$50 Spa Giftcard Giveaway

As the New Year rolled out, almost 80% of the people I met told me that weight-loss was on top of their goals and resolutions. And why not, its on mine too! All that Holiday binging takes a toll when you stop fitting in your clothes, and you know its time to do something drastic to get back into them! Just to help you stay more motivated, here's a delicious option. Indulge in a glass of Orange Juice that's best for you, lose some extra fat, and also enter for a chance to win a $50 Spa Giftcard valid throughout the country!

Tropicana Trop50 has 50% less sugar and calories with nothing artificial added and still 100% of the recommended daily vitamin C intake. With only 50 calories in a 8 oz glass, you can easily enjoy some orange juice without the guilt of having drank instead of eaten your calories.So it not only tastes good, it is a complete source of vitamin C as well as the antioxidant vitamin E.


Trop50 True Resolutions celebrates the real reasons behind New Year’s resolutions. Share your secret motivation on the Trop50 facebook page and you’ll earn a coupon for $1 off  Trop50 for yourself and 50¢ off coupons for up to 50 of your friends! And you also get a chance to enter sweepstakes to win a $1000 gift card!


But to make this a really sweet deal for my dear readers, we are giving away a $50 Spa gift Card to one lucky winner of Fun and Food Cafe, just to pamper you at the beginning of the New Year!


Here's what you've got to do:
1. Subscribe to the RSS feed, or via email subscription box for Fun and Food Cafe
2. Like our page on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter @funandfoodcafe
3. Then leave a comment on this post so I can enter your entry in our giveaway.




       

Hurry, this contest ends on Feb 10th, so take this opportunity to give a gift to yourself. The Spa Gift Card is valid at several locations nationwide, and will be emailed directly to one lucky winner. Good Luck to you all!

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A List of Best Aphrodisiac Foods for Valentine's Day

Celebrated as the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day brings with it flowers, candies, cookies, chocolates, cupid, candlelight and love. Our romantic fantasies may begin with Cupid and Roses, but somehow they always seem to end with luscious food, because no celebration is complete without delicious food, and perhaps some alcohol! It is probably a universal belief that certain food and beverages can act as strong aphrodisiacs due to certain chemicals they release in our bodies, as chocolate has been proven to do. But most of the times they excite many of our senses through a combination of taste, texture and appearance. The shape of some foods is highly associated with arousal in humans. But whatever may be the reason, it's always a good idea to familiarize yourself with some foods that can act as aphrodisiacs, and as Valentine's Day is around the corner, whether you are planning a romantic dinner or looking for gift ideas, here's something that will keep you right on track! (img source)

Chocolate - Legend says that the Mayan civilization worshipped chocolate, believing it was "food for the Gods." Scientists have studied this candy, and found that chocolate releases serotonin and phenylethylamine, chemicals which make people feel blissful. Some researchers also claim that chocolate may affect the brain the way marijuana does, putting the consumer in a state of temporary euphoria.

Alcohol - This one is a no-brainer as we all know how spirits can make us a little tipsy and let you feel high. The magic of champagnes and wines can best be attributed to their ability to lower one's inhibitions, and create a head-rush.

Bananas - Rich in potassium and Vitamin B, bananas are a feel-good food. They also increase blod sugar instantaneously. So warm bananas served as a light dessert with whip cream or sauce can be a great choice for Valentie's Day!

Oysters - Because of their shape, oysters have thought to have been aphrodisiacs for thousands of years. They are known to be high in zinc, which has been associated with improving sexual potency in men. Back in old days, both men and women ate raw oysters, believing that doing so would increase both arousal and fertility.

Chillies/Spicy Food - Chillies can literally add "spice" to your life! These invigorating spices has an exotic reputation and can stimulate endorphins, which in turn, can really turn you on. (But moderation is the key; don't start eating raw chillies or you could end up with an ulcer!!)

Honey - Honey is made through pollination and is a symbol of procreation. The word "honeymoon" got its name from mead, an alcoholic beverage made from honey, which was given to the happy couple. This pure form of sugar can sure prove to be handy as you plan your romantic meals!

Fennel - In the 1930's fennel was found to be a source of natural plant estrogens. Use of fennel as an aphrodisiac dates back to the Egyptian times where it was used as "libido enhancement".

Ginger and Garlic - Extremely strange, but true! Both these spices have been known to increase blood circulation, and hence libido. But make sure to brush your teeth or use a mouth freshner later or you might not get the response you anticipated!:)

Vanilla - This age-old bean is said to induce passion due t its erotic scent and fragrance. Using fresh vanilla beans seems to heighten both the flavor and the desire!

Raspberries and Strawberries - Perfect foods for hand feeding your lover, both these luscious fruits are high in vitamin C and make a sweet light dessert. They also pair the best with chocolates and champagne!

There is no scientific claim or tests that prove any of this to be true, and yet people like to believe in Aphrodisiacs. Does it really work? You can find some basic theory and explanation here. As for me, I say that ultimately, its our feelings and the company of a loved one which makes any occasion special. True, some foods can effectively change our hormonal levels, and hence put us in a buoyant mood. Some say it's just in our heads! Well, it really doesn't matter; as long as you have love in your life, any day is Valentine's Day, and any food can be an Aphrodisiac!

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Free 2012 Calendar Giveaway on Fun and Food Cafe

I opened my mail this morning and I am excited to see that Fun and Food Cafe's custom calendar for 2012 has finally arrived! Here's a preview of how it looks like! it looks so cute, and so inviting, just the way I wanted it:) I wanted to organize a giveaway in the New Year, but due to delays in printing and shipping, it got pushed off. But nevertheless, its still mid-January, and I have a cool calendar with delicious food photos to give away to one lucky reader on FFC!

There are 12 amazing pictures  for every month to inspire you to cook every day as you mark your calendars. These are some of the my favorite recipes, and I am sure they will brighten up your year, just as they did mine. The cute design will be perfect for any place, whether its your kitchen, a kid's room, or even your work space!  

For details on how you can get this Free calendar, check out this Giveaway post on Fun and Food Cafe
 http://www.funandfoodcafe.com/2012/01/ffc-custom-calendar-2012-giveaway.html

May the best foodie win! Happy 2012!

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How to Make Your Own Soy Milk

Many people have allergies to dairy, or are lactose-intolerant, making it inevitable for them to use milk alternatives, thereby choosing Soymilk instead of regular milk. And though several brands and flavors of Soymilk is available out there in the stores, if you use it on a daily basis, this can get to be an expensive affair! But, by making your own Soymilk at home, you can save tonnes of money, as well as get fresh milk every 3-4 days. Its really easy, and unbelievably cheap, plus you can use the leftover "Okara" (the pulp from the soybeans after the milk is extracted) to make delicious Soybean burgers, or any other soy-based recipe! So here goes, make your own Soymilk using 3 ingredients, and in 5 easy steps! [photo courtesy of US Agricultural Research Service]

Soya beans are almost a staple food in the US now. They are packed with proteins, and can be eaten raw, as Edamame beans, or as dried beans that are used below to make SoyMilk.

Ingredients
1 cup dry soybeans
sweetener (honey, barley malt or sugar) - add to your taste
water (about 12-15 cups)
Note: Generally, you need about 125 g whole soya beans and 1 liter of water to make 1 liter of soy milk.
Flavoring (optional, like Chocolate, Vanilla, or Almond essence)

Method
Soak the beans overnight or longer(like 10-14 hours). Discard the water and rinse the beans thoroughly. This will also help loosen the hull so you can remove them. This helps in better extraction of soy milk.

Now throw one part beans and 2 parts water into the blender, preferably a high-duty one, like Vitamix, and whiz as long as you can. The finer the pulp, the higher the yield of milk will be. Repeat for any remaining beans.

Take a colander over a large pot, then line it with a cheese-cloth. Pour the mush into cloth-lined colander, and pour the remaining water(if any left) over the pulp.

Now fold the cloth over the mush and press to get as much of the milk out as possible. Save the mush (which is now known as "okara") to make something out of it, like soybean burgers or patties.

Next, bring the extracted milk to a boil, and let it boil for about 5-7 minutes. Reduce the heat, let it simmer for another few minutes, then turn the heat off. Add the desired amount of sweetener to your taste, and even any other flavoring if you want, then allow to cool completely to room temperature. Add the

After cooling, the soy milk is ready and can be kept in the fridge for another 3 days. Soymilk can rot fast, so if you can't use it quickly enough, don't make too much. You can freeze it, but when you thaw it, be prepared for a cottage-cheese kind of taste when you drink it. Adding sweetener and additional flavoring can help reduce this distinct taste though.

There your Soymilk is ready, and now you can go ahead and enjoy it by itself, or use it as a base for making delicious Soymilk Smoothies!

Soymilk Smoothies
Cranberry SoyMilk & Green Tea Smoothie
Vegan Chocolate & Peanut butter Smoothie

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