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Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. Dishes are sugared to help make the year sweeter and more prosperous. Pomegranates, Chickpeas, Bread, Dates and Beets are superstitiously used to bring affluence. As such, here are the top 10 dishes traditionally made of Rosh Hashanah.

1. Apple & Honey:

Traditionally, before anyone starts eating, they must take a piece of apple and dip it into honey. Additionally, they must make a toast with others using the apple. The eating of the sweetened apple superstitiously ensures a sweet and happy upcoming new year.

2. Tzimmes:

This is another dish served traditionally at an Ashkenazi New Year’s dinner as an appetizer. It is basically cooked vegetables, including carrots and chickpeas and beans. Honey and sugar are then added to make this dish sweet, which makes it perfect for Rosh Hashanah and its sweet theme.

3. Gefilte Fish:

This dish comprises of poached fish (mixed with onions, carrots and matzo meal) stuffed into fish skin. It is traditionally made with pike fish, white fish, mullet and/or carp. Many people serve the fish like patties with carrots and/or horseradish on top. During Rosh Hashanah, the dish is served to everyone, but the fish head is given to the head of the household. All in all, the dish is kosher and can be served with both dairy and meat meals.

4. Kugel:

This is an Ashkenazi dish traditionally served with main course dinners. It is a casserole dish made with egg noodles or potatoes. It is widely known to bring spiritual blessings, especially on Shabbats.

5. Matzo Ball Soup:

Matzah ball soup is a chicken broth with little balls made from matzo meal. The broth is traditionally cooked with chicken, onions, carrots, celery and parsnip, in addition to matzo balls.

Thanksgiving has been referred to as the biggest eating holiday of the year. Research shows that the average American can eat as much as 4,500 calories and 229 g of fat on Thanksgiving Day. But it’s not all bad. Thanksgiving offers plenty of healthy options. Check out the nutrition ranking of each traditional Thanksgiving menu and fill your plate with the most healthy items. Be sure to stay away from these repulsive and less healthy options from the bottom of this list. Believe me, you wouldn’t want to touch any of this.

1. Ambrosia Salad:

Ambrosia salads include canned fruit, coconut, and mini marshmallows with either mayonnaise or sour cream. Many add Jello or whipped cream on top. The taste is not good, especially with the use of canned fruit.

The dish is passed down from generation to generation as a refreshing palate cleanser after a meal, but now is a tradition after the BBQ.

2. Lima Bean Stew:

This is not a bad dish for those who love beans. Lima Beans are a laxative and will cause guests who eat it to have wild bowel movements.

Did you know? Eating raw or sprouted lima beans can cause stomach cramping, diarrhea and vomiting. In addition, eating large quantities of undercooked beans can release cyanide (from cyanogenic glucosides), which can impair tissue oxygenation and cause chronic illnesses.

3. Sweet Potato Casserole:

Marshmallows are for desert mostly. I cannot understand why someone would combine them with Sweet Potato. The taste is absolutely atrocious. The sweet potatoes are already sweet, marshmallows are thus not needed.

Did You Know? Yam and Sweet Potato are two different vegetables. Sweet potatoes should not be confused with yams, another starchy root commonly grown in Western Africa. Yams are much larger in size and can grow up to 120 pounds in weight and 2 meters in length. Yams are the tropical crops and hardly grow where the temperatures dip below 68 degrees F. Important differentiating features that distinguish sweet potatoes from yams are:

4. Tofu turkey:

I cannot imagine why anyone would waste their money on a fake turkey. It beats the whole tradition of having one in the first place. Thanksgiving could be celebrated by vegetarians in other ways.

Did you know? Over 200 million turkeys were raised in the U.S. in 2012 for slaughter. Those birds were worth approximately U.S. $4.5 billion.

5. Green Bean Casserole with Canned Onions:

The dish consists of green beans, cream of mushroom soup and canned French fried onions. This should be made with fried onions which should not be canned. The taste would be much different.

It is often said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Whereas, there are those who may want to debate the issue, the fact is it holds water not just to a man but to women too. Each society has its own culture that relates to food. There are some that have gained fame internationally, such as, Indian, Chinese and French cuisines. If you can’t find these locally, and love to travel, you need to make a point to try out the following tasty cuisines.

1. French Cuisine

Beginning with the Middle Years that which brought about plentiful feast to the French Revolution, where sophisticated methodologies were applied, French cuisine can be referred to as in the 21st as the “haute cuisine”. It is as widespread as the poetry. A hearty French meal can be compared to as a day at the theaters. One of the dominant components of French cooking is pastries. Cheese and Wine are also known to accompany a French meal. Contemporary restaurants get their inspirations from French culture.

2. Italian Cuisine

At number two and one of the oldest cuisines in the globe is Italian cuisine. Its roots can be traces to as early as the 4th century. It is regarded as part of the present century discoveries. It is regarded as the first cuisine to make use of multiple ingredients in its preparation, i.e. maize, pasta, potatoes, meat and tomato pepper amongst others.

3. Chinese Cuisine

Owing its roots to various parts of China, Chinese cuisine is on of the most sort after and eaten cuisine in the world today. Recent statistics reveal that it is consumed by a third of the population in the globe each day. The cuisine is the simplest to make, inexpensive and above all sumptuous. A majority of the meal is made in bite-size bits since the Chinese culture consider forks and knives to be weapons. Normally, each person sited at the table is handed a bowl of rice whereas the other foods are shared by all who are on the table. There are those meals that are prepared from endangered species, e.g. facai moss and some from animals you will want to avoid at all cost, e.g. dogs

4. Indian Cuisine

If there is a stylish and assorted cuisine the world over, then it has to be the Indian Cuisine. There is no part of the world where you will go to and miss the tasty Indian Cuisine. Indian foods are also referred to as Punjabi. Indian cuisines are divided into three main categories, i.e. South, East and West. Whereas there are those which are vegetarian, due to changing culture and the need to appeal to a global audience, there are some Indian dishes that include chicken, goat, fish and lamb meats. A distinct feature of Indian cuisine is the hot flavor. If it is your first time to eating spicy Indian food, it is recommended that you begin slowly.

5. Thai Cuisine

After tasting the Thai food made of hot, acerbic, tart and sweet taste, you will want to visit the country and see its rich culture. The dishes are identified by the utilization of fresh herbs and savors that range from fresh coriander to lime juice. It bears close resemblance to most Asian cuisines and as such, has rice as one of the main components. Some of the popular aspects of Thai cuisine include raw beef, fried insect larvae and tumult fish.

Sour cream is a dairy product which is rich in fats and is created when regular cream is fermented by certain kinds of lactic acid bacteria. The bacteria is what sours and thickens the cream. The product is used mostly as a condiment in Europe and North America. People mix it with soup, add it on pancakes and other delicious cuisine. Here are the top 10 things served with sour cream.

1. Polenta/Mamaliga:

This Romanian/Italian corn meal recipe is complimented by sour cream, feta cheese and mititei (minced meat). You can substitute mitetei with strips of chicken breast in a garlic sauce and can eat it like porridge. You can also cook it like a cake before cutting a piece and mushing it with the same ingredients.

2. Baked Potato:

Many restaurants in Europe and North America have the option of baked potato with dinner. The baked potato is traditionally served with sour cream, butter, chives and bacon (optional). Many fast food restaurants like Burger King and Wendy’s serve baked potato to add a nutritional option/substitute to their menu.

3. Pancakes/Crepes:

Those who are weight watchers and/or are diabetic can put sour cream on their pancakes/crepes. Although sour cream has less sugar, it could be more fattening. Those who vie for the option of sour creams as a topping should try the light low fat version, if presented with that option.

4. Bread:

A Russian tradition is to have a sandwich with sour cream spread on top. It could be eaten in the morning with tea or coffee and could be eaten at night before bed.

5. Soup:

European dishes are meant to be served with sour cream. Hot and Cold Red/Green Borscht, Harcho, Schi and Salianka are some examples which Europeans love to mix with sour cream. The taste is better and will add icing to the cake. You can’t eat cake without icing. It wouldn’t be the same. Similarly some soups are not the same without sour cream.

Kashrut is the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods we can and cannot eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten on a daily basis.  ”Kashrut” comes from the Hebrew root word for Kaf-Shin-Reish, which meaning fit, proper or correct. It is the same root as the more commonly known word “kosher,” which describes food that meets these standards. The word “kosher” can also be used to describe ritual objects that are made in accordance with Jewish law and are fit for ritual use.

Contrary to popular misconception, rabbis and other religious figures do not “bless” food and cannot make it magically kosher. There are blessings that observant Jews recite over food before eating it, but these blessings have nothing to how kosher food is made. Food can be kosher without a rabbi or priest ever becoming involved with it: the vegetables from your garden are undoubtedly kosher (as long as they don’t have any bugs, which are not kosher!). However, in our modern world of processed foods, it is difficult to know what ingredients are in your food and how they were prepared, so it is helpful to have a rabbi examine the food and its ingredients and preparation and assure kosher consumers that the food is kosher.

Kosher dietary laws are observed all year round and not just during Pesach (Passover). There are additional dietary restrictions during Pesach, and many foods that are kosher for year-round use are not “kosher for Passover.” A bagel, for example, can be kosher for year-round use but is certainly not kosher for Passover!

This top 10 list focuses on food that are not kosher according to principle laws of Kashrut.

1. Pork:

The pig is not kosher because it does not ruminate and chew its cud. With the exception of a case where a Russian Rabbi made pork kosher, this law is universally kept. These laws do not prevent Jews from carrying these animals as pets for other purposes.

2. Shellfish:

All Kosher fish have to have scales and fins. All shellfish do not have the criteria to certify them to be kosher.

3. Rabbit/Hare:

Although it chews its cud, it does not have hoofs with clefts. They are thus not clean and walk on their paws; making them un-Kosher.

4. Jello:

Jello has gelatin which is a protein in the animal connective tissues. The gelatin, itself, comes from a non-kosher source such as the pig. This law is not universal, as gelatin is not defined in concrete terms. It thus depends on the Rabbi and the source of protein. Most conservative rabbis see it as kosher.

5. Catfish, Sharks, Sturgeon:

These fish do have fins but no scales. As the kosher laws require fish to have both, the three fish are not kosher. This means that black caviar (sturgeon) is not allowed for kosher consumption.

Whereas, a majority of non-vegetarians tend to think that vegetarians consume nothing other than fruits and carrots, unknown to them is that there are a variety of sumptuous vegetarian dishes that can be prepared at home. Vegetarians can make their selection from thousands of meet free foods that mirror virtually every ethnic way of life in the world. Actually, the best vegetarian meals are not so hard to cook from your own kitchen. They are robust and made up of ingredients that are easy to find. The best thing is that once cooked, the dishes appeal not only to vegetarians but also meat lovers.

Discussed herein are top ten homemade vegetarian dishes that you can easily cook. Ingredients used are easily available from your nearest market and the procedures are not so hard to follow.

1. Hummus

This is a vegetarian dish that comes from the Mediterranean. It is prepared using chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini, cumin and olive oil. The taste can also be enhanced using garlic, spinach as well as roasted red peppers. Chickpeas serve as the main protein source for the meal. As such, Hummus is a well-liked meal amongst a majority of vegetarians. Surprisingly most omnivorous love this dish. Using a blender, the meal can be prepared in just under five minutes. Pita bread or freshly cut vegetables can be used as dip for your hummus.

2. Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan is made up of sliced eggplants that have been dipped in egg whites. Bread crumbs and parmesan cheese are then added to the mixture. Once a favorable mixture has been obtained, fry the slices and cover with marinara. In as much as eggplants parmesan is not one of the healthiest dish, vegetarians and meat eaters alike enjoy the taste.

3. Seitan Stir Fry

Seitan is a meat alternative that has been prepared from wheat gluten. Whereas, this may not be appetizing to some people, the meal has a feel similar to chicken breasts. In addition, it can effortlessly take in flavors and tang of several marinades. Presently, seitan can easily be located in unprocessed food section of virtually all supermarkets. When added with fresh vegetable and a splash of tamari, the meal forms a stir fry which a majority of meat eaters would easily confuse for a meat based meal.

4. Bean Enchiladas

If you are looking for a vegetarian meal to make as a snack or party meal, then bean enchiladas is just the meal for you. This is because it can be put together before time inside a baking dish and baked if need be. Commonly used ingredient in the meal is refried beans. However, the dish can also be filled with black beans, chickpeas and kidney beans. Once you have assembled all you need, cover the mixture using taco sauce, peppers, cheese and olives. After the enchilada has been baked, add sour cream to it.

5. Black Bean Chili

Black bean chili is one of the easiest vegetarian meals to prepare given that there is no meat that require precooking. All you need to do is add tomato juice, peppers, chili seasoning, onions and beans. Other kinds of beans such as chili hot beans, chickpeas and kidney beans can also be added to the mixture. These ingredients can be combined in a big crock pot early in the day so as to make it simple for you to cook after coming from work. It is a hearty meal that will be enjoyed by all members of the household including meat eaters.

Feeling a little sluggish in the kitchen lately? How about the bedroom?  Everyone reading this article can relate.  Vegetables can be a very sensual prop that can help keep things spicy behind closed doors in the bedroom, but which ones should you be welcoming with open arms and which should you close your taste buds to?  This article examines top 10 Vegetarian meals I use to spice up my sex life and would like to share with you.

Eat these vegetables carefully and close your eyes and imagine that there’s no one else but you. After eating the meal,  proceed to the bedroom and do your thing. But for goodness sake care to share it here.

1. Grilled butter coated fresh corn

Take some fresh corns but do not remove their husk. Then soak the corns in the water for 15-20 minutes. Take corns out, remove excessive water and pull down the husk. Then coat herbal butter on the corns. After putting the butter pull back the husk on the corn and at the top, tie with a piece of husk. Now place the corn on the grill for 15 minutes, keep on turning and served when grilled completely. Instead of feeding the corn to yourselves, feed it to each other. Turn it around and around as the other bites into the corn cob.

2. Baked cauliflower and mushrooms

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees for better result. Now coat the baking dish with non sticky cooking oil. Mix the vegetables – cauliflowers, chopped mushrooms, onions and garlic with lemon juice, cider vinegar, salt and pepper. Now spread the butter in the baking dish evenly. Then bake it for 40-45 minutes and stir occasionally until the vegetables are golden brown. Sprinkle the green onions over the dish and serve. You can always add some paprika or pepper to it.

When serving it, try feeding each spoonful to each other and see if sparks fly.

3. Seasoned potato and omelette served with creamy mushrooms

Take some peeled potatoes and boil them until just cooked and cut into thin slices. Chop some garlic and onions; stir them in the pan until soft with a blob of butter. In another pan add some more butter and heat until sizzling. Now layer the sliced potatoes with the onion in the pan and season each layer with pepper and salt. Heat should be medium. Now take some eggs and beat them well and season with salt. Pour the egg on the potato mixture. Use a spatula to draw the side and shake the pan so that it won’t stick to the pan. With the help of any plate, turn the side of the omelette to cook the other side as well for 2 minutes. Now cut the tortilla into slices and serve it with creamy mushrooms.

4. Butter beans and vegetable crumble

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Now make the crumble topping. Add flour and spread in a bowl and rub with your finger until it looks like crumbs. Then add cheese, parsley and combine well. In a large pan heat olive oil, add garlic and leek and fry until softened. Then add sage, carrots and rosemary and cook for 5 minutes. Mix mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes and add butter beans. Add tomato paste and evaporated milk and mix them thoroughly. Cook until thickens and then season according to taste. Now pour the mixture in a large dish and sprinkle the crumble and mix well. Bake the vegetables for 20-30 minutes until golden.

5. Vegetarian chili

Take some olive oil and heat it in a large pan. Stir the onion and season them with cumin, bay leaves, salt and oregano. Cook until onion is golden and tender then mix in green bell peppers, celery, garlic, jalapeno peppers and green chili peppers. When vegetables are cooked, add vegetarian burger crumbles and put them all on low heat for 5 minutes and cover the pan. Mix tomatoes in them. Then season chili with chili pepper and powder. Stir in and add kidney beans and black beans. Bring them to boil and leave them for 30 minutes on low heat. In the end stir in the corn and cook for 5 more minutes and then serve it.

Be careful not to add too many beans as this may spoil the fun later. Has anyone ever watched movies where two loved birds are feeding soup to each other? Isn’t that just so romantic?

Here is a list of top 10 most amazing recipes that perfectly suit your budget.

1. Mac and Cheese

This is one of the easiest meals to prepare. All you need is a box of twisted macaronis, a cheese block and a cup of milk. Boil the macaronis until they are soft. Take them out of and drain. Return the macaronis back to the heating pot. Cut the cheese into small cubes and add it to the macaronis. Stir this mixture for some time. Slowly add the milk and continue stirring. Once the mixture turns into a thick creamy sauce, you can get the pot off the heat. This is enough for five to six people. If you intent to serve it just for one person, you can store it in the refrigerator by packing it tight in a sandwich baggie.

2. Tortilla Pizza

We all love to have pizzas. Here is how you can prepare a Tortilla Pizza. All you need is a pack of tortillas, pizza sauce, half a cup of shredded cheese and toppings of your choice. Preheat the microwave to around 300 degrees. Place a tortilla on a cookie sheet. The size of the tortilla will depend on the size of the pan. Spread the sauce on the tortilla with the help of a spoon. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top. Lastly, place your toppings all over the tortilla. Heat it in the microwave for around five minutes.

3. Beef and Rice Casserole

For this, you will need one pound of ground beef, two to three cups of rice, 4 cups of water, 115 ounce of cream of mushroom soup and a packet of onion soup mix. Add up all the ingredients, stir and bring to boil. Cover it up. Make sure you stir it occasionally until the rice is ready.

4. Monkey Bread

This has nothing to do with a monkey, as monkey bread is a kind of dessert mostly prepared in the African continent. This is simple to prepare. You will need a can full of refrigerated biscuits, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, a cup full of butter and around two cups of brown sugar. Preheat the oven to around 350 degrees. Roll the biscuits in a cinnamon-sugar mix. Melt sugar, butter and cinnamon in a saucepan. Place some of the biscuits in a separate pan. Pour half of the butter mixture on top. Place the rest of the biscuits in the pan pouring the remaining butter mixture on it. Bake it for around 40 minutes. Your delicious monkey bread is ready.

5. Taco Salad

For this, you will need a pound of ground beef, a pack of taco seasoning, lettuce head, 1 cup of chopped scallions, 1 medium size tomato, 2 cups of shredded cheese, cream and finally, a bag of tortilla chips. Heat the beef until it turns brown in color. Drain away the extra grease. Coat the beef with taco seasoning. Place the beef in a large bowl and allow it to cool for some time. Shred the lettuce and add it to the beef. Cut the tomato into small cubes and add it to a small bowl. Now, add the shredded cheese and mix it well. Serve it on top of the chips by pouring the sour cream over it.

While these food items may seem revolting to you, keep in mind that they are delicacies in different parts of the world and that the people eat it all voluntarily.

1. Kopi Luwak

These coffee beans are created from the feces of a mammal known as Civet. These animals are fed ripe berries of the finest quality and their feces are only partially digested. It is used to create the costliest coffee available today and can be bought for 600 dollars per pound. The flavor is complex and the beans are not tampered with in order to sustain the original flavor.

2. Ox Penis

An Ox’s Penis is enjoyed by dogs in Western countries after it is dried out. However, the residents of a few Oriental nations seem to enjoy it too. It is either steamed of fried but many prefer to eat it raw. To get an idea of what it tastes like, you can overcook squid and eat that.

3. Bird Spit

Cave Swifts create their nests by spitting repeatedly and when the chemical comes in contact with the air, it hardens and becomes solid. It is also among the most expensive food items available today and is usually mixed with water and served in the form of a soup.

4. Caterpilla Fungus

Caterpilla Fungus enters the body of a particular kind of caterpillar and kills it almost instantly. The mushroom will grow out of the caterpillar’s forehead during early summer. It is usually used for medication purposes and is also considered to be an aphrodisiac. Certain groups of people believe that it has the ability to cure anything from cancer to fatigue.

5. Rats

This may shock you but Rats are quite common in a number of countries all over the world. They look slightly different from the rats we are familiar with. The meat is tough and they taste like chicken strips.

The South-East Asian country, Thailand has become one of the most popular tourist destinations today. Every year, thousands of tourists from different parts of the world visit this country to spend a memorable vacation. There are several reasons that have added to the popularity of this country. The wide range of activities and affordable holiday deals are obviously the most important reasons behind tourist attractions. Nowadays, many companies have established their offices in Thailand, and the country also attracts numerous people for professional reasons. Whether you are planning a trip to Thailand for professional reasons, or just for an entertaining holiday, you should taste the mouthwatering dishes offered here. Whether you are in Phuket, Bangkok or Pattaya, you should taste the Thai dishes in your trip. Thai cuisines have received immense popularity among the tourists. If you do not check out the dishes, your trip will certainly remain incomplete. However, if you do not have any idea of the popular Thai dishes, and do not want to take a chance with unknown cuisines, you can check out the top ten Thai dishes.

1. Pad Thai Or Fried Noodle

Pad Thai or the fried noodle preparation is one of the most popular Thai dishes.  Prepared with vegetables, fish sauce, eggs, tamarind juice, crushed peanuts, red chili pepper and other seasonings, Pad Thai is available in almost all eateries. However, for the best taste, you should opt for the fresh cooked noodles.

2. Kang Keaw Wan Kai or Chicken Curry(Green)

The name might not initially allow you to experiment with the dish. However, if you taste it, you will surely like this little spicy and sweet chicken curry. Prepared with sugar, fish sauce, coconut milk and green chili paste, this chicken curry is an excellent side dish with rice.

3. Tom Kha Kai  Or Chicken In Coconut Milk Soup

Tom Kha Kai is one of the most popular chicken soups offered in Thailand. Prepared with different types of edible herbs, this soup is high on nutritional values. If you prefer non-spicy dish, this is for you. Yet, if you want you can get it seasoned with fish sauce, lime and chili.

4. Tom Yam Goong or Spicy Shrimp Soup

When you are in Thailand, you should taste shrimp preparations at least once. The sour and spicy, Tom Yam Goong is one of the traditional dishes of Thailand, and is known to be the most popular shrimp soups prepared in Thailand. You can undoubtedly refer it as the signature dish of this country.

5. Tom Yam Gai  or Chicken Soup(Spicy)

The clear chicken soup, Tom Yam Gai enjoys popularity among people who are not very much fond of the shrimp dishes. Though this is a less spicy soup, you can add fish sauce, chili and lime seasonings to make it delicious.