Month: September 2021

The Wonders of Indian Herbs and Spices: Health Benefits of Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Pamela Terry

The history of Indian traditional foods dates back many centuries ago when the Indus Valley people cooked food with oils, ginger, salt and turmeric root powder obtained after grinding the dried root of a turmeric plant. With the advent of diverse cultural changes, Indian food harbored a niche for exquisite spices and herbs like cumin, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom, and fenugreek.

How is Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) Beneficial?

According to Ayurvedic science most of these herbs and spices have distinct medicinal properties. Among which turmeric is termed as a symbol of prosperity and purity.

Scientifically named Curcuma longa, Turmeric is a flowering plant found in the ginger root plant family, and has been used in Indian Ayurvedic holistic medicine for centuries.The plant has an active compound called curcumin which is a key ingredient in curry powder.

Turmeric root extract has strong healing properties. The root extract is used to treat inflammations of the digestive system and the reproductive system, thus useful in remedies for hepatitis, flatulence and spasmodic dysmenorrhoea. Commonly called Haldi in Indian foods, turmeric exhibit therapeutic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antihepatotoxic effects. For example:

  • Curcumin has anti-oxidant properties which helps to promote a healthy inflammatory response.
  • The strong mixture of phytonutrients is present in turmeric which works to combat free radicals and other toxins in the body.
  • The powerful anti-hepatotoxic properties of turmeric work to promote and maintain a healthy liver.
  • The herb reduces the ability of the blood to form clots and helps to improve blood circulation as
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Freezable Recipes

Pamela Terry

Written by Shirley Parker

Freezable recipes will be a high priority for the personal chef, since he or she prepares at least a week’s worth of meals at a time, leaving a home full of so many different cooking aromas. Obviously, many of the meals have to be packed in freezer-proof containers, but what of the contents? How long can they be safely frozen? Will they turn to mush after even a short freezing time? Of course, none of the meals should be reheated too long or they’ll dry out.

Everyone knows beef, chicken and pork, for example, can be frozen when brought home from the market. But what happens if instead, it has been sliced, pounded on, cooked down and mixed with sauces and other ingredients? Does it freeze well then? Freezable recipes aren’t the same thing as whole chunks of frozen meat.

For those who are not vegetarians, turkey and chicken dishes can be prepared in advance and frozen. They reheat very well and retain their flavor. The same can be said of ham. Pork sausage and ground beef in meat loaf recipes is as tasty as it gets. Fish and potato dishes can satisfy the taste buds. Vegetarian recipes that freeze well include squashes, spinach and cheese dishes, and beans, lentils or rice, breads, macaroni, certain sauces, and so forth.

Freezable Recipes on the Internet

Many newer cookbooks now identify which are the freezable recipes. This is very handy, if a new chef does not already have …

The best Chinese food on the west coast

Pamela Terry

     The menu at Lee's Wok in Newport, Oregon is extensive and most of all the best! The restaurant is right along side a motel, so if you want to stay overnight that is convenient.  The next morning, you can wake up and try something new on the assorted menu at Lee's Wok.They are open at 11AM just in time for brunch. The lunch menu includes 2 specials each day which they change everyday for a nice variety.

      If you have arrived for lunch, you will be given a pot of really hot tea,choice of hot and spicey or egg flower soups.  Crackers come with the soup. The people that work there are courteous, friendly, hard working and helpful.  Any questions about the selections, everyone seems to know the answers so just ask.  The specials are now,  as of this December 2008 posting, $4.95.  Let us take an example so I can describe to you exactly what you get for that price besides the tea and soup. This particular day they have sweet and sour chicken on the lunch special, which I just love. It comes very fast  and nice and hot. So hot I need to gently blow on the forkfull as I put it into my awaiting , salivating mouth. The portion is large with a side dish of pork fried rice. The meal is huge enough for me to take home some for later to enjoy.

      Lee's Wok is clean …