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Food - July 2006

Wheat Grass - The Miracle Cure?

July 31st 2006 08:10
There is a lot hype around wheatgrass at the moment, harpooned forward by the juice bar boom. Some people swear by its healing properties, while others remain sceptical. What are the facts?

http://www.swheat.com.au/
I recently tried a product called ‘Swheat’. The packaging was pretty cool, a split plastic shot glass, half filled with oj and half with wheatgrass juice, sealed at the top. You peel it off, and shot it all at once. It tastes like crap, but just wait until you feel the power of it’s magical healing properties. Like snake oil for yuppies!


http://www.choice.com.au

This is what the Swheat website has to say about the immense health claims associated with wheatgrass.
“Wheatgrass juice is by scientists known as a ‘Super Food’”
• Detox of the liver and digestive system.
• Oxygenates the blood.
• Balance acid/alkaline levels.
• Improved mind function.
• Healthy/Natural energy booster.
• Improve stamina
• More radiant healthier looking skin.
• Fights free radicals.
• Lipase enzyme helps break down fat cells.
• Helps overcome cold and flu’s
• Appetite suppressant.
(There are no scientific references provided on the site.)

Many wheat grass producers espouse similar claims, some backed up with references. Nevertheless they obviously have a significant vested interest in the positive information. How true is it?


Fortunately the Australian Consumer Association has already done a lot of the hard work, scouring medical journals to find evidence to wither support or discredit these claims.
A full analysis can be found at:
/viewArticle.aspx?id=105224&catId=100395&tid=100008&p=1&title=Wheatgrass juice

http://en.wikipedia.org

This is the general conclusion that the authority has come to:
Essentially there is nothing wrong with drinking a shot of wheatgrass in the morning. It is more nutritionally beneficial than drinking a coke or coffee, though the extravagant claims associated with it are sometimes untrue, and sometimes merely exaggerated. Wheatgrass does contain some beneficial vitamins and minerals, though they are in small amounts and must be consumed in conjunction with a healthy diet of fresh fruit and vegetables for any effects to be actioned.

Bizzare Fact:
According to Wikipedia, the use of wheatgrass in modern Europe began when Edmund Bordeaux Szekely translated an ancient Essenes manuscript in the early twentieth century. Part of it stated that wheatgrass was a good food for human consumption.

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Cashew & Zucchini Rice

July 28th 2006 07:53

Ingredients: (serves 2)
1 Zucchini

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Cheddar Cheese

July 27th 2006 07:16
Like a fine wine, some cheese definitely improves with age. This is the case with vintage cheddar. Cheddar is one of the most popular cheeses today the world over. In Australia it is often referred to as ‘tasty cheese’.

History

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Bring Back Recipe Cards!

July 25th 2006 07:02
At the cake party a boy told me that when he was child his mother used to give him hand written recipes on pieces of paper and he had to type them up on a type writer and this made him feel very important. At the party there was a ‘Recipe Card Station’ set up, complete with a type writer and coloured cards. At first I found it a little difficult to get the hang of which resulted in very inconsistent typing. This includes some lines running over each other, dyslexic spelling and sentences that mistakenly continued off the edge. Nevertheless it was great fun and everyone had a go.


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Black Sticky Rice Pudding

July 24th 2006 06:23
This is in some ways similar to the European rice pudding, using black sticky rice and popular in Asia. The more subtle flavour of the pudding complements the fluid texture is a delight to be eaten warm on a cold day.

Ingredients:

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Rocks Aroma Coffee Festival 2006

July 23rd 2006 13:38
Today is the Rocks Aroma Coffee Festival. Held annually this event is a great way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, indulging in the aroma of coffee that fills the streets of the historic Rocks district. There are numerous samples of local and international blends for the coffee connoisseur to sample at leisure. There is also a range of coffee related products on display such as the latest consumer machines and top of the range commercial products as well. To complete the blend there is also free musical entertainment in the form of smooth jazz and blues, at several different locations around the rocks. The day schedule can be found on the official website, duplicated at the bottom of this post.
http://www.therocks.com/

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Mee Goreng

July 21st 2006 04:37
This is a delicious sardine and vegetable stir fry which is great for lunch or dinner. The chilli, garlic and ginger make it an excellent cleansing for the body too.

Ingredients:

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Great Ginger

July 21st 2006 04:20
Ginger History
Ginger grows natively in the warm areas of South-Eastern Asia, such as India and China. There it has been cultivated for thousands of years as the rhizome (underground stem) has been used for its culinary and medical properties. It was first transported to the European regions by the Ancient Romans and then spread slowly and grew in popularity from there. Although native to Asia, Jamaica is now the major producer of ginger, exporting over 2 million pounds a year.

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Pester Power Advertising Campaigns

July 20th 2006 13:13
The term ‘pester power’ has been bandied about quite a lot and refers to the practise of children annoying their parents until the desired end is met, be that junk food, a new toy or a visit to the zoo. I watched a documentary a while back on the way marketing agencies manipulate children and it is remarkable the millions of dollars that these companies invest in research on exactly how children behave and the most effective ways to influence parent’s consuming decisions through the children. It was almost frightening the extreme lengths and intense depth of the research undertaken into the innocent world of childhood desires. The general discovery was that children exert a huge influence upon parents’ spending habits, primarily through what is now commonly called ‘pester power’.

In a recent bid to prevent childhood obesity and reduce childrens’ consumption of health damaging junk food in general the Australian Consumers' Association has called for a ban on certain forms of advertising which appeal to ‘pester power’ and encourage children to eat junk food through overtly manipulative means. The government is discussing the development of a new regulatory advertising code that places restrictions on the forms of advertising that can be carried out by junk food manufacturers and retailers. This story is covered in the major newspapers, including Sydney Morning Herald.

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Chocolate Hedgehog Recipe

July 19th 2006 02:19
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Cake Party!

July 17th 2006 12:25
Last week I received a most splendid invitation:


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Tempeh Stir Fry

July 14th 2006 09:45
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Jamie's School Dinners

July 13th 2006 08:29
Jamie’s School Dinners is a highly interesting and original TV series. By this point Jamie Oliver has become an international celebrity chef with a lot of quality work under his belt and he can afford to be creative and take some risks.

The show is basically an attempt by the lovable Jamie to reform the meals served in schools so that they reflect acceptable nutritional levels and encourage healthy eating habits. However, this inevitably not as easy as it may at first seem.

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This is one of a series of ‘Girlosophy’ books which deal with early teen lifestyle issues such as love, spirituality and of course, food. Masterminded by Anthea Paul, her background as a stylist, fashionista and art director is reflected in the funky style of the book.

One of the most distinctive things about this book is the very informal style, using slogans such as “real girls eat” and “Let’s face it, diets suck”. Despite the zany teenage colloquialisms employed, it’s the message that’s important. It deals with pertinent issues such as body image and holistic health. If this kind of commercial format is what is required for some teen and pre-teen girls to come to terms with the fact that the world doesn’t revolve around fad diets and supermodels then it’s well worth it.

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Ingredients:
½ Cup Desiccated Coconut
½ Packet of Nice Biscuits

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The Wonderful Chilli

July 10th 2006 10:30
History of the Chilli

Surprisingly, chilli is not native to India and greater Asia but became popular there after having been introduced from the Americas. Apparently the misconception occurred when Columbus arrived in America and believed it to be Indian (Hence the native people today are now known as Indians). Similarly, he believed it to be a variety of pepper, which is also erroneous.

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Half An Hour Steamed Pud

July 7th 2006 07:56
The name is slightly misleading, as this usually takes a good 45 minutes. Nevertheless it is more appetising than its alternate name, ‘spotted dick’.


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Carbonated Milk Part 2.

July 6th 2006 11:01
A follow up on the carbonated milk post re: http://www.foodherald.com/carbonated-milk-rpm-amp-emoo/

Confessions Of A Milk Connoisseur
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The Magnificent Orange

July 5th 2006 07:50
Captain Cook is famous for preventing a scurvy outbreak on his voyage to Australia. Scurvy was an extremely common affliction of sailors caused by a lack of Vitamin C in the diet. Vitamin C is needed in collagen, the protein that holds together the tissues in bone, ligaments, and skin. A deficiency weakens these tissues and the results are swollen joints, bleeding and rotting gums and lost teeth, and it was quite often fatal. Thanks to the humble orange and the rest of the citrus family, Captain Cook made history during his journey which was free of scurvy related deaths.


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My Dad has always been the family member in charge of making pancakes. As he always does so intuitively, the measurements shown here are all approximations and will have to be modified to suit your specific taste. When my sister and I were young children we used to believe that sitting a row of troll dolls along the barbeque would make the pancakes turn out better. You may try this if you wish. That also brings me to another point, It may sound strange, but the most efficient way to cook pancakes is on the hot plate surface of a BBQ. You can cook at least three at a time this way, just make sure you clean the surface thoroughly beforehand.


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Krispy Kreme in Victoria

July 3rd 2006 07:14
I heard an (unconfirmed) rumour that the first Krispy Kreme was opened in Penrith because this area was said to have the highest rate of obesity in Sydney.

Nonetheless, it has become a raging success with the first store attracting customers from all parts of Sydney. This has resulted in the opening of several other stores.

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