Perfect baking Pumpkins!

It's October and pumpkins are everywhere! Right now, pumpkins are cheap,you can purchase fresh pumpkins at the local market or grocery store to make fresh pumpkin bread, pie, cookies or muffins. But make sure you avoid field pumpkins for baking. They are only good for making a jack o' lantern, because they are too big and packed with stringy excess inside. Instead, look for sugar pie pumpkins. Look for pumpkins that are small and sweet, that are a dark orange color, they're perfect for pies, soups, muffins and breads. A medium-sized sugar pumpkin should yield around 1½ cups of mashed pumpkin. Puree the pumpkin and it can be used in all your recipes calling for canned pumpkin.

You can make a puree by baking, boiling or microwaving the uncooked pumpkin.

Baking Method
-Cut the pumpkin in half and discard the stem section and stringy pulp. Save the seeds to dry and roast.
-In a shallow baking dish, place the two halves face down and cover with foil.
-Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oven for about 1½ hours for a medium-sized sugar pumpkin, or until tender.
-Once the baked pumpkin has cooled, scoop out the flesh and puree or mash it.
-For silky smooth custards or soups, press the pumpkin puree through a sieve.

Boiling Method
-Cut the pumpkin in half, discarding the stringy insides.
-Peel the pumpkin and cut it into chunks.
-Place in a saucepan and cover with water.
-Bring to a boil and cook until the pumpkin chunks are tender.
-Let the chunks cool, and then puree the flesh in a food processor or mash it with a potato masher or food mill.

Microwave Method
-Cut the pumpkin in half, discarding the stringy insides.
-Microwave on high power for seven minutes per pound, turning pieces every few minutes to promote even cooking. Process as above.

You can refrigerate your fresh pumpkin puree for up to three days, or store it in the freezer up to six months, enabling you to enjoy fall pumpkins for months to come.

6 Things to Avoid in Sushi

Sushi is a food trend that has become very popular in the US over the past few years. I love it and can easily eat a few rolls on my own. But that's a problem, many think sushi is very healthy, but some rolls are packed with calories and saturdated fat.

Sushi does not mean raw fish, but refers to vinigered rice that includes fish, which is often raw and vegetables wrapped in seaweed. Traditionally, it is very healthy, but Americans make it unhealthy by eating too much and adding ingredients to make it taste better but pack in the caloires.

Honoluluadvertiser.com lists some tips to keep sushi healthy:

-Avoid fried or battered foods, such as dumplings, tempura and spider rolls. Instead look for broiled, grilled or stemmed items. * Soup and sashimi are low in calories.

-Watch out for rolls with duck, eel and cheese, these are high in fat and calories.

- Soy sauce and miso soup are very high in sodium. If soy sauce is a must, request low-sodium or just use less.

-If you order a Japanese salad, avoid creamy dressings. Also stay away from mayonaises and cream cheese in the rolls you order.

-One roll may not satisfy your hunger--if that's the case, order two lower-calorie rolls and steammed vegetables, hijiki (cooked seaweed) or oshitashi (boiled spinich with soy sauce)

-Also know that Sushi is often uncooked, and may contain parasites or microorganismsthat cause food-borne illness. Pregnant women, young children, older adults, and people with immune conditions should noteat raw or partially cooked seafood.

5 Drinks to Avoid

As American's are gulping down their beverage at dinner, most don't have any idea that what they are sipping could be more calories than what they are eating. Men's Health did research and found the drinks that are the worst for you.

5. The Worst "Healthy" Drink
Glaceau VitaminWater (any flavor; 20 oz bottle)
130 calories
33 grams sugar

4. The Worst Wanna-be Juice
Arizona Kiwi Strawberry (23.5 oz can)
360 calories
84 g of sugar


3. The Worst Smoothie
Jamba Juice Peanut Butter Moo’d Power Smoothie (30 oz)
1,170 calories
169 g sugars 30 g fat

2. The Worst Summer Cocktail
Pina Colada
625 calories
75 g sugars

1.The Worst Drink in America
Baskin Robbin’s Large Heath Bar Shake (32 oz)
2,310 calories
266 g sugar
108 g fat

So avoid these drinks, try not to add extra calories by drinking beverages that won't satisfy your hunger or provide you with any healthy nutrients.

For more infomation go to http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/5027/americas-unhealthiest-drinks-exposed/