by William Alexander | Aug 14, 2014 | Uncategorized
These days, eggplant is available year-round in the grocery store, but these veggies are at their peak from August – October. Eggplants are rich in vitamins and minerals, including fiber, copper, and folate. Eggplants are brain food – they have antioxidants that protect the fatty membranes around brain cells. As an added bonus, they are low in calories, and have a meaty texture that is satisfying in vegetarian meals.*
Curry Stuffed Eggplant
1 medium-large eggplant
Kosher salt
Extra virgin olive oil
1 can coconut milk
1/2 c vegetable broth
1/2 bell pepper, diced
1/2 onion, diced
Mushrooms (optional), quartered
1 lb ground turkey or chicken (optional)
Curry powder (you can use a store blend or make your own)
Ground turmeric
Cut off the crown of the eggplant. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise,and lay skin-side down in a 9×12 pan (glass or metal) coated with cooking spray. Cut out the center portion of the eggplant, and cube it. Sprinkle salt on the eggplant and let it rest for 1 hour. Drizzle with olive oil and roast in a 375 degree oven until tender, approximately 45-hour. When the eggplant is roasting:
In a medium-hot deep skillet, drizzle extra virgin olive oil. Saute meat if you are using any. When the meat is browned, remove and drain. Add cubed eggplant, onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms, season with salt, and saute until the veggies become tender. Return meat, if you’re using it, to the pan. Sprinkle with curry powder and turmeric, and cook over low heat for one minute. Add vegetable broth and coconut milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until sauce is reduced to your liking. Adjust seasoning as needed.
Spoon filling into roasted eggplant halves, and enjoy.
*Eggplants, bell peppers, and tomatoes are members of the nightshade family, which may lead to inflammation in individuals with arthritis and digestive issues.
by William Alexander | Jul 14, 2014 | Uncategorized
Our twins love pistachios. We can’t crack the shells open fast enough. And we can feel good about giving this healthy snack that benefits their heart, blood, eyes, immune system, nervous system, and skin.
Eye Health – Pistachios have two types of antioxidants called carotenoids which aren’t in many other nuts. Lutein and zeaxanthin protect your tissue from free radicals in the body, which can lead to macular degeneration among other things.
Immune System – The B6 found in pistachios is essential for a healthy immune system and brain activity.
Blood Health – Vitamin B6 also helps the body make red blood cells and maintain lymphoid glands. These help the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes produce white blood cells that protect the body from infection. B6 also produces hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood stream.
Diabetes Help – Pistachios are rich in phosphorous, which helps the body break proteins into amino acids. It also supports glucose tolerance, which is may help prevent Type 2 diabetes.
Skin Health – The Vitamin E found in pistachios is a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant that maintains the integrity of cell membranes. It also protects the skin from UV damage, and is a great defense against skin cancer and premature skin aging.
Heart Health – Pistachios can help the body reduce LDL cholesterol and increase HDL levels after being in your diet for only a short period of time.
Pain Reduction – Vitamins A & E are antioxidants found in pistachios. These help fight inflammation which can trigger arthritis pain and more.
Digestive Health – A serving of pistachios contains 3 grams of dietary fiber, almost the same amount as in oatmeal.
We hear about the virtues of almonds constantly, and they’re great to have in the snack arsenal, but when you’re looking for a change of pace, grab a handful of these cute little nuts. There’s even something therapeutic about cracking open the shells when you need to get a little stress out of your system. As an added bonus, pistachios have fewer calories and less fat than most other nuts, supporting weight loss and maintenance.
