Friday, September 29, 2006

Nut Butters

If you like regular butter and/or peanut butter, you're going to love today's article about healthy nut butter.

For extra sticking power, add a dab of this tasty stuff to your diet.

Moderate amounts of healthy fat, such as the fats found in peanuts and peanut butter, as well as almonds and almond butter and cashews and cashew butter, may bolster your weight loss efforts.

In a recent study of people on a reduced-calorie diet, participants who included moderate portions of peanuts, peanut butter, and healthy oils in the diet were more likely to stick with the weight loss plan.

Note the word "moderate." That's key. You can't lose weight if you're eating a handful of nuts every five minutes.

With that said, here's an excellent recipe for a healthy nut butter courtesy of the recipe section of the website of my friend Dr. Ben Kim.

Cashew and Almond Nut Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup of raw cashews
1/2 cup of raw almonds

Directions:

Use a strong blender or food processor to process nuts until they form a thick, spreadable paste.

This cashew and almond nut butter will stay fresh for up to one week in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.

Try this delicous cashew and almond nut butter with fresh celery sticks, fresh fruit, or a green vegetable salad.

Note: you can substitute the almonds in this recipe with pecans or walnuts. Pecans and walnuts have a higher healthy fat content than almonds, making for more of a light and buttery texture. Pecans will impart more sweetness to this nut butter than walnuts will.

If you soak nuts before eating them, just be sure that they are completely dry before you blend or process them.

Have fun this weekend by herding your kids into the kitchen to make some nut butter!

Oh, one more thing. If you have a favorite nut butter recipe, please click on the comment link below to share it with your fellow health seekers. Thanks.

Chet Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Healthy Cabbage Salad

Today I'd like to share a healthy cabbage salad recipe that's been a big hit at CasaDay for several years. It's easy to prepare and tastes great.

Indian Cabbage Salad


2 cups thinly shredded cabbage
2 cups shredded carrot
1/2 cup crushed roasted peanuts (or substitute favorite raw nuts)
1/4 cup coconut oil (salad oil is an OK substitute)
1 hot green chili chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp honey
Lemon juice and salt to taste

Mix everything except salt and lemon - add them only when ready to eat.

If you have a healthy cabbage recipe you'd like to share, use the comment link below.

Chet Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Easy Vegetable Soup

Fall is in the air here in rural North Carolina, and it's about that time of the year to start seriously thinking about healthy soup recipes.

Well, today I want to share a recipe that everyone will like because it's easy to make and tasty to boot.

Really Easy Vegetable Soup

1 large can V-8 vegetable juice
1 large can Campbell's tomato juice
2 large packages of frozen mixed vegetables
1 large package of frozen green beans
1 small package of frozen lima beans
3 cans small whole potatoes, diced
1 cube beef or chicken bouillon base
1 tsp hot sauce
Seasonings to taste
Water as desired

Place all ingredients in large stock pot and simmer on low heat 3 to 4 hours. Taste occasionally and add water and seasoning as needed.

And, yes, this would work well in your crockpot too.

If you have a healthy soup recipe you'd like to share, please use the comment link below to do just that.

Chet Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Healthy Apple Cobbler

If you're like me, you like apples and you like cobbler.

Well, if you have a crockpot handy, I have an excellent recipe for you today for...

Healthy Apple Cobbler

4 medium tart apples
1/2 cup honey
1 grated rind and juice of 1 lemon
1 dash cinnamon
5 Tbs butter
3/4 cup natural cereal with nuts and fruits
Oil to grease pot

Grease side of your crockpot lightly with oil. Core, peel, and slice apples; place in crock. Add honey, lemon rind, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Combine butter and cereal. Add to crock; mix thoroughly. Cover. Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or High for 2 to 3 hours. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping, if desired.

Man, that's good!

If you have a healthy apple cobbler recipe you'd like to share, please use the comment link below and start typing.

Chet Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Soup Stock Tips

Thanks to Karin C. for sending in these good tips about soup stock:
  • It is not necessary to peel or trim fresh vegetables for stocks since they will be strained out. Just wash well and cut up.

  • Start with cold water to extract to extract the most flavor from meat and vegetables.

  • Simmer stocks slowly for the best flavor.

  • For better flavor, simmer meat stocks long and slow. Vegetable and fish stocks have shorter simmer times because they can become bitter and unpleasantly strong flavored.

  • Stocks will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator, 6 months in the freezer.
Good tips, eh? If you have any soup stock or, for that matter, plain old soup tips, please use the comment link below to share them with Natural Health Circus readers.

Chet Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Healthy Sandwiches

Today I'd like to share some recipes for healthy sandwiches. Let's start with...

Susan's Peanut Butter and Tomato Delight
Chet, my Dad taught us to love tomatoes and peanut butter sandwiches when I was a girl and never in my life have I heard of anybody else eating it. I have tried to get people to try it and they do give you that look like you have to be nuts to put tomatoes and peanut butter together, but it really is an odd combination that tastes wonderful.
I tried Susan's suggestion, and she's right. It's a great sandwich.

Speaking of tasty healthy sandwiches, here are a few more...

Laura's Veggie Sandwich

Hey, Chet, I have a favorite veggie sandwich that makes a good lunch:
Mash 1/2-1 avocado (sometimes I squeeze in a little garlic with my garlic press and add a little celtic sea salt) and spread on two slices of bread, preferably whole grain, homemade is best.

Top with sliced tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, grated carrot, sliced cucumber, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, and whatever other crunchy veggies I can find.

Put sandwich together and cut in half diagonally. Yum... and healthy!
Two Quickies From Barbara

Regarding peanut butter and banana sandwiches, my kids had two favorites:
Cut a "v" in a large banana and fill it with peanut butter for a healthy and delicious banana boat.
For another healthy "boat" we would...
Make tuna salad and put it in a leaf of Chinese cabbage, Boc Choy, or even a rolled Romaine lettuce leaf. This is an excellent protein sandwich with fewer carbs.
You can also fill a scooped out tomato with the tuna for a colorful, filling, and healthy lunch option.

If you have recipes for healthy sandwiches you'd like to share, please do so by clicking on the "comment" link below.

Chet Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com