What is Flan?

(photo: 12tomatoes)

While flan may be an increasingly popular dessert dish, how many people actually know what it is?  It’s not only important to know what you’re putting in your body with this fluffy dessert, but also what makes it so yummy.

To learn exactly what flan is, find a recipe for it, that way you also learn how to make it in the process. ASOTO at allrecipes.com provides a straightforward recipe for flan.

Gathering information from the list of ingredients, it’s clearly the vanilla extract and white sugar that make flan so sweet, but where does it get the fluffy texture from?

The texture comes from the step in the process in which the eggs are beaten together with the milk and vanilla.  After being cooked, the eggs expand and give flan that fluffy texture without compromising the taste.  Flan’s syrup gets its brown/golden color from the way the sugar caramelizes when it is melted.  The liquid sugar is poured over the flan before it is served to make it even sweeter.

Now that you know what flan is and how it is made, hopefully you can appreciate the hard work that is put into making it just as much as you enjoy its delectable flavor!

Granola Bars!

(Photo: Wishesndishes.com)

Everyone has had those days growing up when you didn’t have time for breakfast and mom said, “grab a granola bar so you have something in your stomach.”  Now that we’re in college, does anyone still do that?  Granola bars have some important health benefits that may help you get through your day.

(via stickygooeycreamychewy.com)

According to organicfacts.net, granola has the “ability to lower cholesterol, regulate digestion, aid in weight loss attempts, improve your heart health, increase energy, prevent anemia and promote proper organ function”.  Besides all of these important bodily benefits, granola bars make your day easier by simply keeping you from being hungry.

Research conducted by 30 Hour Famine found that “Hunger delays development on the cognitive, social and emotional level”. The research also found that “Hunger and stress affect the functioning of the brain that determines decision making”.

Another great aspect of granola bars is that they are cheap and make greater shelf-sitters (meaning they take forever to expire).  Granola bars are also easy to make and can be a lot of fun.  The ingredients can be bought in bulk and many bars can be produced at once.

So the next time you’re in a rush to get to class or work, consider grabbing that granola bar!