November 5, 2024

Prune and Walnut Bars Are an Age-Defying Dessert

Prune and Walnut Bars Prunes and walnuts are both exceedingly high in antioxidant power. Both are listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) scale with over 10,000 units. Eating a ¼-cup serving of prunes, or about four prunes, provide you with 12% of the daily value for fiber, 32% of the daily value for vitamin K and 9% of the daily value for potassium. A hundred grams of prunes (about ½ cup) provides at least 9% of your daily needs for the B vitamins, niacin, riboflavin and vitamin B-6.  Walnuts have heart-healthy omega-3 […]
October 31, 2024

Tipsy Persimmon Bread

Persimmons are a stunning deep orange fruit available in the fall when your neighbor’s decorative tree explodes with the fruit. There are two types of persimmons: the Japanese Hachiya, which is large and round with an elongated tip. The Fuyu is smaller and can look like a tomato. The Hachiya is soft to the touch when ripe and the flesh is smooth and creamy with a tangy-sweet flavor. If not completely ripe, the flesh is very astringent and mouth puckering. The Fuyu, on the other hand, is firm even when ripe and the flesh is sweet and not at all […]
October 31, 2024

Butternut Squash Loaf

Anyone can make pumpkin bread. How about butternut squash bread or better yet, honeynut squash (butternut’s smaller, sweeter cousin) bread? It’s easy to make your own squash puree but you can also use canned if you can find it. The puree gets folded into an easy batter spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom and a bit of orange juice. The resulting bread turns out moist and tender, with the sweet, spicy taste of fall. Benefits Butternut squash is packed with beta-carotene and fiber, offering a variety of health benefits. The high fiber content not only helps to regulate digestion […]
October 17, 2024

Sautéed Dandelion Greens with Eggs

Long the scourge of suburban lawns, dandelions are one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. These sautéed dandelion greens with leeks, eggs, and feta cheese showcase this often underappreciated leafy green. To help reduce bitterness, the dandelion greens are quickly blanched in salted boiling water. This is a protein-packed brunch or supper between the eggs and the cheese. Benefits Dandelion leaves can help control blood sugar, manage blood pressure, and reduce systemic inflammation. They are also loaded with antioxidants that can protect cells from stress and keep your immune system strong. At just 25 calories per cup, raw […]
October 8, 2024

Heart-Healthy Green Tea Noodles Ramp Up the Flavor

Green Tea Noodles with Edamame Green tea, with its powerful theaflavins, is a strong antioxidant with vigorous anti-inflammatory properties, a heart-healthy addition to anyone’s diet. Green tea is wonderful to drink on its own, but it also can be incorporated into recipes.  I use an old Asian trick for mixing more green tea into your diet with my Green Tea Noodles with Edamame. It’s an easy and budget-friendly recipe. Just boil soba, udon, or ramen noodles in green tea instead of water. Green tea has far more age-fighting power than water. If you want to eat these noodles cold, rinse […]
September 24, 2024

Pork Loin Pockets Are a Meal With Big Benefits

Pork Loin Pockets I spread pork tenderloin slices with tomato paste to give this dish the antioxidant  benefits of licopene. Canadian bacon has less fat than its American counterpart. It also adds a lot of flavor. Sulfur compounds in onions are great anticancer agents. Onions also contain antioxidants and quercetin. Steamed carrot sticks and broccoli make a nice accompaniment to these tasty pockets. Serves 6-8 Ingredients 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 lb.), cut into 8 slices Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste 8 slices Canadian bacon 1⁄4 cup flour 2 beaten medium eggs […]
September 10, 2024

Strawberry Almond Cake Is GF and Delicious

Strawberry Almond Cake This almond cake recipe works well with gluten-free flour. I prefer the taste and texture of Cup4Cup flour. I also use monk fruit sweetener, which works beautifully as a sugar substitute. I recommend buying a brand that has been blended with erythritol so that you can replace it 1:1 with white sugar, like Lakanto, which makes both a classic variety and a Golden variety that substitutes for brown sugar. It’s available on Amazon, in Walmart, or in health-food stores. This cake is delicious even without the whipped-cream topping. Benefits: Monk fruit sweetener is made from the juice […]
August 12, 2024

This Berry Salad Is Colorful AND Refreshing

Aztec Berry Salad With Chia Dressing The Aztecs recorded using chia seeds as far back as 1540. This colorful and refreshing salad is perfect for summer afternoons and evenings. Serve this salad as a starter, side dish, or light summer meal. Benefits: Chia seeds provide energy in the form of healthy fats (including anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids) and plant-based protein. Fresh, seasonal berries provide a concentrated source of beneficial antioxidants such as vitamin C and anthocyanins, which improve capillary function in the brain, eyes, and skin. SERVES 4 Ingredients For the salad 2 cups (packed) roughly chopped baby spinach 1 […]
July 14, 2024

Acai Sorbet Is a Purple Powerhouse of a Dessert

Açaí Sorbet Açaí berries are deep-purple powerhouses, super-rich in antioxidants and anthocyanins. Both properties are great for keeping your body young and healthy. This beautiful frozen confection is very easy to make. Servings 2-4 Ingredients  1 egg white 3 Tbs. sugar 2 cups açaí juice Procedure Using a stand or hand-held mixer, whip the egg white and sugar until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Fold in the açaí juice. Transfer the mixture to an ice cream machine. Follow ice cream machine freezing instructions until the sorbet achieves the texture of soft-serve ice cream, about 30 minutes. You can also freeze […]