My Sweet MoonBeam

A guide to sure-fire passion igniters this Valentine’s Day in Manchester!

Stir up some passion this Valentine’s Day! One of the best ways to add some spice to your relationship is to inhale the sizzling aroma of love at one of Manchester’s Asian restaurants.

If you like some privacy, check out the “Hanaan” on Princess Street, with its chic, intimate setting and very good food. Although if you prefer to take a trip onto the “Curry Mile”, then you will find its namesake there too, serving traditional dishes in a modern style.

Fun seekers should head to the thriving and friendly “Shimla Pinks” on Crown Square, where they can choose from a sumptuous range of dishes and liqueurs for £27.95 per person for 4 courses! With its modern and spacious interior, you’ll feel you have the place to yourselves!

Worth the short trip from the centre, “Dilli” in Stamford New Road, Altrincham is receiving rave reviews, with the MEN calling the delicious cuisine a “revelation!” With a special menu and new dishes all week (7th – 14th) leading up to Valentines Day, prepare to get more than just your tastebuds tingling!

Thai-ing the Knot

If you’re thinking of Thai-ing the knot this year then why not pop the question at one of Manchester’s Thai Restaurants. “The Thai Lounge” on Radcliffe New Road in Whitefield is perfect – surround yourself in the authentic atmosphere of last year’s “Pride of Manchester – Best Restaurant” runner – up! Superb food will help set the mood for love!

Or you can get Thai-ed up at “Ikan” on Portland Street and indulge your wild side in this sleek, stylish and sexy setting. A popular and mouth watering menu is complimented by an extensive range of authentic Thai and western cocktails. Personally I’d go for the “Passion Bellini!”

Book your table now

All of these restaurants are available to book for free on Skiddle. So nibble on a naan, pick up a poppadom, and prepare to get some heat out when you eat out!

Here is a dainty dessert to celebrate Presidents’ Day. It is especially attractive when served in a stemmed sundae glass with a matching saucer underneath. Set on a lace doily with a pretty long-handled spoon. Make a pot of coffee or hot tea, and enjoy the combination to finish the meal.

This dessert custard is homemade completely from scratch. Make sure you watch and stir frequently while cooking because the milk can burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. If desired, a drop of vanilla or even mint flavoring can be added after it has been cooked. stir in thoroughly before pouring into the glasses, and then top with the cream and cherries.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons cocoa
2 cups milk
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or almonds, if desired
Whipped cream
Maraschino cherries
Whites of 2 eggs

Directions

Bring milk to scald in a double boiler. Mix together the cornstarch, sugar, and cocoa. Wet to a paste with a little cold water, then stir into hot milk and stir until thick. Continue cooking for 30 minutes, stirring frequently.

Beat egg whites stiff, and stir into custard, finally adding the vanilla and nuts.

Let cool, fill glasses with the cold custard and top with whipped cream. Decorate the whipped cream with the Maraschino cherries and chopped nuts.

So many people adore eating chocolate, so it’s easy to see its positive impact on people. But add health benefits to this amazingly delicious food, and you’ve got a perfect combination!

Why is chocolate good for our health?
The last couple of years have seen a whole host of studies conducted to determine the potential health benefits of chocolate. In addition to identifying the beneficial vitamins and minerals found in chocolate, including potassium, copper, magnesium, and phosphorus, we also know that chocolate can act as an antioxidant and can stimulate the production of endorphins and other feel-good chemicals in our bodies. Here’s what they’ve found so far.

Disease-fighting antioxidant flavonoids
Dark chocolate that’s milk-free and eaten without milk is very high in antioxidants according to a study done by Italy’s National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome (milk seems to interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate). The antioxidant flavonoids specific to chocolate are called flavanols (procyanidins, catechins, and epicatechins).

Why are antioxidants important for a healthy body? Well, they eat up free radicals which are destructive molecules that have been connected to ailments such as cancer (lung cancer, prostate cancer), asthma, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. In particular, these antioxidants have several health effects on the heart:

• Lowers cholesterol: Dark chocolate high in flavonoids will reduce LDL (“bad” cholesterol) oxidation and boost HDL (“good” cholesterol) concentrations in the blood. The higher the level of antioxidants in the blood, the lower your LDL oxidation will be.
• Decreases blood pressure: Procyanidins trigger the production of nitric oxide which keeps arteries flexible and increases bloodflow. Additionally, these antioxidants may keep blood platelets from clumping together. Together these factors lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

To obtain these chocolate benefits, you’ll need to consume dark chocolate which has a higher concentration of antioxidants. A chocolate made with 70 percent or more cocoa is ideal.

Feel-good endorphins and anti-depressants
Eating chocolate also has the benefit of stimulating the release of endorphins, those “feel good” chemicals that naturally occur in your body. These can help to lift the spirit, even with just a little bite.

Plus, chocolate is a known antidepressant and aphrodisiac. A chemical called phenylethylamine are responsible for these positive emotions. They may even be responsible for making you feel that you’re in love. No wonder chocolate is such a romantic food!

Beneficial stimulants
Chocolate also contains stimulants such as caffeine (although in small quantities), giving it another way to boost spirits and increase feelings of happiness and energy. Plus, if you eat chocolate that’s made with 70 percent cocoa or higher, you’ll be consuming a food that’s low on the glycemic index. This means that it will prevent wild fluctuations in your blood glucose and insulin levels. Compared to other high-sugar foods, dark chocolate is quite a bit healthier.

Milk versus dark chocolate
Unlike dark chocolate, milk chocolate cannot really make any health claims. Given milk chocolate’s low levels of cocoa, it lacks the antioxidants found in dark chocolate.

Likewise, with white chocolate. Although white chocolate contains cocoa butter (which is sometimes replaced by other vegetable oils instead), it does not contain any cocoa solids. As a result, white chocolate contains no flavonoids, making it devoid of the antioxidant health benefits of dark chocolate.

To even be considered “dark” chocolate, a product must contain at least 65 percent cocoa. By comparison, the European Union requires that milk chocolate have 25 percent cocoa solids (there is no such regulation for milk chocolate in the US). According to a US Department of Agriculture study, “cocoa powders have the highest flavonoid content, followed by baking chocolate and dark eating chocolates.”

How much is too much chocolate?
So we know that chocolate can have some wonderfully positive benefits on our human bodies, but how much is enough chocolate? And more importantly, how much is too much?

Recommended daily intake
Let’s be totally clear: although chocolate does benefit the body by adding antioxidants and improving mood, it is no superfood. Pound for pound, dark chocolate can still be a high-calorie, high-fat food. It should therefore never be substituted for healthy, antioxidant-rich foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

Nevertheless, when eaten in moderation, chocolate can be a great addition to an already healthy diet. Various experts tout different numbers when talking about the ideal amount of dark chocolate in the healthy diet. While some contend that 100 calories is enough to receive the benefits without adding too many calories, other argue that you can eat up to 100 grams (about 500 calories) of dark chocolate daily (this would be the maximum amount).

The key to knowing how much dark chocolate you can eat on a daily basis is how you balance the calories. Knowing how many calories you should aim to eat in a day is the first step. If you can have 1,800 calories daily, and you eat 100 calories worth of chocolate, then you know you can only eat 1,700 calories from other foods the rest of the day. Keep to that formula and you can’t go wrong.

Remember, too, that you need to eat your dark chocolate milk-free. That means avoiding dairy products while eating your chocolate indulgence in order to get the full benefit of the antioxidants you’re taking in.

And here’s another tip for truly enjoying the health benefits of chocolate: eat it slowly! Chocolate contains over 300 compounds that each affects your body in different ways. Savor each bit of chocolate so that you eat in moderation and can sincerely appreciate all the good you’re doing for yourself.

Consequences of over-indulgence
Without a doubt, dark chocolate has some wonderful health benefits. We can all enjoy a healthier existence with controlled consumption of chocolate. But we also know that too much chocolate can lead to weight gain, which would totally cancel any of the health benefits gained by eating this food. So be careful how much you consume on a daily basis. Too much of a good thing can turn into a health hazard.

“Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies.”…very true to the saying, you will seldom come across a person who doesn’t like chocolate. If you don’t know what to gift your valentine on Valentine’s Day, a box of chocolate can never let you down. There is nothing like saying those golden words ‘I Love You’ with chocolates. Chocolate is mysterious in its own way…the process of unveiling the gift wrap, opening the box and unwrapping the papers to reveal dark brown smooth structures….mmm…it even feels delicious to think about it!

People say valentine chocolates have long association with love and passion. It is believed to have a seductive and unique power. Critics say chocolates are not good for health…they have calories. Well, what else can be done but to agree to a chocolate lover who says “I don’t understand why so many “so called” chocolate lovers complain about the calories in chocolate, when all true chocoholics know that it is a vegetable? It comes from the cocoa bean, beans are veggies, ’nuff said.” Whatever said and done, it works in its strange ways to impress people. It is really cool to gift your partner a box of chocolates even if you have something else to go with it.

Valentine chocolates come in different shapes and sizes. Select from the wide range available in the market. There are dark chocolates, milk bars, sweet chocolates, chocolate puddings, candies, truffles and pies available in the market for you to choose from. You can also go for chocolate cakes this year on Valentine’s Day. To be a bit innovative, go for the customized ones this year. They come with love messages and Valentine’s Day quotes imprinted on it. You can also order your own chocolate box and get your beloved’s name imprinted on it. A gift basket filled with all the favorite chocolates of your beloved can be a great gift for Valentine’s Day this year.

This year wish your beloved a lip smacking Valentine’s Day with those dark little devils named ‘Chocolates’ and win her/his heart.

The Internet has opened up a whole new world of discoveries for many of us and amateur cooks, from around the world, are grateful! Think of all the wonderful and varied recipes that have now become available – all with a few clicks of the keyboard.

For those who love to try out new recipes from different countries and ethnic backgrounds, this has certainly been a gift! Few would argue that Mexico and its flavorful and colorful foods certainly offer a huge variety of absolutely yummy foods. However, for some reason, cooking and creating Mexican recipes have been viewed, by some, as time consuming and difficult. Well, the good news! – that is simply not true. As with any type of regional cuisine, there are some intricate dishes, but there are also some quick and easy recipes that are fun to make and take no time at all and, more importantly, taste heavenly!

Although Mexican food is thought to be mainly about the spices, this is not entirely correct. Yes many different and flavorful spices are used to create Mexican dishes, however there are also a variety of other ingredients such as fresh vegetables and, of course, beans that go into making that special Mexican dish that tastes so authentic and wonderful.

One of the joys of creating your own Mexican dishes, from scratch, is the availability of many of the ingredients. You can find the basic ingredients, for most of your Mexican recipes, right at your local supermarket. Of course, if you really want to benefit from the flavors these recipes promise, making a special trip to your local market to pick up fresh ingredients is an excellent idea.

Now that you have the ingredients, you can easily create some quick and easy recipes for any occasion. Are you looking for a fast dip? Why not make a salsa recipe and serve it with nachos? Salsa is fast and nutritious and you can certainly make it with a variety of ingredients including sweet tasting mango.

If you are looking for a more filling dish, how about a Bean and Cheese Quessadillas recipe? This is a filling meal that is both authentic and flavorful and can be served at a party or brought as a lunch as it is quite versatile.

If you are looking to broaden your cooking “horizons”, impress your friends and keep your palate happy, then Mexican cooking with easy and fast Mexican recipes is the way to go.