America sucks up unhealthy “good for you” drinks choices.

We live in a world where we are confronted with “healthy” choices -  but are they really?  In our search for answers we seem to look for the writing on the wall -  or in this case, the writing on the package.

Healthy has become a catch-all for foods that are somewhat, or moderately good for us but even then, you have to dig deeper to find the truth.

This article, posted today, seems to shed the light on some of the worst” good for you” drinks in America. Read this and examine how easily it is to be fooled

Instant party – just add friends

There are too many shows on television telling you how to throw a good party. Most of them involve the Martha Stewart-ization of house and home in order to impress your guests.
Let’s face it – Newfoundlanders as a people are the party sort. We love a good time surrounded by friends and family. We’re also uncomplicated folk. Not simple, but humble and honest. A party for us is the pleasure of each other’s company and a good time.
Over the weekend my wife and I experienced just that – a good time with friends. We went out Saturday night to a concert and afterwards friends asked “Hey, how about drinks at our place?” Who can say no to an invitation like that?
The trick to a good party is sometimes in the planning and other times it is in the spontaneous invitation of a few friends in for a drink and light snacks.
There is no need to make it complicated. If you are the sort of person who likes a good bowl of nacho chips and salsa – then that is all good. But if you want to make a quick couple of things to really impress without all the work – have I got the solution for you.
There are many great things to make which are uncomplicated and are tasty as well as good for you. One of these is hummus.
It is a simple dip made from chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice and sesame tahini. Here’s how you make it.

Hummus
14 oz can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas) drained and rinsed
½ cup of tahini (sesame seed paste) found in grocery store in the international foods section
1-3 cloves of garlic roughly chopped
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Water – as needed

Place ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Use the water to thin out the paste only slightly. You are looking for a thick consistency.
Variation – add 1-2 roughly chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the mixer when you start. Get the ones packed in oil – they are soft and easy to chop.

To go with this dip try pita chips. You could get some in the grocery store – or make your own. Get the thick Greek pitas and cut one of the rounds into 6. Place in a 350 degree pre heated oven on a cookie sheet for 5-7 minutes or until warmed.

Another good food for the fingers is bruschetta. Although there are many variations of this type of antipasto – which is basically an Italian hors d’œuvre – I make a simple one which can easily be made as a dip and will suit the pita chips as well.

Bruschetta

½ English cucumber, deseeded and diced
½ red onion, finely diced
½ red pepper, finely diced
1-2 tomatoes, diced
1tbs balsamic vinegar
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle in olive oil slowly and mix until it looks luxurious and glossy. Season generously with salt and pepper and taste again. If the balsamic vinegar is to acidic for you, add a small pinch of white sugar to balance the flavours.

The next ingredient is a tipple or two to make conversation flow. To go along with the food, pick up a crisp Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc like Lindemans Bin 95 which is reasonable at under $11. My favourite right now is the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. It has all the right notes – floral, sweet and interesting and it is sturdy enough to handle the acidity of the food.
However, there are considerations – some people don’t like wine. So why not try a cocktail or two. Classic gin martinis are perfect for this type of setting and it also lends that layer of sophistication some of us crave. But hey, we don’t have to get all fancy. If you like beer, then serve that too. Just stay away from bitters or stout – they’re too heavy. Try Stella Artois. It is light and acidic, with light floral and almost no hoppy aftertaste and clean to the finish.
To get this all together could take as little as half an hour – perfect for that spontaneous party after a concert, after a night out, or….just because.

In need of a good drink – of water.

I guess I didn’t really think of it before, but I am pretty dehydrated all the time. I don’t like drinking water. Usually I can’t stand the stuff. It has no flavour – it is not refreshing, not interesting and tasteless. Or at least it was until this past weekend.

Being ill for two or three days without the ability to drink anything save water is an interesting study in what we like and what we don’t.

My usual drinking habits include drinking several cups of coffee, some tea maybe a glass of juice for breakfast – and a cup for tea before bed. So I figured that is pretty good right? Think again. I thought I had things under control until I did some reading during my time spent in bed.

Some water facts you might know:
The human body is made of roughly 70% water.
Poor hydration has been linked to poor concentration, tiredness, and soreness of joints.
Severe dehydration is dangerous and can lead to severe organ problems, and even death.

Some water facts that might surprise you:

New water drinking studies indicate we should be consuming 2.5 litres of water per day as part of a good healthy lifestyle.

Water lubricates the skin, makes your skin clearer and generally makes you feel more beautiful.
Water is as effective as coffee as that first sip of the day for that get up and go feeling – researchers have studied it.

So what does it all mean? Well simply put most of us are not getting enough water. So to help this, here are a few things to consider when thinking of increasing your water intake over the day.

Coffee and tea – although they contain 100% water – it is not water. These are as much dehydrators as they are good to drink. For every cup of coffee or tea you drink add one more glass of water to your day.

Soft drinks – too much sugar can cause as much of a problem as too little water. Try to limit them if you can.

Can’t stand the taste of plain water – try this; a little splash of fruit juice like apple will improve the taste considerably. And a little goes a long way to improve the taste.

Challenge yourself – take small sips often. That’s what I was told. Little sips throughout the day are just as effective as pounding down the whole store bought bottle of water in one draught.

The last little thing everyone wants to know is bottled water any better to drink? Well experts say no – hard core water drinkers will tell you differently. I think you can get away with a Brita water filter and local tap water. I like the fact that the activated charcoal filter takes some of the soil tastes out.

As for me I like it simple but I also like it elegant. I really like mineral water. San Pellegrino, Perrier or any other brand is perfect when ice cold as a drink with a fine meal.

Water. It’s in you. Drink it up.

Copyright 2007 Unlawful dissemination of this or any other work will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

A Perfect Cup Of Coffee

Here is a guy who is all freaked out over coffee. I like coffee, just like the next person, but I think that this guy has been OD’ing on the stuff so long he has become a bit intense. However I would argue that 1 level tablespoon of coffee per cup is not enough, in my house it is one mounded 1/8 of a cup of fresh ground beans (Fair Trade Organic if I can) to the two cup level in a coffee pot – making sure to use filtered water. I also never make more than 10 cups at a time – takes too long. 6 cups for two people seems to be the best – one full cup and one half refill.

This ratio seems to get the punch of the coffee in the morning and not be overbearing. How do you like your coffee. I m partial to any form – espresso, french press, with or without milk, Turkish (med.sweet) and any other variant you can choose. What is the first cup in your day?

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Copyright 2006. Unlawful dissemination of this or any other work will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Bartender Myths

Bar myths, sure we’ve all heard them – but here are ten good tips when going out to a bar. I know these to be true – hell, I’m like a cousin to these guys. The Chef/Bartender relationship whether it is part of the same restaurant or at some-other bar – we know the rules. We work the same hours – and we go tho these places for drinks. And if we are lucky, they help us in the door when the place is rocking or we’ve got a hot date.

We don’t take their kindness for granted – and if per chance that one of those guys gets off a shift and enters our establishment – we’d be sure to reciprocate the favor.

I feed you a terrific meal – and you get a teensy bit liberal with the pouring spout and we’re all having a good time.

Read it – it will make you cooler when out with friends – guys in the know are cool.

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Copyright 2006. Unlawful dissemination of this or any other work will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Green Apple Martini

When sitting on the back deck,sitting under the scorching sun there is nothing more summery than having a nice cold drink by your side.

During the past couple of weeks we have been experimenting in the house with different spirits and we came up with a real winner this time.

Many Apple Martini recipes look to sour characteristics to balance the gin or vodka component. personally, I am not the type of person who like sucking on a dry lemon for kicks. So I tend to lend to the sweeter side of the palate to accommodate an easy drinking policy.

I feel that if it is good enough to have a couple, then we have made a successful recipe – if not, then we drink until we find one!

Here’s my Green Apple Martini

2 oz Vodka (Absolut or Grey Goose)

1 oz Green Apple Sour Puss (this can be omitted)

Ice

Sparkling Green apple juice to top

Method.

In a shaker, add ice, vodka, and sour puss. Shake until the canister becomes too cold to handle. Pour into a chilled martini glass and top up with 2 oz of the fizz. Garnish with a dried apple slice, but if you are lazy, a lemon slice will do. Consume. Rinse and repeat.

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Copyright 2006. Unlawful dissemination of this or any other work will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

imbibo caveo – drinker beware

Happy Canada Day to all of you and I certainly hope that you have had as good time. But let me tell you a little story about the real reasons we love and loathe a good holiday.

The sheets feel a bit damp as the drool has been collecting for a couple of hours as you were snoring like a banshee. Your mouth, cotton dry and pasty feeling gets the once over with a cautious, but exploratory tongue and then the tourniquet around your head tightens as pressure builds in your head. The room while you realize is supposed to be stationary is a whirling dervish of motion and your stomach wants to get off. Sound familiar? If you recognize any of those symptoms, then congratulations – you have a hangover.

While there are many “reasons” why one might have a hang over – having a good time, birthday, having a sociable with a friendly neighbour – the real reason is that there was a bit of drinking overindulgence.

Alcohol is a drug. Like nicotine or caffeine, taking it causes symptoms and the over use of the drug can cause reactions. A hangover is the body’s reaction to trying to get the drug or toxins out of the body.

Alcohol is also a diuretic, which is the reason you have to go to the bathroom so many times when “on the go”. Your kidneys require water to metabolize and break down the alcohol in you body so it “borrows it” from wherever it can. So basically a hangover is your body’s reaction to drying out after a bit of a bender.

Now here’s the bad news – there is no real cure to a hangover. Everybody has a different way of coping with the stress of the body dealing with the excesses of the night before.

However there are some “remedies” for a hangover – some of which are as old as the creation of alcohol itself and the others are just plain strange.

Hair of the Dog – This myth stems from the Latin father of medicine Hypocrates who believed in the dictum simila similibus curantur – “likes are cured by likes”. This remedy believed the only way to get better was to have something again of what made you sick. This does not work, it only slows down the hang over – it will come eventually.

Drinking coffee – Coffee is also a diuretic so it dries you out faster and can even exacerbate the overall effects of the hangover. In other bad news, coffee is s stimulant and alcohol a depressant and experts believe that the only thing coffee does is make a more active drunk, and is not a good cure for a hangover.

Scalding hot shower followed by an icy blast of water – while it seems like it could shock the system (Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, wrote in his novels how this was the start to the Martini drinking spy’s day). It does wake you up, but it will not cure a hangover.

While there are no real cures for a hangover there are some good ways of preventing the effects of hangovers from developing.

Match your drinks with glasses of water- 2 to 1. This act of having water as you are having a drink will counter the body’s need for water to break down the alcohol. Scientists have discovered that your body uses 500ml of water to break down 250 ml of alcohol. So the more water you drink (and beer does not count as water) the better chance you have of getting through the next day.

Eat and drink – food is a good way of helping the alcohol metabolise in your system. Nibbling on foods (other than salty foods which only make you want to drink more will slow down the effects of the alcohol.

Eat before bed – many drinkers believe that the body likes carbohydrates to slowly disperse the alcohol. I have read that the best thing before bed is a banana, a big glass of water and some headache pills. This combination dulls the pain, feeds the body nutrients and re-hydrates you. I am going to try this one after my next bender.

Medical science has not produced the one stop anti-hangover cure. The only sure fire way to prevent a hangover from starting is not to drink at all. Abstinence is the only way to never have a hangover. My only hopes is that while you enjoy your holidays and have a good time, that you remember that the worst thing to happen other than a hangover is an accident, so on that note, if you drink – you don’t drive – that’s the law.

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Copyright 2006. Unlawful dissemination of this or any other wiriting will be prosecuted ot the full extent of the law.

Screech

Legend has it that an American commanding officer serving during the second world war on the island of Newfoundland was taking in some of the local hospitality and was offered some of the local rum as an after dinner drink. Seeing his host downing the dark liquid in one without even a blink, the unsuspecting American took to the local custom and drank it in one gulp.
The American turned all shades of colours and without abandon, let out a bloodcurdling howl as the poor man began to regain his breath. The noise, heard for miles, brought the locals to the door. The first to arrive was a Sergeant of the army he asked ” What was that ungodly screech?”The reply came, “The screech? ‘Twas the rum.” And a legend was born.
Newfoundland Screech is part of the legend of the island and a part of the Newfoundland culture.
Newfoundland, situated in the North Atlantic can be seen as a harsh pace. Like the rum, which has an outward bite, but a sophisticated finish, so too are the people of the island.
This is pure Jamaican rum which was repackaged here in Newfoundland – and the tradition continues.
Being a Newfoundlander (rhymes with understand) I have never met one who would turn down a drink of rum. In this case Screech.
Screech has a slightly sweet taste. Though strong at 40% alcohol, it still has vanilla, and sweet characteristics. Strong as it is, it is not as harsh as the name implies I sometimes have it neat as a mid evening drink.
The best way to drink this strong beverage is what is called a Dark and Dirty.

Dark and Dirty

2 oz Screech Rum over ice topped up with Coke.
Serve in a rocks glass

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Copyright 2006 Unlawful dissemination of this or any other work will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Harvey Wallbanger

This distinctive drink is part of the drink name legends list. For those who don’t know, a Harvey Wallbanger is a Screwdriver with a tot of Galliano on top.

Legend has it that the Wallbanger was named after a 1970’s surfer, who after consuming a couple, proceeded to bang his surfboard into the wall. Cowabanga, dude!

The Harvey Wallbanger is thus:

4 parts orange juice

2 parts vodka

1/2 part Galliano

Stir together orange-juice and vodka in a highball glass with plenty of ice. Float the Galliano on top. Garnish with an orange slice, and if you are daring, a maraschino cherry.

Cheers

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Copyright 2006. Unlawful dissemination of this or any other work will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.