Theeuroblog.com – Health, Food and Travel

My PC is not working so good tonight. I don’t know what’s wrong but here are some images I am sharing now especially for my favorite memes.

I already miss the grill time during summer. I also love the scenes on the next two photos.

Let’s make some burger here. This was taken during a friend’s birthday party last year.

Rapeseed plant..its flowers are getting so yellow. Sometimes its pollen are not so good especially for those who have pollen allergies.

an old image I found in my picture file. taken last 2008. you can see the tower of our church here.

Feel free to visit and join these wonderful memes; Skywatch Friday, Weekend Reflection, Food Trip and Scenic Sunday. Thanks to the Authors of these sites for sharing these beautiful memes in the blogosphere. Have a great and blessed day!

Zucchini and the river? What’s their relationship anyway? I guess this is very easy. You can bring zucchini cooked like this when you go for a picnic near this river. I am just kidding guys but anyway, this zucchini was prepared by a friend during a party last December. It taste good and I love it. I am planning to prepare one like this during zucchini time in summer.

The zucchini or courgette is a popularly cultivated summer squash which often grows to nearly a meter in length, but which are usually harvested at half that size or less. Along with some other squashes, it belongs to the species Cucurbita pepo.

this is a river we passed by as we went to the falls somewhere in South Cebu, Philippines. I forgot the name of the falls. I hope to remember it in my next post.

These are my images for My World Tuesday, Watery, Wordful and Outdoor Wednesday. Thanks to the Authors of these memes.

I hope you all had wonderful month of January. I wish you all another great and wonderful month of February. Take care folks!

Non-traditional decorated Lebkuchen hearts. You can see these bread during German festivals.

this was taken somewhere near Parsberg while we were on our way to Velburg in Germany sometime in summer 2010.

A poppy is one of a group of a flowering plants belonging to the poppy family, many grown in gardens for their colorful flowers.

Poppy flowers have 4 to 6 petals. Petals may be almost any color, and some have markings. Prior to blooming, the petals are crumpled in the bud, and as blooming finishes, the petals often lie flat before falling away. A whorl of stamens is in the center of the flower.

I love these memes; Today’s Flowers, Macro Monday, Mellow yellow, and Ruby Tuesday. Thanks to the Authors of these sites for sharing these interesting memes in the blogosphere.

This blog is happy to join some interesting memes for the first time. In short, this is my first entry for these memes. I got some fruits and flowers here.

Bananas are the staple starch of many tropical populations. Depending upon cultivar and ripeness, the flesh can vary in taste from starchy to sweet, and texture from firm to mushy. Both skin and inner part can be eaten raw or cooked. Bananas’ flavor is due, amongst other chemicals, to isoamyl acetate which is one of the main constituents of banana oil.

During the ripening process, bananas produce a plant hormone called ethylene, which indirectly affects the flavor. Among other things, ethylene stimulates the formation of amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starch into sugar, influencing the taste of bananas. The greener, less ripe bananas contain higher levels of starch and, consequently, have a “starchier” taste. On the other hand, yellow bananas taste sweeter due to higher sugar concentrations. Furthermore, ethylene signals the production of pectinase, an enzyme which breaks down the pectin between the cells of the banana, causing the banana to soften as it ripens.

wild flowers in our garden from summer 2010..seems that the sky is getting dark!

the Primula flowers taken last year from our garden.

Feel free to visit and join these wonderful memes; Today’s Flowers, Mellow yellow, Ruby Tuesday, Wordful and Outdoor Wednesday. Thanks to the Authors of these sites for hosting and sharing these beautiful memes in the blogosphere.

I love this fruit but I seldom eat papaya now. The papaya is a fruit of the plant Carica papaya. I could still remember a bit my biology class before. This fruit is rich in lycopene, a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots and watermelons.

The ripe fruit is usually eaten raw, without skin or seeds. The unripe green fruit of papaya can be eaten cooked, usually in curries, salads and stews. It has a relatively high amount of pectin, which can be used to make jellies.

In the Philippines and other parts of Asia, green papaya is used both raw and cooked. Papaya can be used as a food, a cooking aid, and in medicine. The stem and bark are also used in rope production.
Medicinal Potential of Papaya

* The juice has an in vitro antiproliferative effect on liver cancer cells, probably due to its component of lycopene or immune system stimulation.
* Papaya seed could be used as an antibacterial agent for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella typhi, although further research is needed before advocating large-scale therapy.
* Papaya seed extract may be nephroprotective (protect the kidneys) in toxicity-induced kidney failure.

Before I begin with this article, I would like to ask you guys if fish is also considered as a meat? Am I quite complicated guys? I am not sure of the answer either. Anyway, I will see if I can find a clarification of this before I will end this post.

Meat has been a part of our diet. From chicken to pork or beef meat, we eat all of those. Of course, when it is cooked. Just the past weeks, hubby was telling me not to cook too much meat anymore. That is also the reason why I did not bought some since the beginning of New Year 2011. Besides we still have a lot in our freezer.

Hubby said that it is better when we eat often fish and vegetables as meat. He said that fish is better because it has fish oil called omega 3 fatty acids, which are heart-friendly. A regular diet of fish is also highly recommended by nutritionists. The omega 3 fatty acids help said to reduce risk for cardiovascular diseases. Nutritionists recommend that fish be eaten at least 2-3 times a week.

Below is also a clarification about meat. I hope that this is quite clear explanation for us. Thanks to wikipedia for this information.

“Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat, but it may also describe other edible organs and tissues. The term “meat” is used by the meat packing industry in a more restrictive sense—the flesh of mammalian species (pigs, cattle, etc.) raised and prepared for human consumption, to the exclusion of fish and poultry.”

If you cannot eat fish all the time, there are fish oil supplements that are in the market.

Before I begin with this article, I would like to ask you guys if fish is also considered as a meat? Am I quite complicated guys? I am not sure of the answer either. Anyway, I will see if I can find a clarification of this before I will end this post.

Meat has been a part of our diet. From chicken to pork or beef meat, we eat all of those. Of course, when it is cooked. Just the past weeks, hubby was telling me not to cook too much meat anymore. That is also the reason why I did not bought some since the beginning of New Year 2011. Besides we still have a lot in our freezer.

Hubby said that it is better when we eat often fish and vegetables as meat. He said that fish is better because it has fish oil called omega 3 fatty acids, which are heart-friendly. A regular diet of fish is also highly recommended by nutritionists. The omega 3 fatty acids help said to reduce risk for cardiovascular diseases. Nutritionists recommend that fish be eaten at least 2-3 times a week.

Below is also a clarification about meat. I hope that this is quite clear explanation for us. Thanks to wikipedia for this information.

“Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat, but it may also describe other edible organs and tissues. The term “meat” is used by the meat packing industry in a more restrictive sense—the flesh of mammalian species (pigs, cattle, etc.) raised and prepared for human consumption, to the exclusion of fish and poultry.”

If you cannot eat fish all the time, there are fish oil supplements that are in the market.

Hubby was asking me yesterday what are exactly the substance of saccharin. As far as I know, I told him that it is an artificial sweetener and sometimes not really good for the body. He always use it in his coffe as sweetener. Actually, he was asking if it is one of the causes why he is having a high blood pressure at the moment. I told him maybe. When I research it in wikipedia, here are the information that I found.

“Saccharin is an artificial sweetener. The basic substance, benzoic sulfilimine, has effectively no food energy and is much sweeter than sucrose, but has an unpleasant bitter or metallic aftertaste, especially at high concentrations. It is used to sweeten products such as drinks, candies, biscuits, medicines, and toothpaste.

Properties

Saccharin is unstable when heated but it does not react chemically with other food ingredients. As such, it stores well. Blends of saccharin with other sweeteners are often used to compensate for each sweetener’s weaknesses and faults. A 10:1 cyclamate:saccharin blend is common in countries where both these sweeteners are legal; in this blend, each sweetener masks the other’s off-taste. Saccharin is often used together with aspartame in diet soda, so that some sweetness remains should the fountain syrup be stored beyond aspartame’s relatively short shelf life. Saccharin is believed to be an important discovery, especially for diabetics, as it goes directly through the human digestive system without being digested. Although saccharin has no food energy, it can trigger the release of insulin in humans and rats, apparently as a result of its taste, as can other sweeteners like aspartame.”

Are you preparing to visit Europe or already there? Below is a list of five fabulous restaurants that are sure to meet your fancy when it comes to European cuisine:

1) Abbaye (London, England)

This restaurant is known for its Belgian entries and Belgian beer. Enjoy the ambience created by the dim lighting and fine wood furnishings. Regardless of your palette, at the Abbaye you can be satisfied as they offer everything from seafood to wheat ale. It is found near Gloucester Road and South Kensington underground (tube) stations. Although a typically expensive area, it’s not a pricey restaurant and if you stay in a cheap hotel in London (nearby) you’ll find that both experiences are well within even a modest travel budget.

2) Grand Cafe Heineken Hoek (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Though the word “grand” denotes a grand price, patrons note that it is well worth the price to partake of such highly delectable food. An attraction here is the terrace in which you can behold the splendor of the province of sunny North Holland. The vast variety of foods are complimented by the expanded hours of service from 10:00 am to 12:00 midnight. Enjoy breakfast and a late night cocktail to suit your mood.

3) Angelino ai Fori (Rome, Italy)

Visiting the Vatican is certainly a highlight of this great country. You’d be re-missed not to partake of the fine foods and beverages of the Angelino ai Fori. The pasta sauce is said to be legendary as it was passed down through generations to generations. If you’re a seafood lover, go ahead and indulge! With Italy being a peninsula their fresh catch of the day could very well come from both the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian Seas.

4) Dominique (Paris, France)

This restaurant is named after Chef Dominique Bouchet, formerly of the Le Crillon. Not only is Parisian food a must have, the Russian entrees are noteworthy! Raved for its traditional dishes, the Dominique is home of Oukha which is fish fixed in aroma of poaching liquid. Furthermore, If you’re an avid reader of Russian work, you may be graced by the presence of your favorite Russian writers as the Dominique is frequented by Russian writers such as Solzhenitsyn.

5) Ca l’Isidre (Barcelona, Spain)

Here at the Ca l’Isidre look forward to traditional Mediterranean cuisine and Catalan dishes. Food conscious eaters will love the fact that the owner, Isidre Girones hand picks his ingredients from local markets. If you’re hooked on this restaurant and visit regular, don’t be surprised to find that Isidre often changes the menu based upon his food purchases from the local markets.

The Ca l’Isidre, Dominique, Angelino ai Fori, Grand Cafe Heineken Hoek, and the Abbaye await you! Enjoy your stay or visit to the electrifying European Continent. Be sure to travel light and eat right!

Another year is here again! I can’t imagine that 2011 is already here! I hope that you all had a wonderful start of the year. I believed we have one and we hope that this year will be a great one for all of us.

Yesterday, we attended a New Year’s party in a friend’s house. Thanks Ge for the lovely evening and the sumptous food. Some friends had been talking that they will also do some grilling at home last night after the said party. For sure, they use very good Grill Covers especially during this very cold winter outside. A lot of foods were also served last night and I believed that everybody enjoyed the party.

Grilling during New Year’s Eve is not a bad idea. As I drove home from the party, I also noticed some neighbors making bonfires and grilling outside their houses. I would like to suggest to hubby to find good Kettle Grill Covers to also protect our grill equipment. And yes, probably do a grill party for next New Year’s Eve. That is probably a perfect timing because we will be building a terrace this year. If you guys are looking for grill covers, I saw some good ones at 1001 Grillcovers.com.

Wishing you all a happy New Year! More blessings, financial freedom and good health always!