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When Was the Last Time You Explored These Unique Museums in Austin, Texas?

March 5, 2015 by

A cutting edge city like Austin has much to offer to its visitors, and it even boasts the unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird." Visit these thought-provoking attractions and see how Austin even takes a unique approach to something as basic as a day at the museum!

Bullock Texas State History Museum
Discover the tale of Texas at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Located a few blocks from the Texas State Capitol building, this museum showcases the pride and history of the Lone Star State. You'll be captivated from the moment you're greeted by the 35-foot-tall bronze star sculpture that sits at the entrance to the museum. The cutting-edge Texas Spirit IMAX Theater will keep you on the edge of your seat, as it shows educational films that showcase state-of-the-art special effects. Be sure to check the museum's calendar for upcoming special events, which are sure to excite and amaze.

Museum of the Weird
Austin is openly proud to be unique, and this is very apparent at the Museum of the Weird. The museum is located right on Sixth Street in the heart of the city, and visitors can see strange and unusual items on a tour through some of the oddest pieces of recent history. Creep through twisted hallways, passing wax statues and giant movie monsters. You never know what will pop up next, and this museum will have your mouth on the ground and your brain in a tizzy. After your tour is over, be sure to stop by the gift shop and pick up a souvenir to commemorate this truly weird trip.

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Saturated Fats Lurk in These Two Common Foods

February 19, 2015 by

Saturated fats are a hot topic in the nutrition world today, mainly because they increase the blood cholesterol that leads to heart disease. Though the average person should consume less than 10% of these “solid” fats each day, most Americans go well over that amount. If you want to cut down on the saturated fats that you’re likely unknowingly consuming, here are two foods to avoid.

  1. High-fat cuts of meat. Saturated fats often appear in the marbled parts of meat, which are quite literally where the fat is stored in the animal. Avoid marbled meats like bacon, salami, and lesser quality cuts of steak in order to reduce your saturated fat intake, and be sure to trim the fat from any meat that you prepare.
  2. Coconut oil. Though many sources have been preaching the health benefits of coconut oil lately, if you’re avoiding saturated fats the negatives often outweigh the positives. Coconut oil is a hydrogenated oil, which is by definition the food that contains the most saturated fat. It is made up of 93% saturated fat, and just one tablespoon of coconut oil contains 65% of your recommended daily value.

Top 10 Foods Highest in Saturated Fat [Healthaliciousness]
Saturated Fats Are Primarily Found in What Groups? [SF Gate]
Saturated Fat [CDC]
Fat and Oils [Better Health Channel]

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Snack on a Handful of These Fiber-Rich Foods

February 5, 2015 by

Though many people think of breads and bran cereals when it comes to fiber, there are actually a wide variety of other food sources for this beneficial nutrient. If you want to incorporate more fiber into your diet in order to improve your digestion, prevent stroke and heart attack, and keep you feeling more full, try these two surprising food sources.

  1. Nuts. While fiber-rich breads can be high in calories and carbohydrates, nuts are a healthy snack that will also provide you with healthy fiber. Just 1/4 cup of almonds contains four grams of fiber, which really adds up if you eat small handfuls throughout the day. If you prefer a different type of nut to almonds, that’s okay too; each type of nut contains a variety of unique health benefits and its own amount of fiber.
  2. Chia seeds. If you’re growing a bit tired of getting fiber from fruits and vegetables, try eating chia seeds instead. These tiny seeds contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, and just one tablespoon contains up to six grams of the nutrient. Many people add chia seeds to their iced tea or another cold beverage before consuming them. This causes the seeds to swell full of the liquid, which makes for a truly unique and healthy snack.

The 16 Most Surprising High-Fiber Foods [Greatist]
High Fiber Foods: 7 Surprising Sources [HuffPost Healthy Living]
10 Surprising Sources of Fiber [Yahoo! Shine]
The Most Surprising High-Fiber Foods [Health]

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Have an Interest in Home Renovation? These HGTV Shows Are for You!

January 22, 2015 by

If you have an interest in home restoration—while watching other people do all the work!—you’ll love HGTV’s hours of programming dedicated to home renovations. Here are two of the network’s most popular home makeover shows.

Beachfront Bargain Hunt
While beachfront properties can be very expensive, the budget-savvy homebuyers on Beachfront Bargain Hunt get the most bang for their buck by purchasing fixer-uppers and, well, fixing them up. Watch as dingy old beach huts are transformed into glamorous getaways right along the shore, and you’ll find yourself dreaming of the ocean yourself.

House Hunters
To someone who loves home design, there are few things more fascinating than getting a sneak peak at someone during their home buying process. HGTV’s House Hunters is the network’s cornerstone program—and for good reason. The show follows a very vast variety of different types of people as they search for condos, single-family homes, apartments, and even old firehouses turned into industrial city lofts in just about every city across the country.

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Know These Three Terms Before Getting Creative in the Kitchen

December 18, 2014 by

Any cook knows that for a dish to turn out as intended, he or she needs to have a clear understanding of the recipe. That includes knowing the different common ways to cut and slice ingredients. Here are three terms you should know before getting started in the kitchen.

  1. Pare. Preferably done with a paring knife, to pare a fruit or vegetable means to peel the outer skin from it. Apples and potatoes are often prepared this way.
  2. Mince. You can do this with a sharp knife or kitchen scissor, just so long as you cut or chop the ingredient into very fine pieces. Mincing often applies to herbs and spices.
  3. Dice. If a recipe asked you to dice an ingredient, it means to chop it into small, uniform pieces. Chunky salsas and fruit salads often employ this action.

The Basic Kitchen:Glossary of Cooking Terms [Le Petites Gourmettes]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes and Gardens]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Cookery]
Culinary Terms: Food Dictionary and Glossary of Cooking Terms [Culinary Arts About.com]

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Knife Techniques and Tips Every Home Cook Should Master

December 4, 2014 by

Kitchen knives are a necessity for just about any type of cooking, but they can also be quite dangerous if used incorrectly. By learning the proper knife techniques, you can master the art of chopping, dicing, and slicing without risking injury.

  1. Start with a clean knife. Although you may think that cuts are the only dangers caused my knives, bacteria is also incredibly hazardous to your health. Be sure to clean your knife with hot water and dishwashing soap before using.
  2. Keep knives sharp. In order to guarantee fast, accurate cuts with minimal effort, you'll need to keep your knives sharp. You can do this by using a sharpening stone or by taking your knives to the store where you purchased them for sharpening.
  3. Learn to chop. Chopping involves roughly cutting a food item into pieces, and it is likely the most common cutting technique. To properly chop something, grip the knife securely and place either the knife's tip or the corner closest to your hand firmly against the cutting board. Use your wrist as a fulcrum to pull the rest of the knife up and down, keeping that end against the cutting board the whole time.
  4. Research other techniques. Dicing involves cutting into small, uniform pieces, while a chiffonade is how you properly cut herbs. You should also practice peeling things like apples or potatoes with a sharp knife.

Knife Skills: Different Types of Cuts [The Culinary Cook]
Top 10 Knife Skills [How Stuff Works]
Perfect Your Knife Skills With This Chef's Guide to Knives [Lifehacker]

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These Fiber-Rich Foods Might Surprise You

November 20, 2014 by

Fiber is good for much more than digestion; it can also reduce your risk of stroke, hypertension, and heart disease, and it can make you feel fuller longer! Because only around 3% of Americans consume the recommended amount of fiber, check out these surprising sources to incorporate more into your diet.

  1. Legumes. Foods like split peas, lentils, and black beans are some of the best sources of fiber in the legume family. They all contain 15 grams of fiber or more per cup, and they’re a very filling side dish or accompaniment to soups, salads, and rice dishes.
  2. Artichokes. The oddly shaped artichoke is having a moment in the cooking world lately, and for very good reason. One medium artichoke contains 10.3 grams of beneficial fiber, and it tastes delicious when cooked with olive oil and a bit of sea salt.
  3. Raspberries. Fruits aren’t normally the first place you look for fiber, but raspberries actually contain a very impressive amount of the nutrient. One cup of raw raspberries contains eight grams of fiber, and they’re sweet and juicy to eat.

The 16 Most Surprising High-Fiber Foods [Greatist]
High Fiber Foods: 7 Surprising Sources [HuffPost Healthy Living]
10 Surprising Sources of Fiber [Yahoo! Shine]
The Most Surprising High-Fiber Foods [Health]

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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

October 16, 2014 by

If you carve a pumpkin this fall season, you might want to try roasting the pumpkin seeds instead of tossing them out after carving. Although it may seem like a complicated endeavor, roasting pumpkin seeds is actually very easy, enjoyable, and delicious. Use these simple steps to roast pumpkin seeds at home.

  1. Scoop the seeds. After you cut the pumpkin, scoop the seeds out using a large spoon. They’ll be covered in some pretty unpleasant stringy bits, so try to remove as many of those as possible while scooping.
  2. Dry with a towel. Next, dry the seeds as much as possible with a clean towel. They won’t get completely dry, but you should try to remove as much of the excess moisture as possible.
  3. Oil and season. Drizzle the pumpkin seeds with a bit of olive oil and season however you please. You can use simple salt, cinnamon, and sugar or even some spicy jalapeno if you’re feeling adventurous.
  4. Spread on a baking tray. Spread the seeds on a baking sheet, making sure to arrange them in a single layer.
  5. Roast. Finally, roast the seeds in the oven for approximately 20 to 25 minutes at 325 degrees. If you choose to, you can stir the seeds once or twice during baking to ensure that they bake thoroughly all over. Once they’re roasted, simply cool and enjoy.

How To Roast Perfect Pumpkin Seeds – Easy, Crunchy, Addictive! [Oh She Glows]
How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds [Pumpkin Patches and More]
How To Roast Pumpkin and Squash Seeds [The Kitchn]

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4 Flavorful Ways to Enjoy Pumpkin This Fall

September 18, 2014 by

Now that you’re an adult, you’ve finally come to the sad realization that you can’t eat pumpkin pie for every meal throughout the fall season. Lucky for pumpkin lovers everywhere, there are a number of different ways to prepare this fall favorite.

Thai Pumpkin Soup [allrecipes.com]
Pumpkin soup is a staple of Thai cuisine, beloved for its mild flavor and warm, filling taste that’s perfect on chilly afternoons. This recipe blends healthy pumpkin with unsweetened coconut milk, and you can customize the spices to make it as spicy or as mild as you like.

Classic Pumpkin Pie [myrecipes.com]
If you’re in charge of providing the dessert at an autumn gathering, you can’t go wrong with a classic pumpkin pie. This traditional recipe is a great one to keep in your arsenal.

Pumpkin Butter [marthastewart.com]
With only four ingredients and not much skill required, pumpkin butter is a simple recipe that goes a long way. This version includes turbinado sugar and brown sugar for an extra sweet taste that’s perfect on your morning toast.

Pumpkin Cannelloni with Sage Butter Sauce [countryliving.com]
Take your love of pumpkin to a whole new level by turning it into a pasta entree. Large cannelloni noodles are stuffed with sweet pumpkin and topped with a simple, savory sage butter sauce that looks (and tastes) more complex than it actually is.

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Ceviche Recipes You Need to Taste to Believe

August 21, 2014 by

Traditional ceviche is a popular Latin American dish, but the citrus-marinated fish dish has also become popular among ethnic restaurants all over the world. It can be made with a variety of different ingredients, though the flavorful combination of raw fish and lemon or lime remains virtually the same. This trio of creative ceviche recipes is perfect for the adventurous at-home chef.

Halibut-Mango Ceviche [MyRecipes]
Mild halibut is perfectly seasoned with the sweet taste of juicy mango and the spicy kick of jalapeno in this tropical ceviche dish. It’s surprisingly easy to make, and it pairs perfectly with crispy tortilla chips or tostadas!

Coconut Lime Ceviche [Cooking Channel TV]
The meaty cubes of coconut replace the traditional fish in this unique ceviche recipe, but the tart lime juice still adds a refreshing burst of flavor. It’s also seasoned with a wide variety of herbs and spices to add an even more intense taste.

Snapper Ceviche with Chiles and Herbs [Chow]
Both lime and orange juice create a wonderfully acidic reaction with the flaky snapper in this spicy ceviche. The traditional blend of chiles and herbs is also on par with the authentic Latin recipe. Be sure to ask for a top-grade cut of fish since you’ll essentially be serving it raw.

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