with lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Pour over mushrooms and cucumbers and toss lightly. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Drain vegetable mixture. Arrange crab, mushrooms, cucumber, artichoke hearts, tomato wedges and cheese triangles on 4 lettuce-lined salad plates.

THAI-STYLE CRAB SALD IN AVOCADO RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 ripe California avocado
3 tablespoons lime juice
6 ounces cooked lump crabmeat, or canned crabmeat
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
Salt, if desired

Directions:

Split the avocado in half, remove the seed; sprinkle the cut surfaces with 1 tablespoon of the lime juice to prevent browning.

Combine the crabmeat, remaining lime juice, lemon juice, mayonnaise, cilantro, scallion, pepper and salt in a mixing bowl; mix well. Divide this mixture between each avocado half, piling it high. Garnish with extra cilantro, if desired.

CRAB SALAD WITH GUAVA NECTAR RECIPE

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Guava Nectar
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
8 cups mixed salad greens
2 cups cooked fresh or chopped imitation crabmeat
1 can (11-oz. size) Mandarin oranges, drained
4 red onion slices, (optional)

Directions:

Combine nectar, mayonnaise and vinegar in small bowl; whisk until smooth.

Combine 1/2 cup dressing with crabmeat in small bowl. Toss remaining dressing with salad greens in large bowl. Divide salad greens among serving plates; top with crab mixture, oranges and onion. Season with ground black pepper.

Cool Down With These Refreshing Cucumber Salad Recipes

Cucumber salad is particularly ideal for those long, hot afternoons. Very ideal for the dry summer seasons. While summer is still far away for most countries, it would be wise to stock up on these great cucumber recipes that are guaranteed to cool you down.

BALINESE CUCUMBER SALAD RECIPE

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons peanuts, dry roasted, coarsely chopped
1 cucumber, European
OR
1 large regular cucumber
1/4 sweet onion, large, such as Vidalia
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste

Directions:

Set a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the peanuts and heat until lightly browned, about 2 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally. Transfer to a plate to cool.

Peel and seed the cucumber. Cut the cucumber crosswise into 3-inch sections, then lengthwise into spaghetti-thin strips. Cut the onion into as thin crosswise slices as possible.

Combine the vinegar, sugar, and salt in a serving bowl and whisk until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Taste for seasoning, adding sugar or salt as necessary; the dressing should be both tart and sweet. Stir in the cucumber and onion. Sprinkle the salad with the peanuts and serve.

FRESH CUCUMBER SALAD RECIPE

Ingredients:

6 cups fresh cucumbers
1 cup sweet pepper, sliced thin
2 onions sliced into rings
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon celery seed
2 cups sugar
1 cup white vinegar

Directions:

Mix well. Put in refrigerator, let stand overnight.

CUCUMBER SALAD WITH SPICY WASABI DRESSING

Ingredients:

1 1/2 teaspoon dry wasabi powder (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon warm water
2 cucumbers
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 green onion – thinly sliced
1 tablespoon black sesame seeds or toasted white sesame seeds

Directions:

Mix the wasabi with warm water in the bottom of a mixing bowl and let it stand for 5 minutes.

Peel the cucumbers, cut each one in half lengthwise, and use a melon baller or spoon to scoop out the seeds.

Cut the cucumbers widthwise into 1/4-inch crescents.

Add the vinegar and sugar to the wasabi and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the sesame oil, salt, and pepper.

Just before serving, add the cucumbers, green onion, and sesame seeds to the dressing and mix well.

CUCUMBER AND GREEN SEAWEED SALAD RECIPE

Ingredients:
2 cucumbers
2 radishes
Salt as needed
1 3/8 ounce green seaweed

Dressing:

3 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kelp-flavoured fish stock

Directions:

Slice cucumbers and radishes into thin rounds; salt and leave until dewatered. Wash with water and squeeze out brine.

Pour boiling water over green seaweed and cut into bite-size pieces.

Thoroughly mix dressing ingredients and add to cucumbers and seaweed just before serving.

Wholesome Sweeteners Anyone

Everyone needs a little sugar inside the body. This is because the people who are getting older can no longer take in the regular white sugar anymore due to health risks such as diabetes. This has prompted manufacturers to create substitutes and one example is the wholesome sweetener.

This may come from a variety of sources. A very good example is sugar cane. Can this happen? The answer is yes. Apart from being an alternative fuel cost better than oil, this can be converted into a sweetener.

This has been developed by Dr. Beguin. This is done by crushing the plants then evaporating the syrup. The process preserves the molasses commonly found in sugar cane.

Sucanat means sugar cane natural. Studies have shown that this is rich in vitamins and minerals to help maintain the persons blood sugar. This is all natural since there are no added additives or preservatives which are commonly used on other kinds of artificial sweeteners.

This comes in powdered form that is bought in bags or packets ideal for traveling or just to be used at home. The person can do this with coffee or tea and experience the difference from this all natural formula that is available at the nearest grocery store.

In some countries, brown sugar is preferred over white. Studies have shown that Sucanat performs better since it has 3% mineral salts compared to only .5% of the latter.

This also tastes better making this a good substitute from regular sugar.

Can Sucanat be used in dishes as well? The answer is yes. This can be used to replace the use of sugar in baking a cake and is proven to taste even sweeter when it is eaten.

People are more conscious about health compared to years before. There are many sweeteners to choose from and the basis should not be because of the price.

The person should do some research on the ingredients that were used in making this happen and how it may affect the individuals health. To date, no research has shown any side effects that may be harmful when taking artificial sweeteners.

The person should just try each of the brands available in the market before becoming a regular user.

Sucanat is a wholesome sweetener that provides the body with the right amount of nutrients to maintain the persons blood sugar. The person should give it a try and bring a pack home to taste the difference.

Sweeteners for Diabetics

The latest physical checkup at the doctor has just diagnosed the patient as a diabetic. This may occur because the body is not able to produce enough insulin or can no longer do it. This disease is commonly related to being overweight and can be averted with a change in diet.

Sugar is something people need in the body. Being diagnosed as a diabetic doesnt mean the person can longer take this in. The individual must be aware of the types of sugar that can raise the blood sugar in the system that is bad for the health which can only happen by understanding the regimen set by the doctor and following the dietary plan.

For years, companies have produced various artificial sweeteners. Some of these do not affect the blood sugar of the person while there are those that do. A few examples that affect the system are white sugar, honey, corn syrup, brown sugar and fructose which can still be taken but in very limited amounts.

Calorie free sweeteners are those that contain aspartame, sucralose, saccharine and Acesulphame K. These are better known as Equal, Splenda, Nutrasweet and Sucanat. These products can be taken in large amounts and are either mixed with the food or in the drink.

These products have been tested numerous times and are certified by the FDA. There are other products in the market that have ingredients such as sorbitol and mannitol can also be used but in small amounts since this usually causes diarrhea. Diabetics who come across products that have stevia or cyclamates should not be used since these have not yet been approved.

Diabetes is treatable even if this is a type 1 or a type 2. The person can still live a normal life as long as certain changes in the lifestyle are done. The use of artificial sweeteners basically adds taste to the drink or food the individual has for a snack or in the meal. This is healthy since no calories are absorbed which could be harmful to the body.

The person can buy these artificial sweeteners in packs or in boxes which are perfect for the home or when traveling. The patient should still have regular visits with the doctor to test the blood sugar. By following the program set by the doctor, the person will be able to live a healthy life even after being diagnosed with diabetes.