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Hearty salads made with whole grains, beans, vegetables and a variety of other ingredients should star on your menus, especially in the warm months. If you're not familiar with whole grains, visit the Nutrition section of my web site (see the link below); I explain all about how to cook them, where to find them, and why they are so important for healthful eating. Try these favorite recipes and then experiment with your own variations.

Summer Barley-Bean Salad

2 cups cooked barley

1 15-oz. can pink or kidney beans, drained

2 vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped

1 cucumber, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1 T. Dijon mustard

1/2 cup fat-free Italian dressing

Combine all ingredients and chill.

4-6 servings

Tabbouleh

1 cup bulgur

Water to cover

1 onion, chopped

6 green onions, sliced

2 cups chopped Italian parsley

1/2 cup mint, chopped

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tomatoes, chopped

1/4 cup no-fat mayonnaise

Lettuce

Place the bulgur in a bowl and cover with cold water; allow it to soak for 2-3 hours or until the bulghar is soft. Line a colander with cheesecloth or a dish towel and pour in the bulghar; squeeze out all the excess moisture. Return the bulghar to the bowl and mix in remaining ingredients except the mayonnaise. Chill for at least 2 hours. Stir in mayonnaise just before serving. Serve on lettuce leaves.

6-8 servings

Tex-Mex variation: Add 1 red bell pepper, chopped; 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced; and 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, chopped.

Southwestern Bean Salad

2 cups cooked brown rice or barley

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

2 cups frozen corn kernels

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 cup vinegar or more to taste

1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves

1 minced jalapeno pepper, or cayenne to taste

1 t. chili powder

Combine all ingredients. Tastes even better if you let it stand, refrigerated or at room temperature, for one hour before serving.

6-8 servings

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Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports -- and the FREE Good Food Book -- at http://www.DrMirkin.com

posted by 46124  # 10:31 PM 0 comments

An MP4 player works like an MP3 player as a container of digital data for entertainment purposes. The device is designed to record and play videos in a compact and portable way, providing hours of easily transportable and accessible entertainment. Inevitably, the storage is important for the video output of the device. It needs to be able to contain the information, provide enough playing time, and at a high quality.

There are two types of MP4 player; the hard disc storage and the solid state memory type. The solid state is named as such because it does not contain any moving parts such as discs. Each have their pros and cons, so it important that you understand the differences before making your purchase.

Both types of MP4 player provide the same level of performance with regards to other general features. Both will store photographs, videos and music files which can either be downloaded from the internet or recorded directly. Both devices will have colour screens and both work best when the stored information is kept uncluttered. This means having clear files and storing only the required information on the device, keeping it reserved on the home computer until required. However, there are also some subtle differences that may affect your choice.

An important feature of the MP4 player is the storage capacity. The hard disc has the larger storage capacity of the two types. The hard disc can store up to 250 films, and so this is a major attraction. However, to achieve this it needs the addition of several components built in. These extra components make the hard disc device bulkier in terms of appearance and so this gives it the disadvantage of being less portable.

The solid state MP4 player stores less film, but the minimum amount is still around the hundred range. What it loses in terms of capacity, the solid state device makes up for in terms of portability. The solid state mp4 player is sleek and incredibly light in comparison to its hard disc counterpart.

Cost is also a consideration when choosing an MP4 player. The solid state version is less expensive as it does not have as much storage capacity. The quality of the images and sound on the solid state device is not as good quality as that provided by the hard disc player.

In some scenarios, the solid mp4 player does not have the capacity to play some films from the internet; in other scenarios they are played but with poorer quality. If they are not compatible, this will be stated on the website. Alternative versions can usually be found so this is not as disadvantageous as it may initially seem. Again this difference in output is down to the memory capacity and the graphics and so the higher price tag of the hard disc player reflects the product performance.

The battery life is usually slightly longer with the hard disc MP4 player though not by much. The average battery time for the hard disc device averages 16 hours in total. The hard disc device battery can take up to double the time to recharge than the solid state version, which does not seem compatible with its minimal increased battery life. Neither version has any real advantage here. Both versions of the music/video player are excellent entertainment devices, and whichever chosen is bound to please the owner.

The purchaser simply needs to decide their budget, and whether the MP4 player of their choice needs to have a huge array of films stored or be more compact and portable, needs higher quality graphics or whether standard quality is sufficient.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.br

posted by 46124  # 11:35 AM 0 comments