Throwback Thursday - Something to think about...

Back in the 1880's, this guy was considered so fat that he was part of a circus freakshow! Makes one think, doesn't it?

Obrigado!...

Witty Wednesday - Chocolate

Did You Know?

A 2011 Swedish study found that women who ate more than 45 grams of chocolate a week had 20% lower risk of stroke than women who treated themselves to fewer than 9 grams of the sweet stuff.

One of the reasons dark chocolate is especially heart-healthy is its inflammation-fighting properties, which reduce cardiovascular risk.

Dark chocolate contains a number of vitamins and minerals that can support your health. Dark chocolate contains some of the following vitamins and minerals in high concentrations:

• Potassium
• Copper
• Magnesium 
• Iron

The copper and potassium in dark chocolate help prevent against stroke and cardiovascular ailments. The iron in chocolate protects against iron deficiency anemia, and the magnesium in chocolate helps prevent type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. 

It's good to know chocolate isn't all that bad for us... in moderation of course!

... Obrigado!

Quick Tip Tuesday - Making grilled cheese sandwiches?

It is Tuesday again which means Quick Tip time! Instead of butter, slather some mayonnaise on the outside of your sandwich - it makes for a tasty, crispy sandwich!

....Obrigado!

Quiz Friday - The 10 Second Rule?

We end the week on a lighter note with our quiz and ask the question, does the 10 second rule really apply?

...Obrigado!

Throwback Thursday - Portuguese Heritage

Today, we take a moment to celebrate the Portuguese culture. From their traditions (such as the national costume), their symbols (the Grape which is considered a symbol of abundance and fireside comfort) all the way to their language and festivals. 

We have the incredible pleasure of being part of Festa Portuguesa this weekend at Emperors Palace. So, we thought we would post a quick vocabulary lesson on how to greet people in Portuguese. Just so that you can feel right at home at the festival. 

(For more handy phrases, visit: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAvqxMwy7oo for Food and Drinks and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtglloAwW8k to learn how to say 'Thank You'.)

This is what Emperors Palace has to say about this authentic Portuguese festival:

"This top-end event is the first of its kind in terms of cultural authenticity and it's designed to highlight and uplift the Portuguese community of South Africa and showcases elements of Portuguese influence in Brazil, Angola and Mozambique.

It's a fact that every time we eat, drink, socialize with friends and family and listen to music, it’s a celebration. It’s what we do, it’s who we are.

One of the things we love most about our culture is how the ordinary experiences of daily life are transformed into something of substance. You'll have the opportunity to walk through a replica of a traditional Portuguese village and pick out fresh fruit and vegetables at an open air market, finding the perfect cheese, cured meats, olives and wine or walk into a patisserie with so many delightful choices you'd be hard pressed to choose only one.

Visit our many well known Portuguese restaurateurs who will prepare rich full-flavoured dishes. Our kids are so important to us, and so much of our lives is focused around them. This s a perfect opportunity to keep kids happy and parents free to indulge.

An incredible kids activity area, complete with an outstanding water world awaits them. Minders will keep your little ones entertained. As for the teens, we haven't forgotten to create an amazing experience for you too. Some of you may have had the privilege of experiencing the Carnival in Rio, and for those who haven't, no need to save for a plane ticket, we'll bring Brazil to you. On Saturday evening the 26th of October, we will recreate a Rio carnival parade complete with the legendary DJ Paul Almeida and a Samba band all the way from Brazil. Universities will receive a budget, choose a theme, build a float, create costumes, and music to represent their themes. Whist enjoying the delicate summer sun and taking in the sounds of your favourite local and international entertainers, sip one of our very popular Caipirinhas (made with the original Cashaca) or a Katemba (Coke infused with red wine) or simply indulge in one of our Portuguese beers and drafts like Superbock."

... Obrigado!

Source: http://www.emperorspalace.co.za/peermont/content/en/emperors/emperors-get-excited?oid=73470&sn=Detail+Resort&pid=32664

Witty Wednesday - Cheese

Did you know?

• Archaeological surveys show that cheese was being made from the milk of cows and goats in Mesopotamia before 6000 B.C.

• It takes around 10 litres of milk to make 1kg of hard cheese.

• More cheese is produced annually worldwide than coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans and tobacco combined!

• Cheese can be made from a variety of different milks including cow, sheep, goat, buffalo, horse and even camel.

... Obrigado!

Source: http://www.doyouknowgk.com/2013/03/interesting-facts-about-cheese.html
           http://quotesinfinite.com/quote/1435/

Quick Tip Tuesday - The Water and the Spoon

It's Tuesday and we have a great tip for you!

 Pasta can be your worst nightmare when your pot boils over. Not only is it a safety hazard for your hands, but the cleaning up afterwards can discourage even the messiest cook from attempting it again.

Today's tip is a quick fix to your problem and so easy, it should actually be part of the instructions on the back of a packet of pasta.

... Obrigado!

Milu Monday - Our famous Adega Prego Roll

It's the start of another week and today we share one of our recipes straight from the Adega Restaurants kitchen. Our Prego rolls are famous for being juicy and full of flavour. So, here's our head chef's secret to a delectable, delicious Prego roll... but shhhhhh! It's our secret.

Ingredients:

Serves 4

2 Cloves of Garlic, Peeled and chopped

2 red or green chilies, sliced

3ml (1/2 tsp) paprika

2 bay leaves

Pinch of salt, to taste

½ a lemon, juiced

50ml dry white wine

4 thin rump steaks (approximately 150g each)

10ml (2tsp) cooking oil

100g butter or margarine

4 Portuguese bread rolls (e.g small ciabatta loaves)

Method:

Mix the garlic, chilies, paprika, bay leaves, salt, lemon juice and wine to form a marinade. Place the steaks in the marinade and marinate for about 10min.

Heat the cooking oil and half the butter or margarine in a thick-base frying pan. Remove the chilies, garlic and bay leaves from the marinade and add to the pan. Place the steaks in the pan and fry to your liking. Add the rest of the marinade and simmer for a few minutes.

Slice and butter the bread rolls and place each steak in a roll, along with some of the sauce. Serve immediately.

Serving suggestions:

Great with chips! If you enjoy your Piri-Piri like I do, use more chilies to pump up the heat.

... Obrigado!

Quiz Friday - What's your snacking style?

Snacking is something that we really take for granted and rarely think of. It's important to know if we're taking proper advantage of this important part of our day and what we can do to change our attitudes towards these tasty break times. 

Below is a quiz that reveals your snacking style and gives you helpful hints for the future.

Pick the most appropriate response to the questions below, and then tally up your score.

1. I consider snacks:
a. A yummy opportunity to stay fuelled up between meals. 
b. A temptation that has to be resisted. Giving in means you lack the willpower to stay focused on your diet.
c. A good mid-day pick-me-up. At work, break times allow me to grab a treat while hanging out with my work pals. 

2. What I look for in an everyday snack is:
a. Satisfying flavour in a low-fat, low-in-refined sugar, low-sodium package. But I know the odd splurge in calories or sugar isn't going to ruin my diet.
b. No snack at all. But if I let myself slide, I might eat some carrot sticks or broccoli with lemon squeezed on them, or half an apple or orange.
c. Something relatively affordable and convenient I can pick up from the office vending machine or local coffee shop.

3. Caffeine is an acceptable mid-morning snack when:
a. My latte is made from 2 per cent or skim milk instead of full fat, and hey, why not round things out with a low-fat muffin shared with my best office bud?
b. The coffee has a splash of skim milk and a sugar-substitute packet to sweeten it up so it tastes "naughty" yet remains low-cal.
c. It's a delicious extra large Moccaccino with double the whipped cream so it's more filling and has extra dairy.

4. Do you pack a work snack each morning? (Or have a stash at the office?)
a. Yes.
b. No.
c. No, I don't have to pack a snack because our office has a great cafeteria, nearby cafés and a vending machine.

5. A bump in the night woke you up at 4 a.m. Now your stomach is rumbling and you can't get back to sleep. You:
a. Fix yourself a bowl of cereal, or nibble on a banana with a chaser of milk. 
b. Ignore the rumbling – "No food after 8 p.m.!"– and have a cup of herbal tea.

c. Make yourself a big sandwich, plate it with a cookie and wash it down with a glass of pop.

6. Your New Year's resolution is to be more social at work. To encourage co-workers to stop by your desk to chit chat, you're going to have:
a. A big bowl of clementines to share with coworkers.
b. A sign-up sheet for an intra-office Weight Watchers club.
c. A dish of individually wrapped chocolates to share with colleagues.

7. Quick: if you wanted a snack right now – whether you're reading this at home or at work – you could find a tasty, under-200 calorie treat right this instant. 
a. Absolutely.
b. I don't buy snacks because I refuse to "plan" to sabotage my diet.
c. Sure, if you count that I keep coins handy in my desk, and can get to the office snack machine and back in less than 5 minutes!

Quiz results
If you chose mostly As, you're a:
Super-Savvy Snacker
You have a knack for snackin'. You know that snacks help you stick to a healthy diet and that they're an opportunity to keep your metabolism chugging along while reaching towards your daily nutritional goals.

Tips:
• We don't need to tell you what to do: just keep doing what you do best. 
• Sometimes, a little role modelling can cause ripple effects through an entire office culture. Consider taking charge of the next at-work birthday party or fundraiser and nix the pastries and chips for a healthy change.

If you chose mostly Bs, you're:
Snack Averse
You're too good. Seriously, you are. 

Snacking is healthy, especially if you're on a weight-loss plan. Snacks help keep energy levels even – just try making it through a spinning class when you're running on empty. 

If you tell yourself that snacking is forbidden, you may find yourself distractingly hungry between meals, not meeting your daily nutritional needs, going overboard at dinner and, um, really annoying your buddies.

Tips:
• Make time to snack. If you have difficulty listening to your body's hunger cues (a trait longtime dieters may exhibit), pencil snack time into your workday planner.
• Keep your metabolism humming along by feeding yourself between meals. A handful of almonds, an apple and a small piece of cheddar, an afternoon cuppa and a banana – these snacks are virtuous enough to keep you happy even if equate happiness with dietary restraint.

If you chose mostly Cs, you're a:
Snack-Attack Victim
Your unplanned, make-it-up-as-you-go approach may make for an irreverent approach to the workday, but unfortunately, may cause you plenty of worry when you start packing on the pounds.

By not planning out your snacks, you tend to find yourself reaching for less-than-ideal choices from the variety store or office cafeteria, where high-fat, refined flours and sugars, and deep-fried temptations abound.

Tips:
• Pre-plan a little: Stock your desk with nonperishable goodies that you can dip into when the urge strikes. Snack-size tuna tins, protein bars, 100-calorie snack pack cookies or chips, and fruit leather are all acceptable choices.
• Make a list of smart on-the-go snacks: If you're a sucker for convenience treats, write down what's acceptable so you don't forget.

...Obrigado!



Source: http://www.canadianliving.com/health/health_and_wellness_club/quiz_whats_your_snacking_style_2.php

Throwback Thursday: False Advertising

This photo is a reminder of how different we see food today and thanks to some great advances in nutrition, we know the truth about butter.

Here are 3 reasons why it's GOOD to eat butter:

• Butter is an excellent source of Vitamins. One of the many beneficial vitamins we get from butter is Vitamin A, which has a wide range of function for our bodies. Vitamin A is needed to maintain good vision. It also keeps our endocrine system functioning well. Aside from Vitamin A, butter also has other fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin D, E and K.

• Butter contains the Wulzen Factor. This is a hormone like substance with many functions. It can prevent stiffness in the joints, as well as arthritis. It is also responsible for ensuring that calcium is deposited in the bones rather than in the joints. Note that the Wulzen factor can only be found in raw butter and cream.

• It has the perfect balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats. The arachidonic acid found in butter helps with brain function, skin health and prostaglandin balance.

... Obrigado!

Sources: http://www.draxe.com/top-8-health-benefits-of-butter/

              http://backtothefiveanddime.tumblr.com/post/10362679459

Witty Wednesdays - French Girls

Did you know?

• Thomas Jefferson had "potatoes served in the French manner" at a White House dinner in 1802.

• The expression "French Fried Potatoes" first occurs in print in English in the 1856 work Cookery for Maids of All Work by E Warren: "French Fried Potatoes. – Cut new potatoes in thin slices, put them in boiling fat, and a little salt; fry both sides of a light golden brown colour; drain."

• In the early 20th century, the term "French fried" was being used in the sense of "deep-fried", for other foods such as onion rings or chicken.

• To this day, there is an ongoing debate between France and Belgium about which of these countries invented this delicious dish.

... Obrigado!



Sources:bizzarocomic.blogspot.com
             http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries

Quick Tip Tuesdays - Tip 1

If you have ever tried to fry anything in oil, chances are you've had an encounter or two with hot oil splattering all over the place. 

This week on Quick Tip Tuesdays we are showing you how to keep your hands from falling victim to splatter burn and 

saving your shirt from oil stains!

... Obrigado!

Welcome

Hi there! We would like to send out a warm welcome and big thank you for visiting our blog.

This is a platform to share ideas, thoughts, questions and comments. We have a great weekly post line- up for you. This is what you can expect:

• Milu Monday

We share recipes straight from our Adega Head Chef, Milu dos Santos. Her easy, yet delicious gourmet recipes will turn even the greenest kitchen novice a master behind the stove.

• Quick Tip Tuesdays

Ever wonder how to keep yourself from crying while chopping onions? Or how to stop oil from splashing everywhere while you fry a fish? We share quick and easy tips to use in the kitchen.

• Witty Wednesdays

Read a good quote? Keen for a giggle? We share some funny and inspirational messages with you, straight from the kitchen!

• Throwback Thursdays

Remember when the tease was in? Or that smell of fresh bread that makes you long for your grandmother's cooking? We take a journey into the past and revive the old favourites.

• Quiz Fridays

Keeping your mind active or keen to find out more about yourself? End your week with a fun quiz from us!

You can also subscribe to our posts and receive them quick and conveniently via email. Simply scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your email address. While you're at it, have a look at our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/AdegaRestaurants and Like us!

We also have an Adega Birthday Club where you receive a R100 Adega meal voucher to enjoy during the week of your birthday. To become part of our club, simply email your name, cellphone number and date of birth to zia@adegas.co.za.

...Obrigado!