Brown Rice Health Benefits

We have been eating brown rice for a little while and we love it.  In many different ways, brown rice is much better for you than white rice.  If you never try it before, try some!  You will be surprised and amazed how yummy it is.  

Here are a few health benefits from brown rice:

Helps lower cholesterol - The oil in whole brown rice, not its fiber, lowers cholesterol.

Helps prevent atherosclerosis - the fiber in rice has been shown to help prevent atherosclerosis.

Helps to maintain a normal body weight - A study published in November 2003 of the America Journal of Clinic Nutrition cites the importance of having a diet rich in whole grains vs. refined grains as a means to help maintain a normal body weight.

Reduces risk of metabolic syndrome - The latest research shows that refined grains and the foods made from them (e.g., white breads, cookies, pastries, pasta and rice) are now being linked not only to weight gain but to increased risk of insulin resistance (the precursor of type 2 diabetes) and the metabolic syndrome (a strong predictor of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease), while eating more whole grain foods is being shown to protect against all these ills.

Common features of the metabolic syndrome include visceral obesity (the “apple shaped” body), low levels of protective HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, and high blood pressure.

Helps prevent colon cancer - The selenium, a trace mineral found in brown rice, substantially reduces the risk of colon cancer.
Brown rice is a good source fiber. Fiber has been shown to speed the transit time of fecal matter within the colon, this minimizes the time cancer-causing substances spend in contact with colon cells.

Helps prevent gallstones - Eating foods high in insoluble fiber, such as brown rice, can help women avoid gallstones, shows a study published in the July 2004 issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Helps increase energy levels - Manganese helps produce energy from protein and carbohydrates and is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, which are important for a healthy nervous system, and in the production of cholesterol, which is used by the body to produce sex hormones.

Manganese is also a critical component of a very important antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase. Antioxidants provide protection against damage from the free radicals.

TIP:
Be sure to check packaged brown rice "use by" date, since it has a potential to become rancid if kept too long due to its natural oils.

Brown rice will keep fresh for about 6 months, if it is stored in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator.

Mrs. Fife Nutty Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Cookies Dough

My Little Helpers!

In the oven!

Mrs. Fife Nutty Chocolate Oatmeal Cookes! These cookies are not too sweet but full of flavor! And the texture is amazing. Soft and chewy on the inside and just a perfect light crisp on the outside. You really have to try making them!

Oh! I forgot to mention that these are the best cookies that I have ever made or created! They are way better than Mrs. Fields Cookies!

Mrs. Fife Nutty Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
(Make 2 dozens)

1. Preheat oven at 375F.

2. Cream (very well mix) 1 Cup Soften Un-Salted Butter, 3/4 Cup Sugar, and 3/4 Cup Dark Brown Sugar together in a big mixing bowl.

3. Add 2 Eggs and 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract into the butter mixture.

4. In another mixing bowl, mix 2 Cup All-purpose Flour, 2 Cup Regular Oats, 1 teaspoon Salt, 1 teaspoon Baking Soda, and 1 teaspoon Baking Powder together.

5. Add the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Well combine. Once it well combines, stop the mixing process! (Over-mixing creates tough dough! NO GOOD!)

6. Add 1 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips and 1 Cup Chopped Walnut or Chopped Pecan into the cookies dough. Lightly mix!

7. Spoon about 1 Tablespoon of dough (for small cookies) or Spoon an ice-cream scoop size dough (for big cookies) on a cookies sheet. You can fit about 8-12 small dough or 6 big dough on a cookies sheet. Bake for about 8-15 minutes. I suggest you to check your cookies half way through baking because cooking time is varies for different oven. No more than 15 minutes. Never over bake your cookies. Have fun!

Baby Show Cake

I made this baby show cake for my good friend, Tiffany Araki. She is finally having a girl after having two boys. I am so happy for and jealous of her at the same time!!! This cake is so "girlie and elegant"!!! I really love the pink and white marble fondant. I really had so much fun making it for her. The cake was yellow cake with chocolate and pink cream frosting. By the way, the color of the shower were pink and white. The decorations are made out of white and dark chocolate.