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Cucumber Flexibility

March 4th 2010 22:42
cucumber
The Amazing Cucumber!
Hold the presses!!
Folks, apparently we have seriously underestimated the humble cucumber.
No longer is it the simple bedfellow of simple salads and soggy sandwiches. The cucumber could almost be listed as the eighth wonder of the world when you take into account the many uses it is good for.

Here is the list of them that was published in The New York Times as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series .

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!


6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finished a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

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Time to sell!

February 21st 2010 01:42
for sale
The Sandwich Shak is up for sale
When I first started this blog it was to share the day to day trials and tribulations of running a cafe/takeaway.

So many quirky customers, so many food stories to share to the world.

Then I got work as a writer/journalist with my own business and spent less and less time in the shop, which by that stage had become award winning after scoring the Local Business Award on the NSW North Coast for takeaway shops.

Hubby continued on and has really enjoyed cooking, preparing and serving up food to the hungry masses. But now it's time to move on.

We have grown the business as far as we can take it, without me working in the shop, so now it's time for someone else to maintain or take it further.

Hubby is wanting to further his skills in the food industry but we may just take a well earned break with our kids first. In three years we have probably only taken three weeks holidays. One of those weeks was made up of sporadic days and weekends off from the shop.

So for those who know us and have supported us, thank you. Mind you we will continue to trade until the shop is sold.

This blog continues as it has also moved on, reporting on food news of interest, recipes and general snippets of 'foodertainment'.

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Potato Apple and Rocket Soup

February 1st 2010 02:52
soup
Potato, Apple and Rocket Soup
Having written about my cooking game in the previous post, it got me thinking that I should give it another go. So my next few posts may have some unusual recipes in them...or not. That's the beauty of the game.

Anyway after picking two random numbers (the time on the digital clock) I landed on Potato, Apple and Rocket (Arugula for our US friends) Soup from my 'Whats Cooking Potatoes' recipe book.

Hubbie took one look at the recipe and opted out, so I decided it would be a lunchtime venture for one.

I diced my one potato and quartered half an onion (I cut the recipe for a serving of one thanks to my unadventurous family) then sauteed them gently in a frypan for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Thenn I added a splash of lemon juice, some chicken stock (add plenty as mine evaporated quite quicky), a diced apple and a pinch of ground allspice.

Once I brought it to the boil I reduced the heat and only simmered for 10 minutes. The recipe says 15 but that was with more quantities of ingredients. I then added the rocket and cooked a further 5 minutes until the potato was cooked through.

Testing the potato was interesting as I kept scooping out pieces of apple. They tended to look the same.

Then I transferred half the soup to my mini-blender and processed for a minute, returning to the pan and stirring in the remaining soup.

Anyone trying this can season to taste but I felt there was enough taste in it. While a bit tangy it was definitely warming to the tummy and I even managed to get my five year old to taste it. When I asked if he liked it he replied "No, not really!"

Oh well, maybe the next pick will be more family friendly.
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My Cooking Game

January 21st 2010 11:28
books
My bookshelf groaning with cookbooks
I am just finishing the book Julie & Julia written by Julie Powell, that has recenlty been made into a movie starring Meryl Streep out at the cinema.

I gotta say, I so get Julie Powell. I get that she thought up the project. I get that she took a year to finish it. I get her love/hate relationship with cooking


[ Click here to read more ]
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Green Meatballs and Spaghetti

January 16th 2010 05:36
Spinach Meatballs with Spaghetti
Spinach Meatballs with Spaghetti
I love simple recipes but I certainly don't mind them with a twist either.
I like the idea of spinach in meatballs because it gets the kids eating greens without them worrying too much about it.
According to my Table magazine this recipe is only $2.75 per serve as well


[ Click here to read more ]
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Chicken Noodle Soup

January 5th 2010 09:31
soup
Yummy chicken noodle soup
When you're feeling sick, need a cosy meal or just have a few leftovers to use up then this following recipe may be just what the doctor ordered.

Ingredients
[ Click here to read more ]
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Burnt Food Museum

December 29th 2009 01:07
burnt
The matching set of burnt pizza toast at the Burnt Food Museum
OK, hands up! Who has ever had a kitchen disaster where they've forgotten that pie in the oven...or screamed that ultimate anthem of disaster while on the phone 'OH MY GOODNESS, THE CHIPS!!"?

Who has ever had to peel some black conglomeration from the bottom of their pans


[ Click here to read more ]
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Interesting Facts about Food

December 17th 2009 23:44
food facts
There is so much to learn about the fuel we put in our bodies
Did you know that:

Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries


[ Click here to read more ]
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Food as an Art

December 10th 2009 23:42
watermelon
Watermelon man
What whimsical ideas some people have...and the time they must also have access to to create such wonders.
face
Imagine seeing this in your lunchbox!

Here are a few of my favourites on my travels throughout the internet looking for quirky food snippets. A good source, if you are interested in seeing more is www.pjlighthouse.com. Worth a look


[ Click here to read more ]
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Get Gourmet Food Fast

November 9th 2009 02:05
fast food
Whop Perguignon (Fancy Whopper & Steakhouse Burger)
I love doing research about food on the internet. The ideas that people come up with in relation to food is really quite phenomenal and creative.

Here's one of the more interesting food websites I've found


[ Click here to read more ]
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