Endive or Chicory? It's a Bit Confusing

There's some confusion regarding the name of the endive, as in Britain, it is called chicory, the name of the plant from which it originates. The endive is Cichorium endiva while that of chicory, the herb, is Cichorium intybus. If you buy endive and look up a British website for a recipe you will have to type in chicory, as this is what this torpedo-shaped lettuce is known as even by British chefs.

Chicory, the herb, has blue edible flowers that resemble those of a dandelion, and whose leaves can be used in salads. However, endive is a salad vegetable which can be eaten raw, boiled, cooked, steamed, grilled, baked and added to casserole. This nutty tasting leaf is very versatile.

The endive, or Belgian endive (pronounced either on-deev or en-dive) is a newcomer on the world's culinary stage as it was introduced to Paris in 1872 where it became a sensation and nicknamed "white gold." It was discovered 42 years earlier by Jan Lammers, a Belgian, who had, or so the story goes, left chicory roots to dry in his cellar, so that they would dry and he could roast them and grind them to make coffee, as was the custom. He went off to do his patriotic duty in the Belgian War of Independence, and on his return discovered that his dried chicory roots had produced white leaves. He tasted them and they were good and so he produced them although it took years to perfect the process.

The leaves make really good scoops for dips, and go well in salads. Because of their natural shape they can be stuffed with cream cheese mixtures, smoked salmon or caviar. If you are on a diet you'll be pleased to know that an endive leaf contains no calories. It does contain dietary fibre though which makes it doubly good for a weight loss diet.

Endives are 95% water but also contain potassium, a useful mineral as it helps the normal function of the nerves and muscles (so is a good mineral for those with erectile dysfunctions) and vitamins A (good for the eyesight) and vitamin C which boosts the immune system, among other health benefits it gives us.

You no longer have to buy the Belgian endive as there is now a Californian endive, although perhaps it should be called the American endive, as these leaves are only produced in one place in Rio Alto CA. Have a look for one nest time you go to your local supermarket and see what you think of "the truffle of lettuces" as they have been called.

Healthy Kids Snacks to Serve Up This Summer

Just because its summer doesn't mean your kids don't need to fuel up on some healthy kids snacks between meals. When your kids are active indoors and out it's important to give them nutritious food and drink that will keep them full and hydrated this summer.

Following are some great ways top up your kids with fluids, boost their level of antioxidants, help them grow and maintain healthy bones, add fibre to their diets with whole grains, and show them that veggies do have a fun side.

When your kids are hanging around pool side or knocking on the back door looking for something to eat or drink, try these healthy kids snack and drink ideas on for size.

Avoid drinks laden with sugar and caffeine. Instead of sports drinks and pop, serve ice water (add a slice of lemon, lime or cucumber), low-fat milk, or 100% fruit juice. When serving juice, consider half cup servings over larger ones to avoid loading your kids up with too much sugar.

Serve fruits with a high water content. When hunger strikes and it's hot out, nothing refreshes quite like watermelon and oranges.

Keep fresh fruit and veggies washed and ready to eat. One of the best ways to ensure that your kids consume enough antioxidants on a daily basis is to make sure that there is always a healthy supply of cut up fruits and veggies in your fridge.

Serve healthier chocolate milk. While there's a certain appeal to chocolate milk, you can reduce the sugar content by diluting it with a little white milk.

Pair up pitas with hummus and 'pop' some healthy corn. Whole grain, whole wheat pitas cut into wedges and served with hummus and other healthy dips like baba gnoush are great summer snack ideas for kids. Instead of butter laden microwave popcorn, use an air popper or make some the old fashion way on your stove top, using healthy oil (olive or vegetable) and a little sea salt.

Use cut up veggies to make silly facial expressions on open face sandwiches. Be creative, use a slice of red pepper for the mouth, carrot circles for the eyes, a green bean for the nose, sprouts for the hair etc.

Make mini homemade veggie pizzas. Thinly slice up a bunch of vegetables and get your kids to assemble their own veggie pizzas on sliced English muffins or pocketless pitas.

Carry On Luggage - Purchase The Right Luggage For Travel

What you need to keep in mind when you buy carry on luggage is that it is the most important piece of luggage while you travel providing proper storage for all your necessary personal items. It has to be durable, lightweight, meet your travel requirements, and best suit your budget and style. The last thing you need is a charge for overweight luggage at the airport. This is an expense that nobody allows for or takes into consideration when purchasing luggage. With the proper luggage you can limit the number of bags that you require to meet all your traveling needs.

There is a wide variety of luggage from wheeled, to duffel bags, to garment bags, or even brand names such as Travelpro which can be purchased online, a shopping mall or at a department store. The various outlets that sell luggage allows you to find the highest quality at the right price to suit your budget and needs.

If you are traveling on business, you can purchase a luggage bag that will provide a pocket for storage of a laptop computer that allows you to take it on the plane. Most pockets will accommodate a 17" laptop. This way you can pack all your necessary items in one bag. This type of carry on luggage should be padded to protect your laptop from bumps and bruises while you travel and providing you with peace of mind knowing you have all your valuables and important items with you at all times and that they are safe.

Most carry on luggage should be between 19" - 22" so that they fit into the overhead compartment on the plane. The maximum weight is 22 lbs. These regulations include the handle and wheels. Examples of regulation luggage would be a carry-on bag, a wheeled bag, a backpack, laptop computer brief, as determined by their size. Most airlines allow a standard size carry on bag and a personal size carry on bag. If necessary, there are expandable luggage bags so that you can store the last minute extras. Multiple pockets, large and small, allow you to keep your personal items close at hand like passport, boarding passes, medicinal items and car keys.

Purchasing the right carry on luggage keeps you organized, is cheaper at the airport because you are not over-packed, allows you to travel stress free knowing you have everything you need in order to enjoy your trip. This also means that you have selected the right luggage at the right price.