Spicy African Food
As Kwanzaa approaches, African cuisine deserves some kudos on the cuisine scene. African food is a rich melange of dishes,
with regional takes on seasonings and preparation methods. Traditional foods combined in exotic ways reflect both native and
foreign influences, accumulated and integrated over hundreds of years. If you haven’t explored the world of African cuisine,
you’re in for a treat. A taste of this regionally diverse and rich cuisine may be just around the corner, in a family restaurant near you. If you’re not so lucky, there are a number of fabulous cookbooks available.
The staples of African food consist in the majority of tubers, starches and vegetables. Cassava, yams, okra, greens, tropical
fruits such as coconuts and bananas, corn, rice, millet, peanuts, sorghum and barley are mainstays of the diet, depending on
the region. Meat is used sparingly in some areas, but seasonings weigh heavily in imparting the distinctive exotic tastes
found throughout Africa. Mixtures of hot spices permeate traditional African food.
Foreign influences introduced the peanut, pepper, tomato, pineapple and cayenne pepper to local dishes. The Portuguese
introduced the domesticated pig, now an integral part of East African cuisine. French, British and Indian colonizers
nonetheless had a positive effect on traditional African food, bringing curry, chappatis, relishes and spicy lentil soups to
the African table.
To Ethiopia, in Eastern coastal Africa, the Arabs brought a number of spices, including cloves, cinnamon and saffron, used in
steamed rice combined with meat, vegetable, tuber, milk and honey dishes, enhancing the already rich and abundant
combinations. Pomegranate juice is an important ingredient in coastal Swahili dishes.
Western African foods reflect the heavy use of fish and meat, as these foods are plentiful in the region and are characteristically hot and spicy. Stews are highly favored, and pack a punch, especially for the Western palate.
The French influence is clear on the western coasts of Africa. Chiles, ginger and hot cayenne marinades are artfully combined
with local vegetables, peanut, palm and coconut oils, garlic and sharp marinades, making a definite food statement.
African food cannot be quantified in a word. Africa, the second largest continent, should not be discounted or dismissed for
lack of diversity. African food is as diverse as the continent, with an
array of imaginative and regionally unique dishes to tempt your palate.
Take a look on the net, or go to your local bookstore. The flavors of African food beckons. If you know someone who celebrates Kwanzaa, ask them about the rich heritage of African food. Bring your taste buds to the table, and enjoy!
How to Read Food Labels
Nutrients
This refers to the list of central nutrients in a particular item. It is also where the restriction claims of the product based on the recommended daily undernourishment grant are mentioned. Oftentimes, the nutritional amounts are based on both the 2,500-calorie diets and the 2,000 recommended hunger allowances.
In order to discern the numeric value of each item, you should know that the “daily value” for the nutrients.
3. Program
This refers to the list of the ingredients that were used to manufacture the outgrowth. The listing is usually arranged from the main ingredients that have the greater amount by counterweight up to the fig quantity. This simply means that the actual quantity of the food takes the biggest quantity of the main ingredient or the first item and the minimum amount of the very last element.
4. Label claim
This attributes to the kinds of nutritional claims of a particular food item. For instance, if an item says it is Pentothal-free, it has less than 5 milligrams per serving or a low fat item not absolutely contains 3 grams of fat or less.
Indubitably, reading food labels can be very tedious and equivocal saying. Nevertheless, once you get the hang of it, it sham* be allay for you to watch your diet now you can already control the amount of food that you take. KC Jackson, World Trade Marketing, http://www.wtm-income.net/foodar/index.php
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