**This website contains some Affiliated links, and I may be compensated if you make a purchase on those sites after clicking on any of those links. While on other sites their Terms and Conditions will apply.

Food and Kitchen News

Healthier Choices, Beverages and Water Secrets:

1. Gluten Free Solution to Cracker Crumbs

2. Christmas Coffee

3. Coffee…yes; Caffeine…ehhh

4. Real Southern Iced Tea

5. Quick Iced Coffee-Single Size

6. BONUS--Cut Water Residue


1. Gluten Free Solution to Cracker Crumbs

Use any or even a mixture of Hemp Seeds, Chia Seeds, and Flax Seeds in place of cracker crumbs for things like hamburgers, meatloaf, etc.

-Not only are they gluten free but they are an excellent fibre and protein source as well!

-Use your own judgment but about 2-3 Tablespoons per pound of raw hamburger is probably a good starting point. I use an egg and several spices as well as kick it up with a bit of mustard, lemon or lime juice, fresh ground black pepper, etc but that is up to you!

-It also adds helps thicken and adds nutrients to makes you feel full faster and longer when you sprinkle about 2 Tablespoons into any salad, soup, stew, etc.

2. Christmas Coffee

-Mix about 1 teaspoon of spices into fresh coffee grounds before brewing for a warm Christmas morning type feeling. I make a mix using equal parts of ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves and ground nutmeg.

-All these spices are very good for you in numerous ways and it is a great way to get them all into your diet without effort!

-Use your own favourite spices or make a blend of your own favourite comfort food smells.

3. Coffee…yes; Caffeine…ehhh...

Speaking of coffee do you LOVE a good cup of bold flavoured coffee (or like me you love a good POT of bold flavoured coffee) but hate the amount of caffeine that comes with it?

-When brewing a pot of coffee (or any amount) use half Maxwell House Dark Roast and half Maxwell House Decaf ground coffee types, as well as the spice mixture mentioned above and start with cold water (you can use any kind of coffee you want, but half of the amount of grounds you use should be decaf)

-Yes I am old school in that I hate wasting money on the k-cup type of one-cup-at-a-time coffee and also I drink waaaayyyyy more than just one cup in a morning anyway so it saves time and effort to make a pot as opposed to a cup over and over; and let's be honest, drinking instant coffee should be a crime! LOL (Although I had to put up with instant while in Jamaica as despite the fact that one of the largest exports there is coffee from the Blue Mountains; almost all people who live there, don’t drink it at all!)

4. Real Southern Iced Tea

One of my personal favourites and only takes about 5 minutes to make!

-Boil 2 teabags (your choice of tea), 1-teaspoon baking soda and about 2 cups of water in a small pot for about 3 minutes. Let sit another 3 minutes.

-In a 2L (or bigger) pitcher mix 3 cups cold water, 1 cup lemon juice (or any 100% pure juice such as lime/orange/pineapple/cranberry/etc) and 1 cup sugar (adjust to your taste preference).

-Add in tea from pot and stir well.

-Add 8-12 ice cubes and store in fridge for up to 5 days.

-Serve over ice or mix 1/2 and 1/2 with Sprite/7UP for a refreshing carbonated drink that tastes like summer in all seasons! The cheapest place to grab these ingredients is DollarTree.

*This makes about 2 Litres. If you want less, use half of the amounts, but I warn you that doing so just makes more work for you to make more as it tastes phenomenal :)

5. Quick Iced Coffee Single Size

Boil 1 cup of water in a cup in the microwave on high for 1 minute 30 seconds. (or use a kettle/pan to heat water and then pour hot water directly into large heat resistant glass/container; and continue with directions).

-Add 2 Tablespoons instant coffee, sugar and cream/milk/coffee mate powder/etc as preferred and stir well (you can use previously brewed coffee if you have it made).

-Pour into a large glass over ice and add 1 cup more cold water/milk for a larger serving.

-Serve over ice with cinnamon, chocolate, etc powder/shavings or whipped cream for a special treat.

-Throw it all in a blender with additional ice if needed, and make your own 'frappe' instead!

- Make it Irish by adding 1 ounce liqueur of choice to a single size or 3-4 ounces for a 1L size if desired!

-To make a large batch: use 2 cups hot water, 4 Tablespoons coffee, cream and sugar as desired, stir well and pour into a 1 Litre container adding 2 more cups cold milk/water. Fill jug with ice, stir well and serve. Swap ingredients listed for your favourites and personalize this into your own creation also.

-This can be made in larger and stronger batches ahead of time and stored in the fridge like any other beverage. Make as directed but don't add ice. Pour what you want for a serving over ice in a glass or blend it up each time. This way you will have the base on hand whenever you want a special beverage or if company drops by it is a fast alternative to coffee or tea!

6. BONUS - Cut Water Residue in Pans **ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE IN MEXICO (where it is so bad you can't drink the water at all, but it is used for cooking anyway by many people)**

I thought the problem was specific to a few places in Canada and the US, but since traveling I found that in many parts of the world tap water has so much calcium and other minerals in it (either naturally or added) that it leaves a white filmy residue on pots and pans after boiling or cooking, that is extremely hard to get off.

It is so bad in some cities I have lived in that I have actually thrown out pots as I couldn’t get that film off and was concerned it would transfer to food cooked in the pots.

Solution: White Vinegar and Baking Soda

-Pour in about 1 cup (2 cups for a large pot) of plain vinegar and add 1-3 Tablespoons of baking soda to each pot and fill the rest of the way with COLD water.

-Let sit for anywhere from 5-20 minutes depending on how thick the white residue has caked on and then wash out while wiping with a dishcloth at the same time in warm water for a few minutes.

-The residue should lift off the inside of the pot by itself while soaking but using a dish cloth to make sure it all comes off is a smart move. It is better to use a soft cloth than a plastic or metal scrubber though as scrubbers can smear the loose sediment back into the pores of the metal pot and/or scrape non-stick surfaces.

-Wash the pot again normally with a small amount of soap and hot water and dry as usual.


I hope this helps you and/or yours to find even more ways to live/eat/feel better and healthier in some way!

Please send a comment via my website contact page form and let me know how this info has helped you and any tips you have that you would like to pass on as well!


Have an awesome day, make YOUR life what YOU WANT IT TO BE and NEVER GIVE UP!

Andy B. ;)


Peep my new MERCH STORE and stock up on gifts for the upcoming holidays now to save time, money and effort! New items added weekly so check back often!