I took a vacation to enjoy Mediterranean cuisine and culture! Every once in a long while, my husband and I take a fancy vacation during Spring Break. He's a college professor and since I work for myself, we can make it happen. A few weeks ago, we had the amazing good fortune to visit northwest Spain and north Portugal. In Spain, we stayed in a lovely and very historical city called Salamanca. In Portugal, we spent a long weekend in beautiful Porto. The Foods of Spain and Portugal are Mediterranean Cuisines You may already realize that Mediterranean style nutrition is my thing and so I … [Read more...] about 5 Nutrition Lessons I Learned in Spain and Portugal
Butternut Squash in 5 Tasty Ways
Butternut Squash is a Nutrition Hero In case you're wondering, butternut and all fall-winter squash are 'up there' on the nutritious vegetables chart. Here is a quick peek at the nutrition facts for those of you who want to see the numbers. Really good news is that these super hard squash are not only healthy to eat, but they are also delicious and versatile in your kitchen. Butternut Squash in 5 Tasty Ways #1 Roasted Halves. My picture at the left shows how to go from cut to cooked. First - very carefully - I cut 3 squash in half and removed the seeds. Then I spritzed the … [Read more...] about Butternut Squash in 5 Tasty Ways
A Healthy Eggplant Recipe called Yakne!
Eggplant and Summer One of my favorite colors is purple. So, maybe that's why I was first curious about eggplant. The color is so beautiful and since we eat with our eyes, I hope eggplant will get your attention, too. When the sun gets really warm in July and August, there is a large supply of eggplant to buy at the grocery store or Farmer's Market. Or, pick it from your own vegetable garden if you are a grower yourself. Whatever, don't miss eggplant as a versatile and very Mediterranean vegetable that tastes great. Here's an eggplant recipe with an Italian twist and here's another eggplant … [Read more...] about A Healthy Eggplant Recipe called Yakne!
Mediterranean Style Nutrition
Mediterranean Style Nutrition and the Science Behind It I used to think that foods from the Mediterranean were exotic, hard to find and difficult to cook. Then, I started a personal challenge to learn more, cook more and really get to know these delicious and nutritious foods. Boy, was I wrong! Mediterranean style foods are sensible, everyday foods, they are easy to find and they cook up easily. Their health promoting qualities are amazing as you can read in this science-based article. But, best of all, they taste heavenly. 12 Mediterranean Style Foods for Your Kitchen To prepare … [Read more...] about Mediterranean Style Nutrition
Mason Jar Salads
This is a guest blog by Kaylie Chrismon. One of the worst things about packing a healthy lunch is having a soggy salad. When your salad sits in salad dressing all morning, the spinach and lettuce become wilted and you may even throw it out and choose a not-as-healthy option. Putting your salad in a mason jar and layering the toppings appropriately can keep your salad crisp, fresh, and perfect at lunchtime. Mason jars are also convenient and reusable. How to build your mason jar salad from the bottom up: Bottom layer: your dressing – putting dressing in the bottom keeps it from … [Read more...] about Mason Jar Salads
Mediterranean Meals are Healthy and Satisfying!
Mediterranean Meals Begin with Mediterranean Ingredients I often recommend meals made from Mediterranean ingredients. Why? They are full of flavor, full of nutrition and easy to learn to cook. Also, they use familiar ingredients that you can find quickly and inexpensively at an American supermarket. For a start, look at the ingredients in my photo at the left. More Mediterranean Ingredients To learn more ingredients that are used in the Mediterranean area of the world, think of the flavors of Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, North Africa and what grows locally there. The list … [Read more...] about Mediterranean Meals are Healthy and Satisfying!