Tag: Health and Fitness News

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

Inspired by Irish Soda Bread

Inspired by Irish Soda Bread photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zpsd3d714da.jpg

I put a little bit of white flour in my loaves, but you could use all whole-wheat flour if you prefer. With whole wheat, your bread will have more fiber, zinc, B vitamins and iron, and its glycemic index will be considerably lower than that of bread made with white flour. Irish-style wholemeal flour, available from King Arthur Flour and from importers, has a coarse crumb that is typical of Irish soda bread. I achieved the same crumb using my Community Grains whole-wheat flour and adding oatmeal to the mix. I used buttermilk as the liquid, but you can also use yogurt or a mix of yogurt and milk. You do need the acid from the fermented milk to react with the baking soda.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Whole-Wheat Buttermilk Scones With Raisins and Oatmeal

These are diminutive, light scones like the ones that originated in Britain and Ireland.

Moist Brown Soda Bread Loaf With Oats

This soda bread is baked at a lower temperature so that it doesn’t develop a hard crust.

Whole-Wheat Soda Bread With Raisins (Spotted Dog)

A mix of raisins sweetens this brown soda bread.

Brown Soda Bread Loaf With Caraway Seeds and Rye

A regional version of soda bread that is dark-brown, grainy and moist.

Savory Whole-Wheat Buttermilk Scones With Rosemary and Thyme

A whole-grain scone that pairs well with cheese.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

Ancient Grains for Breakfast

Ancient Grains for Breakfast photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zps31ba0eac.jpg

I had already decided that this week I would play around with breakfast grains when I noticed that food manufacturers are also coming up with new ideas. I rarely look at the breakfast cereals on the shelves in the supermarket or at Trader Joe’s, as it’s easier and cheaper for me to put together my own combos. But this week, as I reached for a container of steel-cut oats, I noticed several prepared mixes of grains and seeds like oats, quinoa and flax, mostly for hot cereal, that I hadn’t seen before. [..]

When I’m planning on porridge for breakfast on a weekday morning I begin the process the night before. I pour boiling water over the grains and cover the bowl with a plate. The next morning all I need to do is heat the mixture in the microwave for two to four minutes. I might also grate in some apple, but basically, hot cereal made this way requires no more fuss than a bowl of cold cereal with milk.

Sweet Oven-Baked Grits and Millet With Pecans and Maple Syrup

This sweet and grainy polenta makes a delicious brunch dish.

Rolled Oats With Amaranth Seeds, Maple Syrup and Apple

Amaranth and apple contribute texture and sweetness to this morning bowl.

Steel-Cut Oats With Amaranth Seeds, Chia Seeds and Blueberries

Amaranth and chia seeds pump up the nutritional content of this sweet and hearty morning bowl.

Oatmeal and Teff With Cinnamon and Dried Fruit

Cinnamon and dried fruit sweeten this oatmeal/teff mix.

Breakfast Wheat Berries

These fragrant Middle Eastern wheat berries can be stirred into yogurt or eaten on their own.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

Building a Meal Around Roasted Vegetables

Roasted Vegetables with Polenta photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zpsd01ba1cb.jpg

Roasted vegetables can go much farther than their usual position of side dish with meat. I served them with polenta and with grains (quinoa was popular), I blended them up with stock for a comforting soup, and I made roasted vegetable omelets. They are also welcome in a salad or in a risotto. Roast more than you think you will need; you will end up using them.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Omelets With Roasted Vegetables and Feta

With roasted vegetables on hand, this satisfying meal comes together in minutes.

Roasted Winter Vegetable Medley

A sweet mixture of winter vegetables that works on its own as a side or as part of a few different kinds of main dishes.

Roasted Root Vegetables With Polenta

A comforting main dish that combines savory oven-baked polenta with sweet oven-roasted root vegetables.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Mushrooms With Gremolata and Quinoa

Two roasted vegetables that are delicious with a variety of grains.

Roasted Carrot, Parsnip and Potato Soup

A creamy, comforting winter soup that is simple to make.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

The Pasta Is Gluten-Free

Gluten Free Pasta photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zpsceedf18a.jpg

Gluten-Free Fettucine With Brussels Sprouts, Lemon and Ricotta

Creamy ricotta and Brussels sprouts add color and texture to this dish.

Quinoa Spaghetti With Cauliflower, Almonds, Tomatoes and Chickpeas

Cauliflower is often matched with pasta in Italy; this version is all about texture.

Gluten-Free Spaghetti With Baby Broccoli, Mushrooms and Walnuts

The walnuts add texture and flavor to this pasta dish.

Gluten-Free Penne With Peas, Ricotta and Tarragon

A simple dish that is sweet with tarragon and a breeze to make.

Gluten-Free Spaghetti With Shrimp, Kale and Tomatoes

A robust winter pasta with a spicy kick.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

How Do You Like These Apples?

How Do You Like These Apples? photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zpsd1f0be79.jpg

Many nutritional studies of apples report findings of high antioxidant activity from the phenolic compounds found in and near the skin. Studies suggest that these compounds, as well as the dietary fiber in apples, also play a role in the fruit’s role in lowering cholesterol. In a recent U.S.D.A.-funded study, postmenopausal women who ate dried apples every day for a year showed a 23 percent reduction in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and a 4 percent increase in HDL (“good”) cholesterol within the first six months. British researchers predict in an article published in the December 2013 issue of BMJ that prescribing an apple a day to all adults age 50 and over could prevent or delay around 8,500 heart attacks and strokes a year in Britain.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Apple, Lime and Chia Smoothie

A pale green smoothie with a kick.

Apple Compote

Freshly made applesauce is several cuts above the store bought variety.

Apple and Bitter Lettuces Salad

A salad with many contrasts: sweet and bitter, crunchy and juicy.

Buckwheat Crêpes With Caramelized Apples

Flavorful crêpes that can handle both sweet and savory toppings.

Country Bread With Apples

A moist, rustic country bread with a sweet touch.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

One Pot of Beans, Four Dinners

One Pot of Beans 4 dinners photo 10recipehealth-master675_zps802e6330.jpg

This year I found a bag of pintos that I had bought on a whim more than a year ago. I simmered them with onion and garlic, and they softened beautifully. Not only did I enjoy the beans with their broth on their own but I used them for several other filling and satisfying main dishes. With pinto beans you can go Mexican or Mediterranean. They resemble borlottis, so in addition to the vegetarian chili and the tostadas I made, I used them in a few Italian dishes that normally call for borlottis or cannellini, all comforting, sustaining dishes for cold winter nights.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

A Big Pot of Simmered Pintos

A simple pot of savory beans can be a meal or the first step in another dish.

Pasta e Fagiole

A classic Italian bean and pasta soup makes a delicious meal.

Vegetarian Chili With Winter Vegetables

A thick satisfying dish with sweet flavors and a comforting texture.

Bruschetta With Smashed Beans, Sage and Kale

Seasoned greens and a bit of cheese turns bruschetta into a meal.

Tostadas With Beans, Cabbage and Avocado

A great buffet dish that skips frying the beans in lard.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

One-Wok Meals

One Wok Meals photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zps9b683e38.jpg

Stir-fries always require a certain amount of time for ingredient prep, as there are aromatics to mince, seasonings to measure, vegetables to chop. But all the time is on the front end – the actual cooking is done in under 20 minutes, usually well under. All of the dishes I made this week made great leftovers; I enjoyed them for dinner one day, lunch the next.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Stir-Fried Rice Noodles With Beets and Beet Greens

Paper-thin sliced beets contribute crunch and color to this comforting stir-fry.

Stir-Fried Brown Rice With Red Chard and Carrots

A colorful stir-fry with a variety of textures.

Stir-Fried Rice and Black Quinoa With Cabbage, Red Pepper and Greens

The texture, flavor and look of black quinoa make for an interesting dish.

Stir-Fried Soba Noodles With Shiitakes and Baby Broccoli

The nutty flavor of buckwheat noodles adds a delicious dimension to this unconventional stir-fry.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

Winter Cabbage With a Mediterranean Flair

Cabbage and Parmesan Sou photo 29recipehealth-tmagArticle_zpsc626f6b9.jpg

I was all set to focus on recipes from Russia and Eastern Europe this week, and I did come up with some fabulous pirozhki, the classic Russian little oval pies. But as so often happens when I am exploring recipes and experimenting in my kitchen, I could not get away from the Mediterranean, where cabbage is also widely appreciated. So this week you will taste a delicious soup that is seasoned with Parmesan rinds, Italian bruschetta topped with pan-cooked cabbage, as well as a spicy Tunisian chakchoukah, a vegetable stew that is traditionally mainly peppers and tomatoes, but in this version features cabbage, peppers and tomatoes, with eggs poached right in the stew.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Cabbage and Parmesan Soup With Barley

A comforting soup with texture and bulk provided by barley.

Cabbage and Ricotta Timbale

A light timbale with a sweet, delicate flavor.

Cabbage Pirozhki

A rich-tasting Eastern European pastry that isn’t rich at all.

Bruschetta With Cabbage Braised in Wine

Long-simmered cabbage provides a sweet flavor for this bruschetta.

Cabbage and Pepper Chakchoukah

This is a spicy Tunisian pepper stew with poached eggs.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

Not Your Grandmother’s Gratin

Potato and Sorel Gratin photo 22recipehealth-tmagArticle_zps735235c2.jpg

A vegetable gratin is a casserole that is baked in the oven in a heavy baking dish until the top and sides are browned, or gratinéed. Roasting vegetables for a gratin adds another level of caramelized flavor to the dish. Roasted winter squash is particularly sweet. Roasting cauliflower coaxes flavor out of this somewhat bland vegetable: the small flowers brown and crisp, and I was hard pressed to save enough for my gratin, so tempting a snack were they. I begin just about any eggplant dish I make by roasting the eggplant, as this method of cooking requires much less oil than frying.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Potato and Sorrel Gratin

A gratin that is not a typical creamy sliced potato gratin but more like a potato pie.

Roasted Squash and Red Onion Gratin With Quinoa

Roasting the squash results in a sweet layer of flavor in this beautiful gratin.

Fennel, Kale and Rice Gratin

Two different greens provide contrast in this casserole.

Roasted Cauliflower Gratin With Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

A beautiful, light gratin with Middle Eastern spices.

Roasted Eggplant and Red Pepper Gratin

A Mediterranean gratin seasoned with cumin and thyme.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Follow us on Twitter @StarsHollowGzt

Orange Is the New Green

Grated Carrot Salad with Dates and Oranges photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zpsf167d4c9.jpg

Orange is the color of the week in my kitchen, as it has been since the fall and will be throughout the winter at my farmers’ market. I’m making oven fries with sweet potatoes, roasting and simmering carrots and winter squash with seasonings I haven’t used before with these vegetables and finding new ways to enjoy grated carrot salads, which have always been a weakness of mine. Sometimes markets can look bleak in winter, but there’s nothing drab about carrots, sweet potatoes and winter squash; I’m finding that there is a lot I can do with these nutrient-dense vegetables. [..]

There is a lot that researchers are still uncovering about the compounds in orange vegetables. We do know that the pigments reflect the presence of beta-carotene, and not surprisingly, all three of these vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin A. They are very good to excellent sources of vitamins C and K, as well as very good sources of potassium and manganese. We know they are excellent sources of other phytonutrients that show some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, like lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene. And those are just the ones we are familiar with; there are plenty that are still under study in these delicious vegetables.

Carrot, Squash and Potato Ragout With Thai Flavors

A colorful ragout that works on its own or over rice.

Roasted Carrots With Turmeric and Cumin

A delicious way to enjoy carrots, as a side or on their own.

Roasted Sweet Potato Oven Fries

There are a lot of things to like about these delicious sweet wedges.

Grated Carrot Salad With Dates and Oranges

A fruity carrot salad, rich in vitamin C.

Turkish Pumpkin Soup

An intriguingly sweet winter squash soup.

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