New Year's Eve is near and all around the world Champagne bottles are being sold at an impressive rate. This year is almost over and what's the best way to receive the next one? With a glass of bubbly, of course! Here's another idea for you: how about impressing all your friends and family with Champagne trivia? I'll help you out with that.

Christmas is near and that means family, presents and great food. In this post, which is going to be a bit more personal than usual, I'll tell you about the food I eat during the holidays. To begin my story, I'll tell you that I live in Venezuela, South America. Our Christmas traditions are very different from those in the U.S., but they are equally beautiful and enjoyable.

I finally updated my "About me" page, so feel free to take a peek. I'll post more stuff soon. Cheers!

As you already know, I make my own granola, in order to customize it to my taste and budget. Yesterday, I made about 2 kilos (over 4 pounds) for me, my family and some friends. This time I added walnuts, almond flakes, sesame seeds, raisins and homemade dried apples. Drying your own apples is very easy and it was an interesting experience. Sadly, it's only a bit cheaper than buying them at the supermarket, but at least I can be sure that no sugar was added. 

I'm not a soup person, definitely. Given the choice, I'll almost never eat it. However, there are some soups that warm my heart and my stomach, including chicken broth, pumpkin soup, tomato soup, onion soup and goulash. Chicken broth is known for its healing properties, being my number one choice for an upset stomach and flu symptoms. It's very easy to make and you can always add noodles, vegetables, rice or even an egg to make it richer.

Before you jump screaming “of course!”, let me tell you something: I don't like them. Yep, that's right. I don't like marshmallows. I've always loved the way they look, like fluffy little pillows of sugar, but after the first bite, I remember that I don't like them and give them to someone else.

Have you ever tried ceviche? If you love fish and seafood, this Latin American dish is a must for you. Popular along the coast of Central and South America, this dish is basically fresh raw fish, marinated in spices and cooked in lime juice. Yes, I did say raw fish cooked in lime juice. Before you raise an eyebrow and dismiss the idea of ever trying it, let me explain you a bit about the chemistry of cooking without fire.

It's widely known that the usual recommendation for fruits and vegetables is 5 portions a day. We also know that fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other wonderful nutrients. However, do you know how big those portions are? What vegetables don't count? Well, I didn't, so research was mandatory. I can't actually increase my vegetable intake without knowing my portions, right?

My nephews, as many small children, are picky eaters. They can identify a vegetable quickly enough to run away from it before their parents notice they're gone from the table. Myself, I eat my vegetables because I HAVE to, not because I WANT to, and I've admitted before that I don't eat enough greens. How can this situation be reversed? With a bit of imagination, of course. Veggies in disguise!

 

If you've tried pesto sauce, you've probably fallen in love with its wonderful flavor and vibrant green color. Fresh homemade pesto, with superb basil aroma, will undoubtedly sweep you off your feet. But did you know that pesto offers nutritional benefits too? Read on!

One of the simplest rules in weight loss is “eat when you're hungry”. Sounds easy, right? Guess again. Most of our eating is done according to a schedule, an event or an external stimulus. Lunch breaks at work, family dinners, birthday parties or a free sample at the supermarket are messing with our hunger signals. It's time to take control back.

If anyone asked my about my favorite cake, I would answer without hesitation: Black Forest cake. Layers of chocolate cake, whipped cream and cherries constitute the foundation of this great dessert, which was born in Germany almost a century ago. It's usually decorated with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and cherries.

As a part of eating healthier, I've made a few small changes to my habits. I understand that I should be making bigger efforts, but every time I change too much too soon, I revert back to my old self. So, a few small changes seem like an easier goal than going in full diet mode.

Recently, I found myself bombarded with this grim statement: “healthy eating is a privilege of the rich”. Even though I already suspected it, just knowing for a fact that I can't afford to eat as healthy as I wished made me a bit sad.

Don't speak to me before my morning coffee, please. Before my first cup of coffee I'm still asleep and very grumpy, but as soon as I drink it, my mood begins to rise. Being the most popular drink in the world, coffee has been considered both a bad habit and a healthy choice. Recently, scientists have been able to change our perception about coffee and given this old beverage a fresh new look.

A Michelin star is a quality rating given to restaurants around the globe. While most people have heard the term “Michelin star”, not everyone knows where this name comes from.

I've been making recently my very own homemade granola, perfectly customized and not overly sweet. It keeps me satisfied for a long time and helps curb my sugar cravings. Why making it instead of buying it? Well, commercial brands tend to be too sweet and the labels indicate large amounts of fat and sodium. Also, being able to customize my granola keeps me interested in it.

Hello!
Blogger has been acting up on me lately, so I haven't been able to publish. I hope at least this post gets through. I will be back ASAP.
Thanks for your patience.

Eggs have been a passion for me all my life. The possibilities are endless: scrambled, fried, hard-boiled, poached, omelettes, etc. Packed with nutrients, eggs are also a good source of protein and can be eaten at any time of the day. From simple scrambled eggs to eggs Benedict, there is a dish for everyone and every taste.

 Have you ever been in a restaurant and asked for a dish you didn't know was spicy? Well, it happened to me last night and while the food was good, I really didn't enjoy it. It was incredibly spicy and water didn't seem to help. Then, my boyfriend remembered reading once that milk was good for mouth burn, so we finished our meal with vanilla ice cream. It worked, but why?

A long time ago I saw a commercial on TV about diet pills that were "amazing". I won't say the name, but you were supposed to take the pills with 2 glasses of water before every meal. I was outraged! I told everyone that would listen (and some that wouldn't) that if you drank that much water before every meal you wouldn't need the pills. Common sense. Drink water, feel fuller, eat less, lose weight.

Although the term sugar addiction sounds a bit harsh, studies are being made to settle the question once and for all: is the overeating of sugary food a habit or an addiction? The problems associated with a high sugar intake range from obesity, tooth decay, diabetes, heart disease and some others. Even though sugar isn't nearly as scary as alcohol or drugs, most of us are used to eat large amounts of it. The worst part is that we are unaware of our high consumption of this sweet substance!

I'll begin by telling you what this blog is not about.

There are a zillion blogs that include recipes, and some of them are useful, beautiful or just plain addictive. But I think recipes should be written by cooks, chefs or bakers, and I'm none of them. I'm also not a food critic, so I won't attempt to review any restaurants.