Happy Memorial Day 2013

Healthy Patriotic Feast

Red, white, and blue are the colors for this military remembrance day. The day brings with it celebrations, parties, tributes, and sharing. What better way to share with others than by bringing a colorful dish or two to the potluck and feast? Here is a healthy way to participate...

RED:

Salvation Salsa

2 large hot house tomatoes, diced

¼ cup leek or red onion, diced

½ avocado, peeled and cubed

1-2 T chopped basil, rosemary, thyme and parsley

olive oil, to taste

2 T red wine vinegar

½ orange

Place all ingredients, except for orange, into mixing bowl. Combine thoroughly. Squeeze the orange over the mixture. Mix completely. Place in fridge to chill. Adjust vinegar and oil to taste.

Either enjoy the salsa as a halibut topping or a side dish.

WHITE:

Patriotic Halibut

1 pound halibut

½ t Italian seasoning

olive oil

Lightly spritz a grill or frying pan with the oil. Place the pan over medium heat. Rinse the halibut so it is moist. Cover the fish with seasoning. Cook halibut until done, about 8 minutes. Flip over at about the half-way mark to evenly cook. Check for doneness throughout cooking time.

BLUE:

Blueberry Smoothie

1 handful blueberries

1 cup plain yogurt

cinnamon, if desired

Place all ingredients into blender. Puree until desired consistency is reached. Serve chilled. Add a fresh sprig of mint to give a delightful and refreshing taste.

Find interesting? Kindly share..

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Colorful & Nutritious Beet Soup

Beets are the way to go if you want naturally colorful food that supplies a powerhouse of nutrients. In addition to making the greens into a salad, you can use the bulb in a variety of creative ways. Roasted, steamed, baked, boiled, or freshly grated, all provide excellent ways to enjoy this sweet and succulent veggie.

If you are looking for a quick, easy, and tasty way to enjoy these delectable root vegetables, consider making a batch of some homemade soup. While being short on time in the kitchen the other day, I conveniently and quickly put a variety of fresh veggies into a pot and came out with this welcoming dish....Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

8 cups water
1 large beet root, peeled and cut
1 small onion, cut
1/4 cup mushrooms, sliced
1-2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
1 small stalk broccoli, peeled and sliced
1 cup cabbage, sliced
1 garlic clove, diced or 1 T minced garlic
1 T Italian seasoning

Add water to large dutch oven or stock pot. Add remaining ingredients. Put pan onto stovetop burner. Cook at medium temperature until all veggies are poked done with a fork or knive. Stir to evenly distribute ingredients throughout cooking span. Reduce heat if ingredients begin to boil over. 

Serve with wholegrain crackers or bread. 

Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator. 

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Slow Cookin' Split Pea Haven

Here's a healthy recipe for a soup that can be slurped via a straw. I developed it while becoming acquainted with my crock pot oh..so many years ago. This recipe came in particularly handy while I was recuperating from my fractured jaw. It's also perfect for times when you want good nutrition without having to take the time to chew your food.

The longer you cook the mixture, the softer the veggies become. I like to cook it until everything purees together in one wondrous blend.

Slow-Cookin' Split Pea Haven

6 cups water

2 cups split peas, rinsed

1 medium carrot, sliced and peeled

1 small onion, peeled and sliced

1 T Italian seasoning

1 small stalk broccoli, peeled to remove thick outer coating

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup cabbage

* Place all ingredients into crockpot. Stir thoroughly. Set crockpot setting on HIGH.

* Cover and cook for five hours. Stir occasionally throughout cooking time to prevent sticking.

* Cooking times vary, so check periodically.

* Serve warm with a slice of wholegrain bread or crackers.

* Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator.

* Soup can also be frozen for later use.

NOTE: For a non-vegetarian version, you can add a skinless and boneless chicken breast or pork tenderloin to the pot. When done, the protein will easily fall apart with a fork.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone! Enjoy your favorite green beverage, some Irish Stew and the luck of the Irish!

Tasty & Easy Veggie Juice

Vegetable juice provides a wonderful way to get a variety of nutrients in liquid form. It is ideal for those fasting or simply wanting to get nourishment without chomping on something.

An interesting thing happened the other night that I feel is worth sharing. It involves a very easy and tasty way to make your own vegetable juice.

Fill the bottom of a dutch oven with about an inch of water. Place a metal steamer into the pan.

Cut up your favorite veggies. Mine included a yellow beet, onion, carrots, broccoli and mushrooms. Place the veggies onto the steamer.

Place the dutch oven onto a stovetop burner. Cook over medium heat until veggies can easily be poked with a fork or knive. Remove from heat.

Remove the veggies and place on serving platter. Then, remove the steamer and notice there is colorful liquid remaining in the plan. This is your tasty and nutritious veggie juice.

Let the juice cool. Either serve immediately or pour into large container and place in fridge for future enjoyment. You can store this juice for up to four days.

How easy is that?! Find interesting? Kindly share...

Butter Versus Margarine Debate

Greetings everyone! Apparently there is a heated debate over which is healthier - butter or margarine. At least, that's what the "health-oriented" emails are telling me. Anyways...I find that this is also a common topic in real life. So, I thought it would be fun to discuss it here....

I find it very interesting that when one is diagnosed with heart disease, or high levels of harmful cholesterol levels, that margarine is designated as being the preferred topping when compared to butter. Have you read the ingredients in margarine? I don't care how "healthy" this product is supposed to be...it's not. It contains so many additives, preservatives, chemicals and other nonsense that there is no way someone is going to convince me of its "health benefits". Also...trans fat is a huge NO NO for those afflicted with high LDL levels. Read the fine print on any of these "healthy" foods and notice that the ingredients usually contain the wording "partially hydrogenated vegetable oils". In other words....TRANS FATS.

Also, the FDA does not require a food manufacturer to label TRANS FATS as being a component of a product that contains less than .5mg per serving of this fat. Did you know that? Probably not...it's a well-hidden fact that I found out only upon doing an extensive research article for a notable publication. I'm certain other health-conscious individuals who are attuned to the food industry also know about this. And, yet....heart patients are told that margarine is "healthier" than butter. Spare me....

I firmly believe that the food manufacturers of margarine are funded by Conagra..or large food conglomerates functioning with profits as their main concern...not human health. Once again, read the label and find out who the food manufacturer is.

Read the ingredients of butter, in comparison. It contains cream, maybe salt. Unsalted varieties strictly contain cream. That is it. Yes, cream is high in saturated fat and calories. However, butter - like any food - is to be eaten in moderation. There is ZERO trans fat in butter.

So, as far as the butter versus margarine debate....there is none, in my opinion. I don't trust margarine. Never have, never will. I don't care how much the food industry promotes it as being healthy and good for me.

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My Unique Cookery: Strawberry Romanced Shortcakes

My Unique Cookery: Strawberry Romanced Shortcakes: Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers! This is the day of chocolates, red-colored foods and heart-shaped delights. So, let's make it quick...

Strawberry Romanced Shortcakes

Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers! This is the day of chocolates, red-colored foods and heart-shaped delights. So, let's make it quick and easy.

Buy a heart-shaped cookie cutter or you can simply use a knive.

Strawberry Romanced Shortcakes

You will need:
Frozen strawberries and juice
(You can make your own juice by simply using a fork to squash some strawberries until the juice runs out..)

Biscuits;
Either bake up some biscuits or buy some baked ones.
Cut them into heart shapes.

Whipped cream..

Place the biscuit bottom onto a serving plate.
Scoop some strawberries and juice over the bottom.
Place the top on.
Put a dollop of whipped cream on top for a finishing touch.

Serve for dessert or a healthy romantic snack.


How quick and easy is that?