EGGS EN COCOTTE

Yet another study has exonerated saturated fat and cholesterol of any link to heart disease and fingered the real culprit. The new research, just published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found no evidence that eating saturated fat led to an increase in heart disease or coronary events. The researchers evaluated the best evidence to date from almost 80 studies with more than half a million subjects. They looked, not only at what people reported eating, but the composition of the fatty acids in their fat tissue…

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BAKED RED PEPPERS CAPRESE

These beautiful peppers combine the flavors of a traditional Caprese salad with tender-crisp red peppers for a delicious and easy side dish. Recipe from Nourished; a Cookbook for Health, Weight Loss, and Metabolic Balance. Ingredients: 1½ teaspoons olive oil 1½ teaspoon of red wine vinegar Sugar substitute equal to ¼ teaspoon of sugar 1 clove garlic (1/8 ounce), peeled and minced (1 teaspoon) 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes (5 ounces) 8 ounces cherry tomatoes, cut in half or quartered if large (1½…

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ROSES FOR YOUR VALENTINE?

The perfect finale for a romantic dinner with that special someone! Recipe adapted from Nourished; a Cookbook for Health, Weight Loss, and Metabolic Balance. ROSE-FLAVORED ICE CREAM One of the most memorable desserts I ever had was a tiny scoop of rose-flavored ice cream nestled in the heart of a perfect, pale pink rose. It was presented simply, with no cookie or cake to steal the limelight. There were hundreds of guests at the event, and yet every petal was perfect and the ice cream was…

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THE PERFECT WAY TO PIG OUT ON SUPER SUNDAY!

  The Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. Hot Wings The original Buffalo wings were invented at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York in 1964. They are the perfect low-carb snack for Super Sunday. To turn them into a meal, use drumsticks instead of wings. To super-size your snacks, use turkey wings! Ingredients: 20 to 25 chicken wing “drummettes,” the meaty first section of the wing Heat-stable oil or fat for frying, such as light olive oil or grass-fed beef tallow 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick) 1…

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AND NOW FOR A LITTLE GOOD NEWS: BUTTER IS BACK!

  Joe Ortner performs maintenance on a robotic palletizer at Grassland Dairy Products Inc. in Greenwood, the largest family-owned butter producer in the nation. Picture by Mark Hoffman.   The headline in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel proclaims, U.S. butter consumption reaches highest level in 40 years. Joe Taschler reports, “Butter is back. Driven by the movement toward food that contains natural ingredients as well as the foodie and gourmet cooking trends, butter consumption in the United States has reached its highest level in 40 years,…

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THE PUDDING OF HAPPINESS

Pudding Cups Judy Barnes Baker

My husband counts the pills I put out for him in the morning to be sure I didn’t sneak in anything new. If he doesn’t recognize one, I have to show him the bottle. Once, when my children were small, I overheard my vegetable-phobic son whisper to his sister, “Don’t eat the spaghetti~she put PARSLEY in it!” The only foolproof way I’ve discovered to convince the people I care about to eat things that are good for them is to turn them into foods they can’t resist! I call this the “pudding of…

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STUFFED ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS FROM “NOURISHED”

Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms Fresh zucchini blossoms only last a day or two, so don’t expect to find them in the supermarket. Zucchini is notoriously prolific, however, and very easy to grow. A few plants on a sunny patio should give you an abundant supply. Many farmers’ markets sell them in season as well. Recipe from Nourished; a Cookbook for Health, Weight Loss, and Metabolic Balance. Ingredients: 1 cup (8.5 ounces) fresh, whole milk ricotta cheese 2 egg yolks 6 fresh chives, green part only (2 tablespoons or 6 grams, chopped) 1/4…

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GLUTEN-FREE YOGURT BISCUITS

I am so excited about my new recipe! It came out perfect the first time I tried it. The recipe is super easy and quick to make and the biscuits taste astonishingly like the buttermilk biscuits my mother used to make, but these are gluten-free, wheat-free, and low-carb. I used Jennifer Eloff’s Gluten-free Bake Mix™ as a starting point. Isn’t teamwork great? GLUTEN-FREE, LOW-CARB YOGURT BISCUITSIngredients:1½ cups Jennifer’s Gluten-Free Bake Mix™, or other low-carb, gluten-free bake mix (see below for bake mix recipe), plus a little extra for shaping the biscuits 2 tsp baking…

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BRAISED FENNEL

Fennel, (c) 2012, Judy Barnes Baker Fennel is to vegetables what bacon is to meat. This mild cousin of anise can be used raw in salads or cooked in stews and soups, but it only reaches sweet, glorious perfection when braised, sauteed, or fried. If you have never tried it, you are in for a treat! BRAISED FENNEL Ingredients: 2 fennel bulbs (about 1 pound, trimmed) 1/3 cup olive oil 1/2 cup water Salt Black pepper Grated Parmesan cheese Directions: Cut off the stalks close to the bulb, reserving some of the feathery…

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IS THERE ALREADY A CURE FOR OSTEOPOROSIS?

I went in for a medical checkup yesterday since I hadn’t had any tests since 2010. Along with the standard regimen of tests, the doctor prescribed a bone-density scan. I’ve only had one, about 15 years ago, and my rank was almost 100% then, but if I am diagnosed with osteoporosis, he will probably suggest the usual treatment: calcium, vitamin D, and drugs like Fosamax (bisphosphonates) and Prolia (denosumab). Bones are constantly being remodeled, with new bone replacing old bone. These drugs work by altering the cycle to slow the…

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