January 21, 2011
Eggs, wonderful eggs! Once they were thought to be unhealthy, but now eggs have made a comeback. Eggs are an excellent source of proteins, vitamins, and Omega-3 fatty acids. The protein from eggs is more effective in muscle-building than beef or milk. A bonus to cooking eggs is they are easy to prepare in many different ways. Mediterranean recipes have many delicious uses for eggs. You can make a very healthy and tasty meal with eggs, vegetables and whole grains. So have your egg today!
October 1, 2010
Football season is here and it is a great time to enjoy some Mediterranean foods. Whether you are enjoying the game in front of the big screen t.v. or tailgating, you can try a variety of delicious and heart-healthy foods for gametime. There are some wonderful foods which will make great finger foods and main meals for your football fans. Try the crostini, feta phyllo triangles, churros, focaccia and guacamole for your appetizers. The main meal can be the Tortilla Lasagna, Lasagna, or even the Eggplant Calabrese. These bake ahead of time and can be easily transported to the tailgating party. The foods are so delicious you will want to make enough for seconds!
September 18, 2010
Olive oil is a main ingredient in all the Mediterranean area. You cannot travel throughout the entire area without finding olive trees, olives and olive oil everywhere. Foods are prepared with olive and the oil, itself, is eaten with bread and used as a topping for many foods. It is amazing how delicious a meal can become just by adding some good olive oil. You may find it is a little more expensive, however, it is well worth it for the flavor alone--not even to mention the health benefits! The monounsaturated fats in olive oil reduces bad cholesterol and the polyphenols are powerful antioxidants which contribute to overall health and heart health! Check the Mayo Clinic website for more clinical information on olive oil.
August 25, 2010
There is a real danger of cancer-causing substances developing on your meats when you grill. However, you can minimze the risk of these substances from developing by only choosing lean cuts of meat, using plenty of herbs, using olive oil, and marinating the meats. All these steps will significantly reduce the chances of cancer-causing substances from ever forming on your meats. You can read more about healthy grilling at the link below:
"Recently scientists at the Food Safety Consortium project at Kansas State University have discovered that herbs of the Lamiaceae family (Basil, Mint, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, and Sage) used in marinades reduced HCA formation dramatically. This is good news and a great reason to grill with flavor. These herbal antioxidants reduce the formation of free radicals (bad stuff) when meat hits heat." bbq.about.com/od/grillinghelp/a/aa022099.htm
August 12, 2010
Cooking light is much easier in the summer with the wide variety of fruits and vegetables available. It is fun and easy to prepare a healthy and delicious dinner for the entire family. There plenty of fresh vegetables available at supermarkets and groceries. You will love the fresh harvest of eggplants, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, green beans, lettuce, cucumbers, spinach, radishes, and so much more. Make good use of all these vegetables by preparing a huge salad and add a little touch of feta cheese, or mozzarella to flavor it up. This will help you get your daily requirement of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A and C, B vitamins, fiber, and even iron. Flavor up your salad with lemon juice, vinegar, olives and herbs like fresh basil and fresh oregano. Enjoy the summer harvest.
July 19, 2010
Now is seems everywhere you shop for groceries, zucchini are in fresh supply! It is that time of year when zucchini are abundant. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, one cup supplies 35% of your daily requirement. One cup has 2 grams of protien. and 1 gram of dietary fiber, while remaining low-calorie, fat-free, and low in carbs. Zucchini are very low on the glycemic index (2) and provide some anti-inflammatory benefits. This is a versatile vegetable; it can be fried, boiled, baked, broiled and added to many recipes. You must try zucchini cake or bread--it is similar to carrot cake and pumpkin bread and very delicious!!!
July 12, 2010
Green beans are in season and they are packed full of healthy benefits. Green beans are a favorite in the Mediterranean region and they are delicious. You can prepare them simply by steaming them in a covered saucepan with only a few tablespoons of water over high heat and then lower heat for only a few minutes. The steam will cook them and you just season with salt, pepper, crushed garlic and olive oil to taste. Also, in Mediterreanen cooking green beans are used in sauces, stews and salads. They are an excellent source of iron, which is fundamental to the production of hemoglobin. Green beans provide vitamins A and C, which helps prevent the oxidation of cholesterol to keep arteries clear and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. So add some green beans to your meals today!
July 5, 2010
Fresh cherries are in season and there are several varieties to try! You may have already heard of Bing, Rainier, and Van cherries, however, there are several other varieties of cherries. The Bing cherries are dark red and sweet. They are excellent for eating and for most recipes. Cherries are wonderful all on their own, however, they make very delicious ingredients for pies, crostadas, fillings, toppings, ice cream and so much more. Studies have documented the nutritiona and antioxidants in cherries. Most recently studies have shown cherries reduce pain, reduce inflammation, help lower cholesterol and aid in sleep. They are definitely heart-healthy and taste delicious!
July 5, 2010Fresh are in season and there are several varieties to try! You may have already heard of Bing, Rainier, and Van cherries, however, there are several other varieties of cherries. The Bing cherries are dark red and sweet. They are excellent for eating and for most recipes. Cherries are wonderful all on their own, however, they make very delicious ingredients for pies, crostadas, fillings, toppings, ice cream and so much more. Studies have documented the nutritiona and antioxidants in cherries. Most recently studies have shown cherries reduce pain, reduce inflammation, help lower cholesterol and aid in sleep. They are definitely heart-healthy and taste delicious!
July 5, 2010Fresh are in season and there are several varieties to try! You may have already heard of Bing, Rainier, and Van cherries, however, there are several other varieties of cherries. The Bing cherries are dark red and sweet. They are excellent for eating and for most recipes. Cherries are wonderful all on their own, however, they make very delicious ingredients for pies, crostadas, fillings, toppings, ice cream and so much more. Studies have documented the nutritiona and antioxidants in cherries. Most recently studies have shown cherries reduce pain, reduce inflammation, help lower cholesterol and aid in sleep. They are definitely heart-healthy and taste delicious!
July 5, 2010Fresh are in season and there are several varieties to try! You may have already heard of Bing, Rainier, and Van cherries, however, there are several other varieties of cherries. The Bing cherries are dark red and sweet. They are excellent for eating and for most recipes. Cherries are wonderful all on their own, however, they make very delicious ingredients for pies, crostadas, fillings, toppings, ice cream and so much more. Studies have documented the nutritiona and antioxidants in cherries. Most recently studies have shown cherries reduce pain, reduce inflammation, help lower cholesterol and aid in sleep. They are definitely heart-healthy and taste delicious!
July 5, 2010Fresh are in season and there are several varieties to try! You may have already heard of Bing, Rainier, and Van cherries, however, there are several other varieties of cherries. The Bing cherries are dark red and sweet. They are excellent for eating and for most recipes. Cherries are wonderful all on their own, however, they make very delicious ingredients for pies, crostadas, fillings, toppings, ice cream and so much more. Studies have documented the nutritiona and antioxidants in cherries. Most recently studies have shown cherries reduce pain, reduce inflammation, help lower cholesterol and aid in sleep. They are definitely heart-healthy and taste delicious!
July 5, 2010Fresh are in season and there are several varieties to try! You may have already heard of Bing, Rainier, and Van cherries, however, there are several other varieties of cherries. The Bing cherries are dark red and sweet. They are excellent for eating and for most recipes. Cherries are wonderful all on their own, however, they make very delicious ingredients for pies, crostadas, fillings, toppings, ice cream and so much more. Studies have documented the nutritiona and antioxidants in cherries. Most recently studies have shown cherries reduce pain, reduce inflammation, help lower cholesterol and aid in sleep. They are definitely heart-healthy and taste delicious!
July 5, 2010Fresh are in season and there are several varieties to try! You may have already heard of Bing, Rainier, and Van cherries, however, there are several other varieties of cherries. The Bing cherries are dark red and sweet. They are excellent for eating and for most recipes. Cherries are wonderful all on their own, however, they make very delicious ingredients for pies, crostadas, fillings, toppings, ice cream and so much more. Studies have documented the nutritiona and antioxidants in cherries. Most recently studies have shown cherries reduce pain, reduce inflammation, help lower cholesterol and aid in sleep. They are definitely heart-healthy and taste delicious!
June 4, 2010
As summer approaches, the ice cream, sherbert and Italian ice are calling. These warm weather treats are too good to pass, however, moderation is key. Although recent studies have found a benefit to eating whole-milk ice cream, don't finish off a box in one day. This is tempting, however, 1/2 cup is a good portion size. The CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) in whole milk has been shown to help reduce belly fat. CLA is also found in beef, particularly in grass-fed cattle. By the way, grass-fed cattle is the best beef to purchase and avoid beef from cattle which is fed fillers and animal meat. Studies found CLA had benefits of aiding in weight loss, reducing cholesterol, and improving immunity (study by Dr. Pariza. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2000). So enjoy some ice cream and try the recipe for Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake!