Banana Coffee Smoothie

Banana Coffee Smoothie  There are actually a lot of soy milk recipes to choose from. It all depends on your style and mood. You can choose whether or not you want to prepare something that is just a swift or you can choose another delicate dish that needs styling, patience and that oriental feeling.

My Banana Coffee Smoothie
I am very fond of drinking coffee. As we all know, it is an antioxidant, therefore it's good for the body. Every time I get to taste the bitter-sweet elixir, everything becomes a blessing. So what I am going to present is one of my favorite recipes. It's actually made of soy milk and it tastes better and not to forget healthier, compared to a regular cow's milk. The ingredients are as follows: First, we need to make our soy milk. We have to soak our beans overnight to soften it and put it out in the morning. When it is fully soaked, we can now wash it and scoop the beans into the canister. Add water up to the line indicated in the machine. Next thing is to replace the lid and secure the locks. Plug the machine and push the start button. Then we wait for the machine to grind and press the milk out of the beans.
When the soy milk is ready, let it cool. The next step is to prepare the other ingredients. We need two small frozen bananas, 1 and ½ cup of fresh soy milk, 1 container of low-fat coffee yogurt, approximately 8 oz., ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a dash nutmeg.
Combine the ingredients into a blender. The bananas need to be frozen so that the smoothie will be cold. Turn the blender on and wait for the mixture to purify. If the mixture is already smooth, that's the time to turn the blender off. Pour the mixture into glasses, this recipe can make two, and garnish it with fresh slices of banana and mint depending on your taste. I don't add sugar anymore. If you want to make it sweeter you may do so.
I hope you find my soy milk recipe with banana coffee smoothie enticing. For those coffee lovers out there, I suggest you try it. It is low fat so it can not destroy your diet, plus you get to enjoy your beloved elixir in a different level. It's a nice treat especially during the summer when the heat is overwhelming, or you can also serve it to your friends during a gathering. I'm pretty sure they will love the taste, not knowing that it's actually made from soy milk. You can even ask those people with lactose intolerance to try it. I'm pretty sure they will not get an upset stomach because as we all know soy milk has 0.0 lactose content. The children will also love it but you can use chocolate instead of coffee or try to experiment on other ingredients, they will surely enjoy making it.

Choosing Right Flooring Kitchen Tiles

Choosing Right Flooring Kitchen Tiles Kitchen tiles can make a big difference to the overall look and feel of your kitchen and for this reason you should choose the slabs that match perfectly with the design of your cooking area. There is a huge variety of slabs available in the market but you should take certain factors into considerations when shopping for the designer flooring material for your cooking area.
Price is the main concern and the first thing you need to do is to set aside a budget for kitchen renovation. By assigning a budget for the project, you can narrow your search and thus find the best slabs.

Select the right flooring material
A massive array of kitchen tiles is available in the market and each variety exceeds the other at different jobs. Home interior designers say that with creative use of the slabs one can dramatically enhance the appearance and increase the functionality of one's cooking area. You can choose vinyl slabs if you are looking for budgeted flooring material. If it is the look of the slabs that matters most for you then look no further than stone pieces. Homeowners who are interested in buying a flooring material that is both good looking and cost effective can consider ceramic slabs.
Choosing a color
Use dark color kitchen tiles because they are highly resistant to staining. Stubborn stains are less noticeable on dark colored slabs. On the other hand, white or light colored slabs can't hide even the smallest stain. If you are considering using white slabs on kitchen backsplash and worktop then be prepared for the massive cleaning work. After choosing the color, you need to determine a laying pattern. There are many patterns available on Internet and you can also find some interesting patterns on the packing of the slabs. Choose a pattern that matches well with the design of the cabinets, drawers and fixtures in your kitchen.
Shopping around
Since kitchen tiles are available on every stone and tiles stores, you won't find any hassle in shopping for these slabs. But if you can shop around then you can get quality flooring material at very affordable price. There are some online stone and tiles retailers that offer lucrative discounts on selected varieties. You can track some discount tile dealers and save some money while buying perfect slabs for your home. For laying slabs, you can hire expert masons or try do it yourself and save more money.

Soundtrack Hindi Movie 2011

Soundtrack Hindi Movie 2011 Soundtrack is an edgy, modern day portrayal of India's most prolific musician and DJ. It traces his alcohol, drug and sex fuelled meteoric rise, as he battles his internal demons and a damaging handicap.
When an album is titled Soundtrack, the least you expect is - what else but - a good soundtrack. With Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale coming together for this rather loaded album (there are 12 tracks here), one looks forward to some new age sound in the offering here. Of course there are some apprehensions as well, since Soundtrack isn't a quintessential Bollywood affair, which means experimentation could go either ways. Still, with good interest and reasonable excitement, one plays on Soundtrack.

MUSIC
Write your own music review of Soundtrack

Soundtrack begins with 'Symphony Of The Streets', a musical piece sans any singing involved, which starts with the sound of a train running on tracks. There are other interesting bits and pieces of seemingly live music added as well which makes it a good lounge piece.




Next to come is a song which could be one of the most straight forwarded of all when it comes to the title. Rendered with aplomb by Anushka Manchanda, it goes as 'What The F'. A club track that has good beats accompanying it and surprisingly doesn't have a 'remix version' attached to it, 'What The F' is a song with an attitude and is co-written by Dhruv Jagasia, Anushka Manchanda and Gaurav Raina.

Though Soundtrack manages to attract your attention by now, there is a downer in the form of 'Mein Chala' which has a strange choice of singer in the form of Kailash Kher. He co-composes as well as writes this song which seems like an extension of one of his philosophical/spiritual trance numbers that he has attempted in the past. Though there is a Western treatment given to the song, there isn't much in it to warrant a second listening as it gets too heavy after a point in time.

It's an all around show by Vishal Vaid as he writes, co-composes (with Karsh Kale) and sings 'Ek Manzil' (along with Khalid Alvi). This one has a non-film appeal to it and while one has to listen to the song quite carefully to understand what it is eventually trying to say, the overall arrangements too are of the kind that end up lending a sad feel to it. The same sound is later used to create another musical piece which is titled 'The Soundtrack Theme' and comes towards the end of the album.

The album also incorporates a couple of old Bollywood tracks in the form of 'Ruk Jaana Nahin' and 'Yeh Jeevan Hai'. Surprisingly, none of them manage to add much value to the album and seem to have been picked out of one of those average sounding cover version albums that was a trend during the late 90s/early 2000s. While 'Ruk Jaana Nahin' is sung again by Suraj Jagan and doesn't make you really fall in love with it, 'Yeh Jeevan Hai' by Malini Awasthy belongs to quick skip variety as it is difficult to listen to it even once in entirety.

Thankfully, there is something to look forward to in Soundtrack all over again with Ankur Tewari playing a triple role of composer/lyricist/singer for 'Jannat'. Best track of the album which belongs to soft rock mode and is the most enjoyable of all, 'Jannat' is the kind of song that one was always expecting in Soundtrack to begin with.

Unfortunately, this excitement is short lived with Papon composed and sung 'Banao' turning out to be weird more than anything else. Leave aside the fact that the overall treatment of the song is hardly appealing; one can't even fathom what it is eventually trying to say. A slow paced number, it tries to be cool and contemporary but only ends up making you look the other way. He makes an added contribution with 'Naina Laagey' which has a classical feel to it and thankfully turns out to be better than 'Banao'. Still, this co-composition with Midival Punditz doesn't quite make you go wow as you move ahead in the album.

After 'Ek Manzil', Vishal Vaid returns with 'Fakira' where Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale join him in the composition department. Belonging to the same genre as the kind of songs that were once in vogue when Feroz Khan made films like Qurbani and Jaanbaaz, 'Fakira' with added vocals by Aslam Parvez manages to cover some distance but just about. With a trance feel to it, appeal of 'Fakira' is restricted to a selected play in clubs.

Last to arrive is 'Atomizer' which has the kind of sound which is associated with Quentin Tarantino movies though with somewhat lesser verve to it. Still, it does manage to excite to some extent at the least as Gaurav Raina and Karsh Kale come together with Midival Punditz for this dance number. Karsh Kale is the common element in music, lyrics and vocals department while Tapan Raj adds on to little lyrics that one hears in this track.

OVERALL

Soundtrack doesn't quite turn out to be an album that it could have been. Now that's sad because with Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale at the helm of affairs, one expected something that was really cutting edge and also to a good extent commercial. However, what one ends up hearing in Soundtrack are barely a couple of numbers that actually end up staying with you for a while at the least.

Know About Water Filter Systems

Know About Water Filter Systems Many of us live in areas where the water quality is not as good as we'd like; in some cases long-term exposure to contaminants in public or private water systems can be hazardous to your health. Fortunately there are many different water filter systems on the market, ranging from the relatively inexpensive to the very pricey whole-house systems. Given the importance of the issue and the potential confusion in having so many choices, it is worthwhile to understand better the main options.


In addition to studying the different water filter systems, it might not be a bad idea to obtain a copy of the water quality report issued by your city or county. Not all areas have these, and you might need to make a phone call or visit to your water agency for this information. If your water quality is pretty good, you may not want to spend on a whole-house water filter system, for example, but may just want a filtered pitcher for drinking water.

In short, the main water filter types are summarized below.

Filtered pitchers you can refill from the sink and place in your refrigerator. These usually include a charcoal filter element that you change out a couple of times annually. The cost is probably around $20 to $30 for the pitcher; each replacement filter cartridge is a few bucks.

A variation of the pitcher is the Berkey water filter system, which provides almost four gallons per hour in a setup that looks a bit like a cross between a large coffeemaker and a bottled water dispenser like you'd get from Sparkletts or Arrowhead waters. This system can run up to $300 or more but is amazingly effective at filtering out unwanted contaminants; it reportedly can remove food coloring from water, not that you'd typically be testing it that way. This is better suited for situations where you don't mind manually adding water, especially in rural or camping situations.

Inline filter cartridges are another water filter systems option. Often these come in arrays of different filter elements designed to remove specific substances. The cost might be around a couple hundred dollars, depending on capacity and what types of filtering you need to do (check that water quality report). These may be placed in the water line leading to the kitchen sink, for example, to provide filtered water for cooking and drinking.

Whole house filtering systems can cost multiple thousands of dollars and are installed on the main line coming into the house (some even treat water used for irrigation of landscaping, depending on your water quality) and therefore must handle a higher capacity than the inline cartridge filter assemblies. Some of the whole house systems have the ability to flush the contaminants from the filter material, thereby extending the life of the filter. These might be combined with water softening systems.

The highest level of treatment comes from the reverse osmosis water filter system. Originally used in military vessels to make drinking water from seawater, modern systems are generally affordable, although the cost per gallon can run a lot higher than filtered water (but cheaper than buying bottled water). The water is forced under pressure through a membrane that has extremely small pores. Consequently this filtering method is particularly effective. A typical reverse osmosis system will include conventional filters to remove the easy stuff before the water is run through the membrane. We suggest you not go with the cheapest products in this category; it is a pressure vessel and if production quality is poor, you'll have all manner of problems too soon.

Your choice of water filter system will depend on your needs (health issues?), budget and quality of water before treatment. An organized approach to selecting a filter system is the best way to ensure a wise decision.

J. M. Key is a civil engineer who has written widely about a variety of technical topics over the past 30 years. Key has discovered a lot about some of the clever new water filter systems, including information about reverse osmosis water filter systems.

Control Portion Sizes for Weight Loss

Control Portion Sizes for Weight Loss Calorie is a great way to control how much you're eating in order to lose weight. Not everyone is able to count calories at each meal and not everyone wants to count calories in the weight loss process. Can you lose weight without counting calories? Yes, you can! There are ways to control your portion sizes so that you keep your calories in check. Controlling portion sizes may not be the most accurate way to judge how many calories are in your meals but has been successful for many people in losing those extra pounds. Here's how you can control your portion sizes for weight loss.


1. Eyeball Method - This is by far one of the most common ways to measure how much food you take in. Used in major diets around the world, the eyeball method provides a way to measure portion sizes without needing any additional tools. Your protein portion should be the size and thickness of the palm of your hand. Carbohydrates in the form of starchy carbs should be the size of your clenched fist. If you opt for carbohydrates in the form of vegetables and fruit, you can measure two fistfuls. Last, for fat, you'll want to use the tip of your thumb to measure fat that you add into your meal. Easy enough? You can use this method to control portions at your home, at a restaurant and even at a party. When at a restaurant, it's a great idea to portion out your meal and put the rest into a take home box. Ask your server to bring you a doggy bag right away so you aren't tempted to eat the rest!

2. Measuring Cups - Yep, you can carry measuring cups around in your purse or laptop bag. Grab your 1 cup measuring cup and use it for protein, fat and carbohydrates. Your protein portion should be about ½ - ¾ cup. Carbohydrates of the starchy kind should equate to approximately 1 cup and carbohydrates from veggies and fruit should measure about 2 cups. Fat should be just a smidgen at the bottom of the measuring cup or about 1 tablespoon. This method may provide a bit more structure as you can actually measure out amounts. Some people may or may not want to tote around a few measuring cups though.

3. Portion Control Gadget - The Meal Measure gadget is a tool that you can actually put on your plate to fill each section with the perfect amount of protein and different types of carbohydrates. A little bit more controlled, this option offers a plate size tool that is great for home use. You may or may not want to tote this bad boy to a restaurant - your choice. Either way, this is an excellent source to keep your portions under control.

4. Use Smaller Plates - Smaller plates make portions look bigger. Sometimes this weight loss game is one that involves tricking yourself into believing that you're taking in more than you actually are. It gives the mind a little bit of satisfaction. Instead of using full dinner plates, use a few smaller plates for your meals. Side dishes and saucers make great portion control tools. Use a saucer for protein and carbohydrates like bread or pasta. Use a side dish plate or salad plate for salads and veggies and get your teaspoon or tablespoon out for fat like olive oil or canola oil. This method is great because there is no need to buy any extra tools and most restaurants won't mind bringing you a few extra dishes.

Measuring what you take in can be easy and convenient. It's important to truly stick to the portion sizes listed above or you can easily find yourself eating too much again. Once you get yourself in the groove of eating the correct amounts, you'll find it hard to eat much more than that. Pick one method above and stick with it for at least 6 weeks to determine how it works for you. If you're not seeing the results that you want, you may want to reel your portions in a little more or try counting those calories to get the success you're looking for.

Margot Rutigliano is a freelance writer as well as the owner of Vita Vie Retreat. She has been a fitness trainer, wellness coach and healthy living adviser since 1999. Vita Vie Retreat is a fitness retreat offering healthy lifestyle transformation programs for men and women of all ages and fitness levels. For more information or to contact Ms. Rutigliano, please visit http://www.bvretreat.com.

Build Your Own Classic Car

Build Your Own Classic Car There has never been a better time to build a muscle car project. The availability of aftermarket parts, crate motors, disc brake kits and other upgrades make almost anything possible. The other plus is the relative low cost of these parts. One can literally start with a bare shell and build a complete top notch car using aftermarket/new parts exclusively. The sky's the limit!!


Another plus with these older era rigs is the simplicity of the cars themselves. They are much easier to work on or build than the newer stuff. No emissions, electronic fuel injection, abs brakes, air bags or any other advanced systems that require extensive specialized training. All the non-sense is outta the way!!

With sites like eBay and Craigslist, there are tons of sources to find solid project cars. You can find just about any make/model imaginable without a lot of effort.

Choosing A Make and Model:

One of the coolest aspects of this whole car building business is choosing your project. You may want to build a numbers matching 100% correct car and re-create a piece of automotive history, or you may want to get an old "mongrel" for cheap and play the creative angle to build something unique. Cost is a big factor here, a highly sought after numbers matching rig is gonna be much more expensive to acquire and build than an old "grocery getter", but both have advantages.

Comparatively, a 1969 RS/SS numbers matching Camaro is gonna fetch top dollar if done well, if being at the top of the food chain is important to you. The same 1969 Camaro with a puny 327/powergide that was never anything more than a basic model is obviously going to cost less initially and be easier to find than the "top dog".

I think the lower model is more fun to build because the sky's the limit. It was never anything special to begin with, so it's really a blank canvas that can be cloned or modified with any crazy mods/upgrades. The engine, tranny, color, pretty much any variable is possible. You really can't do that with an advanced model without de-valuing it.

Wheelin' and Dealin':

There are running, driving cars that need a little tlc, or there are absolute basket cases out there that can be had for cheap. It depends on the amount of ambition you have. I prefer the basket cases for lots of reasons.

The main reason is there are lots of 'em laying around. Lots of guys start these projects with a lot of enthusiasm, but eventually get in over their heads. They don't have the money or the expertise to see the project through to the end, and it becomes a nightmare. It's not unusual to find projects that come with tons of new parts and killer stuff that cost a small fortune, and now the owner just wants it all gone. If a car on jackstands in someones garage disassembled in a billion little pieces doesn't scare you, there are very good deals out there for you.

Assessing The Condition:

The number one thing i look at when assessing any project is structural condition. Look at the frame rails, suspension mounts, crossmembers etc. for damage or rot. Measure the frame diagonally to be sure the frame isn't crooked. Measure from the cowl area to the outer corner of the radiator support to ensure it's dimensionally correct. It doesn't have to measure "dead-nuts" on, but if there's obvious heavy damage you should find it early.

The good news is that any possible damage is fixable! Just because there is a 2 inch square hole rusted through the rear frame rail doesn't mean the car should go to the crusher!! If fact, the more problems you find are just ammunition you can use to get a lower purchase price. DON'T BE AFRAID OF DAMAGE/RUST! It's all fixable.

Look at door hinges and latches. Window regulators. Dashboard wiring. Is the fuel tank dented? Is all the door glass tinted the same? Has someone hacked up the car in any way to do some freaky custom stuff? Are all the nuts/bolts/fasteners there? Brackets? These are often overlooked details that can be a royal pain to deal with later.

It should go without saying to be sure the title is clear. Previously wrecked cars can be re-titled as "salvage" vehicles. This doesn't mean the car is really damaged beyond repair, it means that the insurance company determined that the cost to repair the car at the time of the damage/accident exceeded the value, so it was "totalled". For example if you owned a 1967 Dodge Dart in that was damaged in 1981, it wouldn't take much damage to exceed "book value" on what was at that time a run-of-the-mill grocery getter.

This affects re-sale value more than anything else, it is a mild deterrent from buying the car, but again, it's leverage to negotiate. If you never plan to sell the car, re-sale value wouldn't be an issue.

Practical Thoughts:

It's very possible to spend years looking for a "perfect project". The problem with that type of conservative thinking is that you'll never find anything "perfect". At some point, you have to stop picking every prospective car to death and jump into the game. For example, is a carved up dashboard really going to be the difference in a successful build and a life altering nightmare? It doesn't take long on any project to find surprises, dealing with them without catastrophising them is the difference in cars that get finished and old rustbuckets on jackstands. A finished car with flaws is worth more than a car that'll be perfect someday. There's an old saying in business: At some point it is necessary to shoot the engineers and begin production.

Calculating The Cost To Finish The Build:

This is where most would-be projects go wrong. You should have a clear idea of what it's all gonna cost before you even look at a car. The bad news is these projects can get out of control really quick if you're not careful. The good news is there are lots of good sources for parts, and catalogs to job-cost the project.

A good first time project would be to just re-condition an old rig without a lot of upgrades. You can expand your skills with really super trick stuff after a few builds. It doesn't take long before you'll be able to build about anything you want.

Here's an example of a basic budget for a simple recondition project:

Initial purchase: $4000

Sheetmetal/body parts: $350

Paint/body materials: $800

Rebuild brakes: $175

Rebuilt engine/longblock: $1000

Engine add-ons: $1350

(headers, holley carb, HEI ignition,

trick valve covers, etc.)

Drivetrain upgrades: $300

(u-joints, tranny cooler, steering

linkage, etc)

Bumpers/trim mouldings: $1000

Windshield: $135

Interior Kit: $800

Tires/Wheels: $1200

Misc surprises: $1000

Est cost to build: $12,110

Summary:

Building these cars is a real kick, there is nothing like rescuing an old car with your own hands. The only way to learn to do this is to just get a project and go for it. The good news is it's not that difficult. A willingness to get your hands dirty goes a lot further than high mechanical ability. Someone with basic mechanical aptitude can certainly build a musclecar.

18 wheeler driving musclecar guru. Residing in the pacific northwest.

Understanding Triglycerides Cholesterol

Understanding Triglycerides Cholesterol Triglycerides are the liquid form in which most fat exists both in food and in the body. They can also be found in the blood stream. They are carried through the blood stream to various parts of the body. Most fat in the body is stored as triglycerides which is stored for use as energy. Having triglycerides is important for good health, but too many can result in heart disease.


Eating too many saturated fats or refined carbohydrates can elevate triglycerides in the body. Most triglycerides are obtained from food or are synthesized by the liver. Triglycerides are one of the three major sources of metabolic fuel for the body. The others are carbohydrates and proteins.

Having too many triglycerides in the body is known as hypertriglyceridemia and is commonly associated with atherosclerosis.

To avoid triglycerides you should avoid food with simple sugars, alcohol and saturated fats. To help the body maintain a normal level of triglycerides increasing physical activity and taking fish oil or flax seed oil has shown to be beneficial.

Cholesterol is also needed by the body, but only in the correct amounts. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that waterproofs cells and many other things in the body. LDL or Low Density Lipoprotein is considered the bad cholesterol where high amounts is correlated with disease. 160mg and up is considered too high. HDL or High Density Lipoprotein is considered the good cholesterol. Keeping this type higher helps your body avoid the bad cholesterol and helps to keep you healthier. 40mg or lower is considered too low.

Research has shown that increasing aerobic exercise, losing weight, avoiding smoking, cutting out trans fats and saturated fats, increasing monounsaturated fats in the diet and fiber helps to increase the HDL or good cholesterol in the body. This also helps to lower the LDL or bad cholesterol helping to avoid heart disease and keeping you healthy.

Total cholesterol is LDL plus HDL and one fifth of triglycerides. Research shows that it is best to keep this level below 200. Borderline is considered to be around 200 to 239; anything over 240 is considered to be high.

Statin drugs have been shown to reduce bad cholesterol in the body. However, Statin drugs have been linked to serious side effects such as muscle inflammation and injury. Some people use Red Yeast Rice which is a natural statin and supplement. It has been used in China since 800 A.D. The dosage is 1200mg twice daily.

- Nathan Leavitt DC

Dr. Leavitt has been a licensed chiropractic physician since 2003. His deepest commitment is to help improve the health and quality of life of others. To learn more effective ways to improve your health naturally go here: chiropractor knoxville.
You can also see patient reviews and see where Dr. Leavitt's clinic is located by clicking here: chiropractor knoxville