Large beefsteak tomatoes were made to be stuffed. Their size and firm exterior makes them the perfect receptacle for piling in tasty fillings and turning them into a meal in themselves. Not only that, tomatoes, especially when cooked, provide us with a rich source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant which may be instrumental in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

Here are a couple of stuffed tomato recipes, one of which can be served cold as a snack with the other ideally eaten as a light starter or meal.

Cooking for a low fat diet doesn't have to mean the end of tasty meals. Indeed, once you've become accustomed to cooking the low fat way, you’ll wonder why you didn't start earlier.

The health benefits of eating a low fat diet are immense but if you’re not used to cooking this way, you may find a few low fat cooking tips will help make your transition a little smoother.

Anyone embarking on a diet for the first time could be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed at the abundance of diet foods on sale. Supermarket shelves are groaning under the weight of products labeled 'diet', 'fat-free', ‘low-fat’, 'lite' or 'low calorie' which can lead to all sorts of confusion.

Those overripe bananas sitting in the fruit bowl are the perfect excuse for indulging in a bit of baking. And what better use for them could there be than making delicious banana bread? There are plenty of variations to the regular banana bread recipes and this one is a classic banana bread loaf that’s exceptionally moist and very tasty.

Food is a tremendous source of pleasure for most people. We take it for granted we’ll feel satisfied after eating and not become violently ill. But if you’re not careful with food hygiene and preparation, you could end up swallowing something a lot nastier than you bargained for.

With foodborne illnesses affecting an estimated 76 million people in the US each year, it’s certainly a widespread and very common problem. So how do these debilitating foodborne illnesses enter the body?

There’s nothing quite like biting into a juicy burger, loaded with melted cheese, oozing mayonnaise and ketchup, probably accompanied by a side of fries. They’re delicious and not surprisingly, burgers are one of the most popular foods around the world.

Unfortunately, they’re also one of the unhealthiest. But they don’t have to be.  If you’re taking steps towards a healthier way of eating, there’s no need to give up on the burger.

With a few minor tweaks here and there, it’s perfectly possible to turn that cholesterol laden feast into a healthy, nutritionally balanced meal. It all boils down to the ingredients you’re using in your burger and the way you prepare and cook it.

Sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy dietary habits have helped contribute to the growing prevalence of obesity among adults and children. In the US, a staggering one-third of children are now either overweight or obese.

One of the main contributors to this growing problem is the high fat content found in much of the food consumed by children. Swapping to a low fat diet can significantly help reduce the likelihood of children gaining weight as well as helping them feel fitter and healthier.

Smoothies are the guilt-free, healthy alternative to milkshakes. They're versatile, filling, easy to make and perfect for a hot summer day.

Whether they’re for a nutritious breakfast, an after school refreshment for the kids, or a delicious cooling down treat on a balmy summer’s afternoon, there’s no need to invent an excuse to make your own home made smoothies.

With obesity levels at a record high, too many people have no idea how many calories they should be eating each day to keep them at a healthy weight.

The number of calories each individual needs can vary enormously from person to person, with factors such as weight, height, age, gender and activity levels all taken into consideration. Therefore, it can be particularly beneficial to calculate your daily caloric needs at regular intervals to help keep your weight steady.

Whether you dine out every week or only on special occasions, you’ll want to enjoy the experience, especially if you’re paying for it. And naturally, one of the most important aspects of your meal is the quality of the food. But what should you do if your meal is unacceptable when it arrives?

No one should expect to put up with bad food without making some form of complaint. But to complain effectively requires politeness, which isn’t always easy in the heat of the moment.

Anyone who loves the taste of vanilla, probably also likes vanilla milkshakes. And even better than a vanilla milkshake is a thick vanilla milkshake. Ideally, it should be thick enough that your straw can stand up on its own.

Buying a vanilla milkshake can be an expensive treat and you can't always be sure exactly what's gone into it. So why not make your own at home where you make it as healthy or decadent as you please.

Somehow, the more vibrant the color of a cocktail, the more exciting and tempting it looks. The Trocadero cocktail doesn't disappoint. Its gorgeous crimson glow is born from one of its ingredients - grenadine, which also gives it a sweet and light flavor.

The main contributors to this delightful cocktail are a combination of both dry and sweet vermouth plus a few other special ingredients which together create this very drinkable cocktail. Read on to find out how...

Cocktails are so popular now that more people are experimenting with making their own exotic blends at home. They're especially refreshing to drink at the end of a hot day, but also during the long party season over Christmas and New Year.

Making your own cocktails at home can be addictive and a lot of fun. Here's one recipe that's already popular and if you like gin, then you might enjoy a French Pearl.

Smoothies are a delicious way of topping up your fruit intake. They're so simple to make, healthy and full of goodness, plus they're really filling. And if you have kids who refuse to eat some types of fruit, pop them into a smoothie and they'll never know.

A smoothie can also be drunk as a meal in itself. But rather than spending money on a shop bought version, making your own smoothie at home takes only a matter of minutes.

Numerous health benefits have been attributed to omega 3. Several studies indicate it can help boost heart, brain, eye and joint health as well as preventing certain cancers. And more recently it has been suggested it could protect the body against premature aging.

If you’re trying to include more omega 3 in your diet, eating fish is a great place to start. Apart from the benefits of omega 3, fish is an excellent source of protein and it contains essential vitamins and minerals.

However, not all fish contains high levels of omega 3 and if you’re looking towards fish as your main source of omega 3 fatty acids, it’s important you choose the right type of fish.

The sidecar cocktail is a classic dating back to the 1920s and is enjoying something of a revival on today’s cocktail menus. How the sidecar got its name and its origins are a little hazy. However, it’s generally considered to have been invented for a US army captain in Paris around the time of the First World War.

One day, the captain who was feeling unwell, requested an aperitif before his evening meal. Since brandy was commonly used as a cold remedy, this was used as a base with lemon juice added for its vitamin C content.
 

Pacific Sunrise

Mixing your own cocktails at home can be a lot of fun. Once you've built up a collection of various ingredients, you can start experimenting and create your own.

Indeed, many cocktails are just slight variations of those already invented. The Pacific sunrise for instance, is very similar to the blue margarita with its exotic deep blue color and ingredients but has the addition of bitters which, while barely detectable, somehow injects a more subtle and interesting flavor.

The Pacific sunrise will always impress your guests and it makes a refreshing cocktail to enjoy on a warm summers day. (to be updated)

If you prefer your coffee cappuccino style, no doubt you appreciate the rich, creamy foam that sits on top. But trying to recreate the coffee shop experience at home can be a hit and miss affair when it comes to making frothy milk.

Home espresso coffee machines with a milk frothing attachment, often produce rather lacklustre results. But with the right tools and a little know how, you can easily produce a cafe-style cappuccino to be proud of. (The pump action style frothers seem to produce a much denser quality of foam than other styles.)