Posts Tagged: healthy

Golden Milk AM Blend (w/ Power Herbs)

Golden Milk Mix for easy drinks, health

Like a lot of health-foodies, I got into making my own golden milk. I also created a blend for the morning, which includes matcha green tea, gelatin, and some serious power herbs. (The benefits of these herbs are impressive, as a quick word-search will prove!)

This recipe is not the one you stir together in the evening, in some “relaxing” ritual. (I don’t have time for that myself!) No, this is a quick, handy version, to get optimal nourishment in minimal time, Perfect for those of us who need to stay healthy and keep up with a tight, rigorous routine.

German Potato Salad (Good Starch?!)

Cold_Potato_Starch_Equals_Healthy

I always figured potato salad wasn’t exactly healthy. But what if it WAS? Turns out, cold potato starch (along with other “resistant starches”) can improve gut health, which can help with obesity, inflammation, mood (etc., etc.). Wow–sign me up, right?! Not only is potato salad a great comfort food and party food, to get scientific, cold potato starch contains certain “prebiotics”, which are highly beneficial. Hooray- a superfood for the digestive system, that tastes awesome!

Golden Milk Recipe for Golden Age

Homemade Golden Milk

Turmeric! It’s anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and about ten other things. Basically, the answer for everything. (OK, maybe we can’t go that far…) Looks like it’s gone mainstream, too. I just saw “Golden Milk Powder” featured on display at a local store. But it had dextrose and other weird ingredients in it, so I’ll continue to make my own. Mine is cheaper, and higher quality, even if it is more time-consuming.

Ginger Bug: Easy Recipe, Healthy Gingerale

Easy recipe, ginger bug

Most recipes for ginger bug would have us grating some fresh ginger every day, mixing it with a bit more sugar and water, to feed the bug. I don’t have time for that! So I came up with a quicker method: I process the whole bunch of ginger with an equal part of sugar, and store that mix in the freezer. Then it’s easy to scoop a little out for the daily feedings.

Hazelnut Orange Pilaf

Bulgar Wheat w/Hazelnuts & Orange Zest

In the old days (yes, I’ve been cooking a long time), we had to get raw hazelnuts in bulk, with the skins on. That meant roasting them and then rolling them in a towel to get the bitter skins off. A tedious job. Or, my mom had another method, adding baking soda to some boiling water and soaking them in that. How much easier now, that I can just pick some up, already toasted and ready to use, at Trader Joe’s!

Fresh Mozzarella Salad (w/Salt-Infused Garlic)

Salted garlic + olive oil + fresh motz

Some folks think there’s something magical about our Italian dressing at the deli. Well, it’s true that food can often taste better when someone else makes it. But still, why is that homemade New Deli Italian dressing so dang good?!

I think part of it is that the garlic and herbs are mixed together with the salt first. The garlic absorbs some of the salt, and the saltiness dissipates into the dressing. The salt seems to be a vehicle to carry the flavors along. Sounds kind of mystical! But, try it- it’s sooo delicious!

Paella: Rice Dish w/Seafood (or Fave Meat)

Paella w/ Saffron, New Deli Style

Rice-cooker, step aside. There is more than one way to skin a cat (ew- sorry, PITA). What I mean is, there’s more than one way to cook rice!

Paella is a Spanish rice dish, typically made in a “paella pan”. (My iron skillet works just fine.) I add a bit of turmeric to this too- it’s got many benefits, including being anti inflammatory. Plus, when turmeric is coupled with black pepper, its healthy effects are squared to the tenth power! (Or something like that…)

Brazil Bark (For Fast, Healthy Smoothies)

Mix coconut spread, butter, and Brazil nuts- add chunks to smoothies

Why “Brazil Bark”? For the best, easy, nutritious smoothies and other drinks! The coconut spread has MCTs that contribute to brain health and energy. The butter is synergistic for those of us taking cod liver oil (which improves our Omega 3/6 ratio). And Brazil nuts give us our daily selenium, which can be hard to come by. Whoot!

Chicken, Moroccan Style

Olives, Raisins, Toasted Almonds, Make Tasty Morrocan Chicken

Back in the seventies, I soon discovered as a newlywed that my in-laws were classic meat-and-potato folk. So Tom’s dad looked pretty alarmed when I served the family an exotic ethnic dish with raisins and green olives in it. It was a Betty Crocker recipe , and perhaps not totally authentic. I’ve since discovered a Moroccan recipe we really enjoy. It’s exotic. It’s different. It’s delicious!

Sourdough Whole Wheat Bread

Sourdough Bread w/whole grains

If I’m going to make homemade sourdough bread using freshly ground whole wheat flour, I definitely need a system. Otherwise, I won’t have time for this! Below is the streamlined recipe I’ve been using…