You can combine different meats, like ground chuck and sirloin. Ground chuck has a little more fat in it and if you combine it with sirloin, it will cut down on the fat content. Or, you could use sirloin by itself. However, it may result in a real dry burger.

Mix beef with turkey, but your patties will be a bit softer and harder to cook. But, you can add bread crumbs to make them firmer, especially if barbecuing.

You can also add all kinds of spices, dry rubs, eggs, peppers, onions, garlic, and cheeses to patties. However, you should get a real feel for the natural flavor of the meat first, and then experiment.

The last time I formed up hamburger patties, I used brisket. It was a little fatty, so I trimmed some of it off. Cut the meat into small chunks, about one inch square.

Place it all in a plastic container and put it in the freezer for about one half hour. It will grind up a lot easier.

I coarsely ground the brisket and I formed it into about the size of a tennis ball. Put a little olive oil on your hands before you do this.

Gently flatten each ball to about a half inch thick. You want your patty to be loosely packed. Work around the edges a bit to get it symmetrical.

Put a thumbprint in the middle of each patty. This keeps the patty from rising in the middle. Don’t go berserk, a tiny indent with your thumb will suffice.

You can do something when you know what kind of beef you have, that you can’t do when you buy a package of pre-ground hamburger. And, that is: you can cook it rare, medium rare, or how ever you want it.

When the barbecue or skillet is hot, cook the patties four to five minutes on each side. Try up to seven minutes for medium done hamburger.

Now that you have gone through the process, you can experiment by adding different things to the meat. I prefer not to do this, but to each their own.

For example, you can add onions directly to the patties, but I prefer either uncooked onion rings on my burgers, or cooked separately and caramelized. I also prefer to add a slice of cheese to the top of the hamburger in the final stages of cooking to make it real good.

About the author: Thom Richards absolutely loves to barbecue for family and friends. Please join me at BBQing Tips From Deep In The Heart Of Oregon for all kind of information, recipes, tips to make your barbecuing the best. A super source for BBQ supplies is at: Lil Mo’s Barbecue Shoppe. This article is free for republishing, but the resource links must be retained.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Back to top

Low Fat Desserts Don’t Have to Be Boring!
by Vincent Platania

Low fat desserts have a bad reputation -- either they’re plain ol’ fruit, which does not count as dessert, or they have no flavor at all. Better to skip dessert than to eat some of the low fat desserts we’ve had in the past, huh???

Well, I’m here to make you a happy low fat dessert eater! Let me tell you the secret: Rawleigh’s Chocolate Pie Filling and Dessert Mix, which is a great value and also makes a fabulous treat for anyone taking care of their health. It’s a low calorie mix with no fat unless you add some in; and if you take some of my suggestions for additions, you’ll have low fat desserts that are so luscious that no one will be able to tell the difference.

First of all, when the basic recipe calls for adding milk, use skim milk -- the pudding mix is so rich already that you’ll never miss the fat from whole milk. But you can still add more flavor to your low fat dessert: use half skim milk and half coffee to make a mocha pudding. Or add a few tablespoons of maraschino cherry juice with the milk, and chop up a few cherries to mix into the pudding, and you’ve got a low fat dessert that’s rich with chocolate and has some texture, as well.

I’m not opposed to using fruit in a low fat dessert, even if I don’t think that it qualifies as a low fat dessert. A simple treat is to slice some bananas and mix them into the pudding, or place a layer of banana slices between two layers of pudding to make a trifle. Or cut some orange slices and fan them out on a plate, then place a scoop of pudding that’s been made with orange juice and a bit of orange zest into the center, for a supremely elegant low fat dessert with gorgeous color, too.

There are so many things you can do with a simple pudding mix that there are no excuses for depriving yourself of low fat desserts anymore. I’ve given you several ideas; now go into the kitchen and start mixing and stirring and having some fun for yourself while creating a whole new array of low fat desserts to be proud of!

About the author: Rawleigh Products was founded in the late 1800s to create a line of "Good Health Products" that possessed both strength and quality. Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com or Call # 1-800-992-1089
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Back to top

Choosing The Right Tea For You
by Jeffrey Lorien

The verdict is in: Tea is good for you. Now, researchers continue to study tea and its healthy constituents such as polyphenols, tannin, catechins and other antioxidants. The science is progressing on parallel tracks in research institutes and universities around the world, quantifying and qualifying the effects of tea on cancer, high blood pressure, cardiovascular health, microcirculation and even weight loss.

Beyond the health benefits, there are purely personal (and pleasurable) reasons to drink tea, and choosing the right one (or two, or three) for your particular life goals and wellness plan is something you should consider carefully. This is not because there is any risk involved with picking the “wrong” tea. The fact is, however, that choosing the right tea(s) will ensure that you are experiencing the maximum possible health benefits from the beverage and its ingredients.

Reading the tea leaves for health

There are several different factors to consider when choosing the right tea for your life and health profile. Although most teas have some range and amount of various beneficial elements, particular teas contain certain substances that may not suit certain individuals. The primary one to watch out for, of course, is caffeine. Some people are surprised to discover that tea can be very high in caffeine, as if it were not itself a “natural” product. Caffeine is a natural product that occurs in many foods, including the renowned kola (cola) nut, from which a famous soft drink with about 100mg of caffeine is made.

Ordinary teas contain beneficial properties such as alkaloids and catechins that help refresh the mind, strengthen the heart, eliminate toxins in the system and relieve inflammation and its associated discomfort. Polyphenols can actually protect people from radioactive material, counter the ravages of arteriosclerosis and actively assist the blood flow through the capillaries (called microcirculation).

In fact, the anecdotal evidence that tea is a good hangover cure has been backed by scientific studies showing how improved blood flow and other effects of tea’s ingredients are important in restoring normal functioning following the ingestion of alcohol. Any tea is good for these tasks, and you can choose from among a great variety of simple or complex teas, both herbal and standard types.

Studies on the antibacterial properties of tea have shown conclusively that it disrupts a key step in the replication of the bacterium’s DNA chain. Therefore it can be considered a safe and effective antibiotic that can fight infections and tooth decay. That it also contains vitamins and fluoride makes tea an even better bet for an addition to your program of dental hygiene and general health. A good, strong green tea would be an excellent choice for general antibiotic and hygienic purposes.

Choosing teas for taste

Choosing the right tea for you may be as simple as the change of seasons. Spring is considered the season for flower teas, summer is for green teas and autumn is a season of changes, perfect for a Oolong tea (between black and green). Cold winters are perfect for any of them!

You can also choose to drink certain teas according to the time of day. Morning time can be great for green tea because it does contain an average amount (60-70mg per cup) of caffeine. Chrysanthemum tea can be a good tea for the afternoon because it helps relieve and counter depression, stress and anxiety. In the evening it’s nice to relax with a tasty Medlar tea, as it is rich in B-1, vitamin C, calcium and iron and can also help relax the body after a long day.

There are so many types of teas too choose from, it can be difficult to decide which ones are right for you. Although not based on any scientific findings, anecdotal evidence over centuries has helped some health practitioners to develop a list of teas associated with different people. At the very least, it is an interesting exercise, trying to match people and their unique needs to the vast range of teas in the world, and the vast number of properties and effects that have been observed in their use.

Just for fun, try picking a tea from the following list and trying it out. In fact, try a variety of teas, at different times of day and in different settings. Chances are you will quickly discover which are best for your needs.

Remember, this is not medical advice of any kind. However, you are ultimately responsible for your own health and wellbeing, so stay educated on the subjects that impact your life and diet, and remember the importance of getting a good balance of scientific facts, anecdotal evidence and educated opinions (the last from your primary healthcare provider). There is a place for tea in your wellness plan, without a doubt, but it doesn’t mean you can’t find the one that tastes the best to you, and gives you the effects, both pleasurable and medical, that you want.

About the author: Zhi Tea is a leading retailer of top-grade Oolong teas online. They provide a full line of organic and Fair Trade teas teas and organic tea gift baskets from around the world for you to enjoy.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Back to top