Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art and science that believes in trying out simple tips to maneuver your environment and energy around you to gain the most of your life including health, wealth, happy domestic life and eliminate stress of daily life. It deals mostly with placement of a house in relation to its landscape, of a room in the house, of doors, windows, furniture and accessories. Here are some tips to invite and promote all the good things in life and eliminate the worst of life or at least minimize it by following these few suggestions:

• Feng Shui has controlling ‘chi’ or life force energy as its ultimate aim. Chi is of two types – Yang, which is dynamic and expanding; and Yang, which is receptive and contracting. A balance of these two types of energies is essential to a harmonious and prosperous home.
• The five basic elements – Metal (as represented by metal base lamps), Water (as represented by tabletop fountains and aquariums), Wood (as represented by wooden furniture and flooring), Fire (as represented by candles, fireplaces and gas-stoves) and Earth (as represented by pottery and indoor plants and flower arrangements – should also be in balance.
• Rearranging furniture and furnishings and remodeling space can improve your household such as hanging a tapestry on the door to make a certain corner of the room feel calmer and peaceful.
• According to Feng Shui, area of home or room is divided into nine parts in an octagon or square shape – eight equal wedges and a center. The central position is for health while eight aspects correspond to marital relations, kids, help from others, success in career, education, love within the family, money and fame respectively. Thus, problem in any one of the aspects may indicate a need to change the arrangement of the room in that particular area.
• Feng Shui cures may be extensive including moving furniture and remodeling or simple as placing a pyramid, hanging a mirror or re-arranging the corner table.
• Mirrors and smooth reflective finishes are meant to increase good ‘chi’ but do not hang them in front of a door, so that it doesn’t bounce off the home.
• Wind chimes or moving objects represent wind element and their pleasing sound is therapeutic too.
• Green plants signify life and energize the area but dead flower arrangements are not recommended.
• Let the money flow in with water element represented by fountains, fish tanks, images of water, a sailing ship model in fake or real gold pointing inward in the wealth aspect of the home.
• Bachelors and girls looking forward to early marriage should display photos and paintings of couple while those who want children can put up pictures of kids.
• In the bedroom, position the bed to enable you to see the door easily but not opposite to it and the headboard should have a solid wall instead of window for support. Beds should not have beams or canopies above them and mirrors should not reflect the bed in it.
• Bathrooms should be clean, airy, efficient and not opposite the entrance of the house. Its door should open inside and kept closed.
• Sofa in the living room should be place to allow you to see everybody entering the room. Keep minimal furniture here with clear pathways. You can also place mirror to reflect the door so that you can see it while sitting on the sofa.
• Round coffee tables and ottomans and furniture with rounded corner are preferable.
• In kitchen, cook more often to invite wealth in the house. Place cooking appliances in such a manner that cook can see everybody entering the kitchen or place mirrors on the walls to reflect the person walking in.

We will now tackle the most important feature in Yang Feng Shui — placement of the main door. The main door is being considered as the ‘mouth’ of the house. The type of chi that is brought into the house is distributed throughout and this will have an effect on the health and fortune of the family.

It is of utmost importance to know what type of chi or ‘nutrients’ the door is taking into the house. The chi that is being brought into the house should be yang chi and not yin chi.

When an external storage room is opposite the main door, the storage room has stagnant chi which is not considered to be healthy. This is one of the causes of sickness and loss of opportunity to the household. The remedy is to move the door of the storage room to a position not facing the main door.

One of the most frequent violation to the accumulation of family resources is having a mirror in line with the front door. The mirror reflects fortune chi from entering the house. The cure is to relocate the mirror.

Another arrangement that drains the family resources is when the front door opens to a window, where the chi entering the house does not have a chance to circulate and be distributed around the house. It is immediately passed out through the window. This means fortune in and fortune out. Worse if there is an outside sha emitted by the neighbor’s gable. The cure is to install Venetian blinds on the window and have the slats closed.

A toilet door facing the front door keeps the fortune yang chi from entering the house as the yin chi produced by the toilet neutralizes the yang chi that enters the door.

Whether you are just moving in or your current arrangement does not flow quite as smoothly as it could, organizing your kitchen can streamline your activities and keep your kitchen looking neat and tidy.

Toss anything you don’t use. Pass it along to a friend or relative, add it to a neighborhood garage sale, or donate it to charity. Be honest! When did you last use that melon baller, meatball scoop, or cookie press? Do you even know what the gizmos do? Do you really need two? Could a more general tool do the job? If you get rid of it, you will not have to hunt past it for things you do use or find a space to store it.

1. Replace things that don’t work. If the handle on a pot rattles, the spout always gets clogged up, or the pan always scorches the food, fix or replace it! If you can’t afford a replacement now, put it on a list and save your pennies, or request one for a birthday or holiday.

3.

Store frequently-used objects in easy-to-reach locations. Notice what you use most often. Figure out where you will use them most. Infrequently used items, like the roasting pan that you only haul out during the holidays, can go on high shelves or in the back of cabinets. They can even be stored outside the kitchen in the garage, attic, basement, guest room closet, or a box under a bed.

Make sure every item in your kitchen has earned its right to take up your valuable space! Remember: if you use it infrequently enough, it should go out altogether. Just because it is large or expensive, it doesn’t mean you should keep it. If you made pasta twice ten years ago, please pitch the pasta machine.

4.

Create centers of activity and store related utensils near where they will be used. Here are some common centers of activity, in the order that food will travel through the kitchen:

1. • Storage or pantry. Consider your freezer an extension of this area. Whether you store foods in a true pantry, a cabinet, a closet, or someplace else entirely, don’t forget to go through periodically and clear out items that are hopelessly old or will never be used.
   • Preparation. Cutting board, knives, measuring cups and spoons, and mixing bowls all go here.
   • Cooking. The stove and oven plus the utensils that go with them. This area should include pots and pans, pot holders, spoons and spatulas (a utensil jar works well for these).
   • Baking. If you love to bake, you might find it handy to store your flour, sugar, baking powder, a set of measuring cups and spoons, your favorite mixing bowl, etc. together in one convenient spot.
   • Serving. The table, plus tableware, serving dishes, napkins, trivets, and anything else you need to sit down and eat. Soy sauce? Salt and pepper shakers? Sugar bowl? Ask yourself whether it would be more convenient to store your dishes and silverware near the table or the dishwasher.
   • Cleaning. The sink, dishwasher and surroundings. Soap, gloves, dish pan, drying rack, cleansers, towels, etc.
   • Waste disposal. Keep a trash can handy, plus recycling and compost bins, too. Locate them as centrally as possible without being in the way. They should go near the cleaning and food preparation areas.

5. Clear the counter. Pay particular attention to reducing the number of objects stored permanently on the counter. The counter needs frequent cleaning and it is your primary workspace. Find another place for knickknacks and anything else that doesn’t absolutely need to live there.

6. Make a list. Tattered dishcloths? Out of soap? As you go, write down supplies you find lacking or worn out. Also write down side projects that you find as you go (such as fixing a wobbly table leg). Writing them down allows you to tackle distractions later without missing things.

7.

Tackle the paper. Do mail, homework, newspapers, phone calls, or bill paying generate paper in the kitchen? Decide between these strategies:

1. • Give paper another home. Create a paper-sorting center, ideally between the mailbox and the kitchen, with bins for sorting paper, a recycling bin and trash can, space to write, and other necessary supplies.
   • Make a proper space for paper in the kitchen. Admit that it’s going to land there and have a tidy place to put it and a system for clearing it out regularly.

8. Clean as you go. When you clear one drawer or shelf, wipe out the crumbs before replacing the contents. Cleaning a little at a time makes it less of a chore.

In Japan, geisha were (and still are) known for their painted white skin, which represents beauty, grace, and high social status. However, the skin-whitening products are not used in such a wide scale in Japan today. Geisha paint their skin white in geisha-based ceremonies to celebrate their culture and background.

Today, skin whitening products are available in the form of creams, pills, soaps or lotions or even drinks. The mechanism of permanent whitening is usually by the breakdown of melanin by enzymes, such as that contained in the droppings of the Japanese bush warbler or reducing agents such as hydroquinone. Most whitening creams also contain a UV block to prevent sun damage to the skin. In India, these creams are marketed towards all groups from rural villagers to urban professionals. The creams are also sold throughout the rest of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. The whitening cream industry is estimated to be worth around $432 million in India and $7 billion in China. Due to the increasing trend of targeting male consumers and endorsements by celebrities such as Indian actor Shahrukh Khan, sales have increased at a rate of 14% in non-European markets in only the last year.

Here are some recipes for whitening tea

1, iced fruit tea

Ingredients: large chunks of ice, ice, black tea, sugar and oil (supermarket on sale), lemon, lychee juice

Preparation:s:

A, in the bottom of the glass into the ice, to one-third of the Cup, and put the ice a few slices of lemon.

B, and then poured into the Cup, joined the black near the ice over the Cup pyramid-shaped.

C, sugar oil poured on ice, join a little lychee juice, let varietals bittersweet!

Function: echo with Litchi meat rich in vitamin C and protein, helps to enhance immune function; and Lai Chi Kok has plenty of vitamins, prevent freckles occur, making the skin more smooth, let you in the Sun to fully develop their delicate skin.

2, tasty white tea

Ingredients: Strawberry nine, morus powder 5 g, Apple a, 15 grams of honey, spinach a little, 2 slices of lemon, ice, just the right amount.

Preparation:

A. First put strawberries, apples, spinach juice with 1. To filter out.

B. juice adds honey pot, baked boil after guanhuo.

C. join Mori powder, BREW for 5 minutes.

D. Pour the tea with lemon slices in place. Drinking always add a small amount of ice.

3. Rose tea

Ingredients:: Roses 9 flower, Coffee mate 15 grams, mung 150 g, ice, ice water., 15 grams of honey.

Preparation:

A, the bean and 100 ml ice joined the Blender in uniform standby, roses placed in hot dip good alternative.

B, a cup join 2/3 of the ice, become a 300 ml of a dip good rose tea.

C, joined to play good green and Coffee mate to Cup.

D, then add 15 grams of honey. Gave a good cup of tea.

4. Whitening fruit tea

Ingredients:: pineapple pulp 50 g, 10 g of lemon juice, Orange 2, sugar in moderation, fructose 5 g, 5 grams of honey, water, ice, just the right amount, baizhi 3 grams.

Preparation::

A, the pineapple pulp, Orange pulp in a kettle, some water with a small fire heating.

B, boiling, into fructose and lemon juice to continue using small heat

C, let’s throw in stir sugar and honey.

D.3 grams of Angelica dahurica powder added again mixing Cup ice.

5, Chrysanthemum White

Ingredients:: chrysanthemum tea 10 g, red bean paste 100 g, honey 15 grams, Coffee mate 15 grams, 200 ml of boiled water ice. 　　P

Preparation:

A, and Blender in 100 g of red bean paste and 100 ml of cold water, whipping alternate uniform.

B, and the Cup to 2/3 of ice, has joined 150 ml of hot herbal tea.

C, join the mix beaten red bean paste, Coffee mate, joined the honey, and then fully.

D. put your good tea poured into long Cup, more ice.

Tea, the refreshing beverage of humanity for many centuries is considered as a health drink because of many therapeutic qualities attributed to it.  Tea enthusiasts unequivocally vouch for the beneficial factors, but there are dissenting voices to warn the harmful effects.  It is a fact that in the contemporary society people have become more health conscious and are becoming over cautious about the pros and cons of anything and everything they consume.  Whether it is oil, chocolate, milk or grains there are diverse views expressed by researchers on the merits and demerits of such items. Tea is yet another beverage that is subjected to intensive research but no specific health hazard is attributed to it.  But some experts warn against addiction to it.

Tea is a natural and agro based product which contains catechins or flavanoids which is an antioxidant.  This is the basis of experts’ opinion that consumption of tea in moderation is good for health.  Studies have revealed that risks of cancer and cardiovascular diseases are found less in those who consume tea regularly.  According to some nutrition specialists tea will strengthen the immune system of the body.  It can reduce the risks of kidney stone.  Equally important is the contention that tea offer protection against decay of teeth and bones.  Tea does not contain salts or fat contents in it and therefore safe for those who suffer from hypertension or heart ailments. Plain black or green tea is considered as a good antidote against many potential health hazards. Without additives like sugar and spices tea is safe even for seriously sick persons and diabetics. Green tea is an effective remedy against cholesterol related problems, liver ailments and inflammatory conditions.  It is also claimed that green tea can enhance metabolic rate in the body.  Caffeine content in tea is again another effective antioxidant.

However there are experts who are not very optimistic about the consumption of tea.  According to them tea can lead to sleeplessness and in some cases will retard the effects of some medicines like anticoagulants.  It may adversely affect the iron absorption by the body.  Intensive research is being undertaken by many individuals and institutions.  Opinions are divided as far as the impacts of tea on human body.  But no conclusive proof is yet put forward to indicate that tea can cause health hazards.  On the other hand tea is a rich source of magnesium, potassium and manganese which are essential for a healthy body.  The bottom line is clear.  Moderate consumption of tea is not injurious to health.

People with complicated health problems should consult physicians in this context. Whether tea has therapeutic values or not is a matter for experts to establish beyond doubts.  But as mentioned earlier, no specific health hazard is attributed to consumption of tea even though humanity was consuming it for many centuries.  The United Kingdom Tea Council has no hesitation to conclude that tea is having many health benefits and that “for centuries to come there will be a place at the centre of British lives for a nice cup of tea”.

Raspberry and Oatmeal Sundaes

This makes a light, refreshing dessert after a rich main course. As an alternative to oatmeal, you can grind porridge oats in a food processor until they’re broken up but not completely ground.

Serves: 4 – 6

Preparation time: 10 minutes, plus cooling
Cooking time: 5 minutes

75g medium oatmeal
250g quark
4tbsp clear honey
200g low fat natural yogurt
2 tsp vanilla extract
250g fresh or frozen raspberries

Method

Toast the oatmeal by heating it in a heavy-based frying pan, stirring until lightly browned. Tip onto a plate and leave to cool.

Beat the quark in a bowl until softened. Add the honey, yogurt and vanilla and beat until smooth. Stir in the oatmeal.

Scatter a third of the raspberries into four small serving glasses and spoon over half the oat.  Scatter half the remaining raspberries on top and add the remaining oat mix. Scatter with the remaining raspberries.

Oatmeal and Dill Crusted Salmon

Use any other soft fruits instead of the raspberries.  Sliced strawberries or blueberries work very well.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 10 -15 minutes

Serves: 4

4 salmon fillets

1 tbsp olive oil

3-4 tbsp pinhead oatmeal

1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

Dill sprigs to garnish

Lightly brush the top of each salmon fillet with olive oil. Line the grill pan with foil and place the fish, flesh side up, on the grill rack.

Mix the oatmeal with the dill, lemon zest and seasoning. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the salmon fillets. Pat down lightly to give a good coating, drizzle juice over, and grill for 8-10 minutes, without turning. Serve garnished with fresh with dill.

Oatmeal and Honey Cake

A slice of this moist and moreish cake costs just 35p.

Serves 6-8
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45-50 minutes

300g butter
100g honey
150g regular or jumbo rolled oats
50g medium oatmeal
100g light brown muscovado sugar
150g self raising flour
4 medium eggs, beaten

Total cost: £2.07
Per serving: 26p (based on eight)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4.  Grease and base line a 20cm round loose bottomed cake tin.

Melt 100g butter with the honey and add the oats.

Mix together the oatmeal, sugar and flour in a large bowl.  Melt the remaining butter and stir into the dry ingredients with the eggs.  Pour into the cake tin.

Sprinkle the oat and honey mixture on top and bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Serving Suggestion: Serve warm with a drizzle of honey.

Cook’s Tip: Try adding some chopped walnuts to the oat topping for an extra crunchy texture.

Fruity Cinnamon Oatcakes

Makes 9
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

50g medium oatmeal
50g plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
25g currants, chopped
15g butter
1 tbsp honey

Total cost: 27p
Per oatcake: 3p

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6.

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

Melt the butter with the honey and stir into the dry ingredients with 2-3 tbsp boiling water.  Mix to form a dough.

Dust the work surface with a little oatmeal and roll out the dough to ½cm thickness.  Using a 7cm round cutter, cut 9 rounds and place on a non-stick baking tray.  Bake for 10 minutes or until golden.

Serving Suggestion:Top with jam and clotted cream, or a hard cheese e.g. Caerphilly and celery.

Cook’s Tip: Try using mixed spice and dried cranberries as an alternative.

Toasted Oat and Yogurt Layer

Preparation time: 5 minutes plus chilling time
Serves:2

50g oats
6 tbsp 0% fat Greek yoghurt
1 tbsp honey
100g blueberries

Toast the oats by dry frying them in a frying pan for 1-2 minutes until golden.

Mix together the yoghurt and honey and place half in the base 2 wine or sundae glasses. Then sprinkle half the toasted oats into the glasses. Top with half the blueberries then repeat the layers.

Serve chilled.

In the UK Tea is not only the name of the beverage, but also the name of a meal. Even more confusing is that the kind of meal that a person means when talking about tea depends very much on their social background and where they live. For some, especially in the upper social classes, tea is of a late afternoon light meal, often just cake, buns, scones or sandwiches served, irrespective of the beverage consumed with it.

Along with the seasonal change into winter come crisp and chilling winds that inspire warm knitted and crocheted scarves, layered garments, mittens, and the warmth of fireplaces and candlelight. But what also comes along with the winter season is a change in moods, low energy, and most of all, a high level of people roaming around with the “under the weather” blues. A great way to add some warmth and health to your winter season is to indulge in a variety of hot herbal teas. Most teas are a relaxant and the concoctions that you can blend up at home are endless and can be quite addictive once you start.

The art of tea time can be quite healthy for your spirit as well. Tea associates itself with warmth, friends, coziness, and health. So create yourself your very own tea time to nurture your spirit & be creative with your blends and presentation. Even if the cup of tea is only for you. You are worth the tea time (check out our favorite picks on how to serve it up creatively here: Servin Up Tea!)

Here are a few tip and recipes to get you started:

Drying Fresh Herbs: Drying your own herbs is quite easy. Simply take your bunch of herbs rinse and pat dry & shake, then remove any bad leaves. Take a brown paper bag and punch several small holes in it. Place the bunch of leaves into the bag with the stems sticking out of the bag. Tie the stems together along with the opening of the bag with some string or a rubber-band . Hang them up to dry for about two weeks or so. Once dry, remove any leaves that may have gone bad and store them whole in a clear canning jar or in a ziplock bag. Dried herbs can be used for up to one year. You can also use a dehydrator which takes much less time.

Steeping Your Tea: Bring a pot of your desired amount of water to a boil. Simply take your crushed or fresh leaves and put them in the pot and let boil for a few minutes. Bring the temperature down to medium low and let steep until it reaches your desired strength (the darker the tea the stronger your tea will be).

Tea Tip: When measuring, use 3-4 teaspoons of fresh herbs per one cup of water and 1-2 teaspoon if you are using dried herbs.

Tea Herb Garden: Create a tea herb garden by using a mixture of herbs that can be used for tea blends. If you live in a small space or apartment that does not lend well to gardening, then create yourself a container garden. I like to blend Chamomile flowers, Peppermint, Sage, Rosemary, and Lemon Balm together. Get creative with the blends. Be sure to either keep your containers on your patio or near a window. Open/crack your windows for a while to decrease mold/mildew on your leaves. Container blends are also quite aromatic and lovely to decorate with outside or in a room with proper sun-light and temperature.

Tea Tip: Bring charm to your garden. If you create a tea garden or a container garden, make some creative markers by labeling them with the remedies in which the plant is good for. For example, where your Chamomile, is planted, mark it: Rest & Relaxation, and so on and so on.

Essential Tea Herbs:

Peppermint: great for relaxation, easing an upset stomach, aids in digestion and can relieve headaches.

Chamomile: reduces cold symptoms, helps those with problems sleeping (relaxant), and calms the nerves.

Sage & Thyme: great for cold congestion, coughing, and sinuses

Dandelion: detoxifying properties & Cleanses the liver

Lemon Balm: energy booster, headaches, high blood pressure

Rosemary: aids to a healthy liver, eases joint pains, and reduces and heals cold symptoms

Scullcap: great to take during your menstrual cycle, reduces upset nerves and anxiety

Thyme: immune booster, soothes ore throats and coughs

Tea Tip: When drying your herbs,leave the leaves whole and only crush them at the time you make your tea. This will ensure that the aroma and taste stays fresh.

Dry Herbs, Spices, and Supplies:

www.mountainroseherbs.com

Add Some Flavor: Fruits and spices are fantastic to add to your tea blends. Fresh or dried fruits such as lemon, cranberries, apricots, raspberries, oranges, and spices such a ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and anise are wonderful additions to customize your concoctions and bring charm to your tea cups!

Colds & Flu

1 oz Blackberry leaves

1 oz Elder flowers

1 oz Linden flowers

1 oz Peppermint leaves

Pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 tbs mixture. Cover & steep 10 minutes; strain.

Calming Tea

1 oz Lemon balm

1 oz Chamomile flowers

½ oz St Johns Wort

Steep 2 tbs of mixture in 1 cup boiled water. Cover 10 minutes; strain.

Nursing Mothers Tea

1 teaspoon crushed Fennel seeds

1 cup boiling water

Mix the seeds with the boiling water. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain, and sip the infusion. Drinking a tea made with fennel helps to promote the secretion of breast milk in nursing mothers. Find More Great Recipes & Tea Tips Here: http://pages.prodigy.net/groovyskye/10.html

A creamy iced tea, with some spicy hints. An iced tea recipe for all chai fans. Only a couple of spices, but enough to make a delicious impact.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 8 tea bags, black
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 4 tbs sugar
• 4 tsp cinnamon
• 4 tsp cardamom
• Ice, crushed

Preparation:

Boil the water and steep tea bags with cardamom for 5 minutes. Strain out teabags and let cool. Put ice into 4 glasses, and add tea. Leave about a quarter of the glass empty. To each glass add, 1 tbs sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 cup of milk.
Serves 4

Peach Iced Tea

Peach juice is so nice in the heat of the summer. Lemon is nice, but you can only drink so much lemon iced tea. Try something different.

Ingredients:

• 3 12-oz cans of peach juice
• 2 quarts tea
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

Preparation:

Combine everything and chill. Serve over ice.

Ginger Iced Tea

A strong iced tea, made with fresh ginger. If you’re looking for a change from the usual lemon iced tea, then you should give this bold ginger iced tea a try.

5 tbs loose black tea
5 cups water
1-inch chunk of fresh ginger

Peel and mince the ginger. Crush the ginger pieces to release the juice. Heat water to almost boiling, and steep the tea with ginger. Let steep for 9 to 10 minutes, on low heat.

Strain out tea leaves and ginger. Add sugar to sweeten, if desired. Let cool and serve chilled over ice.

Boston Iced Tea

A wonderfully tart recipe for cranberry iced tea. The name comes from the cranberry bogs in the Boston area (so I’ve been told by a few readers). Regardless, it’s a very refreshing drink for a summer’s day.

Ingredients:

• 4 quarts water
• 1 cup sugar
• 15 tea bags
• 12 oz frozen cranberry juice concentrate

Preparation:

Heat water to boiling, and add sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add tea bags, remove from heat and let steep for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove tea bags, and add cranberry juice concentrate.

Stir until melted and mixed, then allow to cool to room temperate before refrigerating. Serve over ice.

Apple Honey Iced Tea

A sweet and fruity iced tea recipe. I really think that iced tea is thoroughly improved by adding a good dose of fresh summer honey. Sweet and smooth.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water, boiling
• 4 tea bags
• 1/3 cup honey
• 3 cups apple juice

Preparation:

Steep tea bags in hot water for 5 minutes. Strain out tea bags, and stir in honey and juice. Mix until honey is dissolved. Chill and serve over ice.
Serves 6-8

Sparkling Jasmine Iced Tea

A sparkling iced tea, flavoured with jasmine and brown sugar syrup. A change from the ordinary, with a sweet and floral flavour.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water, boiling
• 3 tbs loose jasmine tea
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cups sparkling water

Preparation:

Dissolve sugar in 3/4 cup of water, and boil gently until a syrup has formed. Set aside and let cool. Steep the jasmine tea in the remaining 3 cups of hot water for around 6 minutes. Strain out tea, and let cool slightly. In a pitcher, combine syrup and tea. Stir or whisk until fully blended. Add sparkling water and cool thoroughly. Serve over ice. Can be served with cinnamon sticks, lemon slices or mint sprigs.
Makes 1 quart of iced tea

Spiced Maple Iced Tea

A very unusual mix of flavors in this green tea recipe. The maple syrup and anise are so sweet, but is balanced by the fresh and natural taste of the green tea.

Ingredients:

• 6 tbs green tea
• 1 tbs anise, powdered
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• Lemon slices for garnish

Preparation:

Steep tea in 6 cups of hot (not quite boiling) water. Strain out tea, and add anise and maple syrup. Stir until syrup is dissolved and blended. Let cool and serve over ice, with a slice of lemon

Lemon Almond Iced Tea

This is a sparkling iced tea, with the unusual combination of lemon with almond and vanilla. You could use regular soda water, if you prefer less lemon flavour.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups boiling water
• 10 tea bags, black
• 2 lemons, sliced thinly
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tbs almond extract
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 2-litre bottle of lemon carbonated drink

Preparation:

Brew tea in a saucepan, and steep for 10 minutes. Put lemon slices into a large pitcher, giving them each a squeeze as you go. Add sugar into pitcher. Mix in tea. Add flavourings and pop right before serving. If you are not going to serve immediately, hold off on the extracts and lemon soda until then.
Serves 12

Since its establishment in 1978, Lock&Lock Co., Ltd. has been grown as a global company that exports its products – Lock&Lock containers with a four-sided interlocking system of new concept – to more than 100 countries worldwide. Lock&Lock Co., Ltd. will expand the number of export destinations from the current 105 to more than 130 by 2013, thereby securing firm footing as the leader in the airtight container field as well as the most valuable brand specializing in outstanding airtight containers.To achieve its goal of becoming the “2013 Global No.1,” the company exerts its best efforts to expand its main products from plastic airtight containers to comprehensive kitchenware using diverse raw materials including glass, porcelain, and stainless steel. To be a global company producing various and functional kitchenware, Lock&Lock maintains its competitive edge in the field by manufacturing containers using environment-friendly materials considering the health of customers and environment.

Lock&Lock is currently investing more than 2% of its total annual sales in R&D for customers’ satisfaction and to enhance and reinvent the quality of new products launched more than 100 items. Moreover, the company constructed large-scale plants to meet the increasing demand of the global market including plants in Asan in Korea, Weihai, Mansan and Suzhou in China, and Vietnam. In addition to the plants, 15 branches and 90 directly managed stores worldwide have been established; thus securing the foundation for a global Lock&Lock brand.

Lock&Lock will continue to exert every effort to develop new materials and to reinvent the quality of products as global products you can find in every corner of the world. Aside from these efforts, the convenience and appearance of the product will also be enhanced to make the company a most beloved one by customers. Finally, we shall faithfully practice our company philosophy of placing value on humans and environment to become the company that moves customers.

In the kitchen

Lock&Lock water containers with high grade design and simplicity let you drink clean water easily.

Containers for tofu and other functional Lock&Lock containers ensure convenience with its unique storage ideas and specialized functions.

made of heat-resistant glass, Lock&Lock glass can be used practically everywhere and conveniently form the refrigerator, through the oven and to the table.

In the living room

With their pretty pastel colors, the containers can double as interior accessories anywhere in the living room.

Save space and organize household items even under your bed with the under the bed box.

You can organize the children’s room, clothes in the laundry room and library with living box

Fresh vegetables: Wash, drain, and dry greens; wrap or put in plastic bag; chill. Scrub carrots, celery, radishes, and green onions under cold weather. Dispose of excess leaves and tops. Wrap or bag vegetables separately in moisture vapor proof materials. Store dry onions, potatoes, and winter squash unwashed in dark cool place. Clean when ready to use.

Fresh fruits: Sort berries; spread on shallow pan or tray. Don’t wash. Chill. Wash and stem before using. Ripe avocados, melons, and pears at room temperature; then refrigerate. Do not refrigerate bananas. Store fresh uncut pineapple in dark cool place. After cutting, wrap pineapple and chill in refrigerator.

Canned food leftovers: Cover and store in opened can for short period of time of transfer to covered refrigerator container.

Meat: Plan to use ground meat within 2 days, roasts 5-6 days, chops and steak – 3 days. Store cured and smoked meats in refrigerator in original wrap. Canned meats keep on the kitchen shelf, except for canned hams which are marked “perishable; keep refrigerated.”

For fresh chicken, turkey, or other poultry, store same as fresh meat below.

Fish: Wrap tightly; refrigerate.

Cheese: Wrap tightly and refrigerate. Chill cheese spreads in refrigerator once they’re opened. Store strong-flavored cheeses in tightly covered jars; refrigerate.

Eggs: Store, covered, small end down in refrigerator. Don’t wash till ready to use.

Dried fruits and nuts: Keep in covered jars or packages in cool, dry place. Nuts keep longer if stored in refrigerator.

Cookies: Soft and crisp kinds don’t mix; store separately. Soft cookies stay moist when tightly covered. Crisp types of cookies keep well in jar with a loose-fitting lid.

In the United States,food grade containers are containers manufactured with materials that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved as safe for use in food preparation and storage. Food grade materials are generally known to not leach harmful substances or react with food in a harmful manner.

Glass & Ceramics
Glass containers are often marked microwave safe. These containers can be heated in a microwave without a problem. The issue with glass that is not microwave safe is that micro-air bubbles may be present in the glass and as the glass heats in the microwave oven, the bubbles may expand to the point where the glass breaks or shatters. (Obviously, you shouldn’t eat food where it’s glass container has broken.) Pyrex glassware is an excellent example of microwave safe, heat resistant glass that can also be baked. Even Pyrex glass cannot withstand the intensity of direct heat, such as a range or a broiler, for long, so don’t use glassware with such heating methods. Also, all glass is susceptible to thermal cooling shock (rapid cooling, for example, dunking in cold water while hot) and may crack.

One popular method of testing if a particular glass is microwave safe is to microwave the container while it is empty for one minute. If the container is hot, then it is not microwave safe. If the container is warm, it should be fine for heating food. If the container remains cool, you can cook in the microwave with that container. Personally, I choose to either check to see if it’s marked as microwave safe or ask the manufacturer before using in a microwave.

Any glass container with a metallic trim should never be microwaved. The electrical currents induced by the microwave radiation in the metals can cause sparking and pinpoint heating of the glass. Sometimes this can result in marring or even breaking of the glassware. Also, make sure any glassware with a colorful coating, finish, or stain should be marked for use with food or microwave safe before attempting to use in food preparation. The dyes, pigments, or stains may not be food grade. Almost always, decorative plates are not for use with food.

Food safe ceramic uses glazes that are made from harmless materials like silica, dolomite, kaolin, feldspar, ball clay, and others. In these glazes, the inevitable leaching that occurs is only a functional and aesthetic issue and has no health impact. Glazes that contain metals such as lithium, lead, or barium may present a health issue. Ceramic containers made with such glazes cannot be sold in the United States without either a permanent marking stating it is “Not for Food Use – May Poison Food” or have a hole in the container (presumably rendering it useless for food preparation). If you make your own ceramics, make sure you use a food grade glaze if you plan to use it in your kitchen.

Plastics
Food grade plastics are made from a specific list of plastics approved by the FDA (which may include dyes and recycled plastic that have not been determined to be harmful to humans). Once a plastic container has been used to store non-food items (like detergent or paint), it can no longer be considered food grade. Plastics containers that are not food grade may leach plasticizers into food on contact. Due to the nature of plastics, they have a high affinity for fats. Plastics that come in contact with an oil-based substance will almost always be irrevocably altered and the plastic may never become truly clean once again. Contact to foods that are high in fat may cause leaching of the original oil-based substance into the food even if the plastic was originally food grade.

Microwave safe plastics are food grade plastics (which do not leach plasticizers) that are known to be able to withstand higher than normal temperatures. Plastics that are not microwave safe may leach harmful substances when heated in a microwave oven. (There was an internet e-mail scare/hoax that was passed around claiming the USDA or FDA and independent researchers showed that dioxin (a plasticizer) leached out of plastic wrap onto food being microwaved. This is untrue since all microwave safe plastics are dioxin free. Saran and Ziploc both maintain that their product lines are completely plasticizer free. The temperatures necessary to create dioxin (around 1500°F) are beyond the normal operating conditions of household and commercial microwave ovens.)

Do not microwave food in plastic containers or covered with plastic wrap that is not microwave safe.

Also, don’t brine (or store) foods in containers that are not intended for food preparation – such as a “clean/brand new” mop bucket, plastic trash bag, or trash can.

Lexan is a food grade polycarbonate plastic that has gained a large following in the food service community. It is hard, durable, and resistant to reacting with oils resulting in a virtually stain and odor proof material. It is capable of handling a range of temperatures from below freezing to boiling. However, it is advisable to recycle and purchase new polycarbonate containers when they crack, chip or cloud up.

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