Archive for May, 2009
Organic Wild Rice- A Healthy Food
Cooking at home gives you the option of selecting high quality organic ingredients for you and your family. Organic wild rice is a healthy food with a variety of ways to cook and serve.
Organic wild rice can be used to add color, flavor and texture in rice pilafs and soups, or can be served as a side dish. It also makes a delicious addition to salads and stuffings.
Organic wild rice is a low calorie food with great nutrition. One cup of rice provides 165 calories, 6.5 grams of protein, 35 grams of carbohydrates and 0.55 grams of total fat.
Enjoy cooking at home with this great recipe.
Organic Wild Rice With Pine Nuts
3 slices bacon
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup organic wild rice
2 1/4 cups water
Salt
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 Tbsp. butter
Cut bacon into 1/8 inch strips and saute in a large skillet until almost cooked. Add the onion, celery and garlic. Cook for five minutes or until onion is soft. Add the rice and water. Season with salt as desired. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes, or until the rice has absorbed the water. Uncover and remove from heat. In a small pan, saute pine nuts in the butter. Add to rice and toss. Serves 6.
Cooking - Great Northern Dried Beans
Cooking with Great Northern dried beans is a healthy and economical way to feed your family.
Dried beans are easy to store by putting them in a airtight container in a cool dry place.
Great Northern beans are related to kidney beans and pinto beans, and are grown in the midwestern States.
Great Northern dried beans are high in protein, high in fiber and low in fat.
Here is a great recipe cooking with dried beans which will provide nutritious healthy food for you and your family at an economical price.
Great Northern Dried Beans with Leeks and Bacon
2 cups dried Grean Northern beans
4 slices thick-sliced bacon, diced
2 Tbsp. extra- virgin olive oil
6 cups thinly sliced leeks [2 bunches]
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. salt
Coarsely ground black pepper
Place beans in a large Dutch oven. Cover with water to 2 inches above beans. Bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and let stand, covered for 1 hour.
Drain beans and return to pot. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Lower heat to simmer and cover until tender, 45 to 60 minutes. Drain beans, reserving some cooking water.
Return beans to pot.
Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain bacon drippings and add olive oil to skillet. Add leeks and garlic and saute for 10 minutes. Add leeks and garlic to beans. Crumble bacon and add to beans with salt and pepper. Add saved cooking water if beans seem dry. Serve hot. Serves 6.
Whole Grain Wheat Berries
What are whole grain wheat berries? Whole grain is a grain that still has its outer covering which is nutritionally rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
These grains are composed of nutritious carbohydrates which are made with all three parts of the grain.
The outer bran layer is important because it is rich in protein, fiber, B vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and folacin, and minerals such as zinc, copper, magnesium and iron.
The middle endosperm layer provides protein, B vitamins and almost all of the complex carbohydrate nutrition.
The small inner germ layer is bursting with antioxidants, B vitamins, Vitamin E and minerals.
Together, the nutrients of the whole grain work to protect against heart disease, diabetes, cancer and weight control. Whole grains have a positive effect on carbohydrate metabolism and help improve blood sugar control.
People who eat whole grains regularly have a lower risk of obesity and lower cholesterol levels. By eating three daily servings of whole grains our bodies are protected against disease and improve our immune system which in turn stabilizes the blood sugar level.
Whole grains are a nutritious healthy food that have valuable antioxidants not found in fruits and vegetables as well as B vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, iron and fiber.
Start eating whole grain wheat berries and for a longer healthier lifestyle.
Establishing Healthy Eating Habits
One of the most important things a parent can do for their children is teaching them how to eat right, because this will go miles towards helping them establish an overall healthy lifestyle. Eating right their entire life will reduce their risk of becoming significantly overweight at any point, and it will also create a more healthy-minded person overall. In this way, your kid will not only be interested in eating right, but it will also make them more likely to be interested in things like exercising and avoiding high risk activities such as smoking and excessive drinking.
One of the best ways to establish these healthy habits from the onset is by always putting together healthy snacks when you’re preparing meals for your kids. To that end, a great option is trail mix. This is a delicious mixture of peanuts, cashews, raisins, chocolate pieces, granola, and many other types of healthy additives. The snack is always a big hit with kids, but it will also go a long way to teaching them the kinds of foods that are both healthy and good tasting.
Eat Whole Wheat Organic Pasta Noodles
Whole wheat organic pasta noodles are a nutritious healthy food that will provide you with the nutrients that you need for a healthier life style. Let me tell you why.
Refined grains are milled, removing the vitamins, minerals, bran and germ. While many vitamins and minerals are later replaced, there is no comparison to the nutrient value of whole grains. Whole grains are naturally low in fat and high in fiber and contain vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, iron and zinc.
Many of the nutrients in whole grains help regulate blood pressure and cholesterol, thus improving heart health. As little as three servings per day of whole grains have shown to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
Look for whole wheat organic pasta noodles when you shop and you will enjoy a fuller flavor nutrient rich healthy food.
Whole wheat organic pasta noodles are great served plain with butter or with your favorite sauce.
Dried Beans Are A Healthy Food
Dried beans are economical as well as a nutritious healthy food.
They are high in protein and high in fiber, and contain valuable vitamins and minerals.
Small red beans have a flavor similar to red kidney beans and are smaller. They are often used in soups, salads, chili and creole dishes.
They are also called Mexican Red Bean and hold their shape and firmness when cooked.
Try this great recipe using different kinds of dried beans.
Alfresco Bean Salad
1/4 cup lime juice
4 1/2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. chili powder
Dash of salt and pepper
2 cups cooked dried red beans
1 can [15 0z.] whole kernel corn, drained
2 cups cooked dried garbanzo beans
2 cups cooked dried black beans
2 medium chopped tomatoes
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
Dash of salt and pepper
In a large bowl, whisk the lime juice, oil, chili powder, salt and pepper.
Add the remaining ingredients and toss to coat.
Chill until serving. Makes 12 servings.
A Story About Carob
The carob tree is a species of a flowering evergreen tree in the pea family that is native to the Mediterrean region.
It is cultivated for its edible seed pods.
Carob is a common sweetener and was used in ancient Egypt. Dried carob fruit is traditionally eaten on the Jewish holiday Tu Bishwat. Carob juice drinks are traditionally drunk during the Islamic month of Ramada.
Carob pods were an important source of sugar before sugarcane and sugar beets became widely available.
Carob has a slightly sweet taste resembling chocolate. It is used in chip or powder form as an ingredient in cakes and cookies.
Carob is sometimes used as a substitute for chocolate.
Carob coated nuts and raisins are a very healthy nutritious snack.
They have a flavorful natural sweet taste without using processed sugar.
Eating Healthy With Lentils
Lentils are an economical nutritious healthy food. Lentils are a good source of protein for vegetarians.
Lentils are good sources of vegetable protein, A and B vitamnins and calcium.
There is no need to soak them before cooking, and unlike dried beans, lentils become tender in about half an hour.
Dried lentils are available year round and can be stored at room temperature, tightly covered, for six to eight months.
Red, green, brown or yellow lentils can be used interchangeably in cooking.
Here is a great recipe for lentil stew.
Lentil Vegetable Stew
3 cups water
8 ounces dried lentils [about 1 1/4 cups]
2 medium potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. finely snipped parsley
1 Tbsp. instant beef bouillon
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch slices
lemon wedges
Heat water and lentils to boiling in Dutch oven, reduce heat. Cover and cook until lentils are almost tender, about 30 minutes.
Stir in potatoes, onion, celery, garlic, parsley, bouillon, salt and cumin. Cover and cook until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
Stir in zucchini, cover and cook until zucchini is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.
Serves 4 or 5.
Planning Healthy Food In Tough Economic Times
Tough times are reaching across all socio-economic levels. The present economy is making almost everyone look for ways to spend less.
Americans already consume too many calories and too few nutrients - overfed and undernourished. Cheap foods tend to be higher in fat, sugar and calories. Fast food value meals are a terrible nutritional value for the food dollar.
Shoppers already know that it isn’t easy to minimize food costs while maximizing nutrition.
Make a plan. Start cooking at home more and less eating out to get those nourishing healthy foods. Make a menu plan each week and plan meals based on weekly supermarket flyers and what food you already have on hand at home.
A good healthy food is dried beans. Shop for kidney beans, red beans, great northern beans or pinto beans. Get your recipe book out and look for recipes using dried beans, such as bean soup, chili or bean casserole dishes.
Dried beans are high in protein, high in fiber and contain valuable vitamins and minerals.
Look for articles on the internet for shopping for healthy food to provide your family with maximum nutrition and minimize food costs.
Healthy Nutritious Organic Wheat Berries
Organic wheat berries are a healthy food with more nutrition and flavor than other wheat berries. Studies have proven that organic food has increased nutrients with higher levels of vitamins and minerals.
Organic food products reduce health risks. Organic certification is our assurance that products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without persistent chemical inputs.
There are higher levels of antioxidants in organic food.
Studies show that infants are exposed to hundreds of harmful chemicals in utero. Our nation is now reaping the results of four generations of exposure to agricultural and industrial chemicals. Pesticides can adversely affect the nervous system, increase the risk of cancer and decrease fertility.
Let us start today eating organic wheat berries. They are great for cooking and baking. They are a nutritious flavorful healthy food.