Tag: Fitness

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

Gluten-Free Pies for Thanksgiving

Roasted Sweet Potato Pie photo 15recipehealth-articleLarge_zps6e5d6f47.jpg

I know there are probably ready-made crusts out there, and there is plenty of gluten-free flour mix on the market; but I have yet to find a gluten-free all purpose flour that doesn’t taste like bean flour, and that just doesn’t work for me.

After a few false starts, I finally came up with a whole grain crust that held together well and did not have a chalky texture. Rather than use the combination of 30 percent potato starch or cornstarch and 70 percent whole grain flour that I use in other baked goods, I used a combination of fine cornmeal, or corn flour, oat flour, and a small amount of almond flour. The oat flour was the key – it has a wonderful flavor and a fine, starchy texture, but it’s not chalky. You do have to check that it is processed in a facility that does not process wheat, however. Bob’s Red Mill is a good source.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Gluten-Free Dessert Pastry

After much trial and error, a pie dough that’s delicious and gluten-free.

Pumpkin Pie

A pie that is sweet with spices but not too sugary.

Apple Tart With Almond Topping in a Gluten-Free Shell

Caramelized apples are baked into a delicious desert.

Pear Ginger Tart

Poaching the pears until they are just tender results in a delicious fruit tart.

Roasted Sweet Potato Pie or Flan

An untraditional flan that is irresistibly creamy.

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

Wholesome Biscotti (Some Even Gluten-Free)

Wholesome Biscotti photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zps899d0aa4.jpg

Some pastries lend themselves to interpretation and adaptation to whole grain variations; others are best left alone in their white flour and sugar splendor. Biscotti, the dry Italian cookies that are twice baked (which is what the name means), is one of the pastries that does. It is supposed to be hard, and doesn’t have to be too sweet, though most of the biscotti you find in coffee shops are – too sweet, that is.

I had a lot of fun working with different whole grain biscotti variations this week. I began with a straight all whole wheat and almond flour cookie filled with toasted almonds, made with Community Grains whole wheat flour, which I never hesitate to substitute for white flour in baked goods because it is so finely ground. I used no more than two-thirds of the amount of sugar called for in virtually all of the biscotti recipes I looked at, and the sugar I used was either organic brown sugar or organic white sugar (which is really more of a beige color) and coarsely ground. One of this week’s recipes, a hazelnut orange biscotti, is sweetened with honey only.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Whole Wheat Almond Biscotti

A less sweet version of the classic biscotti de Prato.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Buckwheat Biscotti

Buckwheat flour provides a great backdrop for the chocolate in these cookies.

Gluten-Free Raisin Pistachio Biscotti

Using a bit of butter results in a delicate cookie that is irresistible.

Hazelnut, Orange and Honey Biscotti

A wonderful combination of flavors results in a cookie that tastes great when dipped in tea.

Cornmeal Coconut Biscotti

Coconut oil provides great flavor a sweet smell to these cookies.

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

You’re Going to Need a Bigger Bowl

Brown Rice Bowl photo 28recipehealth-articleLarge_zpsead5c926.jpg

These hearty vegetarian meals in a bowl (or on a plate) are inspired by the Korean dish bibimbap. I call them “Big Bowls” because they are also inspired by a popular food truck I’ve eaten at, in Portland, Ore., whose only offering is called Big Bowl, and is a comforting bowl of brown rice, with black beans, salsa, avocado and queso blanco. The long line of people I observed at this truck confirmed for me the fact that a simple, satisfying meal with grain, protein and terrific vegetables can be worth standing in line for.

Brown Rice Bowl With Oven-Baked Miso-Glazed Tofu, Red Peppers and Kimchi

One marinade can be used for a variety of vegetable toppings in this dish.

Farro or Bulgur With Black-Eyed Peas, Chard and Feta

A spiced up version of a classic Greek preparation: black-eyed peas cooked with greens.

Red Rice or Farro With Miso-Roasted Squash, Leeks, Red Pepper and Tofu

One sweet-and-salty marinade works for the tofu and the vegetables in this dish.

Millet Polenta With Tomato Sauce, Eggplant and Chickpeas

A comforting dish that works equally well with canned or fresh tomatoes.

Millet Polenta With Mushrooms and Broccoli or Broccoli Raab

A savory mix of mushrooms that would pair well with a variety of grains.

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

Eat Your Broccoli

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Whether you enjoy your broccoli raw or cooked, you will benefit from its many nutrients. In addition to the sulfur-containing phytonutrients that all members of the brassica family contain, broccoli is a good source of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which have been shown to protect the eyes against macular degeneration. It is also an excellent source of vitamins C, A, K, folate, and fiber, and a very good source of manganese, tryptophan, potassium, b-vitamins, magnesium, omega 3’s, iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin E.

Broccoli, Quinoa and Purslane Salad

Slice the raw broccoli very thin for this delicious salad.

Broccoli Stem and Red Pepper Slaw

Broccoli stems are too often an afterthought. Use them in this delicious salad so they don’t go to waste.

Roasted Broccoli With Tahini Garlic Sauce

Broccoli florets remain crisp after roasting and go wonderfully with a classic and irresistible tahini garlic sauce.

Noodle Bowl With Broccoli and Smoked Trout

A filling but light meal in a bowl that works with fish or tofu.

Savory Bread Pudding With Broccoli and Goat Cheese

A comforting gratin starring steamed broccoli.

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

Five Fillings for Stuffed Peppers

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Peppers are very low in calories (about 25 calories per cup), and red peppers in particular are an excellent source of vitamins C, A and B6, as well as a very good source of potassium and vitamin K. By weight, red bell peppers contain three times as much vitamin C as citrus fruit. They also contain lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables. Some research has suggested that lycopene helps fight certain kinds of cancer.

Peppers offer the cook endless possibilities. Roast them and they become a household staple, useful for snacks, salads and quick toppings for sandwiches and bruschetta. Fry or stew them, and they can be stirred into scrambled eggs and frittatas, risottos, pastas and pilafs. Uncooked peppers make a great, healthy snack, a crunchy vegetable that kids will eat.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Stuffed Roasted Yellow Peppers or Red Peppers in Tomato Sauce

These roasted yellow peppers are filled with a savory mix of quinoa seasoned with garlic and parsley and tossed with Manchego or Parmesan cheese.

Fried Small Peppers Filled With Feta and Quinoa

The peppers that are traditionally used for this are small, thin-skinned green peppers that taper to a single tip.

Peppers Stuffed With Rice, Zucchini and Herbs

Make sure that you spoon the sauce left in the baking dish over the rice once the peppers are done.

Stuffed Peppers With Red Rice, Chard and Feta

This filling of red rice, greens and feta, seasoned with fresh mint, is hearty and works very nicely with red peppers.

Sweet and Sour Peppers Stuffed With Rice or Bulgur and Fennel

These sweet and sour peppers are great on their own, but they can also be filled.

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

Beets, Raw and Cooked

Spinach Salad with Red and Chioggia Beets photo 07recipehealth-articleLarge_zpscc82e015.jpg

Beets are available year-round, but the best time to buy them is June through October, when they are at their most tender. Look for unblemished bulbs with sturdy, unwilted greens. In addition to the usual red variety, you may find beautiful golden beets, and pink-and-white striated Chioggia beets. Unless a red color is important to the dish, either type can be used interchangeably with red beets.

~Martha Rose Shulman

Spinach Salad With Red and Chioggia Beets, Quinoa and Walnuts

This is one of those salads where the grain enhances texture and adds a nutritional punch, but isn’t what the salad is about. It’s about beets and spinach.

Shredded Beet and Radish Slaw With Rice Noodles

If you do want to wrap this salad, I suggest wrapping it in romaine lettuce leaves.

Stir-Fried Beet Greens, Tofu and Beets

The greens should be crisp-tender.

Beet and Chia Pancakes

It’s important to purée the roasted beets until they’re really smooth; I found using a powerful hand blender was more effective for this than my food processor.

Seared Fish With Beet Salsa

The sweet crunch of the apple contributes texture and juice to the tangy/pungent salsa, which is delicious with all sorts of foods, not just fish.

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

Pasta Dishes With Vegetables as Stars

Perciatelli With Baby Broccoli, Tomatoes and Anchovies photo 30recipehealth-articleLarge_zps89eb58a7.jpg

It’s been a busy week for me and whenever my schedule is tight I veer toward pasta. In some of this week’s Recipes for Health you will be able to prepare the vegetable accompaniment in the time it takes to heat the water and cook the pasta: the same water is used to blanch vegetables in the dish. I made one dish with perciatelli, baby broccoli and tomatoes and blanched the baby broccoli in the water that I then used for the pasta, and when I made orecchiette with pesto and green and yellow string beans, I just threw the beans into the pot with the pasta halfway through the pasta’s cooking time.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Perciatelli With Baby Broccoli, Tomatoes and Anchovies

This Southern Italian pasta is inspired by a dish that calls for the light green cauliflower used in Sicily.

Orecchiette With Basil and Pistachio Pesto and Green and Yellow Beans

Cut the beans into small lengths so that everything is bite-size.

Farfalle With Roasted Peppers, Peas, Feta and Yogurt

This dish is inspired by Greek and Turkish ways with pasta and yogurt.

Whole Wheat Penne or Fusilli With Tomatoes, Shell Beans and Feta

Shell beans are a rare treat, soft and velvety, to be savored during their short season.

Lasagna With Pistou and Mushrooms

There will be a day when the weather suddenly cools and my basil plants and those at your farmers’ market stop thriving, but that day hasn’t come yet.

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

Easing Into Fall, Taking Eggplant With You

Eggplant Tomato Pie photo 23recipehealth-span-articleLarge_zps505dd91a.jpg

Even though it’s officially autumn, the summer crop of eggplant is still in full swing at farmers’ markets across the country. I’ve been buying them in all shapes and sizes – small, delicate Italian eggplants and paler Asian eggplants that I buy both at farmers’ markets and at my local Iranian market, as well as the familiar globe eggplants that are widely available in both farmers’ markets and supermarkets.

The darker the eggplant’s skin, the more it has to offer in terms of antioxidant-rich anthocyanins. The anthocyanin phytonutrient in eggplant skin is called nasunin, and scientists have been able to isolate it and identify its antioxidant activity, particularly in protecting lipids in brain cell membranes.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Eggplant and Tomato Pie

This robust summer pie, topped with a layer of tomato slices flecked with thyme, is a nice party piece.

Balkan Eggplant and Chile Purée

This is an eggplant-centric version of ajvar (pronounced “eye-var), the Balkan red pepper and eggplant relish.

Lasagna With Tomato Sauce and Roasted Eggplant

This is a great do-ahead dish.

Grilled Eggplant and Tomatoes With Chermoula

Chermoula, the pungent Moroccan herb sauce that is traditionally used as a marinade for fish, is also great with grilled vegetables.

Imam Bayildi

There are many recipes for the iconic Turkish eggplant dish, Imam Bayildi.

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

Miso, for So Much More Than Just Soup

Miso Peanut Spread photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zps636765c5.jpg

This week I pulled out my miso and got to work on dishes other than soups. Mind you, I love miso soup; it’s one of my favorite things about eating in a Japanese restaurant. I used to make it a lot at home, too, especially in my early days of being a vegetarian when I was still obsessed with getting enough protein, because it is a good source. But I also love miso glazes on vegetables and on fish and I’ve used this healthy fermented food in salad dressings, dips and spreads.

The paste is made by fermenting grains and/or soybeans with salt and a fungus called kojikin. It is always salty and the light varieties – white (shiro), yellow, and some light brown varieties – are sweet as well. The mildest tasting misos are the white or shiro misos, which are made with rice, barley and a relatively small proportion of soybeans. The more soybeans that are used in miso, the darker and stronger it tastes. I worked with a light miso in this week’s recipes.

~Martha Rose Snulman~

Miso-Glazed Eggplant

Called Nasu dengaku, this is a dish on many Japanese menus.

Roasted Winter Squash With Miso Glaze

Winter squash is another great candidate for glazing with miso.

Miso-Glazed Fish

A miso glaze based on a well-known recipe, but with significantly less sugar.

Miso Dressing

This tangy dressing can also be used as a sauce over grains.

Miso-Peanut Spread

A nutty, sweet and salty spread that can stand in for peanut butter.

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

Quick Breads That Are Sweet, Savory and Whole Wheat

Olive Oil Plumm Bread photo 09recipehealth-span-articleLarge_zps0eef0c90.jpg

Savory quick breads go well with meals and they are also great for snacks. You can stir all sorts of healthy ingredients into a quick bread batter or dough – nuts of all kinds and dried fruit, and different grains like oatmeal and rye. I like to serve some savory quick breads, like the olive oil bread with figs and hazelnuts that I made this week, as hors d’oeuvres with drinks.

~Martha Ros Shulman~

Olive Oil Plum Cake

You can serve this as a dessert, a coffee cake, or a sweet snack.

Savory Oatmeal Pan Bread

A savory herb quick bread that’s baked in a pan.

Soda Bread With Walnuts and Golden Raisins

An Irish soda bread inspired by a classic, but updated to be whole wheat.

Savory Olive Oil Bread With Figs and Hazelnuts

Pepper and fennel seeds contribute spice to this nutty fruit bread.

Honey Spice Bread

This moist sweet bread doesn’t have any added fat.

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