Apples are very high in pectin, a soluble fiber which can lower cholesterol levels significantly — adding just one large apple a day to your diet can reduce cholesterol levels by 8 to 11 percent. Eating two a day has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels by up to 16 percent. We all know the old saying — “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” well recent research indicates that this is actually true.
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My mom shared this recipe with me recently. Here's what she has to say about it:
This recipe started when I was trying to come up with something easy for dinner that would also leave enough leftovers for another meal. I had been craving turkey, but I never cook it because it's such a big production. A whole roasted turkey isn't hard to do, but it takes a long time and is way too much food for two people. Still, I thought there must be a way to satisfy my craving without the big mess.
Read MoreThis meal couldn't be simpler but it tastes gourmet. The egg yolks coat the sweet roasted asparagus and the Parmesan cheese provides a salty, nutty counterpart — all you need are some delicious pastured eggs, seasonal asparagus, and a bit of good Parmesan cheese and dinner is served in less than 20 minutes. A good crusty baguette wouldn't hurt either.
Read MoreThis simple and nutritious salad and can easily be prepared for a weeknight meal. People think that making your own Caesar dressing is difficult, but with a food processor or blender it's ready in about 5 minutes. I use raw egg in mine but you can omit it if you are worried. If you're buying your eggs from a local farmer who raises his or her chickens on pasture, raw eggs are safe to eat — but I would never recommend eating a raw industrial egg! I used shrimp here but you could use salmon, chicken, or top it with hard-boiled eggs. This is a simple, delicious, and a very nutrient dense meal just in time for Spring.
Read MoreThis recipe is adapted from one recently posted on smitten kitchen — very barely adapted. It is so delicious though, that I had to post it here. Naturally, I changed the white flour out for spelt flour and I made a few other minor tweaks — other than that, it's the same. I'm calling it rustic, because it doesn't look nearly as pretty as Deb's does, but no matter, it tastes divine. Although the instructions look a bit complex, do not be intimidated! This does involve several steps, but it's actually quite easy and well, well worth it. The pastry shell itself is so light and flaky even using the spelt flour — and the nuttiness of the spelt compliments the ricotta cheese, garlic and basil beautifully.
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Before I really started studying holistic health and nutrition, I had my own baking business in Brooklyn and I ate quite a bit of my baked goods. Everything I made was made from the best organic ingredients, but my cookies, brownies, cakes, scones, muffins and biscotti were still full of sugar and white flour. Since I’ve learned so much about the health hazards of those two prominent baking ingredients I’ve been experimenting with alternatives. Banana bread is a staple I’ve made for years and substitutions work well in this recipe.
For starters, the more butter you use, the less vegetable oils you'll use. In addition, butter and animal fats have been used by humans for millennia and have helped us thrive and be healthy. Processed vegetable oils, on the other hand, are a relatively new addition to our diet.
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