Chick Peas

By: Christopher Cruz

A healthy food source and very high in dietary fiber, carbohydrates and contains Calcium, Folate, Protein and Zinc. Chick peas are also called Garbanzos in Spanish speaking countries, although it originated in the Middle East and travelled all the way through the Mediterranean, Western Asia, and the Americas. To this extent, Chick pea is the most consumed légume in the world. And if when you decided to try some chick peas, there are different ways to cook them. Soak them for 24 hours (yes-i know it takes a long time), then boil them for about two to three hours in medium heat (i know, another few hours). But there's always an easy button, canned chick peas (thank goodness!), this is the most convenient way of purchasing chick peas nowadays. They are as good as the ones you will be cooking from scratch (trust me, when you have a two year old kid, you won't have that much time). Fortunately, my son helps out in making our favorite dish called, Hummus. There are many things that you could do with Chick Peas, you could mix it with salads, ground it into a flour, batter, etc. So, if you want to boost a little more healthy ingredients to your meals, add some chick peas into your diet! Try my son's recipe for this Hummus.

Savoury, Sweet, Earthy & Fruity......

By: Christopher Cruz

What is it? A very basic ingredient in Japan called Miso, a popular and widely consumed staple by the Japanese people and gaining popularity in the western world, because it is so easy to prepare and you could top it off with anything you want. Miso is a fermented soy bean, when ground the consistency is very thick, and it is characterized with salty flavor and sometimes fruity or sweet flavor. There are different kinds of Miso, from white, red, dark varities - all of which depends on which regions in Japan they are being produced. Although, the most common form of Miso you could find in North America is the salty flavored miso, the light and red ones. Rich in vitamins and minerals and very high in protein, and a versatile ingredient in flavoring stocks, vegetables, sauces, marinades, etc. Try my Japanese Miso Soup recipe.