Quota of the Day

Loaves were made for me daily, and wine as daily fare,

cooked meat, roast fowl, as well as desert game. For

they shared for me and laid it before me, in addition

to the catch of my hounds. Sweets were made for me,

and milk dishes of all kinds".

~Tale of Sinuhe~

M. Litchtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol.1, p.227

What do you think of this quote that Ancient Egyptian had its perspective regarding with food that they used it for daily diet? I would love to hear your perspectives as well :)

Interesting Facts about Basil

Ahh- can you image the lovely aroma of basil and even eat with that?

Yes I do. Basil is one of popular herb along with other herbs. Most popular to use basil with fresh mozzarella cheese and sliced tomatoes that are drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil or margherita pizza with same ingredients on it.

There are many ways to create with those basil.

I had learned something interesting facts about basil what Ancient people had their perspectives about this. You will find this amusing and interesting to know.

1- Basil has been grown in areas around the Mediterranean since antiquity, but Britain did not begin using basil until the 16th century.

2- Mexicans believed that the basil was supposed to keep a lover's eye off others and is considered a powerful protector in Haiti.

3- Ancient Romans and Greeks thought basil would only grow if you screamed wild curses and shouted intelligiby while sowing the seeds. They also believed if you left basil leaf under a pot, it would turn into a scorpion. Many believed that even smelling the leaves would cause scorpions to grow in the brain!

4- In Italy, it is a token of love, in Romania, if a girl gives a sprig to her boyfriend, they are engaged!

5- A good Hindu goes to rest with a leaf of basil in his breast as a passport to Paradise.

What an amusing interesting facts about basil?! I found this really hilarious to read that part about Ancient Romans and Greeks' beliefs that basil can infect those people regarding with scorpions.

Overall, basil is the greatest herb for anyone to have it to enjoy dining with! Enjoy reading those interesting facts of ancient people' perspectives! :)

Baking Soda VS Baking Powder

I had debated myself what was the difference between baking soda and baking powder. I haven't gone to the culinary school yet so I'm all new by learning this.

I tried to make the glazed lemon bread by using fresh lemons I have. I accident put one teaspoon of baking soda. I thought it won't make it difference but it DOES! It didn't rise the bread what I had expected and tasted it kinda of bitterness. I threw it away into the trash *the whole bread* :(

So I decided to research about it. Now I get it... I get it.. I get it..

It reminds me that I had took some chemistry classes back at Gallaudet University when I majored in Biology because that two ingredients do consists of chemistry like sodium bicarbonates, gas, acidity and etc.

Want to share with you about this. You might learn something new about this and make it easy for your future with the baking skills.

Baking Soda is a sodium bicarbonate that will not make cake rise. It acts like a "single duty" which it consists of the acidity. The batter will produce the bubbles by adding the baking soda along with sugar, milk or shortening. It will neutralized the acidity and bitterness if add a little bit of milk before mixing with those dry ingredients. It is unstable for the higher temperature so it doesn't require long baking time. It's a perfect ingredient to add like for homemade pancakes or cookies.

Baking Powder is a combination of sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar (in the other scientific words - it's a mixture of tartaric acid and baking soda). When water is added, both combines to make a salt and carbonic acid which decomposes to water and carbon dioxide gas which it causes the cake rise. It acts like a "double duty" which it consists of the acidity and base. It is stable for the higher temperature that is a perfect for longer baking times. It's a perfect ingredient to add for muffins, cakes, non-yeast breads and etc.

Now I had learned something new so I know which ones that I can create something new without any accident. Maybe I will tempt to make the glazed lemon bread this time by adding one teaspoon of baking powder, not baking soda!

Hope u had learned something new as I did :)

Strawberry Bread

Yay! Strawberry is in the season to sell it cheap! Whoooo... I had made a few breads like banana chocolate chip, pumpkin chocolate chip and banana carrot bread. I want to do something different so I found this recipe so I decided to adapt this by changing a little bit.

I added a half cup of milk, use little more cinnamon and used up one carton of fresh strawberries.

After I took the first bite of the strawberry bread- NOT BAD! It would be a perfect to have it for breakfast with a cup of coffee or tea.

Here's the recipe:

1 carton of fresh strawberries, finely chopped (or you can puree it either way)

2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 cup of gratulated sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup milk

Preheat the oven at 350 degree and use the spray oil for your loaf pan

Combine the dry ingredients except the oil, egg, strawberries and milk. In the other bowl, mix the wet ingredients (oil, eggs, strawberries and milk). Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. If the batter gets a little bit dry, you can add a little bit of milk to make it moist enough.

Pour into the loaf pan and bake it for 45 to 50 minutes or until the knife comes clean (but it will shows a little bit smears of strawberries) after insert. Let it cool for 10 minutes before removing to a plate to cool it off completely.

Would love to hear what you think of this bread.. :D

Hot Crab Dip

After a busy day, I wanted something really simple.. At the supermarket, I discovered that the french bread had just baked freshly so what a perfect timing to make a dip with that.

Great thing about this dip that it doesn't need mayonnaise- whooo! Plus fresh herbs and splash of lemon juice to mix it together- what a great healthy to start! It's not hard to make since all you need was a few ingredients to throw it altogether to make that fantastic dip!

You can either use the canned crab meat or fresh crab legs. For those fresh crab legs, recommend that you cooked it first then chopped to mix it together. You can put more crab meats if you are a totally crab lover.

For this recipe I used:

1 6 oz canned crab meat, drained

3-4 scallions, finely chopped (green onions)

1 box of cream cheese- I use the fat less cream cheese

handful of cilantros- you can put any herbs like parsley, chives, basil or mix all 4 of those

Splash of lemon juice

1/2 cup of parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon of minced garlic can or 1 garlic clove, minced

Ground black pepper

Mix it altogether then bake in a baking dish at 375 degree in the oven for 30 minutes.

It's not bad but please let me know what you think of that.. Next time, I will tempt to use those fresh crab legs and a spice, old bay seasoning, perhaps. It's the first time for me to make this and I'm experimenting and would love to hear other's opinion regarding this recipe :D..