The Spice of Life

If you like to eat, like I do, then check out some ways to spice things up. Not only can you add new flavor to your basic recipes but you can boost your health at the same time.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a good one. I use it all the time; sprinkled on my oatmeal, on a baked sweet potato, and even sometimes on green vegetables. Research shows that eating half a teaspoon of cinnamon daily reduces risk factors for diabetes and heart disease. 

Ginger: Another favorite! Ginger is great for settling an upset stomach; I sometimes mix 1/2 teaspoon in hot water for a therapeutic tea. It's also great in helping reduce exercise-related muscle pain. Chopping up fresh ginger and adding it to my juiced vegetables adds a little kick too.

Oregano: I read that one teaspoon of oregano contains six micro-grams of bone-building vitamin K and the same amount of antioxidants as three cups of spinach. I knew it was good in spaghetti sauce but never used it any other way until now.

Recipe: Salad Dressing
Heat:

• 1 Tablespoon of olive oil
• A pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon of oregano in a small pan over medium-low heat for two minutes or until the mixture smells fragrant.
• Drizzle over spinach with a splash of red wine vinegar

These are just a few of the numerous spices you could experiment with to create your own specialty dishes. Using spices cuts down on the need for salt by adding more nutritional flavor. I have a cook book called "Hot & Spicy" that I picked up at a thrift store. 

Remember! Variety is the spice of life.

Together we thrive,

Jacqueline

Rosemary:

Now that summer is approaching, many of you may be doing more grilling. While grilling and sauteing require little to now added fat, cooking at high temperatures can produce harmful free radicals that may cause cancer. Marinating meat in a mixture made with rosemary before grilling prevents the formation of some of these free radicals by as much as 84 percent.

Recipe:

• Combine two tablespoons of olive oil
• 1/2 cup of lemon juice 
• Half clove of garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoon of rosemary

Marinade good for chicken or steak.