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Focaccia is a fashionable style of bread made in Italy. It is spreading to other places in the world where Italian settlers and traders have formed communities. The bread is plain from inside and fairly flat topped with herbs and olives. There is a variety of Focaccia and new varieties have been made in the 21str century due to the flexibility of the basic recipe.

According to many historians, Focaccia originated from the Ancient Greece or with the Etruscans of North Central Italy before the Roman Empire. Flat bread has been made throughout the Middle East and extending to Persia for this long as well. This makes it almost impossible to identify a specific culture behind focaccia.

Focaccia is not traditional unleavened bread and the loaf slightly rises. In the Middle East, focaccia’s is mostly unknown. However it has a story of being prepared in Spain, Turkey, France, Italy and Greece.

The focaccia was historically not leavened, its natural recipe which rises in the right climate which gives a clue about its origins. Considering that the inland Mediterranean is fairly mountainous, it can be speculated that focaccia was first created by inland people. On the contrary, the Phoenician people were not known to eat bread similar to focaccia who originated from the coastal Syria and coastal Lebanon spreading throughout the Mediterranean by 1100 BC. A small quantity of yeast is needed in coastal areas to make the bread rise, otherwise the result will be a a traditional flat bread.

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The Roman words ‘panis focacius’ is from where the name Focaccia derived. Panis means bread and is different form ‘pan’ of modern English. Focacius is also a Latin word meaning center or fireplace. In Roman times, focaccia was cooked in ashes of a fire rather than on a tray above fire. This makes the translation seem to be correct.

Romans used to mix a simple recipe of rough flour, water, olive oil, little amount of yeast and salt. It could have been seasoned with herbs but was plain in most cases. Then it was baked in ‘focacius’. Focaccia was used as dipping bread in Roman times, it was torn by hand dipped in salty soups. This doesn’t sound very appetizing in this modern time but was cheap and filling meal for people who were doing long labor. In fact focaccia style breads were used extensively by slaves in the Roman Empire and a stigma still exists today in some countries.

Focaccia style recipes are made in France and are considered a daily bread by a major part of the population. It is still one of the most popular breads sold in bakeries.

Since the medieval ages, focaccia was used quite extensively by the Catholic Church during religious festivities mostly during the Eucharist. The unleavened recipe of focaccia is most commonly used.

Italian immigrants in the 20th century brought different recipes with them to the United States including focaccia. However, focaccia is no longer strictly the preserve of Italian communities and can be now found in almost all bakeries and supermarkets. It makes delicious sandwich bread and is often served with cheese and other fillings. It is also available with a wide variety of seasonings.

Cholesterol and Fish Oil

Those with high triglyceride levels is usually recommended to begin incorporating two servings of fish into their diet each week.

The research is evident that certain Omega-3 fatty acids that happen to be found in fish oils and other sources can lower blood lipid levels. Fish oil was particularly beneficial in your treatment of high triglycerides. By taking 2 to 4 g of fish oil daily, high triglycerides levels is likely to be lowered between 20%-50%. Triglycerides are talked about as a kind of cholesterol linked to an encouraging risk of coronary heart disease.

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By simple eating fish twice a week, levels of cholesterol have become lowered and kept under control for those with no history of heart disease. Include anchovies, trout, sardines, catfish, bass, salmon, albacore tune, mackerel, and herring are fish type which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, understand that aren’t all fish.

For those that don’t enjoy eating fish, there are more food sources of omega-3 fatty acids, include tofu; canola, flaxseed and olive oils; English walnuts, leafy, pumpkin seeds, and green vegetables like kale.

Meals are the highest sources to get through Omega-3 fatty acids. However, people can get through diet alone and in many cases supplements to accomplish the needed of more fatty acids. Compared with Omega-3 fatty acids, the studying of how supplements work to lower cholesterol levels remains continued. It’s endorsed to speak to your wellbeing provider before you start a supplement treatment. You find what kind of the fish oil benefits and the precise fish oil dosage.

Warning :
Omega-3 fatty acids could also increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke dependant upon the National Institutes of Health. It means bleeding in a brain. Fish oil can raise the blood sugar of those with diabetes. Always check with your medical professional if in case you have diabetes or are at an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

One excellent source of vitamin D is cod liver oil. But first lets discuss exactly where vitamin D comes from, besides cod liver oil.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone precursor that contributes to the maintenance of normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the bloodstream. Strictly speaking, it is not a vitamin since human skin can manufacture it, but it is referred to as one for historical reasons. It is often known as calciferol One cup of vitamin D fortified milk supplies about one-fourth of the RDA (Required Daily Allowance).

Twenty minutes of fully body exposure to sunlight equals about 20,000 IU (international units)

As we age we need even more vitamin D. Here is the daily chart

* Ages 19-50 – 200 IU

* Ages 51-69 – 400 IU

* Ages 70 and above – 600 IU

One tablespoon is about 1,400 IU of vitamin D, therefore one teaspoon is 450 IU (3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon)

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Most cod liver oil comes from Norway and the other Scandinavian countries; where it has been part of the diet for decades. The immune-boosting benefits of the oil may be only now coming to light in this country, but they’ve been common knowledge in those countries. You’ll still find that most moms and grandmothers keep a jar of cod liver oil in their cupboard. If you take or decide to use cod liver oil to get your vitamin D, which l think is an excellent option, keep a few things in mind.

First, if you sunbathe 20 minues a day, 3 times a week, you may not need to supplement with cod liver oil.

If you do not sunbathe a lot, I would suggest having your doctor check your vitamin D levels before you take cod liver oil; you may need to add vitamin D as a supplement. Second, not all cod liver oil is the same. In fact, most products are worthless, either because they’re rancid or because of the way they’re produced. Also, much like olive oil, cod liver oil is marketed in a couple of different grades. Regular cod liver oil from the top of the barrel is a lighter oil containing less in the way of vitamins and essential fatty acids. Obviously therefore this means that the oil at the bottom of the barrell is a higher quality.

Keep in mind that vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. If you have difficulty digesting fats (or have had your gallbladder removed and aren’t taking bile salts), you will have a more difficult t!me using vitamin D from cod liver oil. Cod liver oil has also been shown to work better when there is an adequate amount of saturated fats in the diet as well. A high-quality butter works well in this respect.

What Growing Conditions Does The Poppy Need

The conditions that poppies prefer to be grown in, are areas with at least 6 hours of sunlight they prefer a median loam type of soil with a sand base. If they are planted in soil containing clay it needs to be able to drain properly and still retain moisture.

The soil itself can be acidic, and the plant will still thrive in different temperatures, this plant can endure temperatures as low as 23°. Which makes them perfect for many gardeners in Europe, Canada and the United States.

The poppies can be planted from seed, however transplanting seedlings often does not work needed grow slowly or will die. For the gardener planting poppies it needs to have good drainage and retain moisture, planting the seeds must be done after the last frost. Planting the seeds before the last frost can damage the seeds and cause them not to grow.

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When the weather exceeds 80° the blooms from the poppy will begin to fade and if they are not kept cool with water and that would end their blooms for the season.

Since the poppy is a type of wild flower it can tolerate moderate amounts of water as long as the soil can remain moist and over watering can cause the poppy to die. In many areas gardeners do not need to water the poppy, unless it is a drought season and then watering should be moderate.

What is Poppy Seed Oil Used For?

Poppy seed oil or Oleum papaveris and it would be botanically known is extracted from the seeds of the garden or opium poppy and is a high quality oil during the first pressing of the seeds. There is also a second pressing that obtains a less quality oil that is not food grade oil, but it is also useful oil.

Countries such as France, Germany and India use the poppy oil for salads and other foods as it is comparable with sunflower oil and is not as apt to turn rancid as olive oil. In India and other countries there is a poppy cake made by many of the poor.

For artists the advantage of using this oil is that it has a greater drying power then raw linseed oil and is favored by artists that use oil paints, because it does not leave a yellow tint like linseed oil would. It does have a slower drying time than linseed oil, which dries in 3 to 5 days, so it is not used in the first layer of painting but rather in the top most coats of the painting, taking 5 to 7 days to dry.

This type of oil is also used in soaps, because after dehydrogenation it is a source of linoleic acid, it is also used in making liniments, and as a solvent of iodine in iodised oil. It is also used in varnish making and for burning oil lamps.

I thought it would be of interest to write this article about the famous British recipe – Bubble and Squeak which is a really tasty meal of fried leftovers. There is a fine example of metaphorical ‘Bubble and Squeak’ and eighteenth century wit in an article in The Mid-Wife: or, the old woman’s magazine, by Christopher Smart, 1753 – which is certainly not a cookery magazine. The second quotation cited for the actual dish is in 1772 but there are earlier references to the figurative use of the phrase, so the dish was undoubtedly being made well before this time all over England.

Bubble and squeak is a traditional English dish made with the shallow-fried leftover vegetables from a roast dinner. The chief ingredients are potato and cabbage but carrots, peas, Brussels sprouts and other vegetables can be added. It is traditionally served with cold meat from the Sunday Roast and pickles. Traditionally, the meat was added to the bubble and squeak itself, although nowadays it is more commonly made without meat. The cold chopped vegetables (and cold chopped meat if used) are fried in a pan together with mashed potatoes or crushed roast potatoes until the mixture is well-cooked and brown on the sides.

The name comes from the bubble and squeak sounds made as it cooks. The name bubble and squeak is used throughout the United Kingdom, Australia and other Commonwealth countries. It may also be understood in parts of the United States. In the UK the dish may sometimes be referred to as bubble or bubble and scrape.

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Bubble and squeak was a popular dish during World War 11 as it was an easy way of using leftovers during a period when most foods were subject to rationing. In more recent times, pre-prepared frozen and tinned versions have become available.

Bubble and Squeak

Ingredients

450g/1lb potatoes, unpeeled
salt and pepper
70g/2 1/2 oz butter
125g/4oz Cabbage – shredded 125g/4oz Carrots – shredded 125g/4oz Brussels Sprouts – shredded 125g/4oz Peas
3 tbsp water
3-4 tbsp sunflower oil
1 onion, chopped

DIRECTIONS
Cook the potatoes for 25 minutes in a pan of lightly salted boiling water, then drain, peel and dice.

Place them in a bowl with 55g/2oz of the butter and mash until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, place the cabbage, water and remaining butter in a large heavy based saucepan and cover. Cook gently for 10 minutes, or until tender. Mix the Cabbage, Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Peas and mashed potato together and season with a drop of olive oil and a little salt and pepper.

Heat half the Sunflower oil in a frying pan. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the potato and cabbage vegetable mixture and press down with the back of a wooden spoon to make a flat, even cake.

Cook over a medium heat for 15 minutes until golden brown on the underside and place on a large plate. Add the remaining oil and cook again on the other side for 10 minutes.

Transfer to a plate, cut into wedges and serve.

Please visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @ http://www.fabprints.com

My other website is called Directory of British Icons: http://fabprints.webs.com

The Chinese call Britain ‘The Island of Hero’s’ which I think sums up what we British are all about. We British are inquisitive and competitive and are always looking over the horizon to the next adventure and discovery.

Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.

Traditionally Clary Sage has been added to Geranium essential to help regulate and relieve female complaints associated with hormonal imbalance, such as irregular menses, menopausal symptoms, headache, nausea, and depression.

Clary sage therapeutic-grade essential oil may cause skin sensitivities when applied topically, so it is suggested that it be diluted in any quality vegetable carrier oil such as olive oil before use. The oil should also be diluted, one drop to four ounces of soy or rice milk before being taken internally.

Clary sage also has a rejuvenating effect on the endocrine system. It balances the pituitary and the pancreas making it helpful for diabetics. Clary sage also helps reduce high cholesterol, supports hormones, and may help with epilepsy. Clary sage oil is effective for calming the mind and easing tension. It is strengthening yet relaxing. This oil teaches us to be satisfied with our achievements, and brings the realization that most of our problems exist in the imagination.

Essential oil-Clary sage contains geraniol, asubstance that help to strengthen the liver function in fatty acids metabolism thereby it increases the transportation of oxygen and nutrients for our body cells need resulting in lessening the risk of heavy menstrual flow caused by breaking off small vein in uterus.

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As Clary Sage can make some people feel exceedingly woozy and faint please avoid using it with alcohol, or when driving or needing to focus. Because of its hormonal effects avoid Clary Sage during pregnancy, or when nursing unless under the direct supervision of a qualified professional aromatherapist. Due to its estrogen-like effect it may cause complications with conditions sensitive to estrogen.

This oil brings a refreshing feeling to anyone who feels tired, exhausted and drained. It helps me a lot when I need to keep myself awake while studying organic chemistry and molecular biology. And last but not the least is one of my favorite essential oil with it’s uplifting and refreshing scent comes bergamot.

Dysmenorrhea can be treated with a variety of drugs, including pain relievers, sedatives, antispasmodics, prostaglandin inhibitors, and oral contraceptives. However, these drugs can and do produce many unacceptable side effects. Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils obtained from plants. When properly used, essential oils are very safe therapy for menstrual cramps without harmful side effects.

Rose is one of the most favourite perfumes of all time (Cleopatra is said to have added rose petals to her bath), and is still used widely by today’s perfume industry. Rose essential oil has a deep, floral, romantic aroma that both soothes and uplifts.

There are two types of fennel, sweet and bitter. Essential oil is extracted from the seeds, roots and leaves by steam distillation. Florence fennel is a popular vegetable often eaten with fish. It has a slightly aniseed flavor and looks rather like a very thick celery. Fennel essential oil has the same aniseed scent as the root.

Read about breast enlargement . Also read about breast pills and breast enlargement pills

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition involving inflammation of the tissues and joints, accompanied by swelling, soreness, stiffness in the joints when waking up, and general fatigue or malaise.

The condition is not well understood by conventional medical doctors, but there are several theories about what the causes could be, with two of them being the most prevalent.

One theory is that it is an autoimmune disease. That is, a condition in which the immune system loses its balance and begins to attack its own tissues as though they were foreign invaders. Some have proposed that the immune system is not actually attacking its own tissues, but instead is attacking a bacterial or fungal infection that has attacked the joints and tissues and has become resident there. This is the reason that some prominent doctors are now using antibiotics to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Antibiotics, however, involve a lot of risks and my personal experience has shown that taking strong antibiotics can cause more harm than good. By killing all the beneficial bacteria in your colon, they can actually promote fungal growth and cause more problems than they solve.

Another theory is that rheumatoid arthritis develops because most people actually eat a pro-inflammatory diet which in turn causes severe inflammation in the body, and disrupts the immune system so that it becomes confused and disorderly. So, what is a pro inflammatory diet? Any diet high in omega 6 fatty acids and processed foods and low in the polyunsaturated fatty acids known as DHA and EPA.

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Inflammation almost always involves high levels of interleukin-1 and C-reactive protein, two highly inflammatory substances in the blood. The first thing you have to do up to keep this inflammation under control is to eliminate the pro inflammatory foods that cause it. You have to eliminate all processed foods and junk foods as well as severely limiting all omega 6 oils, such as corn and seed oils and replace them with olive oil (an omega 9 oil) and fish oil (an omega 3 oil).

Plenty of studies have shown that the polyunsaturated fatty acids DHA and EPA found in fish and fish oil supplements can decrease the level of the two inflammatory chemicals mentioned above and therefore help moderate the immune response and the pain that goes with it. Fish fat has potent anti-inflammatory properties, and I know this from personal experience. Several years ago, while suffering from a severe candida (fungal) infection, I had all sorts of aches, pains and stiffness. All of those have disappeared after going on a strict anti-inflammatory diet and taking a strong omega-3 supplement daily. It took over six months, but the effort and investment were worth it!

Bonus tip: How is one to choose a fish oil wisely? There is one very unique concentrated fish oil with a far superior level of DHA.
For more information about fish oil, and to find out about the best value, purest, top-quality fish oil and multivitamins that I have discovered, and the ones that I use personally, please visit Fish Oil Benefits Easily Explained

Over the years you have likely wondered how to use oil lamps in the present day.  Even though most oil lamps you encounter will be antiques, they still have decorative appeal and are a great source of light when the power goes out.

Oil lamps are basically man made objects that were invented to provide artificial light.  These lamps were used thousands of years ago, but are used even today despite the shape having metamorphosed over the years.  Ancient oil lamps were lighted with animal fat and olive oil.  However, in the modern era, they are made fueled with gas or paraffin oil.  These oil lamps were widely used until electricity became popular in the late 19th century.  Small towns and remote rural areas, even today, continue to use oil lamps.

Now that you know a little history of oil lamps, it’s time to cover how to use oil lamps.  Oil lamps are great source of light and heat; in fact, they are a better source of artificial light than a candle.  They can add great zest to any indoor space. It is important to use them carefully and safely.  Be sure to burn them away from other combustible sources and also fill them carefully.  Adjust the wick to the proper height by turning it up until the lam starts burning.  Turn the wick back down when you need to turn out the light.  You must always extinguish these oil lamps before going to bed as the lamp oil is highly flammable and could cause a fire during the night if the lamp were tipped over.

Additionally, be very careful moving a lit lamp as the base of the container can get very hot during operation.  It is best you decide upon a position prior to lighting the lamp to be safe and avoid any spillage.

Oil lamps are a decoration and very useful tool from yesteryear, but still serve as an excellent source of light whether it is a power outage or a romantic setting.  How to use oil lamps can only be limited by your imagination.  Use them carefully and they will serve you in many ways for generations to come.

Oil lamps have been used over several thousand years, and like the Romans, even the Chinese used traditional oil lamps.  Ancient Chinese oil lamps come in fancy containers with mandarin symbols which typically display a message such as peace, love or harmony.

These stunning lamps which were used as essential lighting elements in the past have now become decorative pieces and enhance the beauty of our indoor spaces.  These hanging or pedestal oil lamps can be made of clay, metal or glass and are available from and up.  Ancient Chinese oil lamps provide a very desirable ambience to any setting and they are much safer to use than open flame candles.

Initially animal fat, olive oil or whale oil was used to light oil lamps, but these substances became expensive.  Oil lamp users moved on to using coal oil or kerosene.  Kerosene emits a terrible odor and leaves soot on walls, draperies and the ancient Chinese oil lamps’ shades.  Because of this, oil lamp users began using more refined lamp oil; they eventually graduated to using paraffin oil.

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Ancient Chinese oil lamps are constructed with glass shades.  These shades require regular cleaning due to the soot deposits.  You can wipe them with newspaper and also wash them with dishwasher liquid/ detergent to get rid of the accumulated soot.

When refilling your lamp oil, be very careful.  Once you have removed the glass lamp shade, you should completely unscrew the burner piece.  You need to soak the wick in oil for almost ten minutes before lighting it; you should make sure that almost ¾” of the wick sticks out of the lamp for easy lighting.  It can lead to explosion or serious accident if the wick enters the inside of the oil lamp while it is burning.

Ancient Chinese oil lamps continue to be lit at Chinese shrines as an important part of their tradition.  They are typically placed before a deity or a Chinese symbol.  These lamps have gained popularity in recent times and make great gifts.  They are widely used in hotels and spas to add a sense of warmth and ambiance.

Spaghetti sauce, ketchup, salsa, and soup—none would be the same without tomatoes. It is hard to imagine a life devoid of this delectable fruit. Fruit? Tomatoes are the reproductive part of the tomato plant, so botanically speaking they are fruits. However, for horticultural and culinary purposes, tomatoes are vegetables because they are most often used in savory dishes. Tomatoes were not always so popular, though. They had a rough history from the mountains of Peru to our dining room tables.

Tomatoes in History

Tomato plants originated in the “New World,” or western hemisphere. Most likely originating in Peru, tomatoes were domesticated into the plants we know today in Central America. Hundreds of years of cultivation changed a weedy, seemingly useless plant into a prolific producer of tasty fruit.

Brought to the Mediterranean regions by Spanish Conquistadors, and used widely for centuries, it took much longer for Europeans to embrace the tomato. Tomatoes are part of the plant family “Solanaceae,” the potato family. Eggplants, potatoes and tomatoes all share the same genes. The potato family is also the family of deadly nightshade, which contributed to long-held beliefs that tomatoes were poisonous. Tomato plants are similar in appearance to Nightshade plants. Folkloric beliefs relayed that witches used nightshade plants to summon werewolves. The common name for tomatoes was “wolf peach.” Linnaeus, upon adopting and applying the modern day system of bionomial nomenclature, named the tomato Lycopersicon esculentum, which translates as “edible wolf peach.”

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Tomatoes were not widely accepted, cultivated and eaten in European and North American countries until the mid-nineteenth century, when the myth of tomatoes as quick avenues to poisoning were put to rest. In the United States, tomato cultivation took off in 1820, when Colonel Robert Johnson ate a basket full of tomatoes in a public square to put to rest rumors of tomatoes’ ill effects. During this time, most people still grew their own vegetables, and eagerly began growing tomatoes in their garden plots. These 19th Century garden plots are where the heirloom varieties of tomatoes, so treasured today, were cultivated, differentiated, and preserved.

Health Benefits of Tomatoes

Once people began growing and harvesting their own tomatoes, there was no stopping the popularity of the vegetable. Tomatoes are great sources of vitamin C and Potassium, each essential nutrients for health. The most celebrated nutrient in tomatoes is Lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes. Lycopene contributes to health benefits such as reduction in risk of developing many types of cancers. Lutein, another element in tomatoes contributes to health of the retina of the eye, and to heart and vascular health.

Tomatoes are tremendously versatile, and can be eaten cooked or raw, whole or pureed, in salsas, soups, sauces, and in salads. Health benefits are best realized when tomatoes are cooked with a bit of healthy oil. Cooking helps break the cell walls of the plant, releasing nutrients. Healthy oils such as olive oil aid in absorption of vitamins and nutrients in tomatoes.

From their scraggly, weedy and dubious beginnings, tomatoes have become a staple in cultures all over the world. Prized for their flavor and their health benefits, tomatoes are a fixture of modern cuisine.