Staying Healthy: Travel Tips

Since Sherry gave everyone a great guide to eating healthy, I'm gonna talk to you about tips to staying healthy while traveling!

Traveling can be tiring, stressful, and very chaotic at times so health is not always the first thing on your mind. But getting sick can absolutely ruin your time traveling. No one appreciates anything around them if they're too busy throwing up or lying in bed with a fever, but this doesn't have to happen if travelers take several precautions...

Pre-Departure Precautions:
Become familiar with the place your traveling too and any measures that you will need to take. Make sure your insurance covers where you are going or need to get travel insurance to make staying healthy a little less stressful. Always, make sure to check (http://www.cdc.gov/) Center for Disease Control and Prevention, they have up to date reports on what diseases or health precautions are necessary per country and region so that you can decide what vaccines or medicine you should be bringing with you. It's recommended that if your traveling to the third world to bring along some antibiotics like ciproflaxacin or a z-pack so that if you do get really sick you can rely on those instead of being stuck in a random foreign hospital. So before your trip, research your destination, check with your doctor or CDC, and then get the necessary medications. 

While Traveling:
Drink plenty of water! Wether your in a hot climate or not, drinking fluids is vital for staying hydrated and stress free. Not staying hydrated is the leading cause hurting your immune system and becoming susceptible to health issues. 
Give time for sleeping. Although being in  a new city is exciting and you will want to stay up all night partying then walk around and see the sights the next day, your body will catch up to you eventually and you won't be able to do either. So party all night and sleep the day away or see sites all day and go to bed at a reasonable hour. 
Be smart. As long as your thinking straight and don't think that being in another country will make you invincible you should be fine. Don't drink another shot of absinthe, stop playing with the pack of stray dogs, and remember street food is both delicious and deadly. 
Traveling can be overwhelming and it's easy to forget about health, but with simple mindfulness most people are fine. 

Eating Abroad:
Firstly, know the water supply your tapping into. Chances are if your in a developing country then the tap water is no good. In this case, specify everywhere you go that you need bottled water, make sure things aren't washed with tap water, and when you buy bottled water make sure the caps are still sealed because a common scam is to sell tourists refilled bottled water. 
If your in Europe or North America then the food is probably delicious and mostly fine to eat. You may want to be careful of exotic dishes or raw seafood in many cultures which could upset your stomach, but you can largely play by the rules that you already to in the States. If your in a poorer country then you have to be very careful. Almost all street food is very dangerous, so it is advised that you only go to fairly reputable restaurants for your meals. A common rule is if it's not cooked, boiled, or peeled don't eat it. Therefore, fruits are good but don't eat the skin and make sure they are washed first.

 Despite the many precautions and wariness you may have eating in other countries the truth is that you can never completely be safe so don't get to hung up on it. Try new cuisines and traditions because not only is it good manners but if your traveling in a interesting place you want to completely immerse yourself in their culture to get the full experience. 

Hopefully with these idea's in mind, your next trip will be a little less sickness free. So don't let the idea of being unhealthy stop you traveling, it's something that is very avoidable and worth it for the overall experience. Happy Travels!

How to Keep your Body Healthy?

Hello everyone, after trying many recipes that I recommended to you, here comes a question: how I can stay healthy without put myself on a diet? Well the answer is, it is not necessary for you put yourself on a diet on purpose, the only thing you need to keep in mind is: try to eat low-fat food, which means control your daily calories under 1800. Science tells us that 1 pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories, so a daily calorie deficit of 500 should result in 1 pound per week fat loss. However, it depends on individuals' case. 

Here is one website for giving you suggestions about your daily calories needs: http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm
Then, learning what do you eat and the calories of the food you eat is also very important for you to staty healthy, so here is one website that I would recommend you to know about food calories: http://caloriecount.about.com/
Right now I am also doing some excises to keep me burning calories everyday, I just started learning Yoga, and here is a very useful short lesson to teach you how to do Yoga for weight lossing, and I found it is really helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Wt9CFb-4s
Here are also some tips for you to keep your body healthy:
1. You have to eat breakfast!
2. Drink at least 7 glasses of water everyday! 
3. If you try to go a place that is not very far from you, choose to walk instead of driving or taking bus. 
4. Try not to drink alcohol, these are fat creators!
5. Do not stay up too late, go to bed around 11PM and wake up at 8AM. Perfect circle to keep you healthy!
6. Do some work-out! Like Yoga or Swimming! 
7. Do not eat anything two hours before you go to bed. 
8. Have a good attitude, and keep smiling :) 
Hope these tips help you work out! 

Some great Food Web for you to check out

I keep my Chrome menu "Baking and Cooking" at the top of the browsers, I collected many great food websites and blogs for me to check out whenever I feel like I need to try a new recipe. 
Here are some links: 
http://www.foodnetwork.com/ 

Oh right, everyone knows about food Network, but once you really get into there, you will find so many fantastic recipes and information about food. 
http://www.joyofbaking.com/

JoyOfBaking, this website created by a lady names Stephanie Jaworski and her husband, she is a master of Baking and invests many recipes by her own. I tried hugh amount of her recipes, and most of them taste awesome. And all of her recipes are free, and these are easy to make! 
http://www.americastestkitchen.com/

America's Test Kitchen actually is a TV shows which created by a guy from Vermont named Christopher Kimball, he and his bakers and cooks always bring the best recipes that their Kitchen tested, they put a lot of work in there. But one thing about this website is their recipes are not free. I think it is reasonable because after I purchased 50 dollars per year, and tried their recipes and their knowledge about food chemistry and other science knowledge, it worths that price. 

So, these are my three top choices. Leave any comments to me about your thoughts. 

Recipe 5: My favorite Recipe overall: Chocolate Cake

Now it is the time to back to our traditional American baking recipe, YES, today I am going to teach you how to make a moist and tasty Chocolate Cake. Personally, I have been trying over 10 different recipes for making a perfect Chocolate cake, the good news is, I found it!

Ingredients 

Butter, for greasing the pans 

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans 

1 3/4 cups sugar 

3/4 cups good cocoa powder 

2 teaspoons baking soda 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

1 teaspoon salt 

1 cup buttermilk, shaken 

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee Chocolate Buttercream, recipe follows 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch x 2-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans. 

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. 

With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely. 

Place 1 layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. 

Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake. 

Chocolate Frosting: 

6 ounces good semisweet chocolate 

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature 

1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature 

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

1 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar 

1 tablespoon instant coffee powder 

Chop the chocolate and place it in a bowl and melt it with simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature. 

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. 

Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the coffee powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. 

On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. 

Don't whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cake. :) 

Let me know after you tried this recipe, and remember to tell me how good does it taste! BEST Chocolate Cake Recipe, keep that in your pocket, and enjoy it :)

Restaurant Review: Pho Hong

Pho Hong Restaurant

For my review, I decided to to analyze the most popular Pho and Vietnamese joint in the Burlington area. 

Albeit there is not much competition for pho and I would not label it the best Asian restaurant, in respect to Burlington, Pho Hong has hands down the best big bowl of Vietnamese soup. There are several other Vietnamese places such as M-Saigon, Pho Pasteur and Dang Vietnamese but in my experience, Pho Hong's soup is a better quality for cheaper.

So the first question in reviewing a Restaurant is what criteria are they being based off. When looking at a Pho restaurant there are three primary aspects that need to be taken into account; taste, authenticity and price. Then there are many other lesser judgements that should also be raised but are not imperative, these include service, ambiance, location among others.

 The Taste of Pho Hong is what really stands out at first. Large servings of steaming, rich broth that are seasoned extremely well overtime with a wealth of ingredients inside, it is easy to see that they use the authentic method of simmering large cauldrons of broth then adding the noodles right before serving. The pho is also complimented with several sauces as well as the usual limes, basil, and sprouts so that you can manipulate the flavor to your choosing. The Pho's taste speaks for itself with the authenticity of a recipe but I cannot speak for the rest of the menu. There were several other things I saw on the Pho Menu that I would not expect to see under Vietnamese cuisine which made me doubt how true the recipes were besides Pho. Moving on, the price of Pho was just about what I'd expect it to be, gloriously cheap. A large bowl is just over six dollars and will make you feel nauseatingly full for the rest of the day, for better or worse. Besides, Pho everything seemed very reasonable but then again the other dishes did not seem to at the same level as their Pho. The ambiance to the restaurant is very low key and friendly so it's perfect for a relaxed date or college friends but not the best place to bring a first date or your grandparents. The location is a bit out of the way but easily accessible by car or city bus and in my opinion every bit worth it. 

Overall, I would review Pho Hong as an 8.6 out of ten. Since as a primarily a Pho restaurant if really delivers the goods but there are a couple lacking characteristics such as menu diversity and punctual service. Although the place may seem inauthentic compared to China town's bustling restaurant's, its bowl of Pho could be served in Hanoi without a second thought.

So if your looking for a good bowl of Pho in Burlington, look no further then Pho Hong. It may not boast the most complete menu or an awe-inspiring authentic ambiance but it will deliver you a deliciously created bowl of soup. If you are a fan of Pho or cheap vietnamese food this is a must visit in your future. 

Current Event: Palestine Conflict

Palestine:

The region of Palestine may finally be on it's way to fully legitimate statehood after the United Nation's General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of accepting the territory as a nonmember observer. If you have not seen the news, ThinkProgress gives a great review of the conflict and recent vote. (http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/11/29/1259401/palestine-un-vote/?mobile=nc )

So now the question is what does this new status entail and how it will alter Palestine's role vs Israel and within the International Community?

 Ryan Boudwin, the author of an insightful "Rant Political" blog (http://rantpolitical.com/2012/12/02/un-recognizes-palestine-what-does-it-mean/) raises four or five important ramifications. First, it represents an important victory for Abbas who leads the political party in search of a diplomatic resolution to the conflict instead of the more extreme party of Hamas. In relation to the U.N it shows that there is extreme support for statehood and furthermore Palestine now can be apart of important global institutions such as the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC could be influential in trying both Palestinians and Israelis army officials who have resorted to radical means of violence. In conclusion, although this recognition will now dramatically change anything on the ground it represents an important symbol for change and Palestine legitimacy. 

For the sake of this blog theme, the next question to ask is what constitutes the culture and cuisine of Palestine that make it unique?

Palestine largely represents a melting pot of cultures due to its geographically conflicting location, and this is emphasized within its culture. The primary language of the territories is Arabic but Hebrew and Armenian speakers are also very prevalent. Palestine has overtime forged a muslim influenced culture that is closely knit with it's neighbors Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. This influence of neighbors and history also is illustrated through their food's. Palestinian cuisine consists of typical muslim dishes but with a lasting Persian and Ottoman influence. Two staple foods include the "Kibbeh" and "Taboon" bread. Kibbeh is a made of burghul, minced onions and ground red meat, usually beef, lamb, or goat. The best-known variety is a torpedo-shaped fried croquette stuffed with minced beef or lamb.While Taboon bread is a flatbread wrap that Taboon bread is sold as street food, stuffed with hummus, falafel or shaved meat.

If you have further interest in the culture of Palestine and the ongoing conflict check out these sources that I drew from:

1.) http://www.mapsofworld.com/palestine/society-and-culture/

2.) http://www.science.co.il/History-Palestine.php

3.) http://travel.mapsofworld.com/palestine/cuisine-of-palestine.html

Korean Drama MUST Watch checklist

Just like the presentation I did this Monday, I am a person so passionate about Korean TV shows and movies. So here are some Korean Dramas that I would like to recommend you to watch, trust me it worths it! 

5. Full House (풀하우스)

Full House is a 2004 South Korean television drama series starring Rain and Song Hye-kyo. 
The story is about an aspiring script writer lives in a house called "Full House" but two of her friends trick her into believing she had won a free vacation to Shanghai, and sell her house to the Top Movie Star Lee Young-jae, who she actually meets on the plane to Shanghai. And after all things messed up, both of the characters sign up for a six-month marriage contract for both of their wishes.
This Drama won many awards in Asia, and last episode Ratings ends up with 42.0%. 
It is a remarkable successful Korean Drama, and you can watch it free on Hulu.com

4. City Hunter (시티헌터)

City Hunter is a 2011 South Korean television drama series starring Lee Min-ho, Park Min-young and Lee Joon-hyuk. The story is based on the Japanese manga series City Hunter written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo. 
The story is about in 1983, the South Korean president and his delegates and visiting Burma when a bomb planted by North Korean agents explodes, killing many South Korean officials. Five South Korean officials plan to covert operation, and it is successful. However, as the troops swim out from Nampo to and ROK Navy submarine assigned for their extraction, snipers from the submarine open fire on them, and already injured soldiers Park scarcities his life to save soldier Lee. Everything is planned by South Korean high officials and the five soldiers records have been erased. Lee swim back to South Korea, and takes Park's 1-month old son Lee Yooon Sung away from Park's wife, and trains him for the revenge. 25 years later, the revenge begins. 
This Drama makes the actor Lee Min-ho becomes very popular in Asia, and his role netted him the Special Drama Top Prize plum at the 2011 SBS Drama Awards.

3. IRIS 

IRIS is a 2009 South Korean television drama series starring Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-hae. 
Lifelong friends Kim Hyun-Jun and Jin Sa-woo are ushered from their military base to a secret compound in the middle of the night. After successfully completing the test, Hyun-jun and Sa-woo are introduced to the standing of the National Security Service, Baek San, who later informs them that the NSS is a secret organization tasked with preempting foreign threats and protecting the country's interests through wetwork operations including assassination of anyone who could be a treat to South Korean national security. Later, a grand conspiracy begins to unravel at the hands of a far-reaching villain. As political tensions mount, Hyun-jun is given an independent assignment that will alter the course of history and change his life forever. 
The series also took home away of the highest honors at the 2009 KBS Drama Acting Awards, totally worth to watch it!!! 

2. The King of Dramas (드라마의 제왕) (On Air NOW!)

The King of Dramas is a 2012 South Korean television drama series starring Kim Myung-Min and Jung Ryeo-Won. 
The story takes a revealing look into the world of drama production. Anthony Kim will do anything for success and money in the media production industry. He has the midas touch when it comes to subcontracting the productions in drama series and is extremely talented in running a business. Theere's also a top Korean actor who does not negotiate and a new screenwriter who holds a pure view of drama series in general. The story is about how do they successfully produce and air the TV drama series "Elegant Revenge". We see how Korean TV drama produces at the first place. 
Personally I really love this drama, as a media person it is always fun to watch a story based on the experience which is familiar to the life that I want to have. 

1. My Lovely Sam-soon (내 이름은 김삼순)

Yes, I put this one as the number one MUST watch! 
This is a classic Korean Drama that which is my all-time favorite, Sam-soon is a 2005 Korean TV drama, starring Kim Sun-ah, Hyun Bin and Jung Ryeo-won.
The plot is about Kim Sam-soon is a baker who has a talent in making pastries and cakes. She does not like her name because it considered a very old-fashioned and embarrassing name.  On Christmas Eve, she caught her boyfriend cheating on her and breaks up on the same night. That night, she accidentally went into the men's restroom and met Hyun Jin-hun, a somewhat callous fellow but sometimes considerate guy. After all these embarrassing things happened to her, she manages o land herself a job in a big French restaurant working as a pastry chef for a rude and angry 27-year-old man, who is the same guy that she met in the men's bathroom on Christmas Eve... 
My Lovely Sam-soon is such a great piece that I can't even find a word to describe how good it is. It is a story that is so close to many people's real life, and talks about love, career and family. 
Go and watch it on Hulu.com, these are awesome!
  

The Spirit Level: Your Motivation to Volunteer and Travel

Why People Should Volunteer and Ways to do it Abroad:

In my recent presentation and blog post I brought up the influential book, "The Spirit Level" which argues with significant statistical evidence that the more unequal a society is the more inefficient and unhappy the society will be. The book further argues that inequality negatively effects all classes therefore I further developed the idea to include the benefits of volunteering. Volunteering both makes the society more equal through the work you put into helping people in a given project and also brings classes together. There are clear happiness benefits that exemplify the Spirit Level hypothesis by both the help your giving and the profound sense of accomplishment and meaning one receives from dedicating yourself to something greater. Therefore, it is clear that equality creates a strong societies and more happiness while volunteering can be a key aspect to creating this equality. 

So what are some ways to get involved in Volunteering?

The first thing is that it all depends on you! Personal interests, motivations, region, and of course bank account all play a huge role on where would be a good fit.

Here are just a few brief, cheap, and interesting ways that you can combine traveling with volunteering:

1. WWOOFing

(http://www.wwoof.org/) is a organization dedicated to matching up travelers with sustainable organic farms around the world for free. Basically, you live for free on a farm for a agreed amount portion of time and work a certain amount of hours per day helping out in exchange for food and a bed. WWOOF  links with farms in every region of the world and can be the perfect opportunity for someone looking to live in another country for free and help local farmers in their community.

2. Volunteers for Peace

(http://www.vpt.org) This organization is an amazing resource for finding volunteer opportunities abroad. Their easy to use website matches you with a specific region, type of work, and time period to find perfect matches with your compatibility. VFP works in accordance with numerous other agencies around the world so that they are always abreast of interesting new service projects plus they give out scholarships and grants to make it easier on your purse. If there's a specific field of interest and country your interested in this could be your ticket.

3. PeaceCorps

(www.peacecorps.gov) If you are very serious about volunteering and could see yourself spending up to two years abroad then PeaceCorps could be a great opportunity. This organization assigns volunteers all around the world for a set time period around two years, it is a very serious commitment but also includes many benefits. The peacecorps fund everything you do so it is effectually for free although you are not paid enough to save money and also they will forgive your federal loans from College. So, if you are really looking into going into the field of international development or want to spend considerable time abroad for awhile this may be something to look into.

4. University of Vermont

If you are a student at a UVM or most universities they will provide numerous opportunities for volunteering and travel. UVM is affiliated with projects-abroad.org that has a huge scope for volunteer projects around the world. Also, a one can apply for grants and scholarships through the school to fund any research based trip of your choosing. I have found that many of the school lead trips can be overpriced and over managed while for a short period of time, but there are exceptions when they offer you opportunities that would you could not undergo by yourself. Therefore, UVM offers numerous opportunities through affiliations, grants, and service trips that are very worth looking into.

Remember also you do not always have to go through an organization or with other people to travel or volunteer if you research a country or project enough you can always just go alone and get in touch with projects yourself. Volunteering can be a fun, cheap, and meaningful way to travel. I hope everyone gets the chance to be able to so that they can both help others and themselves and make the world that little bit happier in the process!

RECIPE4: SPRING VEGE PASTA

Hey everyone, it has been a while since last time I introduced our third recipe. 
I know the winter treats our Green Mountain State hardly, so I am going to fresh some air today and teach you how to make Spring Vege Pasta! Pasta becomes a kind of daily meal for every Americans. So this recipe works so well because we are not going to make it in the traditional way. This recipe calls for true vegetables. In pasta primavera, the vegetables and pasta are tossed together in a cream sauce made with broth and heavy cream. We love this classic, but sometimes we want a lighter, brighter version—one with a creamy sauce, but without the cream. This nontraditional approach gave us a light but creamy sauce with sweet, grassy flavors that paired perfectly with the vegetables for a dish that truly tasted like spring.

INGREDIENTS 

3 medium leeks, white and light green parts halved lengthwise, washed, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices (about 5 cups); 
3 cups roughly chopped dark green parts reserved 
1 pound asparagus, tough ends snapped off, chopped coarsely, and reserved; spears cut on bias into 1/2-inch-thick pieces 
2 cups frozen baby peas, thawed 
4 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 4 teaspoons) 
4 cups vegetable broth 1cup water 2tablespoons minced fresh mint leaves 2tablespoons minced fresh chives 
1/2 teaspoon finely grated zest plus 2 tablespoons juice from 1 lemon 6tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Table salt 1/4teaspoon red pepper flakes 
1 pound campanelle 
1 cup dry white wine 
1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup), plus extra for serving Ground black pepper 

INSTRUCTIONS 
1. Place dark green leek trimmings, asparagus trimmings, 1 cup peas, 2 teaspoons garlic, vegetable broth, and water in large saucepan. Bring to simmer over high heat, then lower heat to medium-low and gently simmer 10 minutes. While broth simmers, combine mint, chives, and lemon zest in small bowl; set aside. 
2. Strain broth through fine-mesh strainer into 8-cup measuring cup, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible (you should have 5 cups broth; add water as needed to measure 5 cups). Discard solids and return broth to saucepan. Cover and keep warm over low heat. 
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add sliced leeks and pinch salt; cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until leeks begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus pieces and cook until crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Add remaining 2 teaspoons garlic and pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add remaining cup peas and continue to cook 1 minute. Transfer vegetables to plate and set aside. Wipe out pot. 
4. Heat remaining 4 tablespoons oil in now-empty Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add pasta and cook, stirring frequently, until just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring constantly, until absorbed, about 2 minutes. 
5. When wine is fully absorbed, add hot broth. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to boil. Cook, stirring frequently, until most of liquid is absorbed and pasta is al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. 
6. Remove pot from heat, stir in lemon juice, Parmesan, half of herb mixture, and vegetables. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, passing Parmesan cheese and remaining herb mixture separately.

Enjoy your spring vege pasta, hope you like it. 

The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger

Here are some resources to follow up my presentation on equality in our world:

The Spirit Level:

• http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/- Website set up by the authors of The Spirit Level that provides data, initiatives and a clear argument of their philosophy
• http://i.imgur.com/Cufgf.gif: Statistics shown in class that backup the hypothesis
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spirit_Level:_Why_More_Equal_Societies_Almost_Always_Do_Better: Wikipedia overview

Volunteer Opportunities:

• For UVM: Volunteers in Action (http://www.uvm.edu/~via/)
• Burlington: Community Justice Center (http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CJC/)

*Look for an upcoming blog post on volunteer opportunities through traveling!

Top 10 Destinations for Foodies

1. Rome: Italy will always be a symbol of delicious recipes and gourmet ingredients and it's capital embodies this idea into one city. Rome's vicinity to fresh seafood, farming and ancient recipes make it home to the best Pasta and traditional Italian food anywhere. 

2. Paris: Paris is a famous travel destination for both it's historical landmarks and classy culture yet it's food often overlooked. Paris not only boasts some of the best bakeries in the world but it's french bread is almost always accompanied by exquisite handcrafted cheeses and native wines. Paris itself is a hub of bakeries, butchers, and markets that collectively compete to make every bite of food just as amazing as the architecture that holds it.  

3. Istanbul: Turkish food is complimented by a dichotomy of both delectable street food as well as high class restaurants giving the best of both worlds. Istanbul is a perfect representation of the unique Turkish cuisine which evolves from the Ottoman empire and middle eastern recipes. Along with Kebobs the Turks also hold many delicious deserts including the "Turkish Delight", if you ever get the chance there is a great and relatively cheap street vendor on Church street that hooks up a great example of Turkish street foods!

4. New York: The sheer size and immensity of New York city bestows it with an incredible amount of diversity which all compete together so that it is hard to find a restaurant that isn't above average. That being said New York boasts some native dishes such as it's famous Pizza or Burger joints that are second to none. The size and diversity is what really puts New York on the list though with China town, the huge Italian influx, and American cuisine influencing every street corner to perfection. 

5. Barcelona: Spanish food had to get it's name on the list at some point and there's no better example then the mezcla of Catalan, Traditional Spanish, and Mediterranean influences that define Barcelona. Barcelona's proximity to the Mediterranean sea allows for both easy access to foreign spices but also some of the best seafood in all of Spain. These aspects perfectly compliment many Spanish dishes such as Paella so that Barcelona beats out other major cities like Madrid to win a place on the list. 

6. Tokyo: Tokyo signifies all the traditional Japanese cuisine that makes people's mouth water all around the world. Fresh seafood, perfectly crafted sushi, miso soups, rice noodles and more all live in their best form in this sprawling city. 

7. Sydney: Sydney is a modern city that mixes foods from around the world as well as many Australian foods that have evolved from it's tribal influences. Both South East Asia and Australia are home to unique seafoods and vegetables that have allowed the cuisine to evolve to something both diverse and original. 

8. Bangkok: Thai food encompasses all the spices of Southeast Asia with the unique asian recipes of China and Thailand. Jasmine rice, native noodles, street foods and more litter the blocks of Bangkok so that one could never get bored with all the interesting tastes and vibrant culture. 

9. Fes: The only African country to make it is due to it's long history of influence in the Mediterranean region to create a fascinating blend. One can trace the country's long history of colonizers and immigrants; the Berbers, exist today in the staple dishes like tagine and couscous. While The Arab invasion brought new spices, nuts and dried fruits,  the Moors introduced olives, olive juice and citrus and finally the Ottoman Empire introduced barbeque (kebabs) which added to the great array that exemplifies Moroccan food today. 

10. Brussels: As well as the addition of having France next door, Belgium is furthermore famous for their Waffles and amazing chocolates. Potatoes and unique fries also fill the city as well as the added bonus of acclaimed breweries making Brussels yet another travel destination for some great food. 

RECIPE 4: Dulce de Leche Pionono

And... YES! Tristan took us a journey to Argentina, and the pictures that he brought back are gorgeous. So today we are going to learn one of the famous recipe for making Argentina food, which is called Dulce de Leche Pionono. Dulce de Leche Pionono is a jelly roll cake that people in Europe have it during the celebration. Pionono can have sweet or savory fillings, but this recipe calls for lightened whipping cream. Adornment is what this cake really need for, which is a dusting of icing sugar. It has a really delicious flavor. 

So, here we go!

Ingredients:

4 eggs, separated

3/4 cup sugar1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup almond flour (optional) or 1/4 cup additional all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup heavy whipping cream 

2 tablespoons sugar 3/4 cup dulce de leche

Confectioners sugar 1 recipe caramel frosting (optional)

Preparation:

Line a 11" x 17" jelly roll pan with wax paper. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Sift the flour with the salt, almond meal, and baking powder, and set aside. 

Place the egg whites in a (very clean) bowl of a standing mixer and beat until soft peaks form. 

Add 1/4 cup of the sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. 

Transfer beaten egg whites to a clean bowl. 

Add the egg yolks with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar to the mixing bowl, and beat until pale yellow and tripled in volume, about 5 minutes. 

Add the vanilla and mix well. Fold the dry ingredients gently into the egg yolk mixture until just blended, then carefully fold in the egg whites. 

Spread batter evenly into the prepared jelly roll pan. 

Bake cake until it is golden and just starts to spring back to your touch, about 8-10 minutes. 

Do not overbake, or it will be difficult to roll. Loosen the edges of the cake by running a knife around them, then turn cake out onto a dish cloth that has been dusted with confectioners sugar. 

Peel off the wax paper, and dust top of the cake with more confectioners sugar. 

Roll cake up carefully in the dish towel and let it cool in the rolled-up position. 

Place cold whipping cream in a large bowl and beat until medium-firm peaks form. 

Whisk in 2 tablespoons sugar and a touch of vanilla if desired. 

Whisk 1/4 cup of the whipped cream into the dulce de leche to lighten it, then fold dulce de leche mixture back into the rest of the whipped cream. Unroll cake and spread whipped cream/dulce de leche mixture over the cake. 

Reroll cake, wrap with the dish cloth or saran wrap, and chill for 1-2 hours or overnight. Once the cake is thoroughly chilled, place it on a cutting board, unwrapped. 

Prepare caramel glaze according to the recipe, using only 3 cups confectioners sugar. 

While the icing is still warm, pour it over the cake, letting it run down the sides until covered. Remove excess icing from bottom of cake and let set. Slice off ends of cake to neaten the edges (extra treat for the chef!) Chill cake until ready to serve.

Country Profile: Argentina

As I recently got accepted to a study abroad program for the spring semester to Argentina this year, I decided to dedicate this week's post to leaning about Argentina's culture, food and travel ideas!

Argentina has a significant Mediterranean cultural influence and this manifests itself widely in their foods as well. Spanish and Italian ingredients are abundant in most of Argentina, while the capital Buenos Aires is an international hub where any type of high class food is right around the corner. Argentina boasts a very protein centric diet where many of their meals focus around asado beef or chicken. Asado is the colloquial term for "Barbecue" which is the essential Argentinian dish. Asado does not just mean Barbecue in our meaning though it also encompasses the unique herbs and process by which it's cooked while referring to the actual social gathering of having barbecue as well.
Another staple of Argentine food is the Mate drink which is extremely widespread through the many regions and is usually used in a very social nature. Mate is made through the dried twigs and leaves of the Yerba Mate plant similar to a tea, but there are various other spices that can be added while it is also drank through a straw, known as a bombilla. These are just a couple typical aspects to the broad range of Argentinian food, yet both Mate and Asado also represent the extremely social aspect and tradition to eating in Argentine culture.

So besides eating until you burst.. What are some of the main attractions to Argentina?

First of all, the capital city Buenos Aires. This sprawling metropolitan city incorporates both the cultural allures of a distinct third world and the modern characteristics of a European city. Buenos Aires is filled with diverse architecture and every type of neighborhood. Some of the more notable things to do in buenos aires include going to see the infamous local soccer team "Boca Juniors" play in the intimidatingly packed Bombabera stadium or hit the expansive bar scene that the city is famous for.

If your not the city type, the next most captivating part of Argentina is the expansive rural Patagonia which is known for it's beauty. Hiking the Patagonia can be both an intimate experience with very local rural cultures as well as incredible sights of waterfalls, glaciers and wildlife. So if you ever plan a trip to South America do not miss out on all the beauty that Argentina represents.

I am itching to start my study abroad program now to experience all these delicious tastes and activities that Argentina has to offer!

RECIPE 3: Indian-Style Curry

Our blogger Tristan went to Vietnam for a long journey, and brought back many pictures and information about his favorite Vietnam Cuisine. That actually reminds me how wonderful Asian Cuisine is. Let me take you to another journey to Indian! So, today I am going to teach you how to make Indian-Style Curry. 
Before that I am going to talk a little about the background of Curry.  
Curry was first adopted by Western culture as the significant cuisine of Indian food. Curry, literally means vegetables and/or meat cooked with spices with or without a gravy. Most of time Curry is made for practicing national traditions and religions. Curry has the taste of spices, which are used both whole and ground; cooked or raw; and they may be added at different times during the cooking process to produce different results.

Indian-Style Curry with Potatoes, Cauliflower, Peas, and Chickpeas Indian

INGREDIENTS 
2 tablespoons curry powder (sweet or mild) 
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala 
1/4 cup vegetable oil 
2 cups chopped fine onion
2 cups Red Bliss potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces 
3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon) 
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger 
1 - 1 1/2 serrano chiles, ribs, seeds, and flesh minced (see note above) 
1 tablespoon tomato paste 
1/2 medium head cauliflower, trimmed, cored, and cut into 1-inch florets (about 4 cups) 
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, pulsed in food processor until nearly smooth with 1/4-inch pieces visible 
1 1/4 cups water 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed Table salt 
8 ounces frozen peas (about 1 1/2 cups) 
1/4 cup heavy cream or coconut milk 

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Toast curry powder and garam masala in small skillet over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until spices darken slightly and become fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove spices from skillet and set aside. 

2. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onions and potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized and potatoes are golden brown on edges, about 10 minutes. (Reduce heat to medium if onions darken too quickly.) 

3. Reduce heat to medium. Clear center of pan and add remaining tablespoon oil, garlic, ginger, chile, and tomato paste; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add toasted spices and cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute longer. Add cauliflower and cook, stirring constantly, until spices coat florets, about 2 minutes longer. 

4. Add tomatoes, water, chickpeas, and 1 teaspoon salt; increase heat to medium-high and bring mixture to boil, scraping bottom of pan with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer briskly, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in peas and cream or coconut milk; continue to cook until heated through, about 2 minutes longer. Adjust seasoning with salt and serve immediately, passing condiments separately.