"Gluten-Free": Marketing Ploy or Serious Business?

Talk about a trending topic. Seems like every other item on our grocery shelves sports the term "gluten-free" nowadays, and we're gobbling them up, digestive issues or not. Talk about a marketing goldmine. Just how big? It hit about $4.2 billion in 2012 and is estimated to bring in some $6.6 billion by 2017.

This though many of us aren't even sure what gluten is, let alone celiac disease...

For starters, gluten is "the mixture of proteins, including gliadins and glutelins, found in wheat grains, which are not soluble in water and which give wheat dough its elastic texture." In other words, it's the stuff mostly found in wheat (rye, barley, and possibly oats, too) that gives dough its elastic texture. Think crackers, bread, pasta, and so on.

And that's a big deal because those with celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune digestive disease, can't digest gluten; it actually causes their bodies to produce antibodies that damage the tiny, hair-like projections, villi, in the small intestine. The classic result: diarrhea, bloating, and weight loss, but even more worrisome symptoms can also ensue, including:

Cupcake Supplies - What All Do You Need To Make a Cupcake?

Cupcakes are the cute little cakes that are baked in small cup shaped molds. The good thing about these cakes is that they are very convenient to serve. Also, you can treat each cake differently and create a whole batch of unique cupcakes. So, to begin making these little beauties, you need to a set of ingredients, flavor combinations and instruments. Cupcake supplies are easily available and are not expensive.

Instruments needed to make cupcakes

To make a cupcake, you need small moulds. These are available in the form of cake pans with a number of pockets molded into them. Each pocket makes a cupcake. Pans are available in different sizes. If you are not a professional baker, you can buy pans in two sizes - one standard and the other miniature. You can use the miniature cupcake pan for kids' projects. In addition to the pan, you need cookie scoops. You can use these to control the size of each portion of batter. This ensures that all cakes are baked uniformly. Paper liner is an optional accessory that you might need. You can use butter paper or silicone liners to line the cupcake tray before pouring in the batter.

Ingredients to make cupcakes

The basic ingredients you require are flour, butter, eggs, sugar, baking powder and flavor. Besides these, you can use other ingredients to bring in variations in taste. For instance, if you are a vegetarian, you can use yoghurt or condensed milk instead of eggs. Chocolate powder, cocoa powder and dark chocolate are used if you want to bake a chocolate cake. Milk is another ingredient commonly used. These ingredients are used to prepare the batter. In order to get the perfect cake, you need to be very careful with regard to proportions.

Quality Over Quantity for Breakfast

There's a piece of advice when it comes to eating that goes like this: 'Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.' This quote can be attributed to the late Adelle Davis, an American author and nutritionist. Obviously, it talks about the amount of food we should eat at certain times of the day. And eating 'breakfast like a king' means we should consume more food during breakfast compared to what to we have during lunch and dinner.

Of course, when it comes to eating healthy, it's not so much about the quantity of the food we eat but more on the quality of the ingredients we use. But why the big focus on breakfast?

Importance of breakfast

Both adults and kids to eat breakfast at the start of their day so they can perform at their best. Getting the necessary nutrients and energy in the morning will not only start your day right; it will also get you going all morning, even sustain you all day if you regularly scrimp on your lunch. Research has shown that skipping meals, especially breakfast, can be detrimental for those trying to lose weight. This is because controlling one's weight can become more difficult if he/she skips the all-important breakfast.

Consider Using Cotton Candy Machines at Fundraisers

There are several different ways to make money for organizations. Some of them are easier to make money with than others. One method to consider is using cotton candy machines and making several different kinds to distribute. The size and type will be considered by figuring out where it will be used and how much it needs to produce.

Almost every child loves this stuff. They think that it is neat to be able to see how the bags of this is are made. It can also be put on cones if it is easier.
There are many different kinds of possibilities when looking at a fundraiser. Every school event and others that are designed to attract kids will be using this equipment at their fundraisers. There will be many sizes of tubs that could be used or it could be put in a bag.

Some organizations need to have some of them that are very high output while others are going to need ones that do not produce as much. Every piece of equipment will be different. There are several different choices to pick from when they are considering which one would be best for them.

This is a very popular food that is served at carnivals, fairs and many other things. Everybody likes it and looks forward to getting it when they go to these places. When people are using them, they need to consider the amount of heat that they produce.

Cool Down With a Treat Served From Ice Shaving Machines

There is going to be a lot of different types of machines that are being used at a concession stand. Everybody has a lot of different choices to make regarding which ones they will use. Ice shaving machines will be a great option to consider at summer events.

They will be something that will be very popular on a hot summer day. Making slushies and sno cones can be done easily using these. There are many different flavors that can be added to them as well.

Everybody is going to have a different flavor that they like better than others. Customers can have many choices available to them. When people are trying to figure out the best flavors, they will have a difficult time so they will have a variety for their customers to use.

Some children want to have a certain color, not a certain flavor. Everyone will want something different. It will be difficult to make everyone happy but most people are going to be pleased when there is a variety for them to choose from.

Some of them are going to be bigger than others. There are some that will be automated. Others will shave the ice only when a button is pressed whether it is by a cup or by someone's hand. There are a lot of different ways to do things including with a foot pedal.

Are Corporations Taking Over America? Should They Be Allowed to Control Government?

Monsanto is the biggest producer of the genetically engineered seed. They lobbied and worked with a US Senator to produce the provision and have it hidden inside the bill. So, when the bill was passed, they received temporary immunity to the safety of GMO seed without percussions to potential dangers to public health.

GMO and GE are interchangeable terms to identify genetically engineered seed. The seed is injected with DNA from animals to change the plant's makeup to make them tolerate to herbicides and pesticides. Even though there is mixed results in scientific studies, scientists have warned of these potential dangers, especially for long term public health.

Scientific concerns include health problems stemming from the insertion of DNA from animals that may contain bacteria and viruses. Pollen circulation could cause spread of GMO to non-GMO farms and contaminate organic crops in efforts to meet Organic Standards. There could also be unexpected and harmful changes in the modified plants that would create bigger problems later on, such as the 'super weed' issue.

The biggest question here is whether the corporations should have the right to control the government to continue on with corruptive practices? Should these actions be deemed as bribery to government officials? Especially, where immunity protects them from federal courts when the public is harmed?

How to Make the Perfect Shrimp Remoulade

Have you ever been to a restaurant and wondered how they make that shrimp so plump and juicy and that remoulade sauce to spicy and delicious? Well, it's actually not that difficult to do and it only takes about 20 minutes. Here's how it's done:

-Making the Sauce
There are several different remoulade recipes out there, but the one that seems to be the most popular is the Louisiana version. This type of remoulade contains mustard, paprika and Cajun spices and is typically the one that you'll find at most restaurants in the south.

In a bowl, simply mix the following ingredients: 1.5 cups of mayonnaise, 1 cup of Creole mustard, 1.5 tablespoons of paprika, 2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning, 1.5 teaspoons of horseradish, 1.5 teaspoons of sweet pickle juice, 1.5 teaspoons of Tabasco sauce and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic.

A good remoulade is better when it's been left alone in a refrigerator for a couple of hours. The flavors will need this time to mix together and begin to sing.