Grace O

June 21, 2016

Published by Grace O

Olive and Herb Tapenade

Summer entertaining? Whether you’re hosting a barbeque, a birthday, or a party in the garden, be sure to offer your guests healthy and savory appetizers. A Mediterranean tapenade rich with olives, garlic and herbs is the perfect hearty pre-dinner snack. Olives are full of anti-inflammatory heart-healthy fat and packed with briny flavor. Serve this tapenade with whole wheat pita, crackers, or the vegetables of your choice. YIELDS 1 Cup Ingredients 1 cup kalamata olives, pitted 2 Tbs. capers, drained ½ tsp. dried oregano 2-3 leaves fresh basil, ripped into small pieces 1 medium clove garlic, minced ¼ tsp. freshly ground […]

June 7, 2016

Published by Grace O

Nettles Add Power to Pesto

At the height of allergy season, incorporating nettles into your meals can be a soothing practice offering relief. With research supporting the use of nettles for seasonal allergies and hay fever, this plant contains anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties (Learn more about the benefits of nettles in our story on them). It is also rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Nettles care commonly cooked into a tea, but they also make a flavorful sauce. Enjoy this fresh nettle pesto today over quinoa or gluten-free pasta. Chef’s note: Never eat or touch fresh nettles; heat neutralizes the volatile compound that sting […]

May 28, 2016

Published by Grace O

Why I Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

My father was a physician who taught me a great deal about diet and health, after moving to California over twenty years ago, I easily transitioned from my culinary life into the world of health care. Today, I own and operate several skilled nursing facilities. But I never lost my love for cooking. As I learned more about the positive effects healthy food and ingredients have on disease and aging, I was compelled to get back in the kitchen and create a cookbook (now TWO of them – The Age GRACEfully Cookbook and my new The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook) that fuse […]

May 11, 2016

Published by Grace O

How Grace O Creates Her Recipes

I start creating a recipe only after I find a fruit or grain or spice that has something beneficial to offer

May 4, 2016

Published by Grace O

Remember Mom’s Comfort Food

My mother would make a dish I now call Mama’s Chicken Sauté for our family dinners whenever we wanted comfort

April 26, 2016

Published by Grace O

Pecan & Sundried Tomato Tapenade

I found the inspiration for this tapenade while at a health spa in Mexico. Of course, I put my own special FoodTrients spin on it to create a great topping for fish and a dip for crackers and bread. The pecans can be toasted or raw. I like to use sundried tomatoes preserved in olive oil. Benefits Pecans contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help improve your blood circulation by lowering triglycerides, or bad fats. Omega-3s help your skin by reducing inflammation that can lead to accelerated skin aging. Tomatoes, especially sundried, are a rich source of lycopene, an antioxidant […]

April 25, 2016

Published by Grace O

A Fusion of Flavors Accent Shrimp & Quinoa Recipe

This week, I have a fistful of flavor to bring to a new quinoa dish from my latest cookbook, The AGE BEAUFITULLY Cookbook. In Southeast Asia, where I grew up, the cuisine has been influenced by many countries: China, Japan, Spain, France, America, and to some extent the Middle East and Northern Africa. So I’ve been practicing fusion cooking my whole life. My mother ran a cooking school and my family operated multiple restaurants. My recipe for shrimp on sugar-cane skewers is a perfect example of Asian fusion food. It became very popular in our restaurants and then spread all over […]

April 13, 2016

Published by Grace O

Why Should You Care About FoodTrients?

By Grace O The right foods, herbs and spices can help us detox, lose weight, improve our skin and live longer, more vital lives. But how do you know which foods to choose? One of the things I set out to do in my cookbooks is to make it easy to see what each recipe (and its ingredients) can do for you. We started out with five symbols (icons) for the benefits in my first cookbook, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, but I expanded it to eight icons in my new book, The Age Beautifully Cookbook. Here’s what each icon means: […]

April 12, 2016

Published by Grace O

FoodTrients Created By Hunger for a Healthier Life

After I turned 50, I had my own health issues. I have problems with my knees, which led me to struggle with my weight – working hard to lose it only to gain it back again. But believe it or not, all of the work I have done on FoodTrients and writing The Age GRACEfully Cookbook and The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook and using FoodTrients ingredients has helped me stay healthy – my cholesterol is normal, all of my bloodwork is normal. I don’t take any medication, I strive to add FoodTrients ingredients to all my meals, which helps me maintain […]