You have probably heard of replacing oil with applesauce in a baking recipe (if you haven’t it is very easy- simply replace measure for measure- equally.) I recently heard about ditching the eggs and using chia seeds instead which offer many health benefits equal or greater than that of eggs. I also learned that the same can be done with ground flaxseeds. The best part is that chia seeds and flaxseeds don’t contain the cholesterol found in eggs and they both contain healthy protein. I [continue reading...]
Cool Lime Refresher copycat recipe
I know summer is winding down for most of you, however, those of us in Florida still have many more months of warm sunshine. For me, summer doesn’t end until late October. One of my greatest joys this past summer have come from my trips to Starbucks, not to get a hot coffee, but instead to indulge in one of their refreshers. My favorites are the Very Berry Hibiscus and the Cool Lime flavor. In my opinion, the cool lime is not only the most refreshing, it is the one with most unique flavor. [continue reading...]
Do you wash your seeds and nuts?
I recently attended an Indian cooking class at Whole Foods Market. Our instructor was Shahnez Nensey, a Holistic Practitioner, and she made a comment about the importance of washing seeds and nuts before consuming them. I take it by the reaction of my fellow pupils at the cooking class that this is not a common practice. Many people were surprised and began asking questions. Do you wash your seeds and nuts before eating them? I never really thought about it. I buy a 9-cup bag of raw [continue reading...]
Salt Room Halotherapy
There has been a surge in popularity in salt rooms in the United States and I had to try it out for myself to see what the hype is about. The idea is that you sit in a room that is covered in salt and a purified salt air is pumped into the room as you relax. This practice, known as halotherapy, claims to improve lung function and breathing overall. Salt therapy claims to reduce the effects of seasonal allergies, bronchitis, asthma and snoring just to name a short list of respiratory [continue reading...]
In Praise of the Chia Seed
Chia seeds were big back in the 80’s- they grew green "hair" on a terra-cotta sheep or cat- who knew that we had such a healthy superfood just under our noses all along? Unless you were nibbling on your chia pet, you weren’t getting the most bang for your buck with these seeds. Last year there was a lot of buzz about ground flax seed, something that is full of fiber and healthy nutrients and can be thrown into anything from sauces to smoothies. Well, introducing the new flax seed- the CHIA [continue reading...]
Brussel Sprouts with Pecans, Beets and Mint Yogurt
OK I know- this is my umpteenth million post on recipes for brussel sprouts. I have been on quite a brussel sprout kick lately. But I love them. They are definitely my most favorite vegetable. So delicious, so nutritious. And here is just another way to prepare and enjoy them. On a recent trip to New York City, my Mother and I grabbed lunch at a place called the BLT Bar and Grill located in the W Hotel near the financial district. First of all, we both got incredible salads but I had [continue reading...]
Hanging Out at The Swamp
It is always fun to take a road trip and get out of town- even if it is just for the day. Recently Chad had some work up in Gainesville, FL and I decided to tag along. We had gotten there a little early and decided to check out the University of Florida campus. The Gators’ football stadium was actually open and we walked into what is better known in Gator Country as “The Swamp.” I love stadiums. They are always full of so much history. In this case, this stadium saw the Gators [continue reading...]
Roasted Balsamic Brussel Sprouts
Somehow, as we grow up, our taste buds change and those nasty little yucky green leafy things we used to hide in our milk are suddenly good. Brussel Sprouts have now become our go to side dish. We LOVE them. At least once a week we buy them fresh and roast them for an accompaniment to whatever we are having for dinner. Roasting Brussel Sprouts is very easy. You buy them, cut the stems off, cut them in have and toss them a little olive oil. Spread them out on a baking sheet and roast [continue reading...]
Behind the Scenes at Paula Deen
I was recently invited to attend a presentation by Florida Hospital which included a cooking demonstration by Paula Deen (she made healthy chicken fajitas) After, we were invited on the stage to ask questions and take pictures. I immediately went straight to the kitchen demo area and snapped these pictures- everything was neatly lined up and organized, the knobs on the stovetop were labeled “big pan” and “small pan” and the recipe was propped up in case she forgot what she was [continue reading...]
The Vegetarian Big Mac
Since my commitment to eating more veggies and less meat, there is only one major thing that I really really miss the most. THE BIG MAC. I miss the special sauce, the diced onions, the shredded lettuce, the melted cheese- ooey gooey goodness! I decided to give into my BIG MAC obsession vegetarian style. However, since McDonald’s doesn't offer veggie burger patties, I decided to tackle this at home. First, I found a recipe for the “special sauce” which surprising to most people, is NOT [continue reading...]
