Posted by admin on Sep 30, 2010 in
General
The term pizza covers a lot of territory. If you want to learn all about pizzas, then you should have a bit of a background on pizzas: specifically the history of pizza, pizza origin, pizza facts, and even pizza trivia such as who invented pizza. The subject also delves into the different types and styles of pizzas. The varieties currently existing defy any attempts at enumeration. Thus, most people who attempt such a task stop at a broad categorization of pizza types according to certain attributes such as crust thickness, crust elasticity, crust baking and cooking procedures, toppings, etc. Aside from general, historical or trivial information, other things are of interest to the pizza lovers. For instance, homemade pizza enthusiasts would like to know certain tips and tricks for making pizza. This includes pizza making techniques, the best pizza crust recipes, pizza toppings, homemade pizza sauce, etc. Some other interesting topics will be frozen pizza dough and where best to attain them, what are the criteria for choosing the, what are the methods for preparing them, etc.
It must be obvious that this article is a mite ambitious for wishing to tackle something entitled “all about pizza.” However, an attempt is definitely warranted, so here goes.
Some pizza facts and trivia
Accounts of pizza history always begin with the origin of pizza. This one might as well follow the same tack. We have to thank any civilization or race that baked flat bread on hot stones or stone ovens for pizza, for almost certainly, bread like the focaccia was the “mother of the pizza crust.” However, the invention of the pizza is more properly attributed to the Neapolitans – the people of Naples, Italy who were baking and making pizza crust topped with tomatoes, oil, and Italian herbs, and spices. This rudimentary and traditional Italian pizza was common peasant fare in Naples. If you want an individual originator and inventor of pizzas, however, then you won’t be wrong if you cite Rafaelle Esposito – a native of Naples; he modified the basic Neapolitan pizza recipe and came up with three variants that added mozzarella cheese to the rudimentary Italian pizza toppings.
Now, if you are looking for some topics for small conversation, then you must remember the following trivia. One note of caution, though; you shouldn’t blurt these out just to anybody or you’ll sound decidedly corny and geeky. Make sure you’re talking to someone interested in pizzas before you use the following trivia as conversational gambits.
” Most people in the United States love pepperoni; the least liked toppings are anchovies.
” Pizza was called (and is still called) tomato pie and pizza pie in certain parts of the States.
” The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in New York.
” The pizza industry is worth more than 30 billion dollars in the United States alone and Americans consume around three billion units of pizza every year.
” New York pizza is traditionally plain. Supposedly, New York pizza is unique because of the acidity and hardness of the water in New York. New Yorkers therefore claim that only in New York can you make real New York Pizza.
(New Yorkers must admit, however, that if water is the unique characteristic of New York pizzas, one who uses water adjusted for hardness and acidity to reflect New York water conditions, adds all the usual New York pizza ingredients and toppings, follows all the procedures strictly but makes the pizza in New Jersey can conceivably make an authentic, New York style pizza. But such an assertion, some would say, is just plain cheek.)
Pizza types and pizza styles
The first step to a great homemade pizza is determining what type of pizza you wish to make. After all, different types of pizza have different attributes and thus call for different types of pizza base, pizza toppings and cooking techniques. Would you like to make an authentic Italian pizza, a New York style pizza, a California style pizza, or a Chicago style pizza?
Italian pizza is generally lean, although when you add cheese, its fat level generally rises in proportion. There are various kinds of Italian pizza, too. There are Neapolitan pizzas, of which there are two general types: the marinara and the Margherita. There are various combinations of these as well. Authentic Italian pizza, moreover, is supposedly baked on wood-fired or even coal-fired, stone ovens.
New York pizza, as abovementioned, is generally plain. The mainstay of New York pizza is mozzarella cheese – fresh mozzarella cheese to be precise. One can add garlic, different types of cheeses, anchovies, shrimp, etc but these are usually optional. The pizza dough recipe for traditional New York pizza, on the other hand, calls for high-gluten flour. The result is firm, usually thin, chewy pizza.
The California style pizza is generally known for gourmet flavors. You can say the California pizza has countless variations. The pizza crust, in this case, is light, crisp and generally well risen. The toppings can be out of this world – generally California pizza makers experiment a lot with all kinds of meat, sea food, breakfast dishes, and vegetable for the toppings.
The Chicago style pizza, on the other hand, is generally crusty and very filling. They are characterized by their raised edges; imagine a pre-baked apple pie crust where you can place the fillings on top. Chicago pizza is usually meaty (some variants come stuffed with cheeses and meat layers) and it is eaten with a knife and fork.
You can also start by deciding on the flavor you want. Do you want to make a cheese pizza, a vegetarian pizza or a fruit pizza? Perhaps you want to make a low fat pizza, a low carb pizza, a healthy pizza? Sourdough pizza is also another variant.
Take your pick among your many options. Once you have decided, choosing the recipe would be much easier. If you have decided on an Italian pizza, for instance, then find your Italian pizza crust recipe, your Italian pizza sauce recipe and the overall Italian pizza recipe that will give you a list of toppings and pizza preparation procedures for making an authentic Italian pizza. For an easier time of it, you can opt to use Italian-style frozen pizza dough then just follow the Italian pizza recipe that you’ve found.
Some pizza making tips and techniques
Hand tossing will help you minimize the lumps in your pizza dough. However, this should be done only after sufficient pizza dough kneading. This process lets your pizza dough develop into the right kind of consistency – that which is suitable for stretching and hand tossing. Hand tossing, however, is not advisable for thick pizza crust varieties.
If you want a crisp and firm pizza that retains its structure even when the moist toppings are added, you can bake the pizza crust before you add the toppings and the pizza sauce. However, for thin pizza crusts, baking the crust after the toppings and sauce have been added is sufficient. For uniform baking and crisping of the crust, use a pizza stone or a pizza screen.
Finally, remember that the protein content of your flour will influence the end product. High-gluten flour will lead to a crisp but chewy crust. Gluten-free flour, however, may lead to very soft dough; additives may have to be used to give the pizza dough strength.
Quick pizza crust recipes and easy homemade pizza recipes of all kinds and style are easily available online. There are tips for baking and preparing frozen pizza dough, making your own pizza dough, preparing the ingredients for the best pizza crust recipe, etc. All you need to start making your very own pizza recipe is an internet connection, a good source of basic pizza recipe, great pizza equipment, your imagination, and lots of time and resources for experimentation.
About The Author
Sean Lannin
With more than 10 years experience both working and owning pizza restaurants. When he tried to find information about making pizza at home, he noticed that the information was either non-existent or lacked the information he felt was important. He now shares his passion for making pizza with readers of his website.
http://www.homemade-pizza-made-easy.com/
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Posted by admin on Sep 29, 2010 in
General
Make your own Bath Bombs!
by: Paul Duxbury
Bath bombs are easy to make and provide a delightful fizzing adventure in the tub. If you do not know what a bath bomb is, it is a sweet scented mixture of citric acid, baking soda and other ingredients that fizz when you plop them into your tub.
As your bomb fizzes, the scent is released filling the room with a comforting aroma that lasts for hours.
To make bath bombs, you will need 1/3 part citric acid, and 2/3 part baking soda as well as some witch hazel in a spray bottle.
First, mix the baking soda and citric acid together well, so that they are blended well. Next, add colorant if desired (you can use dried herbs for colour, just a pinch or so) and enough fragrance to scent the mixture well.
Now, grab your witch hazel, and work fast as the mixture will start fizzing once you start adding the hazel. Sprits with one hand, and stir well with the other hand until the mixture is thoroughly wet with a consistency of play dough.
Now firmly press your mixture into moulds (ice cube trays work well), then let your bombs sit overnight until dry.
If your bombs fizz in the moulds, just continue pressing them down, This just means that you used too much witch hazel resulting in a mixture that was too wet. Over time you will know what consistency is best for the humidity in your area. Until then, practice makes perfect.
The more you pack your mixture into your mould, the longer lasting and harder your bombs will be.
Your bath bombs can be used for yourself, as gifts to family and friends or sold to make some spare cash.
A nice way to package your bombs for gift giving would be to wrap them in cellophane and place a few in a large coffee cup, along with a sealed bag of hot cocoa, tea or coffee and a small candle.
Wrap this attractively in colourful wrap, add a bow, and you have a mini spa treat that is sure to please anyone.
About The Author
Paul Duxbury is Head of Training for a major UK Charitable Organisation with a wealth of experience in personal development, management development, e-learning and operational management. In addition he owns PK eBooks (http://www.pk-ebooks.co.uk) and has just published Tennis for Everyone which can be found at http://www.pk-ebooks.co.uk/tennis_for_everyone.htm
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Posted by admin on Sep 28, 2010 in
General Culinary Traditions Of France
by: Kirsten Hawkins
French cuisine is the amazingly high standard to which all other native cuisines must live up to. The country of France is home of some of the finest cuisine in the world, and it is created by some of the finest master chefs in the world. The French people take excessive pride in cooking and knowing how to prepare Read more…
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Posted by admin on Sep 27, 2010 in
General
Balance diet of food is the key for keep healthy, strength and active therefore to develop of mind intelligent. As we all knew, pyramid chart of food is very important to us to having a complete and balance dietary. We are what we eat..
Preparing a dish either breakfast, lunch or dinner can turn tiredness and headache especially for a mom that having a career and Read more…
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Posted by admin on Sep 26, 2010 in
General Aromatherapy for a Broken Heart
by: Johnetta Miner
The heart is a very fragile and strong organ. It is the center of
our being and a very vulnerable focal point. The heart plays a
role in every function of the body. It can be “hurt”, “lost” and
left in San Francisco. It can also “skip a beat” or be attacked
by a stroke. Our heart is our life force and in Chinese medicine
it is the fire element. Yet it can “fail” us, as in heart
failure. The heart has rhythm and can block, just not in a
football game. Sometime, our heart talks to us with sounds and
murmurs. There are some people who listen to their hearts speak
to them while others have not listened and may have taken a path
of least resistance. There is time, however, that we all listen
when our heart speaks to us. That time is when there is what is
called a broken heart.
Read more…
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Posted by admin on Sep 25, 2010 in
General
Hair Loss
by: Ray Cunningham
To all bald-headed men.
When you drive at night do you have to turn your head down to low beam?
Yes, there are many such thoughtless jokes about baldness, in both males and females. However, loss of head hair really is a problem, which causes a great deal of worry and unhappiness, to those afflicted.
Hopefully, there may be some help and answers for you, within this web site. It is often easier to reduce the ageing and thinning of healthy hair, than to regrow into follicles that are already dormant.
Reversing and preventing further hair loss may also be possible. Some products and techniques could be:
Topical ketokonazole, an anti-fungal/5-alfa inhibitor of reductase.
Finasteride and/or minoxidel, known in the United States as propecia and Rogaine, or Rogeine, respectively.
Placebos have average results, but not usually as high as other specific products
Hair cloning, or multiplication, using self replenishing follicle stem cells.
Hair transplants have been used for many years.
To lower androgen levels, aerobic exercises may be beneficial. This may also help stress reduction which can be an aid to slow the loss of hair.
Senanoa repens/saw palmetto, a DH T inhibit talk and a herb. Fewer side-effects and less expensive than products such as dutasteride, or finesteride.
Resveratrol is a lipase inhibitorl, made from grape skins.
Chinese herbs and Chinese medicine may be tried. Seek help from qualified acupuncturists, herbalists and holistic medicine practitioners.
Beta Sitosterol, found in oils of seeds, may also help by lowering cholesterol. Use an extract, as the heavy consumption of oils can aggravate the hairloss problem.
As we all know, baldness in males, is more common than females – thank goodness!
Baldness can be caused by a number of factors, including the trigger, an enzyme called 5-alfa reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone – DHT, which can inhibit growth in genetically fine hairs. Some female baldness may be a result of an oestrogen reduction. Oestrogen usually counteracts testosterones balding action. Tight ponytails and corn rows, could also contribute to female hair loss, as may constantly wearing a hat.
This short article can, in no way, cover the wide spectrum of causes and treatments for hair loss. Search the internet through search engines such as Google, etc and seek help from alternative health practitioners, as well as traditional western medicine.
About The Author
Ray Cunningham is an owner of two diplomas of acupuncture. One from Australia. The other from Hong Kong.
At the moment he resides in Central Florida, U.S.A.. For more information, on acupuncture and alternative medicine, go to his website at: http://alternative-health-4.us
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Posted by admin on Sep 24, 2010 in
chinese acupuncture Are you finding it difficult to become pregnant? If so you can do many simple things to improve your chances of conception, the way we live can have a big effect on the reproductive system of both men and women and most people prefer natural ways to increase fertility. You may both have to change your life-style to incorporate healthy influences, and eliminate things Read more…
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Posted by admin on Sep 23, 2010 in
chinese acupuncture Are you finding it difficult to become pregnant? If so you can do many simple things to improve your chances of conception, the way we live can have a big effect on the reproductive system of both men and women and most people prefer natural ways to increase fertility. You may both have to change your life-style to incorporate healthy influences, and eliminate things Read more…
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Posted by admin on Sep 22, 2010 in
General
Natural Remedies For Your Baby’s Cough
by: Michelle Winters
Your baby coughing and you don’t know what to do to stop that irritating cough –this is often a distressful picture at almost every home. a way is definitely making your baby take medication but you are reluctant to go for it since you want your baby to avoid its side effects and chemicals. Moreover researches made recently have proved that the cough syrups are of no good and the sugar in them may actually make the illness last longer!
However, there a handful of natural remedies to recover our babies from coughing. Take your baby in the bathroom and run a hot shower if he appears to be congested. The shower must be hot since the steams from the shower loosen the congestion in the lungs of your baby.
You can also bathe your baby with warm water as it is as effective as running hot shower. You can also improve the effectiveness of the bath by pouring some droplets of thyme, sage or eucalyptus oil into the water. These oils can work wonders by letting their vapors aid in opening up the airways of your baby to make him breathe easy. Moreover, these vapors are a great healer of sore throats.
In case the cough is because of croup, the most effective way is wrapping your baby comfortably and taking him outside under the night sky. The cold night air soothes the upper airways inflammation.
The other effective natural remedy for babies’ cough is herbal rub. How to do it? Take ¾ tablespoons of olive oil. Mix it 2 drops of essential oils. These essential oils can be rosemary, sage, peppermint or eucalyptus oils. A blend of rosemary and eucalyptus oils is marvelous – eucalyptus oil calms the cough allowing your baby to breathe easily whereas the oil of rosemary calms your tiny one and makes him doze off.
Put the mixture of olive and essential oils and rub it on your baby’s back and chest. Wrap your baby with a warm blanket or put on him a warm tight fitting shirt to develop body hit. This body heat will make the essential oils to vaporize. The baby will now find easier to breathe since he breathes in the fumes.
It is also believed that the best drink to soothe a worrying cough is mother’s milk. When ill, never stop your coughing baby feeding on your breasts. A dairy product is never comparable to breast feedings as far as quality is concerned.
So now, you, a mother of a new-born child know how to handle initially your baby’s cough. But this article is not the final thing; never hesitate to consult doctor to know more about the problem.
About The Author
Michelle Winters is a mother and home owner. See more of her articles at http://www.monitoryourbaby.info
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Posted by admin on Sep 21, 2010 in
General
Genital Warts Natural and Alternative Treatment Remedies
by: S.A. Smith
Have you been diagnosed with genital warts caused by the HPV virus? If so, your physician has probably advised you of the more conventional treatments available such as pharmaceutical ointments, cryosurgery (freezing), electrocautery (burning) or laser treatment. While many people undergo these types of treatments, some opt for a less invasive natural solution by visiting a Naturopathic doctor. While there is no cure for the hpv virus, there are specific natural treatments that may help reduce and eliminate the warts over time.
TOPICAL TREATMENTS
Before resorting to medically invasive treatments many people are choosing to try alternative treatments that may naturally help reduce or eliminate genital warts. Many holistic treatment resources advise that different remedies will work for different individuals so it may take a little trial and error to find one suited to your needs. Experiment with applying the following directly to the infected wart areas:
Goldenseal: considered to have natural antibiotic properties and may destroy many types of viral infections.
Tea Tree Oil: strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial aromatherapy essential oil.
Aloe Vera: healing and soothing properties.
Garlic Oil: or even raw garlic is believed to promote white blood cells ability to fight infection.
Sour Apple Juice: it is believed the beneficial effect is from the magnesium in the apple
Most of these topical treatments have not been clinically proven as an effective treatment for genital warts, but have shown to have positive benefits is related studies or in fighting other types of viral infections. Other notable mentions for natural topical remedies also include; cabbage juice, banana skin, chickweed, dandelion juice, rubber plant, and pineapple juice.
HERBAL IMMUNE BOOSTING SUPPLEMENTS
Antiviral herbal remedies taken internally to boost the body’s natural ability to fight viral infections include the following supplements:
Echinacea: known for its ability to boost the immune system, is important in the treatment of genital warts.
Astragalus: used in Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years, Astragalus is known to improve the body’s ability to fight off viral and bacterial infections, such as the Human Papilloma Virus, by boosting the body’s immune system. Astragalus has been taken as a supplement by people undergoing chemotherapy to help restore their tired immune systems.
Garlic powder tablets: Once used in 1550 BC by Egyptians as an external treatment for tumors, garlic has long since been recognized for it’s medicinal values. Of the many benefits garlic has on the human body, it promotes the ability of white blood cells to fight infection. A natural antibiotic, garlic is effective in countering bacteria, fungus and viral conditions.
Vitamins: Supplementation with high doses of vitamin A, B complex, vitamin C, E, zinc, lactobacillus acidophilus and the amino acid L-cysteine have shown to have immune boosting benefits.
In addition, other noted antiviral herbal supplements include dandelion, greater celandine (cheilidonium), mullein, thuja, houseleek, goldenseal, calendula, lomatium, pau d’arco and wintergreen.
DIET AND LIFESTYLE
It is also suggested that you take a proactive approach in improving your health through lifestyle. By reducing sugars and refined foods, reducing red meat, increasing vegetables and fruit, taking the necessary vitamins and minerals, drinking plenty of water, regular exercise and getting proper rest, you will boost your immune system which will help in fighting off the virus.
EMOTIONAL STRESS
Because genital warts are considered a sexually transmitted disease, diagnosis will often have an emotional impact on the sufferer. Many people will experience a whole gamut of feelings including guilt, fear, rage, isolation and helplessness. HPV is one of the most common viruses in the world with an estimated 20 million sufferers, so as you can see you are not alone. It is believed that emotional health has a direct impact on your physical health. Therefore it is important to work through these feelings. Contact your local STD clinic for a list of support groups available in your area, or there are countless support groups and message boards available on the internet. Through seeing other people’s experiences, you will see HPV is a very manageable virus.
Since most of these natural remedies are considered reasonably safe, they may be worth investigating before turning to invasive and costly medical treatments. Ensure to discuss any alternative treatment strategies with your health care practitioner before starting them. To learn more about conventional treatments for genital warts that have shown to be effective you can visit: http://www.genitalwartsherpes.com/genital-warts-treatment.htm
About The Author
S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, correspondent, and contributing editor of the HPV Genital Warts Herpes resource site and can be reached at http://www.genitalwartsherpes.com.
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