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Saturday 28 April 2012

Caribbean foods are renowned for its unique blend of flavors and spices - Food - Restaurant Reviews


Caribbean foods are changing their taste by adding more spices and flavors to make the dishes mouth watering. Cooking in the style of Caribbeans are rich and creative with the mixed flavors of Africa, India, and China. They also add some more country tastes along with many European influences which includes Spanish, Danish, Portuguese, French and British.

Caribbean food is renowned around the world for its unique blend of flavors and spices. Most of the Caribbean Recipes are attributed to other cultures introducing the basic elements or spices and produce to the islands,. But the reality is the locals had to adapt their recipes to suit the local seafood, meat sources and vegetables available.

When you are planning to cook Caribbean recipes it is essential to add the fresh ingredients every time. Naturally some spices will come dried and prepackaged, such as curry, sauces, seasonings, essences, salts, and oils.The main ingredients in Caribbean foods are fresh to get the essence of the Caribbean Recipes or Cuisines.

Caribbean cuisine is a melding pot of cuisines, and is renowned for it's very unique mix and exotic blend of spices and stunning flavors. There are many popular dishes which are included newly to make the eaters happy and fulfilled with the treat. This popular dishes like jerk chicken, rice and peas, hard dough bread, coconut bread, ackee and salt fish,curry mutton, yam, plantain and more are delicious food items which enhances the food.

It is surprise to prepare the dished so easy which can bring flavors to your kitchen and make wonderful and exotic meals at home for friends and family to enjoy.Have a practice of learning to cook traditional Caribbean food which is much easier than the other dishes. The secret to a successful meal is learning and understanding how the spices react when using different cooking styles and methods.

This Caribbean kitchen series are designed well to teach you the basics for cooking the majority dishes. They bring you new flavors, new recipes, new stories, new friends to be entertained. There are many common forms of spices used in Caribbean cooking but the trick is to recognize flavors as a familiar taste the cooking will be subtle enough to feel unique to your taste buds.

For more details about Wedding Catering in Westchester log on /

Established in the heart of the Bronx in 1972 as Battaglia's Meat Market, we built a solid reputation by providing the community with the highest quality imported and domestic meats.





Caribbean Food & Recipes - Food - Recipes


The Caribbean is home to some of the world's most exciting culinary delights. From spicy jerk chicken and pork to some of the world's freshest and tastiest seafood, Caribbean food is delicious, fresh and very healthy. Caribbean cuisine originates from a mixture of many different cultures including Spanish, British, African, French, Indian, Chinese and Dutch and the fusion of cooking from these different regions has led to dishes which are now unique to the Caribbean.

Traditional dishes of Caribbean are the representation of their history and culture. Through the dynamic and innovative minds of Caribbean people, they learn to adopt and mimic ideas from other foreign culture. Therefore Caribbean tend to combine food elements and techniques which make their food interesting and exciting to eat.

The blend of Caribbean, African Food is popular all over the world and for great reasons. There is such a variety when it comes to Caribbean Recipes, Cuisines. You can taste combinations you never have before. Many people appreciate the great Spicy Jerk Chicken which is becoming popular in all over the world. The Caribbean Foods thrill our taste buds, the smells excite our minds, and the looks please our eyes, enrich, and inspire our souls.

The national dish in Barbados is cou-cou and flying fish, a name that tends to pique the curiosity of people wanting to sample the more exotic food on offer at their 5 Star Caribbean hotels. Cou-cou itself is a mix of cornmeal and okra, and is usually prepared with the aid of a special cou-cou stick, a unique wooden utensil with a long, flat rectangular shape. Many people say it reminds them of a miniature cricket bat.

Cuban cooking is also very popular in Barbados. Cuban cooking is a mixture of Spanish, Caribbean and African cuisines. The techniques and spices are akin to African and Spanish recipes and there is also some influence from the Caribbean. There is also a small Chinese influence in the Havana region recipes.

In addition, it is widely known within the island that Rice and Beans have become an essential component of meals in Cuban cuisine. Aside from that, famous baked goods and desserts are also abundant in island most especially the Cuban Flan popular Cuban dessert.

Cooking is an important part of Jamaican culture, with the majority of ingredients for the dishes originally gleaned from produce and spices found locally. These days it's easy to pick up all of the ingredients you need to create authentic Jamaican recipes from a good supermarket.










Delicious Caribbean Food and Caribbean Recipes - Food


In South Africa you can find just about any food you wish for. In just one street in a town in South Africa you can find Italian, Moroccan, Chinese, Portuguese and Indian food, amongst others. You can even have anything from a hamburger to sushi. South African food however include things such as crocodile sirloin, fried caterpillars and even sheep heads. Some South Africans might even shake their heads at this selection, but others eat this way every day. With South Africa having so many different cultures and beliefs, you will also find that certain foods are eaten for certain occasions.

There are those South African food which are to the taste bud of many a tourist, or even South African food, much less daring than snake meat. Things such as biltong, which is dried and salted meat, may not sound appealing but may also be rather addictive! In South Africa it seems a rugby match cannot be watched without it, and no South African would venture on a road trip without it either. You can try babotie, which is a much-improved (Malay) version of Shepard's pie. Or you could try a traditional South African braai (BBQ) with boerewors (hand-made farm sausage).

Maize has been the basis of African cuisine for many years and each community, be it Zulu, So tho, Tswana, or Xhosa, has a different preference for eating it, although some dishes or meals have approval by most of them. Although these 'specialty' dishes are somewhat harder to find in South Africa, the best idea is to find a friend and go home with them for mom's cooking or dad's braai, as nothing can beat good South African food home cooking!

It must be said that it was in the search for food that shaped modern South Africa. The need for refreshment compelled the Dutch East India Company to plant a farm at the tip of Africa. The company was drawn by spices to Java during the mid 1600s and needed a half-way refreshment stop for its ships.Since then history has played a huge role in South African food, with all those settling here or just passing through having an impact on the cuisine. Today the rainbow which symbolizes the country (by the national flag also) does not only refer to the food, but also the extraordinary range of cuisines.

But Caribbean food is renowned around the world for its unique blend of flavors and spices. While the origins of most Caribbean food recipes are attributed to other cultures introducing the basic elements or spices and produce to the islands, the reality is that once on the islands, the locals had to adapt their recipes to suit the local seafood, meat sources and vegetables available. This adaptation led to the amazing popularity of Caribbean food for its unique mix of fresh foods and stunning blends of spices.





Chicken Curry - A Caribbean Recipe - Food - Recipes


There's nothing nicer on a cold winter's night than a warming chicken curry. Many of us turn to Indian recipes for our chicken curry but here's a Caribbean recipe or two, just for a change.

Actually here are a couple of different methods for making your own Caribbean chicken curry.

Recipe 1

Ingredients

1 whole chicken1 large onion, peeled and choppedVegetable oil for frying1 tbsp hot curry powder1.5cm root ginger1 cloves garlicSalt and black pepper tsp cayenne pepper3 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

Method

First wash and skin the chicken then cut into joints, then cut each joint into two or three pieces depending on size.

Next, heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion until golden.

Peel and chop the root ginger and the garlic then grind to a paste, using a little water if necessary and add to the onions, continuing to fry for a minute or so.

Add the curry powder, cayenne and salt and pepper to taste. Stir a fry for a minute or two then gradually add about 200ml water. Don't add too much at this stage.

Put the chicken into the pot and stir. Cover and simmer until nearly tender (about 15 minutes), adding water if necessary then add the potatoes, cover once again and cook until the potatoes are done (about another 15 minutes).

This next recipe is a bit spicier than the last so choose whichever one suits your palate the best.

Recipe 2

Ingredients

1 whole chickenLemon or lime juice1 onion, peeled and finely chopped3 spring onions, finely chopped4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed2 hot chillies such as Scotch Bonnet6 tbsp Jamaican curry powder5 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thymeSalt and black pepper to taste1.5 tbsp vegetable oil 2 potatoes, peeled and cut into small pieces

Method

Rub the lemon or lime juice all over the chicken then chop it into small pieces.

Combine, the chopped onion, spring onions, chillies and the crushed garlic in a bowl and add the curry powder, thyme, salt, pepper and oil, stir well and mix in the chicken pieces. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least two hours or overnight.

Brown the chicken in some more vegetable oil, add the potatoes and some water and leave to stew on a very low heat for about an hour. Top up the water if necessary.

Traditionally, Caribbean chicken curry is served with rice and peas.





Try Caribbean Recipes in Your Food Schedule - Food - Recipes


Do you find that you preparing a lot of the same dishes every week or month for your family? Maybe you wish you could try some new recipes , but nothing too crazy that will make your family blanch. Preparing worldwide cuisine is a great way to experience the traditions of other cultures, and it also keeps your food schedule from becoming boring!

With the coming of World Wide Web and an increase in its usage in recent years, more and more people are trying to cook various African, Spanish, American, Chines, Italian and Caribbean Recipes to woo their family and friends. People are trying to cook new different recipes which are unknown to them. People those always involves in learning different dishes and trying to make new dishes every time when they get time known as Cooking freaks.

Recipes from Around the World bring tasty delicious recipes from France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Russia, Africa, Australia, the Caribbean with people. A person living in a small village can eat pasta while a big city foodie may be relishing the taste of some authentic foods from the villages. The world has today become a haven for a foodie.

You can cook five star restaurant recipes in your own home, and you don't have to steal them to get the fabulous flavors that you crave so much. There are actually famous chefs who are beginning to share some of their most coveted secrets with the public, so that they too can create wonderful meals without having to spend a ton of money to get them.

Some traditional African, American, Italian and Caribbean Recipes are around for centuries, and these recipes were shared between different countries of the world. People of each region and cultural background added their own flavors to that recipe, evolving it into something more exotic. Eventually, it becomes impossible to trace back a recipe to the source of its origin and follow the traditional recipe. Even if you succeed to find out the original source of the recipe, most likely you will find it a lot different than how it is currently done in India.

You only have to take a look around the famous art galleries of the world and you can see how food has influenced and inspired the creation of beautiful, fascinating and extraordinary artwork. Chefs from every nation also view cuisine as an art form and express this through the preparation, use of ingredients and the presentation of the dishes they design.

Recipes are everywhere if you are only willing to look. Simple recipes are easy to locate if you know which way to be pointed in. With online recipes making their mark in the internet world, they are slowly moving the cooking world into the technical virtual world. There is no harm in moving recipes into the internet. This only allows for the recipes to be viewed in a more logical way.

Nowadays, Caribbean Food are becoming very popular in all around the world. Caribbean Recipes are are world famous for it's unique flavor and spicy taste. Salt fish is one of the Caribbean Recipe which is appreciated by many people.





Popular Food Recipes: Luscious Caribbean Recipes - Food


When you take a trip through the Caribbean you would possibly get to nibble some 'Soul food' dishes. Now let me unravel the mystery behind the Caribbean recipes containing soul food. The three ancient tribes Taino, Carib along with Arawak that belongs to India, when visited the Caribbean region had brought some of their native ingredients and mixed them with the local foodstuffs. These healthy products became the every day eating of Caribbean native and they termed them 'soul foods'. There are many exotic Craibbean recipes made up of these ingredeints that rules the taste buds of the travelers.

However, meat and fish preparations had been also included by the Taino tribe in the meal containing soul foods. They use to cook meats in large vessels made up of clay. The arrangement of spices and herbs with the meats offer a divine eating experience. The most ditinguished and known Island of Caribbean is Jamaiica that is loaded with exclusive range of spices and herbs used in Caribbean cooking.

Subsequent to Tainos, Arawaks was the tribe who largely influenced the Craibbean recipes with their methods of cooking. They used wood to cook meat and other dishes on low fire. The meats were used to place directly on the wood so that meat can absorb the murky flavor of the wood. Caribbean food lovers immensly like this flavor and relish Craibbean recipes cooked with this method. The taste and fragrance directly reaches to the soul. You must be surprised that this is the beginning of the popular cooking method called 'barbeque' that was famous at that time as 'barbacoa'.

One of the most surprising and enthralling facet of Caribbean dishes is the variety of food and seasonings. Caribbean is a cluster of religions and various traditions, consequently all of them has their particular methods of cooking that can be modified according to individual palate. The most convincing tribe was the Carib who are credited for introducing the spices and peppers to the Caribbean land. The 'soul food' brought by them is still the highlights of the extraordinary Caribbean preparations. Soul recipes mainly comprise Okra, yam, plantain, salted cod, banana, mangoes and sweet potato to name a few.

Most of the Caribbean soul food recipes are derived from Indian food culture, but Chinese and Spaniards are also credited for their contribution to the Caribbean recipes that still rules the Caribbean menu.





Learn Caribbean Recipes Cooking - Food - Recipes


All of your favorite restaurants have their own top secret recipes on the menu which you will often buy and enjoy. Some of these may even become your favorite dishes. What if you could make these dishes in the comfort of your own home for only a small fraction of the restaurant price?

Cooking is precess of understating the food's texture and flavors. A good cooking recipe helps children and adults to make sure they have a healthy diet. Cooking is just about the most important skill for anyone be it man or women or for anyone looking to make friends of any culture and any style preference. Learning to cook is a lot of fun, nutritious, and good for your wallet.

If you doesn't like to cooking by cooks, so avoid cooks and learn cooking. Here am going to tell you how to cook delicious Caribbean Recipes. But before learning anything we should have some knowledge of Caribbean Food and it's texture and flavors. Caribbean Food & Recipes are loved by lots of people across the globe. Who would not be familiar with the famous Salt Fish and Ackee? The Caribbean flavors have been absorbed by many cuisines in different corners of the world. If you want to know some original Caribbean Recipes, you can easily find some web portal those offers cooking tutorials and videos.

Maybe some of the Caribbean Foods Recipes possibly may not be practical for someone just learning how to cook these traditional delicacies. However by learning the secrets of the art of Caribbean cooking while of course enjoying delicious Caribbean foods recipes then your preparations can be as good as anything found in Caribbean Island. All it takes, the same as anything else is practice and probably a lot of patience if things don't go quite right at your first attempt. You can try some cooking courses and classes to learn Caribbean cooking.

Jerk Chicken is one of the most delicious dish of Jamaica which attracts many people to towards to the Caribbean food. Many people try to learn Caribbean cooking only because of Jerk chicken recipe. Another advantage of learning Caribbean Recipes and Cuisines is you can add your own flavor and spices into the dish to makes it more delicious. You would probably want to cook the basic formula and after awhile, start adding what you think would make the recipe taste better. You would probably start to figure that some recipes might need a little more herbs or peppers to make the dish better than the original.

There are many websites are available on internet that offers cooking tutorials and videos which helps users to learn cooking. So, try one of these websites to learn your favorite recipes.





The Exotic Taste of Caribbean Recipes - Food


Are you interested in exploring some unique blend of recipes? Then your getaway would be the Caribbean region where you be able to indulge in some sinful delights of true Caribbean preparations. Especially, this splendid cluster of Isles gives you the prospect to sample the most astonishing and peppery Caribbean recipes.

Let me pen down few exotic insights of Caribbean preparations with a vision to give you the nutritional and flavorsome Caribbean recipes. Caribbean recipes is a grouping of some earthy as well as amazing delights that suit every palate and panache. Almost alll ingredients including spices, herbs, veggies and meats are combined with great styles of cooking and forms the complete list of Caribbean diet.

To figure out the true aspect of the Caribbean dishes, it is very required to gain knowledge of the countless substances used in Caribbean preparations. It is a known fact that Caribbean cooking is to a great extent inspired by many famous international styles of cooking. Spaniards, Chinese, English and East Indian inhabitants traveled to Caribbean and left their largely pungent and flavorful spices and herbs that are still the remarkable features of Caribbean dishes. Their styles of cooking had modified the entire scenario of Caribbean meal. Such as, British were the travelers who introduced tea in Caribbean region. Visitors from India and China are credited to familiarize spices and rice. An assortment of meats like chicken, goat meat as well as seafood are the main food of Caribbean eating. Lobsters, prawns, crabs and sea bass are the main features of the Caribbean recipes as Caribbean region is surrounded by sea and all these ocean creatures are obtainable easily.

Together with these products, there is evidently a much wider range of garden-fresh and appetizing fruits. Caribbean sweet dishes and dessert recipes largely use these fruits including coconut milk to compose some tasty and splendid recipes. The diversity of Caribbean dishes lies in the piece of evidence that they may be custom-made in accordance to the requirements and the savors of the various communities and individuals. Even experimenting with Caribbean recipes is quite easy. Merely you have to become skilled at the right cooking of ingredients and how to alter them according to your tastes. As a whole Caribbean dishes are a genuine mixture of customary food practice along with current desires in a rare manner.

For real Caribbean preparations simply browse Caribbean Recipes and Jamaican Recipes





Friday 20 April 2012

Popular Food Recipes: Luscious Caribbean Recipes - Food


When you take a trip through the Caribbean you would possibly get to nibble some 'Soul food' dishes. Now let me unravel the mystery behind the Caribbean recipes containing soul food. The three ancient tribes Taino, Carib along with Arawak that belongs to India, when visited the Caribbean region had brought some of their native ingredients and mixed them with the local foodstuffs. These healthy products became the every day eating of Caribbean native and they termed them 'soul foods'. There are many exotic Craibbean recipes made up of these ingredeints that rules the taste buds of the travelers.

However, meat and fish preparations had been also included by the Taino tribe in the meal containing soul foods. They use to cook meats in large vessels made up of clay. The arrangement of spices and herbs with the meats offer a divine eating experience. The most ditinguished and known Island of Caribbean is Jamaiica that is loaded with exclusive range of spices and herbs used in Caribbean cooking.

Subsequent to Tainos, Arawaks was the tribe who largely influenced the Craibbean recipes with their methods of cooking. They used wood to cook meat and other dishes on low fire. The meats were used to place directly on the wood so that meat can absorb the murky flavor of the wood. Caribbean food lovers immensly like this flavor and relish Craibbean recipes cooked with this method. The taste and fragrance directly reaches to the soul. You must be surprised that this is the beginning of the popular cooking method called 'barbeque' that was famous at that time as 'barbacoa'.

One of the most surprising and enthralling facet of Caribbean dishes is the variety of food and seasonings. Caribbean is a cluster of religions and various traditions, consequently all of them has their particular methods of cooking that can be modified according to individual palate. The most convincing tribe was the Carib who are credited for introducing the spices and peppers to the Caribbean land. The 'soul food' brought by them is still the highlights of the extraordinary Caribbean preparations. Soul recipes mainly comprise Okra, yam, plantain, salted cod, banana, mangoes and sweet potato to name a few.

Most of the Caribbean soul food recipes are derived from Indian food culture, but Chinese and Spaniards are also credited for their contribution to the Caribbean recipes that still rules the Caribbean menu.



Wednesday 18 April 2012

Popular Food Recipes: Luscious Caribbean Recipes - Food


When you take a trip through the Caribbean you would possibly get to nibble some 'Soul food' dishes. Now let me unravel the mystery behind the Caribbean recipes containing soul food. The three ancient tribes Taino, Carib along with Arawak that belongs to India, when visited the Caribbean region had brought some of their native ingredients and mixed them with the local foodstuffs. These healthy products became the every day eating of Caribbean native and they termed them 'soul foods'. There are many exotic Craibbean recipes made up of these ingredeints that rules the taste buds of the travelers.

However, meat and fish preparations had been also included by the Taino tribe in the meal containing soul foods. They use to cook meats in large vessels made up of clay. The arrangement of spices and herbs with the meats offer a divine eating experience. The most ditinguished and known Island of Caribbean is Jamaiica that is loaded with exclusive range of spices and herbs used in Caribbean cooking.

Subsequent to Tainos, Arawaks was the tribe who largely influenced the Craibbean recipes with their methods of cooking. They used wood to cook meat and other dishes on low fire. The meats were used to place directly on the wood so that meat can absorb the murky flavor of the wood. Caribbean food lovers immensly like this flavor and relish Craibbean recipes cooked with this method. The taste and fragrance directly reaches to the soul. You must be surprised that this is the beginning of the popular cooking method called 'barbeque' that was famous at that time as 'barbacoa'.

One of the most surprising and enthralling facet of Caribbean dishes is the variety of food and seasonings. Caribbean is a cluster of religions and various traditions, consequently all of them has their particular methods of cooking that can be modified according to individual palate. The most convincing tribe was the Carib who are credited for introducing the spices and peppers to the Caribbean land. The 'soul food' brought by them is still the highlights of the extraordinary Caribbean preparations. Soul recipes mainly comprise Okra, yam, plantain, salted cod, banana, mangoes and sweet potato to name a few.

Most of the Caribbean soul food recipes are derived from Indian food culture, but Chinese and Spaniards are also credited for their contribution to the Caribbean recipes that still rules the Caribbean menu.



Saturday 14 April 2012

What Is The Filibuster All About? - Society - Politics


The filibuster has been a tool available to U.S. Senators during Senate floor discussions on legislation and appointments since the U.S. Constitution was ratified. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have valued the filibuster as a means to bring compromise and bipartisanship to bitter and divisive debates.The word, filibuster, as it applies to the American political process refers to a political delaying tactic such as a long speech used by politicians to delay or prevent the passage of legislation. The older meaning of filibuster refers to the illegal act of plundering or piracy; of capturing a ship and its cargo and holding it for ransom.The etymology of the word, filibuster, seems to date back to about 1560-1570 when the English anglicized the Dutch word, vrijbutier, into freebooter. A freebooter is understood to be a person who goes in search of plunder; a pirate, a buccaneer. Shortly thereafter, the French adopted filibustier and the Spanish adopted filibuster o to mean the same thing. In the 17th century the English transformed the Spanish word into filibuster to describe the actions of the pirates who attacked the Spanish explorers of the New World. In the 1800's the Americans popularized the word filibuster, referring to the activities of famous pirates operating in Latin America and the Caribbean.Filibuster as PiracyFrom 1830 to 1860 the countries of Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua were all victims of various filibuster campaigns. The filibusters were led by groups of adventurers who, without the consent of the American Government, but with the aid of private American finance, tried to seize political power in these Latin American and Caribbean countries. Part of the aim of the filibuster campaigns was to empower the population of these countries and bring forth a revolution that would be beneficial to American interests, mainly the slave trade.Financial support for the filibusters came largely from the south ern states where parades of celebration were held in their honor and songs were written about their adventures. Officially, the U.S. did not support the filibuster campaigns because the military was spread too thin to be able to provide adequate enforcement of the laws against the involvement. Many citizens saw the campaigns as an aspect of "manifest destiny," the idea that America had a right to unlimited expansion.A couple of famous filibusterers include Narciso Lopez and William Walker. Lopez liberated Venezuela from Spanish rule and attempted three times to liberate Cuba. Walker, from Tennessee, annexed parts of Mexico, including Lower California, and declared himself to be president. The U.S. government did not support Walker and eventually brought him to trial.The era of the Filibuster Movement ended when the U.S. Civil War started. Attention and resources were given to the defense of the North and the South, ending the efforts of the filibuster campaigns.Filibuster as a Political ToolDuring the period from 1840 to 1860, numerous Southern politicians made long speeches during Senate floor debates on legislation bills for the purpose of delaying the bill or preventing a vote on the bill. The word filibuster was borrowed to describe these speeches, which were thought of as piracy of time and opportunity. Henry Clay, in 1841, gave what is considered to be the first filibuster speech. As the debate over the slavery issue became more important in Congress, southern politicians used the tactic of long dilatory speeches to block all civil rights legislation. The word filibuster became popularized during this pre-Civil War period.Legislative RulesThe U.S. Constitution did not give direction to the House of Representatives or to the Senate regarding how to conduct everyday business and how to conduct debates on the floor. Each body was expected to create and adopt their own rules. On day 2 of the first Senate meeting a special committee was create d to "prepare a system of rules for conducting business." A few days later, on April 7, 1789, the special committee filed their first rules report and on April 16, 1789, the Senate adopted their first set of rules. The first set contained 19 rules and on April 18 number 20 was adopted. At this point the special committee was disbanded.The rules committee was recreated on several occasions during succeeding years for the purpose of creating new rules or revising existing rules. Since 1789 there have been 7 adoptions of new or revised rules; in 1806, 1820, 1828, 1877, 1884, and 1979. Some rules have been amended and passed by the Senate without going to a committee. The change to Rule XXII in 1917 to provide for a cloture procedure is a good example. There currently are a total of 43 Standing Rules of the Senate.The House Rules and Manual of the U.S. House of Representatives does not allow for filibuster speeches. Each Representative is allowed to hold the floor to debate a qu estion for one hour and may only speak once on each question. The House is a large body and the members thought it wise to limit the amount of time that a Representative may speak.The Senate is an entirely different situation, however.Senate Rule XIXRule XIX is the key rule that provides a structure for debate on the Senate floor. A key provision of the rule states that when a Senator rises to seek recognition during floor debate, he or she is guaranteed a chance to speak on the question for as long as he or she wishes. The presiding officer is not given discretion in this matter and must recognize each Senator in order. During the period of time that a recognized Senator is speaking the question before the Senate cannot come to a vote. The Senator cannot be interrupted or be forced to stop their speech without their consent.Debate Rule XIX does not limit the number of Senators who may speak on an issue. The rule does, however, limit each Senator to two speeches per legislat ive day on each issue. During a filibuster period the presiding officer will typically call a recess rather than an adjournment at the end of the calendar day, keeping the legislative day alive when the Senate reconvenes. This tactic effectively limits each Senator to a maximum of two speeches on each issue. It is possible, however, for a Senator to offer an amendment in order to create a new debatable question, on which the Senators may make two more speeches.A relatively recent provision in Rule XIX, called the "Pastore Rule" in honor of Senator John Pastore of Rhode Island, requires that debate on a question must be germane to the question. During filibuster periods this rule is enforced to prevent Senators from making meaningless, off-topic speeches. During the 1930's through the 1950's several Senators, such as Huey Long and Strom Thurmond made long filibusters which included readings of recipes, the Congressional Record, the Declaration of Independence, and other non-g ermane topics.While a Senator is speaking on an issue he or she must remain standing and must speak more or less continuously. During a filibuster-length speech this requirement creates fatigue in the speaker. However, the speaker may yield to a question from another Senator without losing the floor. The other Senator can provide relief by asking a very long question followed by a short answer, followed by more long questions. In this manner a group of Senators can work together to extend the length of a Senator's speaking period.Senate Rule XXIIThe procedures for invoking cloture for purposes of wrapping up the floor debate and bringing the question to a vote are contained in Rule XXII. The process requires a motion that is signed by at least 16 Senators and presented to the presiding officer while the question is being debated. The rule requires that the cloture motion must be seasoned, meaning that it cannot be acted upon until the second day after it is presented.One hou r after the cloture motion has matured on the third day the presiding officer interrupts the Senate proceedings and presents the cloture motion to the Senate for a vote. At this point an automatic roll call vote is required.In 1975 the Senate voted to change the number of votes needed to invoke cloture to 60% from the previous 67%. A compromise was struck, however, because some Senators feared that if changing the Rule was too easy that the majority needed to invoke cloture might be reduced further in the future. Therefore, the Senate agreed that to make future rule changes, including changing the cloture rule itself, would require the traditional 67% majority vote. If the motion to invoke cloture is defeated the Senators can reconsider the vote or file a new motion to invoke cloture. For example, in 1988 there were eight cloture motions on a campaign finance reform bill and all eight motions were defeated.If a motion to invoke cloture is successful, then the effect of invok ing cloture only guarantees that a vote on the question will take place eventually, but not immediately. After the successful cloture motion has passed the Senate is said to be working under cloture. Rule XXII imposes a maximum cap of 30 additional hours for debate, quorum calls, parliamentary inquiries, and other proceedings prior to an actual vote on the question. During this cloture period each Senator is entitled to speak for a total of not more than one hour. Once cloture has been invoked under Rule XXII, the point of a filibuster is largely lost. Without exception, proceedings are wrapped up in less than 30 hours and the question is brought to a vote.ConclusionThe filibuster speech in the Senate has enjoyed a long tradition and has been used for several purposes. On one hand the filibuster has been used to persuade others of the validity of the minority position on a question. Open and unlimited debate can change minds and sway opinion. The filibuster speech process ma y help to defeat an issue once a vote is taken.On the other hand, the filibuster has been used to stall or prevent a vote on an issue. The filibuster speech or the threat of a filibuster may cause the issue to be tabled or withdrawn and not brought to a vote on the floor.The minority party in the Senate counts on the use of the filibuster as a means to prevent the majority party from wielding too much influence. Such a tool encourages the two major parties in the Senate to work in nonpartisan ways to resolve differences. The filibuster creates a need for compromise. It has been suggested that without the filibuster tool the Senate would be much less productive in producing legislation.



How to Make Authentic Mexican Cerviche - Food


When I mention the word "cerviche" to people I am usually questioned, "what the ___is that?" After they taste my recipe for true Mexican cerviche they are begging me to teach them how to make it.

First let me explain why I call it authentic Mexican cerviche. I lived in the Yucatan Peninsula over 20 years ago at the beginning of the birth of Cancun. I worked on boats every day and learned to make Mexican food dishes from the natives I worked with.One of my favorites has always been cerviche because it is very fast and easy to make and it is very light and cooling on hot days.

So what is it and how do I make it? Well, for starters there are several different types of cerviche. It can be made from Conch, a large shellfish found all over the Caribbean, shrimp, or a white meat fish such as snapper, trout, etc. We used Spanish Mackerel a lot as well when I was in Cancun.

The recipe is the same regardless of the meat you choose so let me begin.

For a refreshing snack that will feed six to eight people you will want about a pound of meat filleted and deboned. You will need a couple of large tomatoes, several limes or a couple bottles of lime concentrate, an onion, and several chili peppers. If you are averse to really spicy foods you can substitute less spicy peppers.

The first thing you do is cut the meat into small fingertip sized chunks and place in a large bowl with a lid so you can shake the mixture up easily later. After you have the meat cut up pour just enough lime juice over it to cover the meat thoroughly, shake it up and put it to the side.

Next cut up your tomatoes into small chunks and scrape them into the mixture, then your onions and peppers and so on. Be sure to cut the peppers extra small.

If you like a little more seasoned taste you can sprinkle a little of your favorite spice on it although most people prefer to eat it as is.

Let the mixture chill in the refrigerator or on ice for at least one hour then serve with tortilla chips or crackers washed down with a good cold beer.



The Origins of Cocktails....fact or fiction? - Food


Cocktails throughout history

No one actually knows who invented the cocktail as there is no historical evidence or timeline that would enable us to pinpoint when cocktails came into existence. It is, however, certain that there have been a number of influences that lead to the making of the 1st cocktails, availability of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; curious consumers that were eager to try something new and exciting, suitable establishments with the knowledge that would enable them to create something original and different, so as we bear this in mind we are able to estimate the inception of cocktails and have a slightly clearer timeline.

It is theorized that sometime in the latter half of the 19th century, as it was not until that time that distilleries had enough know how to produce such ingredients in order to produce such concoctions, a booming economy also played its hand in its inception by of ensuring that drinks from distant countries duly imported in vast numbers.

Another stepping stone for cocktails were the middle and upper class societies spending alot of time in caf's, bars and pubs which added the final ingredient to the first cocktails: curiosity.

The british were likely to have been among the first to have taking an active interest in the new ways of drink preparations. Because of it's arbitration it was one of the first to discover new spirits, which caused the punch and such delights as this to be born, or ever more exotic fruit juices.

During the same period there are reports of cocktails being served in the United States, in 1862 the first print of the "Bartenders Guide" by Jerry Thomas was released. In it there are 236 recipes, mostly culinary, among them 13 cocktails,which are depicted as "a new invention that is being served up at Galas, Sportsmen meetings and other high level social events".

It wasn't until a few years later in 1870, when a technological breakthrough expedited the evolution of the cocktail: The production of the first ice machines that could make ice available anywhere, with ice being an indispensable ingredient for almost every cocktail from short to long.

There are rumors everwhere over the origins of the word 'Cocktail'. The english etymology is quite clear: The tail of a cock (rooster) is comprised of numerous wonderful colors, representing the varied ingredients that are combined to make a unique blend. The exact origin of the word 'cocktail' will probably remain a mystery forever.

Patrons know all too well that their Establishments are better remembered for their tall tails rather than than for the drink, the origin of the word cocktail has therefore been the source of many legends. Legends that do not necessarily always trace back to there roots.

It wasn't too long before cocktails were being served in quality Establishments like ocean liner's, steamships and airplanes, were the elite of society tend to congregate.

This type of clientle loved the complexity of such beverages which where unobtainable to the average man in the street. Since late 19th century the Manhattan and the Martini are established them selves true classics on both sides of the Atlantic ocean. They symbolize the meeting of different countries, the Italian vermouth is being introduced to American Bourbon and British Gin. The mixture creates a bond and symbolizes the development of a new wave lifestyle.

The American prohibition, which was intended to eliminate alcohol can have contributed to a further expansion of the 'cocktail world'. The many people that were not going to accept this type of big brother lawmaking found their way to the Caribbean, particularly Cuba. There they discovered new aroma's, like the Cuban rum and also an enormous variety of tropical fruits.

This movement was what inspired a special Cuban "cocktail school", which even today after almost 50 years under Fidel Castro's ruling, still exists. Bartenders from all of the world go there to learn how to tap into the exotic register and how to extend their taste pallet.

With the continued experimentation of new ingredients like Rum, Vodka, Tequila, exotic fruits and refined liquors, bartenders became much more professional in the late 1940's. At that time Bartender organizations came into existence, as well as guidelines on how to create cocktails and where to set the banner for serious cocktail making competitions.

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Si Senor, Will That Be Testicles or Head? - Travel - Travel Tips


Some say its one of the oldest professions, yet it garners little if any respect from most of the population notwithstanding the tradition that has been its trademark for generations: the chivero, or slayer and preparer of goat, and its barbequing in an in-ground oven. There are a number of other caprine cattle that are cooked in the ancient style, including ram and sheep. Since the early nineties, here in Oaxaca the most popular / unlucky of these inhabitants of the hills has been the borrego pelibuey, a variety of sheep.

Oaxaca (wa-HAW-kah) is a colonial city tucked away in a valley surrounded by the Sierra Madre del Sur range in south central Mexico. Boasting no less than 16 indigenous cultures, it should come as no great shock that such a custom has been maintained in the state for hundreds if not thousands of years. However the modern institution of baking a variety of meats in a pit extends far beyond Mexico, and in fact is practiced in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Hawaii, and much further abroad. After all, before the advent of coal, gas and electric ovens, if circumstances dictated something other than grilling over an open flame, our ancestors had little choice but to innovate in this fashion. What began with humankinds Darwinian development of a simple invention of necessity has become a highly ritualized and esteemed convention.

Whether youre traveling, visiting, working or living the life of a retiree abroad, as you become integrated into your host society, on balance youll be invited to partake in at least a portion of the pomp and ceremony associated with barbacoa, as its more commonly known in Mexico.

In Oaxaca the custom is reserved for fiestas marking significant rites of passage such as key birthdays and anniversaries, and weddings. It cuts across class lines, observance ranging from campesinos in the smallest of back road villages, to the upper class in the backyards of their luxurious homes in gated suburban communities.

While varying only minimally depending on local mores, practice begins with the purchase of the appropriate number of candidates at a private farm or livestock marketunless youve been raising your own. One counts on each beast serving between about 25 and 40 people, depending on size. Plumping them up for a few days never hurts, if you have the space and inclination.

The chivero, frequently with associate, family member and/or young apprentice, arrives a day before the comida (the largest meal of the day in Mexico, beginning anytime between 2 and 4 pm) to survey and give instructions before beginning. Are the cooking vessels, additional accessories, related foodstuffs and pit appropriate for the task at hand, or will there have to be last minute purchases or adaptations? Considerations include: type, dimensions and quantity of lea (firewood); requisite river rocks; age, size and composition of oven; type of grate; and even sufficiency of loose soil.

The better part of that first afternoon consists of the slaughter and skinning, cutting and cleaning, with procedures marked by care and precision, right down to evacuating the inside of each and every inch of intestine with the nimblest of digital movements, akin to, and no less delicate a process than spinning yarn from raw wool. Nothing is wasted. Virtually every entrail, organ and liquid is gathered, prepared and set aside for later use. No less important to the ultimate creation of a culinary coupe, parallel provisions are attended by others elsewhere in or around the home, principally the select array of vegetables is cored, cut and cubed, and herbs and seasonings sequestered. Best to have a healthy compliment of friends and relatives on hand. If youre asked to attend a day early, you now know why.

By evening the maestro is ready to begin the process of curing the oven. One which measures roughly 3 x 3 x 4 should accommodate about 4 animals for a party with upwards of 150 guests---the terracotta bricks lining the ground cavity need not have been fired to the same extent as those used in usual construction of homes, and the better view is to build the oven with minimally baked blocks. Logs are lit by nightfall. The chivero has the option of thereafter returning home for a brief break, or napping on site until the madrugada, perhaps 2 or 3 in the morning, when he must add further firewood to ensure continued consistency of heat. Atop this layer is strategically placed a stratum of rounded river rocks which will absorb and hold the heat pending completion of cooking.

At about 7 am, more wood is added and allowed to burn off, but not before the skewered hearts are barbecued over the flames---a taco delicacy---and several agave or maguey leaves have been charred. The previously prepared produce, with select innards and water to cover, now in an oversized cast aluminum cauldron, is placed on the scorching stones, as is a mixture of large broken corn kernels with a separate set of flavorings. An iron grate containing the quartered meat including head and organs---either plain, or enchilada (spiced)---with avocado leaves and the grilled agave placed atop, is gingerly lowered onto the vegetable receptacles. The blood, encased in stomach lining, is readied. On top of all is placed the petate, a large mat of dried palm leaf or reed. The subsequent coverings, at least one of which must be firm enough to withstand the weight of a final heavy layer, include one or more of a large flat grid of lengths of reinforced steel; a sheet of laminated meta l; and a spread of sturdy plastic or vinyl. For further assurance a hill of dirt is then shoveled on top of all, then compacted with the aid of a light hosing of water. Tradition dictates that while the oven and its contents are being sealed for baking, a bottle of mezcal is placed within the mound of earth.

From when the first match is lit, the foregoing steps are much more than mere convention. They are carefully calculated, much in the same fashion as the most specific time and temperature stipulations contained in a difficult baking recipe in a gourmet cookbook. However I have yet to determine the scientific roll played by the wooden cross set on the crest of the mountain of tierra firmaother than symbolic of burial.

Guests tend to arrive between 2:30 and 4:30 pm, by which time the blood has curdled to the consistency of a terrine style accompaniment, and entre has been roasted to perfection, its juices having dripped into the casseroles thereby creating a flavorful, vegetable and meat potage, and a thick starchy accompaniment, the corn having turned to mash aided by the meats juices. At their option, at the chosen hour, males in attendance may take a shovel and aid in the unearthing of the oven, with the one encountering the piping hot bottle of mezcal---contents by then smooth to the extreme--- being given the privilege of serving shotsful to others in the fraternity of assisting amigos.

The bouillabaisse is served, followed by the most tender, savory and succulent meat imaginable, with sides of sangre and the cooked large grain, preferably to the sound of live music. And yes, a limited number of guests are presented with the available crania having been opened so that they can scoop brain and/or eye into tortilla and top with salsa before indulging. Care must be taken to avoid insulting one to whom a head has been promised. At a joint birthday bash thrown with a fellow Aquarian, en route to delivering the delicacy to a comadre I wished to honor, a friend stopped me at his table and by the time Id arrived with the prize to its ultimate destination, almost all but a bare bone skull remained. Finally, the testicles should be offered to others worthy of special tribute. But once again be mindful. At that same celebration, a five-goat-affair, someone absconded with all ten testes.



What Sells Well On The Internet? - Website Promotion - Online Promotion


Just about everything has been sold on the Internet. From books to software to cars... even a piece of toast with the Virgin Mary burned into it.

But, the best items to sell on the Internet are light and easy to ship. The very best items don't need any shipping at all.

== What Kind Of Product Don't Need Shipping? ==

I'm talking about downloadable products. These are the products that can be set up to automatically send to your customers -- the minute they click that pay button.

Downloadable products let you run a 24/7 business -- a business that is open round the clock. While you're sleeping, while you're skiing in the Alps, while you're sunning on a beach in the Caribbean... your tireless online vending machine is selling your products. It's putting money in your bank account and you don't need to lift a finger.

== What Are The Best Downloadable Products To Sell? ==

Most downloadable products are information products -- these are the products that will give you the most profit. See, information is valuable. People are willing to pay good money for the right information.

Your customers will pay you for information that tells them "how to"-- how to bake the best chocolate chip cookies from a secret recipe handed down over generations, how to make money from home while padding about the house in a bathrobe and slippers, how to save money when buying a home, how to increase your child's reading skills. The list is endless. For every topic you can think of, there is a group of people hungry for information.

== Can't They Just Get The Information For Free From The Internet? ==

Yes, it's true. There are mountains of information readily available on the Internet. Anything you want to know can be found on the Internet and it usually doesn't cost a cent. However, try finding just the information you need... or making sense of the jumble you find.

Busy people are happy to pay you money, if you can present the information to them in a nice, orderly manner. Make the information easy to understand. Save them time. They will happily pull out their wallets, slap down their credit cards, and... voila! You have a sale!

== You Become An Information Broker ==

When you are an Internet marketer with downloadable information products, you are an information broker. You are getting the information from one place into the hands of those who want it.

It can be your information. It can be information you gather on the Internet, bundle into a neat and tidy package, and broker to the customer. Information marketing really is as easy as that!

And, the beauty of it is, once you've put the information together -- created an information product -- you really don't have to touch it again. It can just keep selling automatically for a long time to come, while you either put together another information product... or sip Pina Coladas in Acapulco.



Celebrate "Mexican Halloween" In Cancun - Travel


Much like the fun-filled traditions associated with Halloween in the United States, Mexico embraces the somber autumn holiday with a variety of celebrations and activities. Known throughout Latin America as El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Cancun offers visitors a truly unique version on this popular holiday, with many events incorporating both Mayan customs and modern Mexican traditions. Beginning on October 31 with celebrations for the returned souls of the departed, the party continues each year until November 2.

As Cancun is in the center of the historic region known as the Mayan Riviera, many of the city's events incorporate Hanal Pixan - the Mayan ritual of the dead. Both in Cancun and at most of the Mayan sites outside the city, candlelight prayer services are held on October 31 to commemorate the deceased. After this period of reflection, Hanal Pixan quickly transforms into a friendly meal shared by hundreds. Tamales are often baked in an underground pit and served to both the living and the dead, as it is believed that the deceased absorb the essence of the food placed at their graves. Handmade wines and candies are also passed around for all to enjoy, but Hanal Pixan marks only the beginning of this amazing holiday.

October 31 is also marks the beginning of a three day culinary feast in Cancun, taking place both in the streets and all the best restaurants. At the city's gastronomy festival, visitors can sample local delicacies and gourmet international cuisine prepared by Mexico's best chefs. Held outdoors along the Caribbean waterfront, this festival is anything but a sober Day of the Dead ritual, as guests are invited to eat and drink as much as they like. If you dine in any of Cancun's restaurants throughout the three day holiday, you will be treated special local recipes reserved for Day of the Dead. At night, many visitors move from the restaurants to the bars and dance clubs where special events such as costume parties have become the norm.

One of the most fascinating traditions associated with the Day of the Dead is the creation of colorful altars - known in Mexico as ofrendas - to honor deceased loved ones. Anywhere you travel in the city, you will pass numerous altars containing all kinds of offerings. Set on tables with white cloth, the altars of Cancun display everything from fresh flowers and chocolate skulls to wooden crosses, personal mementos and photographs. Though the tradition of honoring the deceased might seem solemn, the positive atmosphere of the holiday extends to these personalized displays, as awards are handed out for the most elaborate and beautifully decorated altars.

The newest Day of the Dead activity for Cancun's visitors takes place south of the city in the Xcaret Nature and Cultural Park. Last year, the park unveiled The Bridge to Paradise - one of the world's most unique cemeteries. Composed of 365 lavish gravesites created by local artists, The Bridge to Paradise serves as a creative representation of Mexican history and culture. For instance, a colorful sculpture of a bed complete with linens references the country's dreamlike mythology, while a miniature replica of a cathedral reminds visitors of Mexico's religious culture. During the celebrations surrounding the Day of the Dead, visitors are served candies and other refreshments from altars set up throughout the cemetery. Much like the celebrations in Cancun, the events at Xcaret and its cemetery rejoice in life and the cultural traditions of Mexico on this seemingly dark day.

Much like the American tradition of Halloween, children are encouraged to don costumes and trick-or-treat during the celebrations of Day of the Dead. However, Mexican myth and tradition contribute some interesting items to the children's experience. As most trick-or-treating takes place of November 2 - the day when, as myth has it, spirits must leave the homes of their loved ones and return to the other side - all children wear bracelets of red string to ward off the more nefarious spirits traveling to the underworld. As with all the other events surrounding Day of the Dead, visitors are encouraged to participate in the local traditions.

Furthermore, as the holiday takes place just weeks before the beginning of the peak travel season, Day of the Dead may be one of the best times to visit Cancun. Many airlines and resorts will feature special rates during this week, making travel to this luxurious destination affordable for any family.

Though Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout Latin America, few destinations observe the holiday as colorfully as Cancun. If you want to experience one of the region's most treasured holidays, visit the city where modern luxury and Mayan tradition meet to create an unforgettable vacation.



Entertainment At Sea - Travel


"All the world's a stage", the saying goes! And on your cruise - the ship is the stage for a world of colorful entertainment and night-time enjoyment! And best of all, there is no cover charge, no tickets to buy or reserve, no waiting in line.

Dazzling musical revues salute the very best of Hollywood and Broadway, with advanced lighting and sound systems and spectacular special effects.

Your entertainment aboard spotlights a variety of marquee performers, including musicians and singers, comedians and magicians. Cruise lines recruit professional performers from some of the best-known stages on land.

The entertainers vary from ship to ship and line to line however don't be surprised if Bill Cosby, or Bowser from Sha Na Na or jazz greats Manhattan Transfer are on your ship. The shows will easily rival anything you might see on land. Except that on-board your ship you don't have to remember your tickets or struggle to find a parking space.

Not only will you enjoy Broadway style reviews, musicals, stand-up comics, movies and specialty acts, and guest talent shows, many cruise lines including Norwegian and Holland America offer "theme" cruises from Budd Friedmans famous Improv at Sea to a Bavarian style "Oktoberfest" where, in addition to daily beer tastings, the staff host a Bavarian Beer Garden Party and an authentic German/Bavarian dinner.

On this cruise, Anheuser Busch will provide a broad selection of their turn of the century recipe beers to enjoy all week, albeit at an nominal extra charge! The six man "Die Bier Barons" band will be on board to play traditional "Oom-Pah" and polka music.

Prefer country music? No problem, you can join top-act headliners and other guest performers aboard foot-stomping, knee-slapping country music cruises. Learn the latest line dancing or try not to smile as you two step your way across the Caribbean.

How much would you pay back home to catch a Broadway show, enjoy the midnight buffet and then head for late night comedy before you hit the disco? It's all included aboard your cruise ship.

Norwegian Cruise Lines treats you to extravagant, full-scale productions of classic Broadway musicals like Grease, 42nd Street, The Pirates of Penzance, The Will Rogers Follies, Crazy for You, and George M! And again, you don't pay for tickets! Just walk in to the beautiful theatre at sea, and enjoy the show.

Can theatres at sea rival those on land? A three-deck-high showroom, the Palladium, on Carnival Destiny, is home to two showstopping Vegas style productions that combine complex sets, laser technology and awesome talent that leaves you spellbound. And there is not a bad seat in the house!

After the show, visit one of the many lounges to enjoy a jazz ensemble, or 50's and 60's music or spend some fabulous times around the piano bar becoming a karaoke star.

Disney's Magic, is a masterpiece of entertainment at sea. On this ship, amazing diversions are everywhere. You can screen the ocean premiere of a new Disney film in the beautiful Buena Vista Theatre. And in the Walt Disney Theatre, you will view a magnificent tribute to the grand theatrical palaces of long ago that provided the inspiration for three all-new Disney productions-a different show each night of your cruise with state-of- the- art staging, lighting and special effects that only Disney can do!

Between your ports of call, you will be surprised how much there is to do on board your ship. When it comes to nighttime entertainment your choices are as diverse as you want to make them.

From ballroom dancing to late night comedy, from first run movies to dazzling shows, all free and all with guaranteed seating.

Sid KaplanCruise Vacations Guide.com



The Great Foods In Belize - Travel


If you are the type of person who visits a country and expects a wonderful gastronomic feast, then get your palate and stomach ready for the foods in Belize.

With its rich cultural history, you might find it hard to pinpoint exactly the type of cuisine that foods in Belize offer. Interestingly, if you want to know what will happen if a fusion of Mexican, African, Indian, Caribbean, Spanish and Maya cuisine takes places, then Belize cuisine is right for your taste buds.

Seafood can be considered a forte of the Belize cuisine. Due to its geographical location of having abundant waters, you will find that plentiful fresh fish and crustaceans being offered in your menu. If you seek for some quality lobsters, you might find comfort in the fact that Belize is one of the major exporters of lobsters. Although lobster is readily available and relatively inexpensive in the country, over-harvesting has caused its population to decrease. In order to be sure you will get your lobster fix, take note that lobster season is between Februarys to July.

You will also find that rice and beans are standard staples of foods in Belize. Usually, it is to complement a main dish and they usually use red or black beans. However, you have to take note that if you do say 'rice and beans', Belizeans will take it that you are referring to them being served together. If you say 'beans and rice', they will be serving and cooking it separately.

Other noticeable main dishes you will notice in the menus of foods in Belize are their chicken stew, beef stew, and of course, their fish stew. Their stews are Kriol-based and you might find that its dark color is a result of using various spices such as the red recado which is made of achiote. A native Belizean stew is called chimole or sometimes, 'black gumbo'.

To say that Marie Sharp's Hot Sauce is indispensable in eating foods in Belize is an understatement. You will find that every table in the country is not complete without a bottle of it. Although Marie Sharp's has already released a wide range of different hot sauces, chutneys and jams, the original spicy sauce is made from a mix of onions, habanero peppers, and carrots. Other spicy sauce you might find is Lizette's which is also said to be quite good. Take your pick of your very own Belizean hot sauce!

When it comes to drinking, Belikin beer is considered the national beer of Belize. It is produced by the Belize Brewing company and comes in quite a number of varieties: Belikin Stout, Belikin Lager, and The Belikin Premium. All beer recipes came from the original brew masters of the company, who are genuinely from the country of beer--Germany.

Although beer is nice liquor of choice, you might notice that rum is much more popular in Belize. Amongst the several distilleries that produce them, the 5-year aged Prestige rum is considered the finest Belizean rum. Another popular rum brand is 1 Barrel which has a bit sweeter because of its hint of vanilla.

Belize is not only a beautiful tropical paradise it also has a unique Culture. So when you are considering visiting or moving to Belize you should consider tasting all the great foods of this great country.



Bars and Cocktails in Havana - Travel


There is a very Cuban and significant little book for lovers of good living, "Coctelera Cubana: 100 recetas con ron" (100 recipes of Cuban mixed drinks with rum) by the deceased writer and reporter Fernando G. Campoamor.It may be the case that this title is no relevant for some people, but for most of those who visit Havana, the Cuban capital, could understand the interest of the author in offering a series of mixtures that people enjoy so much in this city.We are referring to the fact of going for a walk and sitting anytime during the day or the night in a bar, small or large, to rest.The most known example to show acceptance is the Mojito, followed by the Daiquir, Mulata, Cuba Libre and so many others that represent so well the Island's spirit.Let us say that you use half little spoon of sugar in a glass, a quarter oz of lemon juice and use water or soda for diluting. Then you add leaves of yerba buena and smash the stem without harming the leaves until you get all the j uice. Then, add ice rocks and half oz of white rum, then you fill the glass with soda and then stir up, decorating with another yerba buena, that is the Mojito, the most known Cuban cocktail, a truly feast of the taste.Nevertheless, another mythical beverage is the Daiquir; with different origins (some people bound its origin to the copper mines of the same name in the easternmost province of Santiago de Cuba).This was the ideal recipe of Ernest Hemingway, of which he used to drink around 12 glasses during the day apart from another one he called "del estribo" to go while he returned back in his car from the bar-restaurant Floridita to his Finca Viga, in the borders of the capital, where it is now the museum with his name.But that Daiquir of Hemingway's was different. The original recipe mixed half little spoon of sugar in the blender, a quarter oz of lemon juice, drops of maraschino, one and half oz of white rum and a great amount of grind ice. Very well mixed and served in a champagne glass.Although, Hemingway reduced the amount of sugar and doubled the amount of rum in order to make it more vibrant and purifying, for a poetic spirit, bohemian and adventurous.That is why, those who have an epic sense of existence would feel pleased in Havana, from bar to bar, ordering mixed drinks such as the Saoco or Habana Libre, Cuba Libre, for example.But also the classic Ron Collins, Mary Pickford, Havana Special, Centenario, Tricontinental, Boina Roja among others until reaching some hundreds.So, about bars and mixed beverages Havana has much give; it has a gift, charisma, alcohol, eroticism, music and, above all, the divine grace given to the Island by the Caribbean.It is a truly Cuban feast for senses, to be found in many places in Havana, a perfect tour, for those who adore the joy of dreaming.



The can Of Worms We Live In - Education


The Can Of Worms We Live In

How about this latest ban that is spreading to different types of tomatoes. Salmonella Saintpaul. Salmonella Saintpaul is an uncommon type of Salmonella that can compromise one's immune system and lead to other illnesses. I hear it's worse for the elderly and young children with compromised immune systems.

I don't know for sure but this has been since mid- April, and it has affected over one-hundred people. It seems to be the east-coast, Virginia, and Florida, but the CDC, and FDA don't seem to have a handle on it yet.Believe me, I would not be surprised if some or all of this had something to do with GM food. If it did, we'll never hear about it since the FDA has been coming under such heavy fire for refusing to label GM food.

The news we will get will be heavily filtered through a PR smoke screen you can be sure. Don't watch your local or national news coverage either, because you won't find anything remotely close to truth there.The fact that vegetables period have to come from so many different countries seems to be a recipe for disaster. Countries all around the world have different regulatory procedures, many of which are better than ours. More and more countries are depending on food imports though.Control the oil and you'll control the nations; control the food and you'll control the people.' -- Henry Kissinger (1970)

The price of foodstuffs climbs and climbs. The reserves drop. The same happens with oil, which places many nations and peoples who do not produce food or oil in a desperate situation. Is this the result of a set of random events that coincide in time, or is it the effect of a plan for world domination?

It is true that the prices of crude oil also affect the cost of production and transportation of foodstuffs. But who is to blame for the fact that the instability of the markets -- derived from the situation in Iraq, the threats to Venezuela, and a possible attack on Iran -- leads to speculation? What country with less than 5 percent of the world's population daily consumes about 25 percent of the crude oil produced in the world?Should Iran be attacked, the price of crude oil could rise to US$200 a barrel, an unsustainable price even for the most developed economies. A true tragedy for the poor countries. Some countries, such as the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador, are already experiencing serious difficulties with fuel and food, despite the unselfish aid provided by the government of Venezuela.The recent Alimentary Summit held in Managua, summoned by the governments of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) and attended by representativ es of 12 countries, including some presidents, was aimed at uniting the efforts to confront the alimentary crisis that beset mankind.For most of the attendees, the essence of the alimentary crisis lies in the unequal distribution of wealth worldwide and, above all, on the neoliberal economic model imposed by some developed countries upon the rest of the world in the past 20 years.Of course, not everyone agreed. President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica distanced himself from the document, because he's a devotee of "free trade." Mexico and El Salvador also distanced themselves from a set of proposals made by the Venezuelan delegation that ended up in an addendum to the Final Declaration.Among the Venezuelan proposals was the idea of creating a bank of agricultural products that would reduce the costs of small and mid-size producers, and to assign $100 million through the Bank of ALBA to finance agricultural projects. Also, to create a plan within PetroCaribe to finance the producti on of foodstuffs.So far, awareness has been raised about the gravity of the alimentary situation and the urgent measures that need to be taken to keep food from becoming a weapon of war, at least in Latin America. In fact, food already is a weapon in many parts of the world.In any case, beware the great corporations that produce and trade in food. Beware the corporations that produce transgenic seeds, which are imposing their products throughout the world, to the detriment of natural varieties. They are already present in many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.Transgenic seeds make the farmer totally dependent on the transnational corporation that produces them; every year, he must buy the seeds, the fertilizers and the insecticides. In India, 150,000 cotton farmers have committed suicide because they could not pay their debts to those transnationals.The transnationals are in charge of dominating the food supply and, by extension, the people, as Henry Kissinger pr oposed. In a secret document called National Security Study Memorandum 200 (NSSM 200), Kissinger drew a plan of action for the world's population, aiming to control it and reduce it by hundreds of millions of people by using foodstuffs.Kissinger wanted to reorganize the worldwide market of food, to destroy family farms and replace them with large haciendas and factories directed by the farm transnationals. Something like that has been happening since the early 1990s in Mexico and other Latin American countries. Don't you think it's time to take steps to stop it? I leave the answer to you.



Have You Ever Been Dine In A Very Romantic Restaurant? Try It Out! Make It Memorable With Your Love One - Other


Define Romantic Restaurants? It has all the right elements--a seductive view, a relax atmosphere, mouth-watering food - but never swerve into sentimentality.

The top most pick when it comes to romantic restaurants can be found all over the world. Here are the famous choices:

* La Zebra in Tulu, Mexico, this romantic restaurant lies in stretch of the Riviera Maya, a famous Caribbean beach. It's a spacious beachfront acreage and few sandy steps away from the ocean. They offer a wide variety of slow-cooked appetizing recipes. Try their specialty: spice-seafood based menus.

* Le Tobsil, Marrakesh, Morocco - known for its Moroccan culinary meal. Enjoy while dining among lamps and petals in the cozy yellow-ocher patio of the small riad. It's a perfect place for intimate dinner while enjoying savory dishes.

* Sugar Mill Restaurant in Tortola, British Virgin Islands - a small standout restaurant carved from weathered remnants. It's lush and tropical surroundings nestled in Northern Shore of Little Apple Bay. It was noted as "One of the Four Best Restaurants in the Caribbean" by Caribbean Travel & Life Reader's Poll in 2004. Treat yourself to West Indian foods.

* Eagle's Eye is nailed in British Columbia, Canada - dine at 7,700 feet when you look down. Its Canada's most elevated dining experience. You can even take a gondola on top of the mountain, a breath taking experience for 15 minutes.

* Atlas Club Nautika, located in Dubrovnik, Croatia - over-looking cove and perfectly preserves medieval view of Adriatic Sea. They offer a wide variety of international cuisines, innovative recipes.

* Huka Lodge Dining situated in Taupo, North Island of New Zealand - located in a slice of a river in North Island's Grand. It was surrounded by magnificent natural beauty. A park-like garden and flower bordered place. You can arrange to have your own table set up just about anywhere on the property, with 16 spots to choose from. Note: Guests are the priorities. The five-course menu is change every night.

* Wheatleigh in Lenox, Massachusetts - a 19th century mansion turned into a hotel. It was cited as 100 best places to stay in 2006. Idyllically situated on a Berkshire knoll overlooking mountains and lake.

* Ambrosia lies in the heart of Santorini, Greece - can be found atop the cliffs in the center of the village. They offer you one of the islands most serene and fantastic terrace pictures of the Santorini volcanic sea caldera. They offer a wide variety of fresh seafood meal.

* Les Ambassadeurs, Paris, France - Of all the luxury hotels in Paris, the Hotel de Crillon is considered as the richest in history and culture. From the hotel's terraces, guests can admire the Concorde bridge, completed in 1790, the Rue de Rivoli, which was started in 1802. There were seven types of marble cover the floor and walls, frescoed cherubs and clouds dominate the ceiling, and massive mirrors exaggerate the room's already-grand scale.

* Lagoon is in Bora Bora, French Polynesia - an over-water bungalow restaurant. This place is bounded by lagoon and barrier reef. In the center of the island are the bits and pieces of a vanished volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu

* Ristorante Castello Banfi in Montalcino, Italy - this romantic restaurant nails in Tuscan countryside. This is a decadent hilltop hotel-winery that offers Mediterranean cuisines. It only has seven tables, which makes it very intimate dining experience.

* Patagonia Sur, Buenos Aires, Argentina - it is a restored townhouse with only five table capacity. This very romantic place redefines intimacy in the city and known for packed steakhouses and tango halls.



Coffee in History: What is the Real Story? - Food


Beer and wine are in close competition as far as the oldest man-made brew, but beer wins just slightly. Beer recipes date back as far as 6000 B.C. while winemaking only goes so far as the first millennium. Coffee came onto the scene just a few hundred years later, although how old the coffee plant is still is unclear. Some evidence suggests that people were eating the berries as much as a hundred thousand years ago.

It has been said that an Ethiopian goat herder saw his goats become very excited after eating the red berries from one of the nearby trees and experienced the same stimulation when trying the berries himself. By 600 A.D., this stimulating berry and the resulting brew from its dried and ground seeds made its way to the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula to a location called Yemen.

Some stories speak of a native of India smuggling these seeds from a tree in Arabia around 1650 A.D. after which he planted them in the Chikmagalur hills since the law of Arabia at the time did not permit the exportation of beans that could germinate. This successfully controlled the coffee trade for many years. Whether this is myth or historic fact, the berries from those seeds now make up one-third of India's large coffee production.

The coffee bean then spread to many other countries thanks to travels of the Europeans, Dutch, French and British, among others. The Dutch introduced the coffee bean to Java during the eighteenth century which history relays as the famous tree the king of France coveted so greatly and that was finally gifted to him.

Louis XIV of France soon found that the tree did not grow well in frost and, consequently, he had a greenhouse built so he could continually be supplied with the beans that made the brew he so much desired. This is said to be the source of cultivators used in South and Central America.

Having reached Martinique around 1720 A.D., the seeds grew well in the Caribbean climate. Some of the thousands of trees that sprouted were transported to Mexico which is now one of the largest exporters of this coffee product.

The tree also grew well in the steamier environment of French Guiana when it finally reached this area around the same time. Francisco de Melo Palheta managed to get the help of the governor's wife to help smuggle the seeds out of the country. The story is that she handed him a bouquet of flowers containing the forbidden bean as he prepared himself to leave for Brazil. Interestingly, Brazil has become one of the largest coffee producers.

From Brazil, these seeds made their way to Kenya and Tanzania during the late nineteenth century which is, coincidentally, not far from Ethiopia. They nearly made a large circle as they traveled the globe, only taking around six centuries to do so. So, next time you enjoy a tasty, low-priced cup of coffee at a local restaurant, think about the history behind that drink. It may be plentiful now, but there was a time when it what just beginning its journey to where it is today.



Children Learn to Cook in School - Health - Nutrition


The steady rise in a number of nations` weight gains amongst their populations has heard the alarm bells ringing at what many describe as an obesity epidemic. It is generally agreed that something must be done to put a halt to the overweight problem, otherwise the cost to health and life itself will be staggering.

A public education campaign by New York city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - five advertisements, which have been posted in 1,000 subway cars - struck a variety of themes. It was designed to make commuters aware of what unhealthy eating can do to the body, as well as showing the number of calories contained in example dishes.

Childhood obesity in Europe is growing at an alarming rate and is accelerating rapidly.

In 2005, 14 million children were categorised as overweight or obese with an estimated 400,000 children entering this category every year. In 2007, the number has risen to 22 million.

There are serious health consequences for obese children now, and as they grow up.

Around 20,000 obese children have type-2 diabetes, over a million obese children are likely to show signs for cardiovascular diseases, and over 1.4 million may have early stages of liver disorder.

Obese children are more likely to become obese adults, meaning they will be at higher risk of developing cancer, heart disease and suffering from depression.

Preventative measures have been drawn up to make younger ones at school more aware of dietary needs which will, if taught from a very early age, help children learn about what goes into food, the best ways of cooking, healthy recipes and so on, so that they will benefit in their later lives.

Research has shown a link between nutrition in early childhood and improved productivity and overall health later in life. And a study recently published in the medical journal The Lancet offers the first direct evidence that eating well as an infant and toddler stands to increase earning potential as an adult. It`s getting essential that children learn to cook at school.

Soaring obesity levels look set to drain local health and public service budgets, which will mean higher taxes for all, experts warn.

Obesity could cost NHS in England 6.3bn by 2015 if no effective action is taken says the Department of Health.

According to recent statistics, obesity kills more than 9,000 Britons a year.

Last year, the Government-commissioned Foresight report warned that unless urgent action was taken half of all Britons could be obese by 2050.

Earlier this year a warning was given that heavily overweight schoolchildren faced dying eleven years younger than their slimmer classmates.

So, what is being done to improve youngster`s education with regard to cooking? In Canada, for instance, Toronto's Rising Chefs Culinary Centre, introduced the art of food preparation to kids three and older. Classes are taught by an executive chef with more than 20 years experience and a designation of certified chef de cuisine, the highest accreditation awarded in the culinary profession in Canada. The owners say that kids who learn to cook for themselves stand a better chance at avoiding obesity.

An array of week-long options are served up at this year-round kids' cooking school. Spark an interest in global flavours with the World Tour camp; each week explores food from a different part of the world, including the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, the South Pacific, the Americas and the Caribbean. Kids spend the day preparing two dishes and learning about the country they're from. Tweens may prefer the one-week Culinary Boot Camp, where they'll learn the art of food presentation, concoct delicious sauces, pastas and meat dishes, and visit local farms. Or there's the Baking Boot Camp, which schools your child in breads, pastries, desserts and piping techniques. Ages six to 12.

From their website - "Welcome to Rising Chefs home on the web! We would like to thank you for taking the time to learn more about our wonderful company. We specialize in making cooking fun! Based in the Greater Toronto Area or GTA we cater to kids, teens, and adults who want to learn how to cook. Never before has a Toronto cooking school put as much energy and time into making healthy recipes, healthy eating choices and great food come together in so many comprehensive classes. "

Rising Chefs students who are five and older will get to cook themselves, while youngsters aged three and four will be introduced to gastronomy through measuring, mixing and other hands-on activities.

North District Middle School in Varnville, South Carolina, USA, was selected from more than 60 applicants nationwide to receive the first-ever School Nutrition Foundation' Winston Industries Equipment Award. The school kitchen, serving the only middle school in Hampton School District One, will receive quality commercial kitchen equipment including Holding Cabinets, Holding Drawers and a Steamer from Winston Industries, Inc. - a leading foodservice equipment manufacturer located in Louisville, Kentucky. The award was applied for in order to update the 40-year-old kitchen equipment that often needs expensive repairs.

As school nutrition programs nationwide provide healthy school breakfasts and lunches to students at a national average of less than $2.00 per balanced meal, costs to upgrade and replace kitchen equipment are often difficult to cover. For this reason, the School Nutrition Foundation' Winston Industries Equipment Award was created in 2007 to assist school nutrition programs to secure the equipment they need to continue to offer quality, nutritious meals.

About the School Nutrition Foundation The School Nutrition Foundation, established in 1964, is a non-profit corporation that provides high-quality professional development, financial aid and research programs to child nutrition professionals and members of the School Nutrition Association (SNA.) The Foundation's commitment to the child nutrition community is integral to implementing positive change in school meals and, ultimately, to the health of school children. SNA is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals.

In England cooking lessons are to be compulsory in England's secondary schools for children aged 11 to 14.

Pupils will learn to cook for an hour a week for one term. Poorer pupils' ingredients will be subsidised.

Cooking is an optional part of the design and technology curriculum, but is not currently taught in all schools. The move is part of the strategy to tackle obesity, as experts believe 1m children will be obese in a decade.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families says that about 85% of secondary schools do offer cookery, (cooking), in some form. It wants those schools to make the change immediately, and the rest by 2011.

All 11-year-olds in England will be able to receive a free cookbook under a programme aimed at tackling obesity. Head teachers will be able to order the booklet, which has recipes for favourites such as spaghetti bolognese, roast chicken and jacket potatoes.

Primary pupils It might come as a surprise to many parents but cookery - or food skills - is already, theoretically at least, compulsory on the primary school curriculum. As they learn about nutrition, food groups and the science of food, children are expected to progress from cutting up fruit to baking bread.

In practice, either because they don't have trained staff or the facilities, few schools do much, if any, hands-on cooking with children. Now that cooking is to be taught to secondary school children, public health campaigners' focus has switched to giving younger and more impressionable children a better and practical food education.

Primary school teachers are not given any training in teaching cooking, although there is a scheme for secondary food teachers to pass on skills to primary school staff. Very few primary schools have any facilities for children to cook in, either. In Wales a commitment to teach under-11s how to cook has been made.

But critics have expressed concern about the practicalities of the idea.

Clarissa Williams of the National Association of Head Teachers said the training of food technology teachers had been neglected for so long it would be difficult to see the strategy through.

Children will have to participate in a one-hour lesson each week for a whole term, in the bid to teach nutritional lessons that put a stop to obesity. Many may think this is an excellent idea, with support from TV chef Jamie Oliver and parents that relieve themselves of the pressure to cook meals that must be green, lean and tasty because now, their children can do it.

Whether just one hour a week is enough though is debatable. Just as cooking needs time, so does teaching it. Practical cookery in an hour is impossible, it limits the number of dishes taught and becomes rushed, so already many believe the Government's plans are flawed - a two-hour lesson a week would certainly be more useful if the plan intends longevity in Britain's educational scheme.

The situation in Germany, however, is different. Neither elementary school nor high school curricula require instruction in food-preparation skills or on how to run a household. Only occasionally will a high school offer these subjects as electives.

Sadly, the number of children who are taught food-preparation skills at home is continually declining. Scientists bemoan the loss as more and more students grow up without the necessary skills for running a household.

This is where Aid Infoservice came into the picture. It has instituted a program of instructional building blocks for elementary students by establishing a "Nutrition Competency Driver's License."

The core of this curriculum, comprised of six or seven two-hour classroom sessions, focuses on practical experiences with food ingredients and kitchen tools, but does not include experience in an actual kitchen lab.



Teenagers Onboard - Travel - Cruises


Families are one of the fastest growing groups of new cruisers, with more than one million passengers under the age of 18 heading off on a cruise each year. The most important factors in choosing a cruise that will suit your whole family are the facilities onboard, the itinerary of the chosen ship, the cabins, and the dining options. Selecting a cruise line that has a child-friendly, and teen orientated approach, will make your holiday stress-free and enjoyable for everyone.

Research shows that the majority of 12-17 year olds prefer the Caribbean. With the warm weather and lovely beaches, they are able to relax, sunbathe, take part in water sports, dolphin encounters or even go on a boat trip. There are of course some excellent shore excursions, visiting museums, zoos, and aquariums. The main thing with the destination is that there is plenty to do, and for many teens, visiting cathedrals, art galleries or shopping is not always high on the list.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is rated very highly as a cruise line that teenagers love, all the ships have a dedicated teen area apart from The Nordic Empress. The areas are split into two groups 12-14 and 15-17 year olds. Each of the ships is very different in regards to what you will find onboard, the Voyager class and Freedom class contain so much to keep your children entertained from trampolining, ice-skating, and even the Flow Rider machine (a surf simulator).

On the Navigator, Mariner and the majority of the Freedom Class ships you will find a Living Room area, a place full of books and computers, where they can just relax with their friends, and The Back Deck, which is a place for teens to sunbathe with their friends, an exclusive outdoor area just for teenagers. There are activities throughout the day, and in the evenings, there are clubs and teen discos open from 10.30-2am, these being The Optix or Fuel.

Both groups are free to come and go as they please, and are designed to be a place to relax and chill out with their friends, or to take part in some great activities. Your children and their friends can get involved in anything from theme nights, to a Scratch DJ Academy, Mocktail Competitions, Open Mic and Talent Contests, Teen BBQ's, Pool parties, Teen Casino and even Unplugged Jam Sessions.

Royal Caribbean has also introduced Generation YSPA, which is a spa for 13-17 year olds. Teenagers can come along here (with their parents if they like!) and have different treatments like Acne Attack, Fruity Facials, Mother and Daughter, or Father and Son massages, Fake Bake, Surfers Scrub, Magical Manicures, and they can even take part in their own Fitness Frenzy classes.

Another cruise line with a great reputation for teen activities is Holland America. They have an outdoor teen only area called The Loft if your teenagers - or you - need a break. This has an exclusive sun deck with a waterfall and cave. There are lounge chairs where the teens can sunbathe during the day and sit under the stars in the evening. The Oasis is another area, which runs teen discos, karaoke, video games, sports tournaments, trivia contests, and movie nights (not available on all Vista-class ships however).

Holland America also runs kids culinary classes, here they will learn basic cooking techniques, kitchen safety, how to cook with new ingredients, whilst following specific recipe instructions. These classes are a great way of being hands-on and learning from talented chefs, the food ranges from fine dining to teenage favourites.

Carnival Cruise Line is also high on the list of teen's favourite cruise lines. They have two teen clubs Circle C (12-14 years) and Club O2 (15-17 years old). The Carnival Conquest Class ships have a 1,800 sq ft dance/night club, with computers, soda bars, amazing sound systems and more than 60 video games. Carnival Conquest, Glory, Valor and Liberty have the largest teen facilities of the Carnival fleet.

No matter what cruise line you choose, teenagers are not allowed their own cabins, most family sized cabins will have bunk beds, or you can choose inter-connecting cabins. It really depends on what sort of sleeping arrangements you are comfortable with, and what sort of cabins are available on your selected cruise, but there is plenty of choice.

One of the favourite things about cruising for families is that the food is free and available at most times, so teens do not have to rely on their parents to buy their dinner, or worry about running out of money. You will find most cruise lines offer flexible dining, whether this is in the main restaurant, or even in the smaller buffet style places. They may fancy Jonny Rockets on the Royal Caribbean fleet or The Terrace Grill on Holland America, which all offer teen favourites such as burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, there is always a great selection.

With drinks, all cruise lines offer soft drink cards or packages, whereby for a fixed price they can have unlimited soft drinks or juices. Once again, every cruise line works differently, and those who do not have these offers, tend to offer free complimentary drinks anyway. This is another way of giving your teen the independence that they so often crave, especially on holiday. These packages range from $4 a day to $10 a week, it really depends on the cruise lines individual pricing.

Taking your teens on a cruise is definitely something we can see catered for more and more on cruise ships nowadays, the activities, entertainment and facilities are improving all the time. Your cruise holiday is a time for you and your children to enjoy themselves, relax, and have the time of your lives and will allow them some time away from you - and you some much-needed time away from them!