April 26, 2020

Honey Lemongrass Tea

Lemongrass, a plant native to India, looks like stiff grass stalks but smells a bit like lemon. In this recipe, you use the tough green parts of the herb along with the more edible white portion of the stalks, because you will only steep the plant. Like lemongrass, honey–especially natural or raw honey–is an antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal food, so this tea recipe helps support immune function. Fructose gives it fewer calories than cane or beet sugar, and the body tolerates it better, too. Honey also contains antioxidants and is a natural cough remedy. Lemongrass can be found at Melissas.com […]
April 26, 2020

Spinach and Grapefruit Salad

Spinach contains iron as well as age-defying antioxidants. Grapefruit is chock-full of vitamin C and potassium. You can use vitamin-C-packed pink or white grapefruit in this salad, though pink grapefruit has the added benefit of lycopene. If you use whole segments of the grapefruit, you’ll also add fiber. The candied walnuts and dried apricots balance the acidity of the grapefruit and increase the antioxidants in this dish. My Honey-Lime Dressing perfectly compliments the mellow flavor of the spinach. SERVES 2 Ingredients 1 bunch or 1 bag spinach leaves 1 whole grapefruit, segmented ¼ cup candied walnuts ¼ cup dried apricots 2 […]
April 26, 2020

Mind and Beauty Juice

This juice blend is specifically formulated to help the skin look young and beautiful while protecting the mind. I use my Blendtec® Tabletop Total Blender to pulverize the carrots, cantaloupe, and cucumber. Carrots and melons have carotenoids, an antioxidant that fights skin aging. Cucumbers have silica, a mineral that helps skin retain moisture. I add a raw egg white for its collagen-building strength and its choline which supports healthy brain function. And I stir in nutritious green tea because its catechins will help keep teeth cavity-free and brains sharp. Serves 2 Ingredients 1 (16-oz.) bag of organic baby carrots ½ cantaloupe, rind […]
April 15, 2020

Stay-at-Home, Slow Cooker Stew

This tasty stew was the perfect comfort food for our stay-at-home lives. We were out of corn and peas so substituted them with what we found in the freezer — edamame and green beans. Luckily, we had some grass-fed beef that was tender, moist and full of flavor. Serves 4-8 (depending on slow cooker insert size) Ingredients 6 Yukon gold or red potatoes, quartered 4 medium carrots, cut to 1-inch lengths 2-3 medium onions, quartered 2 to 3 pounds of beef chuck or stew meat (grass fed if you can find it). Trim the fat and cut to 1-inch cubes […]
November 5, 2019

Brussels Sprouts: A Mighty Cancer-Fighting Vegetable

Brussels sprouts may be small but they offer big benefits. These mighty sprouts represent a cancer-fighting powerhouse and are part of the cruciferous cabbage family which have more cancer-preventative nutrients than any other category of vegetables. They contain a chemical called sinigrin that suppresses the development of pre-cancerous cells, causing them to self-destruct. The sulfur-containing compounds in Brussels sprouts are what activate the cancer-fighting enzyme systems in your body. They are delicious and take on an almost creamy texture when they are roasted with olive oil, a little salt, pepper and a splash of lemon juice. Brussels sprouts, pomegranate, and […]
May 13, 2019

Lemongrass: A Stalk to Remember

Lemongrass, a plant native to India and Southeast Asia, looks like stiff grass stalks (it really is a grass!), but it smells and tastes a bit like lemon or lime. The stalks, which can reach five feet in height, also grow in Australia, Africa, and the United States. The oil from lemongrass is used to scent soaps and bath products, as a potent antiseptic, and, when diluted and applied to the skin, to reduce acne. Lemongrass contains citral, which studies have shown induce cancer cells to self-destruct. Lemongrass also contains vitamins A, B, and C, plus calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. […]
April 2, 2019

Whitefish with Turmeric

This is another of my cross-cultural wonders. It’s like a veal scaloppini, but substituting fish for meat and marinating it in turmeric juice makes this dish much more healthful. The Omega-3s in the fish are great for skin hydration and elasticity, and turmeric is known the world over for its amazing anti-inflammatory benefits. Tilapia fillets work best because they’re so thin and cook quickly, but you can use other thin whitefish fillets if you prefer. Serve these fillets over my Whole-Wheat Garlic Noodles. Serves 4 Ingredients 1/3 cup Fresh Turmeric Juice 2 Tbs. mirin (seasoned rice wine) Sea salt and […]
April 2, 2019

Atchara Pickle

When I was a teenager, my mom and I would make atchara together. Atchara is a sweet-and-sour pickle made with green, unripe papayas and other vegetables. My mom would make florets out of a few carrots because they added beauty and color to the pickle. Eaten with grilled pork or fried fish, it’s considered a national dish of the Philippines. In America, I eat it with BBQ, grilled meat, and smoked fish. Papayas contain papain, an enzyme that helps break down proteins. This is why I sometimes use green papaya as a meat tenderizer. (There is less papain in ripe […]