Baked Ravioli Casserole

 Ingredients

• 1 large bag of pre-made ravioli (I prefer veggie but it’s your call.)
• 1 large jar of spaghetti sauce (Your choice)
• 2 cups baby spinach
• two cups grated cheddar cheese (I use Tex Mex but use the cheese of your choice)
• 2 tablespoons basil for garnish (optional) (You can use parsley or simply leave it out.)

How To Make 4 Ingredient Ravioli

Add a couple of tablespoons of spaghetti sauce to the bottom of a casserole dish (this stops the ravioli from sticking.)

Next, add the ravioli and spread it out evenly.

Follow by adding the spinach, remaining spaghetti sauce, and cheese.

Place the ravioli in a 375°F or 190°C preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Remove it from the oven and garnish it with basil or parsley.

Serve your baked ravioli up with a garden salad and some Italian or French bread. As always, enjoy!

by Dave Hood 

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

How To Pick The Best Apples For Baking

 

If you love to bake, and apples are a key ingredient,  this apple baking guide chart is going to be your new best friend. Certain varieties are better suited to different recipes and cooking techniques.

Now, you will no longer be in the dark! This handy chart shows you the best choices for your pies, sauces, desserts, ciders, and even snacking!

 

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

 

How Long Can Groceries Sit in a Hot Car?

While the warmer weather can make the running of errands all the more pleasant (you need not worry about snow, ice or freezing your face off), one thing we do need to consider is how hot temperatures can affect our groceries. When temperatures soar, all the food you've just purchased from the supermarket is basically a ticking time bomb for harmful bacteria growth.

Bear in mind that on hot, sunny days, the temperature inside your car can soar to as high as 172°F - not ideal for foods like meat, fish, chicken or dairy. Once you open the windows or crank up the air conditioning, the temperature will slowly start to drop. But the inside of your car will still be more than warm enough for nasty bugs and bacteria to flourish on your food.

How long do you have? 

Exactly how long do you have before your chicken cutlets or milk starts to go bad? This would very much depend on where you live and the weather that day. Since heat is a good medium for bacteria growth, you want to minimize it as much as you can. The less time it will take for you to travel between shopping and going home, the better. On the way home , be sure to not stop at any other location. So, if you need to make other stops do those before you go to the grocery store. 

 

Pack your groceries carefully 

Ensuring that your food remains fresh means being smart about your shopping and packing. At the store, shop for meat and dairy products last, so that these items will spend the least amount of time in your cart. At the checkout counter, pack the cold items in an insulated bag with an ice pack. If your drive home is some distance away, it might be worth storing your stuff in a cooler. 

 

Packing in the car 

Once you've reached the car, put your bags in the passenger area not in the trunk. The temperatures here are a lot cooler, even if you don't switch on the AC. Be sure to head straight home and get everything into the refrigerator or freezer.

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

 

How to Tell Natural Spices from Fake Spices

Spices are bright and diverse and add a strong flavor to any dish. But did you know that we often buy low-quality goods and cheap imitations. To help you identify the difference between real and fake spices, read through this guide and learn to identify the quality of spices you buy.

1. Cinnamon

More often than not, Chinese cassia is often sold instead of cinnamon. Though they look alike, cassia has a weaker aroma. Cassia sticks are also thicker and more coarse. They also tend to be curled mainly to one side. Ground cinnamon can be easily distinguished from cassia by adding a drop of iodine into the powder. If the spice turns blue, it is cassia.

 

2. Black peppercorn

When crushed, a fresh black peppercorn splits into large pieces, leaving a minimal fatty trace. If it is of a poor quality, it will be very dry, if it is old, it will crumble into small parts when crushed. White pepper should be creamy and slightly coffee colored. If it is too white it will likely be bleached. White peppercorns don't have shells.

3. Ginger root

Ginger root should be smooth, hard, without wrinkles and have a thin skin. If the ginger is wrinkled or mushy, then it is stale. Opt for a ginger root that doesn't have too many growths so that the pulp won't have coarse fibers. 

 

4. Ground turmeric

Sometimes ground turmeric is replaced with colored flavored flour. Thankfully, this is easy to recognize. If you dissolve the powder in water, natural turmeric won't form whitish stains on the surface. The whole root of turmeric is yellow or orange. The skin is thin and its interior is bright. The root shouldn't be soft or wrinkled.  

 

5. Star Anise

Star anise should be divided into 8 segments containing shiny seeds. If damaged, it will release some oily liquid. Whereas if the stars are too brittle or too dark, it's old or of poor quality.  

 

6. Cardamom

Cardamom pods should be large, their color, olive or greenish. If it appears to be bright green, artificial colors may have been used. If it appears yellow, it was wrongly dried or is very old. 

 

7. Nutmeg

Nutmeg is large, oval and has a lot of furrows inside. Fake nutmeg is a more elongated shape and has far fewer furrows when cut. 

 

8. Clove

Clove buds should be brown with heads of a lighter color than the stalks. Its aroma is strong and has a burning, slightly bitter taste. Lower the buds into water to determine the freshness. Fresh cloves float vertically, while old ones lie on the surface of the water. 

 

9. Vanilla pods

Vanilla pods retain their flavor for several years. If they are of a good quality, they should have curls at their ends. They appear chocolate in color, should be flexible and vary in size from 15 to 25 cm (6-10") long. Even if they are not of the best quality, the aroma of vanilla is still strong, unlike its synthetic analog, vanillin.  

 

10. Saffron

Natural saffron is very expensive, meaning that if you happened upon saffron at a good price, it is most likely fake, made from turmeric, safflower or dried beetroot. Real saffron should be of a rich burgundy or dark red color. When ground, saffron should have a powdery texture. If dissolved in water, it will color after 15 minutes.

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

15 Health Benefits of Broccoli

As a kid, I used to hate broccoli. Whenever my mother would cook it, I would make up all sorts of elaborate fibs hoping she wouldn't make me eat it (although they never worked). But when I became an adult, I grew to love this green vegetable and enjoy it in a variety of dishes. I've since discovered that broccoli is not just healthy, it's 'super' healthy - and I wanted to share the good news with you today.
Interesting Broccoli Facts: Broccoli was first cultivated in Italy back in the 6th-century B.C.E., and its name comes from the Italian broccoli meaning “the flowering crest of a cabbage”. The broccoli is a member of the cabbage family, along with the radish, turnip, mustard, and more. It was introduced to the United States by Italian immigrants in the 1920s and wasn’t wildly known until then. 77% of the world's broccoli is produced in China and India. The part of the broccoli we eat is the flower and the stem.

Health Benefits of Broccoli: 

 

1. It protects your skin from aging 

Broccoli is rich in antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, which reduces and prevents the damages caused by free radicals, such as pigmentation and wrinkling. In addition, the health content of Vitamins B and E aids in giving your skin a healthy glow. 

 

2. It protects you from UV radiation 

Using broccoli extract instead of sunscreen has been shown to provide a better level of protection than sunscreen. While sunscreen absorbs UV radiation, preventing it from reaching your skin, broccoli extract gets absorbed into your skin, defending it from the inside-out. It was also shown that its effects can last up to three days while sunscreen is only good for several hours at most. 

 

3. It’s good for pregnant women  

During pregnancy, women need to consume large amounts of folate, and broccoli has it in abundance. Folate helps prevent neurological and spinal defects in the fetus. 

 

4. It helps control diabetes  

Broccoli contains chromium, which is effective in regulating insulin levels and thus keeping diabetes symptoms at bay. 

 

5. It can prevent anemia  

Rich in iron and folic acid, broccoli is one of the best foods for preventing and treating anemia, as well as improving your levels of hemoglobin. broccoli health benefits

6. It regulates blood pressure 

The high levels of calcium, potassium, omega-3, and magnesium help improve blood flow in the circulatory system, and even reduce LDL levels (“bad cholesterol”). 

 

7. It boosts your immunity 

Your immune system needs nutrients such as trace minerals, zinc, and beta-carotene – all of which are quite common in broccoli. 

 

8. It’s also good for your bones 

The zinc, magnesium, and calcium, along with Vitamin K and phosphorus help prevent bone-related ailments and strengthens the bones. 

 

9. It promotes eye health 

Broccoli contains antioxidants such as lutein and carotenoid, which help in deterring cataracts and macular degeneration. It also contains Vitamin A, which is known to aid in improving vision in low-light conditions, as well as discerning colors.

10. It’s great for weight-loss  

Broccoli is low in calories, making it ideal for dieting.

11. It is also an effective detoxifier 

Your body needs to be able to get rid of waste and contaminants, and that’s where broccoli comes into play: containing rare nutrients like glucobrassicin, glucoraphanin, and gluconasturtiin, all of which are effective in eliminating toxins. 

 

12. It makes your hair shine The erucic acids in broccoli give your hair a lovely, natural shine. 

 

13. It takes care of your heart 

All of the amazing nutrients we’ve discussed help prevent damage to your blood vessels, reducing the risk of a stroke or heart attack.

14. It fights cancer  

The glucoraphanin in broccoli can be converted in the body into a cancer-fighting chemical called sulforaphane, and the indole-3 carbinol helps reduce the risk of breast, cervical and prostate cancer. 

 

15. It even helps your hair grow  

Vitamins A and C aid in moisturizing your scalp, while the calcium in the broccoli helps strengthen your hair follicles.

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement