Sweet, succulent and a globally loved delicacy, lobsters are enjoyed universally despite their high price. It is a lesser known fact though that lobsters in the 19th century used to be a poor man’s food! The turn of the century saw a shift in the public opinion and lobsters became a prized possession of the fishermen. Now lobsters are hunted, at times killed and sold at highly competitive prices. Lobsters are not only expensive but also intimidating. All lobster lovers who enjoy the white and firm meat often are unable to muster up the courage to cook lobsters at home! This is mostly due to its intricate and complex frame and often due to the repulsion of cooking a lobster that is alive. What is unknown to many is that lobsters can be cooked easily by boiling.
That’s right, boiling is the most popular, easy and healthy method of cooking any and every food. However firm a vegetable or meat may be, boiling makes every food item tender and easily edible. Boiling lobsters too, is a great way of preparing any lobster recipe. The goodness of boiling is not merely restricted to making the meat tender. When it comes to lobsters, boiling makes lobsters easier to pick and clean. Boiling also helps in easily pulling off the meat from the shells when they are cracked. Boiling makes lobsters more convenient to eat and helps retain the flavor of the meat. Boiled lobster is a healthy source of protein, vitamins and minerals when enjoyed in moderation.
Boiling a fresh, dead or alive lobster in sea water is considered the best way to retain its characteristic ocean flavor. It also helps to evenly cook the meat. Those who do not have access to ocean water can use sea salt while boiling lobster. While boiling the lobster, you must make sure that the pot used to cook lobster is large enough so that the lobster is completely submerged in the water. It is also important to note that the lobster is not crammed so that it can be stirred at a later point. To boil, you must place adequate water in a pan and add two spoon full of sea salt and bring the water to a rolling full boil. Once the water is boiled, place the lobster into the pan and bring it back to a boil. You can also poach and parboil the lobster. This is done by simply blanching the lobster into half and repeating the boiling process!
You can also steam lobsters if you have a steaming pot or dish! Steaming the lobster is known to enhance the flavor and bring out a more tender meat. Steaming unlike boiling, cooks the meat slower. You can also avoid overcooking the meat if you steam it.
You can choose any of the boiling or steaming methods mentioned above and add the flavor of your choice to make a delectable lobster dish! You could also store the boiled lobster and make different kinds of recipes out of them. If you are not too inclined to cook elaborately, you could just boil the lobster and season it with some freshly ground pepper and lemon and enjoy your healthy meal with a tasty dip!
We are a coffee-drinking nation and every form of the beverage – decaf, regular, expresso, latte, cappuccino, macchiato and ristretto is consumed everyday by millions of us. It’s the first thing we need in the morning and the last (for some) after dessert. Black, with cream, with sugar, no sugar, flavored, each of us has a preference with regard to strength. Nespresso’s taken heed of this and given us a gift in a pod with the Nespresso capsules. Available in the regular Arabica and Robusta capsules, they have some amazing seasonal flavors as well.
Nespresso capsules are hermetically sealed in a capsule that holds 5-7 gms of coffee – enough for one serving of coffee. They offer five ranges in Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40 ml), Lungo (110 ml), Decaffeinated (40 ml and 110 ml) or Flavored (40 ml).
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Ristretto range are:
Ristretto Origin – Made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has toasted flavors with cocoa notes and woody undertones.
Ristretto Origin India – A blend of the finest Arabicas with a smidgen of Robusta from Southern India, this full-bodied coffee has hints of spices.
Ristretto Intenso – A strong blend of South and Central American Robustas and Arabicas, the Ristretto Intenso is a full-bodied coffee with a creamy texture and peppery notes.
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Espresso range are:
Espresso Origin Brazil: A pure Arabica coffee, it has a mild sweet flavor.
Espresso Leggero: A blend of South American Arabicas and Robusta, it has smooth notes of cocoa and cereal.
Espresso Forte: Exclusively made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has an intensely roasted balance of espresso and fruity notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Lungo range are:
Lungo Leggero: Lightly roasted East African, South and Central American Arabicas, with mild notes of jasmine is what makes up this delicious brew.
Lungo Forte: A complex mix of South and Central American Arabicas, this coffee has heavy roasted notes with a slight hint of fruit.
Lungo Origin Guatemala: A mix of Arabica and washed Gourmet Robusta coffee, Lungo Origin Guatemala is smooth and well balanced with dry and malty cereal notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules in the Decaffeinated range are:
Espresso Decaffeinato: Dark roasted South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta enhances the cocoa flavors and roasted cereal undertones of this decaffeinated espresso.
Lungo Decaffeinato: This is a slightly more complex blend of separately roasted South American and East African Arabicas. It includes toasted cereal and sweet notes with subtle and floral hints of East African Arabicas.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Flavored range are:
Espresso Vanilla: This silky-flavored coffee is the result of a base of Espresso Forte, which is a complex and heavily-roasted blend of South and Central American Arabicas and a slightly caramelized aroma of vanilla. Espresso Caramel: On a base of Espresso Forte, this complex and intensely roasted blend made from South and Central American Arabicas has the sweetness of caramel.
Here are a few easy and healthy recipe ideas that are both quick to make and light to digest on hot summer days. With very few ingredients, the preparation of these recipes is a breeze. So go on, enjoy these easy, healthy recipes that are brimming with nutrition and taste heavenly too!
Greek Cucumber Rolls
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
This is popular among easy and healthy recipes. Slice cucumber into thin flat strips using a vegetable peeler and arrange them in slices of two on a clean tray. Smear the hummus on top of each slice, then toss some feta cheese, black olives and cut tomatoes on each of the cucumber strips. Squeeze a little lemon juice and sprinkle some finely chopped dill and cilantro. Finally, roll the strips, serve the Greek cucumber rolls and see them being gobbled up by the young and old alike!
Flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
Cook the fettuccine pasta according to the directions on the label. In a thick bottomed pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped garlic and shallots. After about a minute or so, add the other vegetables along with salt and toss them gently for a few minutes. The vegetables must cook and be crunchy at the same time. When they are done, add the cooked pasta, Parmesan cheese, and some freshly ground black pepper to it and mix well. Serve this flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables for lunch or dinner as a filling, yet light meal.
Sunshine juice
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Direction
Squeeze juice from the oranges and blend the strawberries in a juicer. Then in a pitcher, take the orange juice, strawberry juice, and chilled water together and mix well. Refresh yourself with this yummy sunshine juice with ice cubes on a hot day.