Fruit Slush
Ingredients: 2 2/3 cups cantaloupe or watermelon, coarsely chopped, seeded, and peeled, 1 2/3 cups kiwi, coarsely chopped, 3 packets Splenda, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 2 cups water, ice.
Directions: In a blender, puree fruit with Splenda and lime juice until smooth. Combine fruit mixture with water in large pitcher. If desired, pour through a strainer to eliminate pulp. Stir well and pour into tall glasses with ice. Serves 4.
When most people think of garlic, they are reminded of a great flavoring to their delectable meals. What are lesser known about garlic are the health benefits that can come from this miraculous herb. By adding garlic to your diet, you can enjoy a multitude of benefits that will aid in strengthening your health and improving longevity.
The new book Cooking Well: Garlic depicts several different benefits that, when garlic is added to our diet, can help us achieve healthier cholesterol levels, maintain proper blood pressure, and potentially lower the risk of common cancers. The benefits of garlic include:
Along with these great health benefits, it’s always fun to spice up your great homemade meals, and what better way to do so than by adding a little garlic. This new book is packed with recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks. Some may overlook garlic but Cooking Well: Garlic provides great recipes that are easy to make and show us how to add garlic into our meals. Three delicious recipes from the book are:
Garlic Bean Soup (serves 8)
Ingredients: 1 pound dry Great Northern beans, 1 quart water, 1 quart low-sodium vegetable broth, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 4 tablespoons chopped parsley
Directions: Place beans in large soup pot, cover with water and bring to boil. Cook 2 minutes, remove from heat. Cover pot and allow to stand for 1 hour. Drain, discarding water. Combine beans, 1 quart fresh water, and vegetable broth in slow cooker. Saute garlic and parsley in olive oil in skillet. Stir into slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hour or until beans are tender.
Green and Orange Salad (serves 8)
Ingredients: 8 navel oranges, 2 tablespoons snipped chives, 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil, 1 clove garlic, minced, ¼ cup minced parsley, 3 tablespoons orange juice, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, Boston or bibb lettuce
Directions: Peel and section the oranges, removing all the membranes. Place in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the parsley and chives. In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, oil, mustard and garlic. Pour over the oranges and toss well. Serve on a bed of lettuce leaves.
Chicken Breast with Asian Glaze (serves 4)
Ingredients: Four 5-ounce chicken breasts with bones and skin, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 tablespoon green tea, 1 tablespoon Oriental hot mustard, 1 garlic clove, minced, 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon dried ginger, Canola oil, Salt and pepper to taste
Directions: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Wash and pat dry the chicken breasts.
Carefully pass your fingers between the meat and the skin to loosen up the skin without breaking it. Heat the maple syrup, tea, mustard, garlic, and ginger in a saucepan over low heat until well blended. Season to taste and set aside. Lift up the chicken skin and brush the mixture over the chicken meat. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and cover the breasts with the skin. Brush canola oil over the skin and roast for 30 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove skin before serving.
Reprinted with permission from Cooking Well: Garlic. ISBN: 978-1-57826-383-7, $9.99 (ebook). ISBN: 978-1-57826-343-1, $11.00 (paperback). New from Hatherleigh Press. Distributed by Random House.
Countless cultures throughout history have used herbs for their unique flavors as well as for the treatment of various conditions and ailments including, headaches, back pain, neck strain, nausea, indigestion, and many more. Now, with the recipes in the new book Cooking Well: Healing Herbs, you can uncover the beneficial properties of a wide variety of herbs in these easy to use recipes.
Whether you’re looking to ease the symptoms of a specific condition, seeking to energize or relax, or just want to create tasty, healthy meals for yourself and your family, Cooking Well: Healing Herbs is the perfect resource for anyone interested in harnessing the powers of delicious, healthful herbs.
Here are a few recipes to try!
Marinated Chicken Tarragon
Ingredients: ½ cup plain low-fat yogurt, ¼ cup honey, 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 ½ tsp garlic salt, 1 ½ tsp dried tarragon, crushed, ½ tsp black pepper, 1/8 tsp bottled hot pepper sauce, 4 (4 to 6 oz each) boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Directions: Combine yogurt, honey, mustard, garlic salt, tarragon, pepper and hot pepper sauce; mix well. Marinate chicken in yogurt mixture 1 hour in refrigerator. Shake off excess marinade and broil, 4 to 6 inches from heat, 3 to 4 minutes per side or until juices run clear.
Honey Mint Yogurt
Ingredients: 1 pint plain yogurt, ¼ cup honey, ½ to ¾ tsp dried mint, crushed (1 Tbsp fresh chopped mint can be substituted for the dried mint).
Directions: Combine all ingredients and blend well.
Stress Reducing Tea (relieves stress of the lower back and neck)
Ingredients: 1 part chamomile, 1 part mint, 1 part calendula flowers
Directions: Place all herbs in a tea ball or bag and cover with boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes before drinking. You may add sugar, honey or another sweetener if preferred. Feel free to drink with milk or cream if you like.
Reprinted with permission from Cooking Well: Healing Herbs. ISBN: 978-1-57826-330-1 $11.00 (paperback). Hatherleigh Press. Distributed by Random House.
