Beginning with Sea Salt, a favorite staple in the diet, spices have been used for centuries.  Wars were fought over spices and the right to produce and sell them!

Spices like cinnamon and cloves were used only by the aristocracy due to their cost and difficulty in transporting from the orient or islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans.  Ships and caravans of spice traders were often attacked by pirates or ambushed due to their precious cargo.

Into the kitchen & how commonly used spices & herbs help you:

• Allspice; chills, diarrhea & as a digestive aid & natural antioxidant
• Basil; headaches, colds, aids digestion and is calming
• Cayenne; helps circulation,arthritis and respiratory congestion
• Cloves; for indigestion & gas, freshens breath, is a topical anesthetic
• Garlic; helps high blood pressure, sinus congestion, coughs,anti-parasitic
• Ginger; nausea, chills, poor circulation, gas, stomach distress, lungs
• Oregano; diuretic, headaches, nausea, asthma, colic, rheumatism
• Parsley; freshens breath, benefits eyes, kidney, liver, decreases breast milk
• Spearmint; benefits colic, gas, indigestion, nausea, colds and fresh breath
• Thyme; antifungal, antibacterial, good for respiratory & digestive problems
• Turmeric; natural antioxidant, improves liver function, reduces inflammation

Amazing how food, spices and herbs help you take charge of your health!!  And you can grow your own for convenient use in pots -  And there’s no gluten or dairy in any of them to effect a gluten intolerant person.  Also adds to the seductive look of your patio dining.

Suggested Reading:    Empty Harvest, Mark Anderson

Omnivore’s Delight & In Defense  of Food, Michel Pollan

or, Feasting on Flavor

A brief overview of some quick ideas for fun meals

SALADS, EASY HOME MADE DRESSINGS, SOUPS, & MORE:

For foodies like you and me, isn’t food fun!?   It provides energy and all the stuff to keep us going daily, and  it’s also a way to enjoy providing nourishment for myself and others while being social:  Sipping soup with friends and family is a great way to share a meal.

With my family, it’s the “Jewish mom” thing – like everybody’s gotta eat, right!?  Yes, and you better like what’s in front of you ’cause that’s what we’re eating… Sound familiar to anyone?

Long ago and far away from the mountains of Colorado, Long Island was my home for many years and we had lots of good farms out there that provided fresh organic vegetables and fruits and even meats.

I have to admit mom didn’t always serve fresh veggies – as a working mom she relied on some frozen.  Others like salad greens and all the other  ingredients were always fresh- tasted sensational.  Great habit to teach your kids, since their eating habits are established by the time they’re two (2), salads with every dinner and lunch too.

We always had something different in the salad, besides fundamentals like lettuce (various kinds) tomatoes and cucumbers; red onion, artichoke hearts, cranberries, peppers, nuts, and I can keep going.  Use your imagination and taste buds to add new & different goodies to yours.  Make your own fresh dressings with olive, flaxseed or walnut oil, fresh lemon juice, red, white wine or balsamic vinegar and herbs and spices*. (Recipe follows)

Now I’m into soups.  Experiment with wonderful flavorful ways to prepare everything in one bowl…besides pasta and sauce.  Soups have character and are slimming, – you can get creative with veggies, meats, fish, shrimp etc.  Whatever’s fresh and seasonal usually makes for great taste and color and they’re prepared in one pot – easy cleanup too.

Winter veggies are usually earthy (roots & shoots) and combined with beef, bison, chicken, turkey, or seafood, a few flavorful spices, herbs and grains like barley, rice, quinoa, millet, etc., and you have a filling and nutritious meal in one bowl.  Add some fruits, apples, apricots, lemon, lime or mangos and the taste sensations increase!  If you’re gluten intolerant, stick with millet, couscous, quinoa and othr gluten free grains or legumes.

Easy Salad dressing - Vinaigrette with Dijon mustard;    Choose your vinegar, I love red wine vinegar and start with about 1/3 cup.  Add about 1 tsp. each of dried thyme, oregano, parsley, garlic powder and a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper, stir or whisk in about 1/2 cup of olive or walnut oil.  When that’s mixed, add a tsp. of Dijon mustard and whisk until all are blended.  Adjust seasonings and oil to your taste.  Pour over salad and toss.

An easy and simple dressing is Flaxseed oil and Bragg’s Aminos.  Drizzle a little of each over your salad - toss and enjoy.  Get your Omega 3s & crunch all together in a healthy salad.

Hint: Eat your fruits first.  For many people, this will end the after the meal ‘bloats” as the fruit digests faster than other foods and may ferment in your tummy while waiting to get past the other stuff…

OR, wait about an hour before enjoying the mouth watering tastes of pears or apples and Stilton or other strong flavored cheese or fresh fruit and cream (the real thing).  Just a few ideas for some tasty and easy to prepare meals.  Plan ahead and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Have fun creating!