Monday, 25 March 2013

Hearty Chowder Soups – Convenience Food Products

Chowder is basically a seafood or vegetable soup that has a thick consistency. It is generally relished with soda crackers and is mostly served with milk or cream. The way chowder soup is made varies from region to region. You can have chowder during the summers as well as winters without compromising on the taste. The different variations ensure that you don’t get bored of eating the same soup again and again.

People in the United States love to gorge on chowder made from clams. There are two well-loved varieties of clam chowder; one is the New England style that has cream as a key ingredient and the other one is Manhattan style that has pureed tomatoes as its base.

As far as the history of chowder soups is concerned, fishermen from sea-fearing communities would catch a large amount of fish and boil their chunks in a cauldron. A lot of different kinds of vegetables like potatoes were thrown in to add flavor. The dish was known as chaudiere in France. The French used crushed biscuits and crackers to thicken this dish. The chowder was adopted by the Americans from the French and after that it became very popular in the country.

Owing to their popularity, the soup manufacturers have come up with frozen varieties of chowder soups. You can easily buy them from your nearest grocery store and make them quickly at home to enjoy their sumptuous taste. Read on to know what all different types of chowder soups are available in the market.

Seafood chowders are perhaps the most popular ones. Fish chowder is available in the market in several different varieties. Shrimp and clam chowders are also much loved by the foodies. For the vegetarians, corn chowder is a great option. It is full of whole corn kernels and comes in a rich creamy base. It also includes small cubes of potatoes as well. Buy the frozen soup of your choice and savor it at home. Available as pouch soup, chowder is an instant hit among kids and adults alike.

Among the other varieties, ham chowder is another favorite. There are many tasty combinations and variations across the world and you can have one that you enjoy relishing. It is better if you stick to the basics and keep the accompaniments simple. Apart from the salty crackers mentioned above, other add-ons can include cornbread muffins, bread sticks or French bread chunks. You can fill bowls with bread chunks and pour hot chowder soup of your choice over it.

So, just go to your nearest supermarket and buy your favorite frozen chowder to enjoy its fulfilling taste.

Monday, 11 March 2013

Enjoy Tortilla Chips With Salsa

Everyone loves to snack on sumptuous tortilla chips made from corn or wheat tortillas. The tortillas are cut into wedges and then fried or baked to be eaten with dips. Food lovers across the world are in love with tortilla chips and eat them with great enthusiasm. These chips come in various shapes with triangular being the most popular one. Tortilla chips can also be served as a side snack or as an appetizer along with the main dish. They can be enjoyed with many toppings such as salsa, cheese dips and ranch etc. 

Tortilla chips contain many health benefits and consuming them can prove to be very beneficial. They contain vitamin B6 and panthotenic acid. Apart from this, other important vitamins like vitamin B12, niacin and riboflavin are also present. By eating tortilla chips, you can complete your 5% daily requirement of sodium. Magnesium, copper, phosphorus, calcium as well as zinc are also present in these chips. All the vitamins and minerals present in tortilla chips are very useful for the various functions of the human body.

You can eat either corn tortilla chips or flour tortilla chips. Ground corn is used to make the former while the latter is made from wheat. There are many different varieties of corn and corn chips come in many colors ranging from dark-blue to white colored ones. On the other hand, flour tortilla chips are mostly in white or beige color. There is not much difference in the two types apart from the way they taste.

Tortilla chips are also available in various flavors manufactured by different companies and you can choose the ones that you love eating. For a healthier option, snack on the multigrain and flaxseed tortilla chips. You can also opt for sweet chili or the lemon flavored ones among a host of other interesting flavors.

Tortilla chips are most commonly savored with cheese dips. Right from guacamole to salsa, one can have endless options in the kinds of dips to choose from.

The popularity of tortilla chips can be gauged from the fact that Feb 24th is celebrated as the National 
Tortilla Chip Day. Tortilla chips were invented by Rebecca Webb Carranza in Los Angeles during the 1940′s. Some of the tortillas that came out of the automatic tortilla machine were not of the correct shape and these were cut into triangles. They were fried and a bag of these chips was sold for a dime by the El Zarape Tortilla Factory. 

The popularity of tortilla chips rose to a great height after their invention. In 1994, Carranza was awarded the Golden Tortilla Award because of her immense role in the Mexican food industry.