Peregrino Toasted Almond Tortas
Seville, Spain is a city defined by its traditions, one of which is the “tortas de aceite” which is directly translated to mean “olive oil cakes” although these sweet, thin, crisp, flaky treats are more like a dessert cracker than a cake. Made by hand in Seville, tortas de aceite are typically made with flour, extra virgin olive oil, sugar, baking powder, sesame seeds, anise seeds, and a touch of salt although there are many variations made by adding crystallized oranges and spices that may include cinnamon, rosemary, and thyme. Read more 
Mediterranean Orzo
Garlic, lemon, and capers along with fresh herbs add an abundance of flavor to pasta and vegetables in this recipe for Mediterranean Orzo. Adapted from a recipe of the same name by the Purple Carrot, Mediterranean Orzo is a colorful dish that you would expect to be served at a cafe in the Mediterranean…but, without all the oil. Dairy-free, low in fat, high in protein, and with no added sugar, this plant-based dish is easy to cook and ready in less than 20 minutes. Read more
FIKA Almond Butter
Consumers are paying more attention to what’s in their food by reading labels and forgoing products that have unrecognizable ingredients, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors – leaving food manufacturers to figure out how to make food products simpler, tastier, and economical by including as few ingredients as possible. Even the Wall Street Journal – a newspaper known more for business coverage than trend spotting – recently (August 9, 2016) reported that food companies are touting simplicity in response to consumers preference to recognize what they eat (see Packaged Foods’ New Selling Point: Fewer Ingredients). Read more
Nature Addicts Fruit Sticks
Fruit Rollups have a special place in our hearts because back in the 1980’s when these sweet, chewy “fruit” treats hit supermarket shelves, there was nothing else like them. The only problem was that most of these “fruity snacks” contained very little fruit and a lot of undesirable ingredients including corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors, and additives with long names like acetylated monoglycerides (an emulsifier).
Flash forward a few decades and we now have healthier choices made with non-GMO fruit, fruit, and more fruit by Nature Addicts, a company that began in Belgium and whose products are now offered throughout Europe and North America. Read more
Asparagus Carrot Masala with Quinoa
The Purple Carrot meal kit service continues to inspire me with the weekly delivery of ingredients and recipe cards to make delicious plant-based meals with three noteworthy changes: I use less oil than the recipes call for, omit the jalapeño or hot peppers, and add more vegetables which generally turns a meal meant for two persons into four servings, or as a side dish for 6-8. The meals rely heavily on spices which add flavor to the dishes (which is why I leave out the jalapeño or hot peppers) and is a great way to introduce plant-based dishes to carnivores and vegetarians as a side dish. Read more
10 Things to Know about Potatoes
What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes, he must be a really decent sort of fellow. ~A. A. Milne
The author of Winnie the Pooh certainly knew how to write a classic story but he also had an appreciation of the potato. A century ago, it was not uncommon for people in England to sit down to a meal of potatoes but in recent times, potatoes have gotten a bad rap for all the wrong reasons. If you think potatoes are one of those starchy foods to avoid, then think again because this stem vegetable – of which there are many varieties – is totally underrated in terms of nutritional benefits. Read more
Antidote Dark Chocolate Bars
Seeing red? Feeling blue? There’s an Antidote for that.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of incredible chocolate bars on the market but Antidote Dark Chocolate Bars are in a league of their own. Created by Red Thalhammer who was born, raised, and educated in Austria before moving to New York City, Antidote Dark Chocolate Bars differ from other bean-to-bar chocolate makers in that she uses half raw and half roasted cacao to make bars that are comparatively low in sugar (0-8 grams per 1.1 ounce serving) but off the charts in flavor. Read more
Bean and Vegetable Chowder for a Crowd
This “meal in a pot” is easy, healthy (low in sodium and fat but high in protein, carbohydrates, and fiber), and colorful with a hearty texture and delicious flavor.
When the weather starts turning cold, a big bowl of chowder – just another word for a thick soup – is just the dish to serve along with a salad for lunch or dinner. Using a bag of Frontier Soups Minnesota Heartland Eleven Bean Soup Mix (which contains dried beans, peas, lentils, and a bouquet garni of herbs and NO added salt), along with a few pantry staples (onion, carrot, celery, chopped tomatoes, vegetable broth, and pasta) makes for one satisfying bowl of chowder to feed a crowd of 10-12 (or a smaller group with leftovers). Read more
Needed: Single Serving Non-Dairy Milks With No Added Sugar
All I want is a single serving container of unsweetened non-dairy milk…..
Whenever I travel, I take along alternatives to dairy milk which generally includes a quart of unsweetened almond, cashew, hemp, soy or oat milk so that I can enjoy my coffee or a bowl of muesli or granola in the morning. It’s not that I oppose eating breakfast at a hotel; I would gladly eat what most people consider the most important meal of the day in a sun-filled dining room if these breakfasts included fresh fruit, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and unsweetened non-dairy milks. I would add legumes and vegetables to that list but for most Americans, these items are an acquired taste before noon. Read more
Where does $1 to NutritionFacts.org go?
The reason we don’t see ads on TV for broccoli is the same reason groundbreaking research on the power of foods and eating patterns to affect our health and longevity gets lost and buried in the medical literature–there’s no profit motive. It may not make anyone money, but what if our lives would profit?
Those are the words often spoken by Dr. Michael Greger, M.D., a physician, author (How Not To Die), and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. In 2003, the non-profit NutritionFactsOrg. Inc (Nutrition Facts) was established as a 501 (c) 3 to educate the public on preventing and reversing disease based on nutrition with seed money from the Jesse and Julie Rasch Foundation. Nutrition Facts is now supported by individual donors to keep the organization going. Read more
Paddock Post 