Age GracefullyFire Up the Flavor for Labor Day Weekend!
Nothing says summer quite like gathering around the grill—and my Summertime Grilled Chicken is an easy, colorful way to celebrate Labor Day weekend. The chicken is marinated in my bright and zesty Honey-Lime Dressing, grilled until tender, and topped with a refreshing Strawberry-Avocado Relish. It’s sweet, savory, and just a little unexpected—exactly what a holiday cookout needs! Bringing a dish to a barbecue? Cook the chicken ahead of time and refrigerate it. When you arrive, warm it briefly on the grill to bring back that fresh-off-the-barbecue flavor. Add the relish just before serving, and you’ll have a beautiful dish without […]READ MORE
April 24, 2023
Published by Grace O
When pollen is flying through the air on a spring or summer breeze, foods that reduce allergy symptoms can be a lifesaver. Eating specific compounds—such as the FoodTrients omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin, gingerol, oleuropein, and quercitin, as well as probiotics—go a long way toward reducing the swelling of nasal passages and the production of antihistamines. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in large, deep-water fish, whole grains, and nuts. You can also take omega-3 supplements daily to help fight inflammation. Curcumin is an ingredient of the spice turmeric. I have a few recipes using turmeric if you need some ideas for […]
April 11, 2023
Published by Grace O
Is there any more perfect food than an egg – both to look at and to eat? The pristine white or café au lait brown ovals are so full of promise. The rich golden yolk is quivering with possibilities. Besides being beautiful, eggs are nutritional powerhouses and prime FoodTrients. They are rich sources of selenium, vitamin D, B6, B12 and minerals such as zinc, iron and copper. Eggs contain fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and are a source of high-quality protein at a mere 84 calories each. Their inexpensive yet high-quality protein content makes you feel fuller longer […]
March 28, 2023
Published by Grace O
I had never used a slow cooker until a few years ago when someone gave me one as a sort-of joke. To tell the truth, I’ve come to love it! You throw in a few ingredients in the morning, you come home in the evening and dinner’s ready. The Crock-Pot debuted for home cooks over 40 years ago as a method to cook dried beans. It became an efficient way for homemakers and busy people to serve affordable, tender, delicious meals using inexpensive cuts of meat, making it easy for moms and dads to prepare wholesome meals every day. Crockpots and […]
March 14, 2023
Published by Grace O
Eastern European foods are not necessarily known for their healthy attributes. In general, the foods of countries including Russia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Lithuania and the Czech Republic are heavy on meat, sour cream and lard or chicken fat. However, they are delicious comfort foods, no matter where in the world you or your ancestors hail from. In the spirit of FoodTrients, I’ve adapted some recipes to make them lighter, more healthful versions of the originals. Here are a few of the guidelines I used to make these recipes more modern and health-friendly: Add vegetables – By increasing the […]
February 25, 2023
Published by Grace O
On freezing winter days, nothing warms you up more than a hot, hardy bowl of soup. Add to that a variety of ingredients that boost your immune system, and you’ve got the makings of a perfect cold-weather meal. While we don’t have the severe winter weather that much of the country has, we do have chilly winter nights here in California. On those nights, I love to come home and prepare a delicious soup. Here are six of my favorite soup recipes that I hope you will enjoy. Potato Kale Soup Serves 4 This Balkan-inspired recipe has clean, bright flavors that […]
February 16, 2023
Published by Grace O
At the grocery store, there are aisles and aisles full of oils. How do you know which is best to use? Which ones are the healthiest? A variety of oils are popular in different parts of the world and, depending on whether you are sautéing or making a marinade, it is good to know what works best for your meals and is best for your health as well. Here’s the FoodTrients® breakdown for the best, healthiest oil to choose and when. Health Benefits of Oils Oils and dietary fats are essential to the function of all cells and to be […]
February 14, 2023
Published by Grace O
This winter we need to be particularly careful to avoid colds and flu. I am just too busy to get sick, so I pay special attention to what I eat. My father was a doctor in Southeast Asia and he always said that if you are in general good health, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water and wash your hands frequently, you’re doing a lot to prevent a nasty case of the flu. Now, as we fight a pandemic, we need to wear masks in public to protect ourselves and others. Here are some immune-boosting foods that are […]
February 1, 2023
Published by Grace O
What foods can you eat to help you look younger and promote healthy smooth skin, strong nails, and shiny hair? Fruits, vegetables, melons, peppers, grains, nuts, mushrooms, and fish containing the FoodTrients anthocyanins, carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and vitamins C and E, as well as copper, silica, and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). Let’s explore these one at a time and see why they’re so good for our complexion, nails, and hair. Anthocyanins improve capillary function. Your capillaries bring blood to your skin and are therefore very important for optimum skin health. You can get anthocyanins in your diet by eating […]
January 30, 2023
Published by Grace O
I don’t know about you, but I am wild about saffron. Saffron is a golden red spice from the stigmas of a small purple crocus native to the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and Iran where it was first cultivated during the Bronze Age. Each flower produces just three stigmas (or threads) and must be harvested by hand then dried. It takes 14,000 of the tiny stigmas to yield one ounce of the spice which retails for $500. Saffron has not only been used to flavor and tint foods, but it’s been used to dye fabrics and as a perfume. The flavor […]
January 30, 2023
Published by Grace O
Do you know where Malta is? Many people probably don’t. You’ve heard of The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart and there’s a good chance you’ve met a fluffy, white Maltese dog. But one of the best things I discovered in my visit to Malta is the cuisine. Malta consists of a small archipelago of islands in the Mediterranean about 50 miles south of Sicily, approximately 200 miles north of Libya, and 175 miles east of Tunisia. It’s been inhabited for thousands of years by various conquerors passing through including Phoenicians, Carthaginians (both from the eastern Mediterranean), Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, […]
January 30, 2023
Published by Grace O
I love to cook and entertain, especially during the holidays, but this holiday season challenged us all to celebrate differently with Zoom parties, staying at home, and social distancing. For me, baking is a great way to de-stress, and because I believe in indulging friends and family with delicious food, drink and desserts, this year I made my mother’s recipe for fruitcake and my own recipe for biscotti and had them delivered. After a couple of months of holiday meals and baking up a storm, I am ready to start 2022 with a “clean” slate. That calls for some detoxing. […]
January 30, 2023
Published by Grace O
The versatility of pesto can help us all do our very besto when it comes to adding great flavor and big benefits to dishes. Use your imagination and check out the pesto chart along with two of my out-of-the-box pestos that deliver great taste along with powerful nutrients. You can serve these and any favorite pesto over vegetables; pasta; flatbread … whatever you choose! Nettle 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 […]
January 3, 2023
Published by Grace O
I love to open up my home and invite friends and family over for celebrations. And the holiday season provides irresistible opportunities to throw great parties that people will remember. My first priority is always my guests, and I ensure that they are well fed, entertained, and delighted. Good food is vital to any party. Hungry guests are not happy guests, so I have a wide variety of food available for the duration of the party. During the holidays, a time when people tend to overeat and overindulge, I offer some healthful party fare in addition to seasonal favorites. Give […]