A Spicy Primer

1. Turmeric –The reason curried dishes are yellow is mainly because of tumeric. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants are incredible—I take it myself daily in the form of a supplement for my gallbladder. It’s delicious in rice, on fish and stir fried into veggies.


2. Basil -- Ah, the taste of summer. Who can resist fresh basil and tomatoes from the garden tossed with olive oil and garlic on a plate full of pasta? Dried, it's wonderful in soups, pasta dishes and chicken. Basil is good source of vitamin A, plus C, potassium and calcium, with almost no calories.


3. Dill -- It's not just for pickles. Try some dill sprinkled on fish, chicken or even in a light cream soup. Dill is known for its antibacterial qualities, as well as its iron content, fiber and magnesium.


4. Garlic -- Nectar of the gods, well, bulb of the gods anyway. Garlic has a way of making the most ordinary food gourmet. Try sprinkling garlic powder (not garlic salt) into a prepared box of white cheddar macaroni and cheese. Surprise! It's pretty good. Fresh, though, is best. Squeeze it from a press into almost anything, except chocolate. Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties and may help lower blood pressure.


5. Ginger -- Sprinkle it in your stir-fry, try it on baked chicken breasts with a little soy sauce and garlic. For fun, get it fresh (it's that alien-looking root mass in the produce department) and freeze it. It will keep almost indefinitely when frozen. To use, hack off a piece, peel it and grate into your recipe. Ginger tea helps quell nausea and an upset tummy.


6. Nutmeg -- I love nutmeg. If you can find nutmeg nuts and the itty, bitty grater that comes with it, buy it. Once you've had freshly grated nutmeg, the powdered stuff in the jar is beneath you. Obviously an ingredient in baking, it's also good grated on sauteed squash, green beans, and carrots. Nutmeg may help with pain relief and stress.


7. Oregano -- A staple in Italian cooking, it's also good in stews and salad dressings. Oregano is nutrient rich, a good source of fiber, plus a fabulous anti-bacterial (oil of oregano is used in some natural cold remedies), as well as a terrific antioxidant!


8. Rosemary -- This beautiful plant grows wild in my garden and provides an intoxicating aroma to meats, stews and root veggies. Try some crumbled in your carrots for a change of pace. Rosemary stimulates the immune system and helps with digestion, too.


9. Tarragon -- An almost licorice flavor, this delicate herb takes front and center in vinaigrettes, as a delicious sprinkle on the top of baked or poached poultry and fish. Tarragon is known for stimulating the brain, nervous system and digestive system as well.


10. Thyme – Definitely make time for thyme! It's strong and adds a hint of character to an otherwise pretty standard dish. Use it with chicken, soups and beef. Thyme is an amazing antioxidant, is nutrient rich (vitamin K content is off the hook) and may protect cell membranes from oxidization.



Healthy-Foods Resource
"For the first time I can remember, I
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The answer to that perplexing question, "What's for Dinner?" is www.savingdinner.com for ALL the different ways to do dinner! From our ebooks, to freezer menus and of course, the menu that started a dinnertime revolution, Menu-Mailer! Check it out!

It is hard to believe how amazing...

It is hard to believe how amazing my husband is...my computer is working again.

I love you baby!

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

Check out this Challenge from Life as Mom.
It's a recipe swap "What's in Your Crock Pot?"

She wants us to post our favorite crock pot recipes.

Here's ours:

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings

• 2-3 chicken breasts, more if you like it really "chicken-y" (frozen or fresh)
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 2 cans milk
• 2 cans water
• garlic powder to taste
• 1 can canned biscuits cut into quarters (wait until the end to do this)

Throw everything (except the biscuits) into the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. If your chicken is frozen, make sure you cook it until it's DONE!

About 30-45 minutes before you are going to serve it, cut up the biscuits and drop them into the "gravy." If you do not have a lot of gravy in the pot at this point, add warmed chicken broth to give some more liquid. Put the lid back on and let the dumplings cook.

Serve hot!

A :)

So Easy BBQ-Glazed Chicken

Is there anything better than good BBQ Chicken? OK, maybe steak. . .

A :)

So Easy BBQ-Glazed Chicken recipe at Kraftfoods.com

BBQ Salmon

I'm not a fish-lover (not even a fish-liker), but just about anything with BBQ Sauce that's grilled sounds good!

A :)

BBQ Salmon recipe at Kraftfoods.com

Peach Bread

Sounds so yummy. . .!

Crisco® - Recipes - Peach Bread

Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Meals

You either love Rachel Ray or you don't. . .but she does have some great, quick recipes.

Have you seen her site?

Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Meals - Every Day with Rachael Ray Recipes


Cook up Rach's fast and delicious 30-Minute Meals.

10 Essential Gluten Free Recipes

--From About.com

10 Essential Gluten Free Recipes

Recipes for gluten free versions of our favorite foods are indispensable. Here are 10 essential gluten free recipes that will help you adapt old favorite recipes into new, gluten free favorites. Build upon these recipes and make them your own gluten free favorites.

10 Telltale Signs of Low Blood Sugar

From EVERYDAY HEALTH:

10 Telltale Signs of Low Blood Sugar

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is common among diabetics, and it can occur even when you're carefully managing your diabetes. Hypoglycemia occurs when the amount of blood glucose (sugar in the blood) drops too low to sustain normal functioning. This drop can cause both short- and long-term complications, so it's crucial to monitor your glucose levels and treat hypoglycemia as soon as you're aware of it. Pay attention to these telltale signs of low blood sugar and do your best to keep your glucose under control

Very Berry Peach Pies - Gooseberry Patch

Each week we feature a yummy FREE recipe from one of our collectible cookbooks...be sure to drop by often and see what's cooking!

Enjoy this FREE recipe from 101 Homestyle Favorites. Click on the cookbook to the right to have a sneak peek inside this cookbook.

Free Recipe of the Week - Gooseberry Patch

MenuSaver from Taste of Home

Enjoy reading through this. Looks like some good ideas this week!

A :)

Welcome to this week's Menu$aver newsletter!

Try these delicious main dishes, then complete your meal with sides and a dessert.

• Basil Pork Chops


• Stir-Fried Walnut Chicken


• Italian Hot Dish


• Seafood Enchiladas


• Spinach-Stuffed Shells

Looking for helpful household hints?

Be sure to check out our Penny Pincher Tips for great ideas from our readers.

Happy cooking and happy savings!

Julie

MenuSaver!