Dani Spies

Like many of you, I have become a big fan of the White Whole Wheat.  It’s basically a lighter (in both taste and color) type of whole wheat flour, so it’s a great choice when you are looking for the health benefits that whole wheat flour has to offer but are not looking for the heavier taste and hearty texture. 

When it comes to health and nutrition, I am a strong believer that we need to pick and choose our battles!  There are a lot of options, a lot of contradicting theories, and a lot of facts to sort through.  At the end of the day we all need to do the best we can and make the choices that help us to FEEL the best.

So it’s true…kale (and all other dark leafy greens) is the number one ingredient missing in the average American’s diet!! Kind of hard to believe knowing just how yummy kale is and knowing all of the benefits it has to offer!

Other than the fact that they are absolutely delicious, what else makes these gorgeous potatoes so darn good?!

Every time I eat a sweet potato I can’t help but be SO surprised at just how sweet they really are.  They are unbelievably sweet, which is how I suppose they earned their name;).

I don’t eat a lot of red meat, but every now and then I’m just “in the mood”.  I usually opt for a leaner cut of steak; ground beef wasn’t even an option in my mind.  I had kind of written it off as a super high fat, not so good choice.  

So you guys are probably familiar with raisins, cranberries, and dried cherries…but what about these guys??

Goji berries (aka wolfberries) aren’t “new” per se, but they sure do seem to be the “newest” rage these days.

Their flavor is kind of hard to describe, very earthy…kinda sweet like a raisin or dried cranberry, yet slightly tart.  I have eaten about a quarter of the bag sitting here trying to put my finger on the flavor…there is a little lemon, a little plum, some cherry, maybe even a bit of raspberry going on in there…I don’t know, they’re a tricky one to describe.  As for the size and texture, pretty much just like a raisin.

Goji’s have the reputation of being an antioxidant powerhouse (they’re antioxidant levels are 10x higher than blueberries)!  They’re also a complete protein AND they’re packed with vitamins and minerals.  Honestly, this is the major reason I am sure to work them into my diet, I'd be just as happy with some raisins or dried cherries, but I'm all about getting more bang for my buck!

Recent medical research has identified several powerful medicinal properties of these litle gems, including: anti-aging, anti-cancer, weight loss promotion, enhancing libido and fertility, and strengthening the immune system…not too shabby!

Now I don’t believe that any one food can be responsible for nutritional miracles…but hey, every little bit helps, so throwing these babies in the mix certainly can't hurt.

You can buy them at Whole Foods, and from what I've heard, Costco is selling them as well.  I have a feeling it won't be long until these little guys start popping up in grocery stores all around.  If you can't find them, there are a bazillion places to order them online...I would suggest a source but I don't really have a favorite, so my reccomendation would be a quick google search.

I usually add them to cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, muffins; salads…pretty much anything I would add dried fruit to.  I am going to start experimenting more, so keep you’re eyes peeled for some goji berry recipes around here!

Check out how these creative cooks worked some goji berries into their kitchens:

 Desert First: Bay Scallops with Goji Beries and Hazelnuts

 Coconut and Lime: Goji Berry Brownies

 

Basil is the herb of summer.  Some of its best buddies are; tomatoes, corn, and peaches.  And I don’t think I need to remind anyone how well it pairs with pasta, garlic, and olive oil, hence it’s well known role in pesto.
But let's face it, basil isn't exactly an exotic herb.  Most of you are probably very familiar with how to buy, store and use basil in your kitchen (for those of you who would like a reminder, click here), so I’m not going to go into those details.
Instead, I thought I would share some information about basil that you may not be so familiar with. 
 

This herb is not only d’lishes and easy to work with but it has a bunch of other uses and health benefits as well:

1.  It has been used for centuries to reduce gas and aid in digestion. Next time your belly is rumbling, try infusing about a half cup of basil leaves into a couple cups of water...simmer for about 10 minutes, strain and enjoy!

2.  It's packed with vitamin K, which has a range of health-giving benefits.  Vitamin K is most famous for it's ability to aid blood clotting; it initiates the healing process by slowing and stopping the bleeding.  But that's not all it does, it's also known for protecting us from diseases such as Alzheimer's, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

3. The essential oil found in basil is also a good treatment for itching from bites and stings from bees, insects and even snakes.

4.  It can heal a wart....(who knew?)! Basil contains several antiviral compounds that have been known to vanish warts.  Just crush up a few basil leaves and place them right over the wart.  Then cover with a bandage that you change daily and within a week your wart should disappear.

 5.  When used topically, basil oil enhances the luster of dull looking skin and hair.  This is why you may notice it listed as an ingredient in many hair and skin care supplements.

If you guys know of any interesting uses or tips for using basil, send them my way…I’d love to hear them!

Some recipes on this site using basil:                                                                                    
Leek and Lemon Pasta

Pesto (just a little lighter!)
Mozzarella and Tuna Baguette 
Squash and Ties 

*Photo from stockphoto.com.