It is time for the most food festive holiday of the year – THANKSGIVING! All over social media, I see questions like: “what is the best way to cook a turkey?” “should I stuff my turkey?’ “should I brine my turkey?” I have baked, fried and smoked turkey for many, many Thanksgiving feasts. Regardless of which cooking method you chose, you must, must, BRINE your turkey. Now, let’s discuss proper prepping and cooking the traditional, centerpiece of your holiday meal. What is a Brine? Brining is a technique whereby meat is soaked in saltwater, which tenderizes, moisturizes, and flavors the bird, as well as reduces the cooking time. Brining is…
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Why Deli Meats Are Killing Us
Have you ever heard of nitrates and nitrites? Did you know, they are in almost ALL deli meats and processed meats? The only positive thing I can say about nitrates and nitrites; they inspired me to start my blog. Surprisingly, those harmful chemicals are throughout our food supply. Why isn’t someone screaming from the rooftops – “Hey, that crap causes cancer in you!” so…I started JoAnn’s Food Bites! What Are Nitrates and Nitrites? They are inorganic chemical compounds found naturally in all kinds of foods, including vegetables. Once these foods react with your stomach acids, they can help lower blood pressure. READ MORE ABOUT FOOD AND BLOOD PRESSURE HERE! HOWEVER, an…
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5 Food Remedies for Insomina
What is insomnia? Insomnia is clinically diagnosed as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Symptoms include: Difficulty falling asleep when tired Waking up often during the night or having trouble going back to sleep Waking up too early in the morning Feeling tired upon waking Most cases of insomnia are acute insomnia, which is only a short-term issue; however, chronic insomnia is diagnosed when a patient has insomnia at least three nights a week for a month or longer. Biology of insomnia Our bodies produce Serotonin – a natural chemical in our central nervous system, which makes us feel calm or happy. When it gets dark outside, our bodies naturally turn serotonin…
