Chef Raman: Why Bacon Is Healthy ?BY CHEF Ramandeep Anand

Chef Raman: Why Bacon Is Healthy ?BY CHEF Ramandeep Anand: Bacon is one of the most iconic meats in America. It is part of our culture, glamorized in fast food advertisements and served at breakfas...

Why Bacon Is Healthy ?BY CHEF Ramandeep Anand

Bacon is one of the most iconic meats in America. It is part of our culture, glamorized in fast food advertisements and served at breakfast tables around the country. Who can resist that irresistible crunch and savory taste that only bacon can provide? However, despite its delicious reputation, bacon has long been considered dangerous to our health. Critics have cited bacon's high fat, cholesterol, sodium, and nitrite levels as health detractors, to the extent where bacon is seen as an indulgence to avoid. New evidence, however, shows that this long-standing belief may not be justified. Check out why bacon is actually good for you.

Healthy Fat  

Bacon's main attraction is its high fat content. Half of the fat in bacon is monounsaturated, made up mostly of oleic acid, the same kind of acid found in healthy olive oil. Another type found in bacon, palmitoleic acid, has valuable antimicrobial properties that add to the health benefits of bacon. While the other forty percent of bacon fat consists of saturated fat, this saturated fat is actually healthy! It helps to keep bacon fat stable and prevents it from going rancid. Other benefits of bacon fat include high levels of vitamin D and high antioxidant levels.

Necessary Cholesterol

Another concern of critics is a high cholesterol level in bacon. However, new evidence shows that dietary cholesterol is actually important for us to consume and is not associated with increased risk of heart disease or other health problems. Furthermore, cholesterol is even necessary to regulate our hormones and bodily functions. Oxidized cholesterol, however, can contribute to these health risks. This type of cholesterol is often found in powdered milk and powdered egg in processed food, and can be responsible for heart disease. It is important to avoid this processed cholesterol, and supply your body with natural cholesterol like from bacon.

Important Salt

The high salt content of bacon has also caused fears, as nutritionists often warn of the dangers of sodium. However, salt is actually very important and necessary for correct bodily function. For example, it is used to create blood, sweat, tears, and mucus in our bodies. Low-salt diets can even increase the chance of heart disease, osteoporosis, and hypertension. Today, Americans eat half as much salt as in the times before refrigeration when meat was preserved with salting. Even animals know the importance of salt, as they seek out sources for sodium, such as salt licks. There is therefore no reason to avoid bacon because of its salt content. In fact, the extra salt might even make you healthier!

Conclusion

In summary, the fat, cholesterol, and salt in bacon is nothing to be concerned with. These things are all important to out diets and should be consumed regularly. However, the one thing to watch out for in bacon is preservatives added to extend the shelf life. In processed bacon there are usually several artificial preservatives added, such as nitrates. These are a problem in most processed meats and can cause health problems. To avoid these it is best practice to buy fresh, natural bacon. Then you can enjoy your delicious and nutritious breakfast, bacon and all!

Thanks

Chef Ramandeep Anand

Aronia berries and its importance

Aronia Berries - By Chef Ramandeep Anand


Aronia plants  are an American native that have many health benefits that are causing major interest. This article discusses how they can be consumed. One of the answers is to make juice. After the European and Russians discovered the health benefits from eating the berries their juice has probably become the world's most widely selling super fruit juice. You can find this juice in stores all over Europe. This article discusses examples of other value added products that can be made from the berries and their juice. In addition to juice this includes a number of unusually good items such as syrups, wines, sauces, marinades, berry chews, berry Crumb Bars and chutney.

Aroina Berry Products

Apart from being eaten fresh, these berries are now appearing in different forms of food that offer the same amount of nutrition. Some examples are discussed below.

1.) Juice is the most common use of the berries.

As already mentioned juice is one of the primary products made from the berries. As a general rule, 1 to 2 pounds of berries yields approximately 2 cups of juice. The juice can either be consumed as is, sweetened with stevia or blended with other fruit juices. Some say using an apple cider press 16 lb of berries can produce 1 gallon of juice.

2.) Syrup can be made from the juice.

The Ingredients are as follows:

• 7 cups juice
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 package Pomona pectin not gelatin
• 3 cups fructevia

3.) Southwest Barbecue Rib Sauce is a delicious item.

The Ingredients are as follows:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup juice
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/8 cup Fructevia
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cayenne

4.) Teriyaki Marinade made with Berries, Ginger and Garlic

The Ingredients are as follows:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger root, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

5.) Chutney is a condiment similar to relish. This is a condiment used in South Asian cuisine.

The Ingredients are as follows:

• 1 cup apple (peeled and chopped Granny Smith)
• 1 cup fresh or frozen Aronia berries
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons Apple Cider
• 1 teaspoon pinto bean flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

6.) Aronia Salsa, this homemade salsa begins with healthy, vine ripened ingredients.

The Ingredients are as follows:

• 6 cups diced tomatoes
• 1 cup of chopped dandelion leaves or chopped cilantro
• 1 cup diced red peppers
• 1 cup diced green peppers
• 1 cup of a diced onion
• 3 diced jalapeo peppers
• 1 cup chopped aronia berries

Combine all ingredients and serve

7. Frozen berries, you can freeze the berries for later use or dehydrate fruit.

8. Muffins, pancakes, bar cookies can be made. Aronia berries and juice is the perfect ingredient for delicious recipes like muffins and pancakes. You get great taste plus antioxidants, and anthocyanins all at the same time. Top pancakes filled with aronia berries with cereals or add it to your fruit salad.

9. Aronia berry leather is convenient, delicious, and healthy since it is unadulterated by the addition of sugar.

I just love the aronia berries

Thanks ,  Regards 
Ramandeep Anand

Ten Singaporean Foods That will rock your taste buds -BY CHEF RAMAN

CHEF ARVIND SARASWAT AND CHEF RAMANDEEP ANAND

Ten Singaporean Foods That will rock your taste buds -BY CHEF RAMAN   ( recently Came In world chef magazine issue 5)        

Bak Kut Teh.

Without any uncertainty, Singapore is one of the most wonderful places when it comes to food and culture. What is interesting about the place is that its cuisines are as culturally diverse as its people are. The foods in the country feature a combination of Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Malay, and Western influences, which makes the Lion City a good place to visit. If you are a food aficionado, here is a list of the most savory Singaporean foods that you should not miss:


• Bak Kut Teh. This dish is a pork ribs soup that had its origins in China. It is cooked in different herbs and spices, which include garlic, pepper, and salt, amongst others. Typically, one consumes the food with rice and other complementary dishes such as fried dough, bread, and salted vegetables.

Black Pepper Crab

• Black Pepper Crab. 
One may find this dish in almost all restaurants over the Lion City, principally for the reason that it is one of the most popular Asian dishes known to tourists. The black pepper crab is mixed with bird's eye chilies, butter, curry leaves, dried shrimps, pepper, and further seasonings.  

Chicken Rice.

Chicken Rice. This savory Singaporean dish simply entails rice cooked in a palatable chicken broth. The skinless breast meat is simmered to create a savory and juicy chicken. With regard to consuming the dish, one may choose to eat it with a chili sauce or with green onions and cucumbers.

• Chili Crab. 

This is probably the most popular Singaporean food, and most people associate the chili crab as the face of the country's cuisine. In the main, this dish is made of meaty crabs in a sweet and spicy sauce. You may choose to consume the dish with rice or deep fried mantou, but whichever way you prefer, eating chili crab is still going to be one of the most satisfying experiences that you

can have in your life.

• Duck Rice. This is somehow similar to the Hainanese chicken rice, but this dish focuses on rice cooked with duck and vegetables. It is also served with a syrupy sauce, which has been a common way for people to consume Singaporean dishes.

• Fish Head Curry. This dish is made of a huge fish head that is boiled in curry gravy. The dish, which is also popular in china and India, is best consumed with white rice.

• Katong Laksa. This famous piquant noodle soup had its origins in the Perankan civilization. Katong laksa has numerous variations, which have sprung from the number of cultures that influenced the dish.

• Nasi Lemak. This dish is made of anchovies, chili paste, coconut rice, cucumber, and omelette.

• Roti Prata. This popular breakfast dish is cooked from cheese, flour, egg, and numerous spices. One may choose to add further ingredients to the dish, and consume it either plainly or with a bowl of curry.

• Satay. This dish is similar to barbecue in other Asian countries, since it features sliced and roasted meat on wooden sticks. With regard to how you may consume Satay, you may choose to eat it with vegetables, peanut sauce, or rice cubes, amongst others.

Thanks & regards

Ramandeep anand