26 May, 2011

Rooibos Leaf Tea

Something new I'm trying.  It looks like there are plenty of good benefits!  I especially like that it has Anti-spasmotic effects.  I have a tendency be a spas-zoid!!! HA!! :)

Red Bush Tea: It's Hot

African Rooibos Tea - Health Benefits

Rooibos
Rooibos
Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) has long been enjoyed as a fruity, mild-flavored beverage by the local indigenous people where it is grown in South Africa. However, the recent discovery of its high antioxidant polyphenolic content has resulted in its rapid growth in popularity in the West as consumers seek to obtain benefit from its health-giving properties. The mild flavor of rooibos (pronounced Roy-Boss) has made it a very popular ingredient in various herbal tea blends.

Rooibos, an Afrikaans word that means red bush, is a flowering shrub that grows in the Cedarberg mountain region in South Africa's Western Cape, about 250 km north of Capetown. Rooibos is an erect shrub that grows to about five feet in height. It has reddish-brown stems and bright green needle-like leaves. Since it is a legume, the root has nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This characteristic enables the plant to survive the nutrient-poor, acidic soils of the Cedarberg region.

Red and Green Tea

The leaves and twigs of rooibos are commercially harvested between January and March, which is summer time in South Africa. These are cut into small pieces, fermented in a process that is essentially an oxidation, and then sun-dried. Since the fermentation turns the leaves a red-orange color, the sun-dried product is used to make a red tea.

An alternative treatment of the leaves and twigs does not include the fermentation or oxidation step and produces what is referred to as green rooibos. The tea made from unfermented rooibos has a yellow tan color. The green tea possesses a milder taste, while the red tea has a stronger taste described as sweet and fruity. Both teas are available either plain or flavoured.

Green rooibos is often preferred because it contains a considerably higher level of antioxidants. The fermentation step does decrease the antioxidant activity of the tea, possibly due to the 25% loss of polyphenolics during the process.

Nutritional Value

In spite of the many claims that have been made, rooibos is not a good source of vitamin C and has very little of most minerals. A 200 ml cup of the red tea provides less than 2 percent of most of the minerals. Exceptions to this are fluoride and copper, which appear in significant amounts in rooibos tea.

Advantages

In addition to its high level of polyphenolic antioxidants, another reason that rooibos has become a popular health beverage is that it is a mild-tasting tea that is totally caffeine-free. This gives it a distinct advantage over regular green and black tea made from Camellia sinensis. Furthermore, it also possesses a low level of tannins, and hence it lacks the bitter astringent taste experienced with many other teas such as those made from Camellia sinensis.

The low tannin content of rooibos is an advantage for persons with digestive problems who have difficulty with tannin-rich beverages. Tannins bind iron and therefore reduce the absorption of non-heme iron. This can be significant for those with marginal iron intake. Some teas like black and peppermint tea may inhibit iron as much as 80 to 90 percent.

Anti-Spasmodic Effect

Possibly due to its high flavonoid content, rooibos is reported to have antispasmodic properties, and is commonly used in South Africa to treat babies that have colic and stomach cramps. South Africans also use the tea for calming intestinal spasms and digestive upsets in adults. Because it is rich in polyphenolic antioxidants, it is claimed that rooibos tea should protect one against cardiovascular disease. It has been found to be of some help in preventing diabetic vascular complications.

Possible Cancer Protection

Many of the flavonoids in rooibos have antimutagenic activity. Animal studies have shown that rooibos has potent antimutagenic activity, as well as immuno-modulating and cancer-protective action, however human studies are limited.

Rooibos has the ability to inhibit skin tumors. Its flavonoids can protect against unwanted genetic damage to cells. An extract of the tea has been shown to augment antibody production with the generation of interleukin-10. At present, scientists are evaluating the effect of rooibos tea in providing protection against liver and colon cancer. It can activate an enzyme system known for its ability to clear the body of cancer-causing agents.

Other Health Properties

Rooibos tea is commonly used for respiratory disorders. The tea is rich in flavonoids that provide selective bronchodilator effects and anti-inflammatory activity. Some have claimed that rooibos can also help with allergies, eczema, and other ailments but many of the health claims made for rooibos have not been verified by scientific research. A Japanese study did establish that patients with dermatitis showed a significant decrease in itching when using rooibos.

The antioxidants of rooibos tea may be useful in helping to prevent the changes in the aging brain. Experiments have revealed that rooibos tea can prevent age-related accumulation of lipid oxidation products in several regions of the brain of rats. If this can also be shown true for humans, rooibos could prove useful as an anti-aging agent.

Common Usage

Rooibos can be served either as a hot beverage or as an ice tea. It has also been used as a basis for soups, sauces, fruit drinks, hand creams, and body lotions. No adverse effects of rooibos consumption have been reported. Rooibos provides a beverage that both tastes good and is good for respiratory ailments and gastrointestinal disorders. More studies are needed to validate its uses and properties.

Author: Winston Craig, MPH, PhD, RD.

All You Magazine - Love it!!

This is my new favorite magazine! As you can see it has $91 worth of coupons in it which come in very handy in my new coupon shopping effort. It also has great health, beauty and FOOD tips and ideas!!! You can only buy this at Walmart. I think I'm just going to get a subscription. Check it out!!!

22 May, 2011

Thankful......

I am thankful for getting to spend the past two days at the lake with my Grandpa, for my family being awesome, for the comfort of knowing my Grandma is waiting for my Grandpa to join her, for knowing the lake house will be here for me to grow old at and feeling that he is ready!!!

19 May, 2011

French Dip Beef Sandwich


With leftover roast beef I made and unbelievably messy, fall apart french dip sandwich! 

  1. Saute an onion in a little bit of olive oil
  2. Cut up and shred roast beef
  3. Add in a cup of water and let simmer and shed even more
  4. Make a creamy, low fat sauce with FF Greek yogurt, horseradish and S & P
  5. Toast buns in oven with garlic powder and shredded mozzarella cheese
  6. Pile high and soak with beef broth (I used left over broth from a brisket dinner that I had in the freezer)
  7. Grab a couple napkins and dig in!!!!! 

Pork Lettuce Wraps

This was a quick, easy and healthy dinner.

I chopped up and sauteed a pork tenderloin in a little sesame oil, soy sauce and ginger.  The toppings I used were green onion, snow peas, cilantro, sauteed mushrooms, sesame rice noodles and pickled cucumbers and onions.  Bailey helped me by make two simple sauces. 
Peanut Cilantro Sauce
-4 T peanut butter
-4 T sweet chili sauce
-3 T soy sauce
-2 T sugar
-1/4 C fresh cilantro

Sweet and Spicy Sauce
-1/4 C soy sauce
-1/4 C sweet chili sauce
-1 tsp fresh ginger

Stack all of the ingredients inside some nice crisp lettuce leaves (I used a head of living lettuce), top with sauces and be ready to make a mess!  SO good!!!

New Ingredient - HonDashi


This is Asian Seafood Bouillon.  I used it to make a super tasty broth and then added veggies and noodles.  It made a nice, light, healthy dinner! 

Broth
  • 4 C Water
  • 1 tsp. Hondashi
  • 1 Star Anise
  • 2 T Soy sauce
  • 1 T Mirin
  • 1/2 T Sriracha
  • 1/4 C Fresh exotic mushroom mix
  • pea sized amount of fresh ginger (I use the stuff in the tube)
  • 2 slices of onion
Let it all simmer together for about 20 minutes and add in your favorite meat,veggies and noodles. 

I added shredded beef, rice noodles, green onions, snow peas, green peas and corn.  Let it all simmer together until the veggies are tender.  Dinner is served!!!

16 May, 2011

OPI - Cajun Shrimp

My new summer nail color!!

It's very fitting since it's named after spicy and seafood....two of my favorite things!!!

14 May, 2011

It's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!!!

Try it on pizza, in addition to any type of Asian food!!

Burger tip...

Next time you make burgers on the grill or even in a pan, pour banana pepper juice over them for the last couple minutes.  It makes one tasty burger!!

11 May, 2011

I love, love, love this weather! It makes me happy! :D

Today I got all of the patio furniture down from the attic of the barn.  That would have made a funny hidden video I'm sure.....Ha!  Cleaned it all off, sprayed off the porch and set it up when my little helper was home from school.  I will be spending all of my spare time on my front porch.  If you need me you can find me there!!!! :)

Happy Summer!!!!

10 May, 2011

Beef and Veggie Stir Fry w/ Shirataki Noodles


After finding the noodles I HAD to try them tonight.  I started a beef roast in the crock pot this morning so I needed to use some of that meat with the noodles.  Beef, veggies, noodles.....stir fry it is!!!


To prep the noodles I drained and rinsed them in a colander for about 5 minutes, spread them out on a clean kitchen towel and let then dry off a little bit. 

Stir fry sauce
1/4 C Low Sodium Soy Sauce
1/4 C Sweet Chili Sauce
1/4 tsp. Sesame Oil
3 T Water
Mix together in a bowl, add noodles and let sit for 5 min.

Shred beef and add to noodles and let sit for another 5 min. while veggies cook.

Steam fresh chopped veggies in a non-stick frying pan with a little water and fresh ginger until they are tender and the water is almost completely gone.  I used the only things I could find in my fridge and freezer: peas, edamame, bok choy and green onions. 

Add in the noodles and beef, simmer to heat through and serve. 

I added some Sriracha to mine because I love to have my mouth and lips on fire! 

This was such a simple meal and could be made with any meat or veggies!!

"The Miracle Noodle" - Shirataki (Yam Noodle)

If you haven't heard about these you are going to love me for telling you about them. I heard they've been mentioned on some talk shows like Dr. Oz and Rachel Rae and they are highlighted in the HCG diet menus also. 

I found them in Findlay at the Chu-Smith Asian Market in The Carriage House Plaza (back behind the old Dunkin Donuts!).  I go there at least once a week to get my veggie buns that I eat for breakfast.  The little lady that owns it, Serena, loves to show me new things to try and happened to mention that she was carrying these now.  She was out of them that day because people found out that she has them and are crazy about them, so I went back and got them today.  I can not wait to start cooking with these!  If you go there tell her that I sent you and while you are there pick up a pack of the veggie buns too.  I know you will love them.  They make the perfect breakfast!! 


 NO CALORIES, NO FAT, NO CARBS!!!




Here is a video that I found that tells a little bit about them and how to prepare them.  I will be experimenting with them and will post recipes using these in the next couple days/weeks/months!   


ENJOY!

Bento Box

My mother-n-law called it...this is an adult Lunchable. It was a perfect lunch. Seaweed salad, ginger salad, tempura zucchini, onions and broccoli, a spicy scallop roll, california roll, steamed rice and a pork dumpling! I will be exploring these again. I love that you get to have a little bit of everything! Try it, I think you'll like it!!!

04 May, 2011

My life is complete - Instant Pho Noodle Soup

The Asian market that I shop at is my favorite store in the world right now!  On my weekly trip for my breakfast veggie buns I asked her for more of the Pho broth that I got there once before.  She was all out but showed me these, for $0.69.  What a deal!  It comes in a package like ramen....but SOO NOT ramen!  
  • Boil 2 Cups of Water
  • Pour over the contents of all of the packets (I didn't use the brightly colored orange sauce packet.  It smelled horrible and the ingredients said it was just oil...not needed!)
  • Let sit for 3 minutes and you have a bowlful of surprisingly delicious Pho noodle soup! 
I'm in Pho-king heaven...couldn't resist...HA!


I added fresh green onion and fresh cilantro to my bowl!   

YUM, YUM!

03 May, 2011

Nope....can't follow a recipe!


I made the Ants Climbing in Trees tonight.  This picture really doesn't do it justice.  It was really good...but I did not follow the recipe from yesterday.  I just had to add a twist.  I couldn't resist!  First of all I doubled the recipe and made enough for at least 6 people.  Secondly, I used half ground pork and half ground chicken to cut down on the fat and also used only about half of the oil it called for (sesame and olive instead of canola oil).  Oh....and I added edamame.  Other than that, I followed the recipe....Ha!!!

I made my bowl with extra green onions, cilantro and LOTS of Sriracha!
YUM!!!!

Note: The 4 servings that were left over will make amazing lettuce wraps!  I know what I'm having for lunch tomorrow!!! 

I might follow a recipe...maybe?!?

I watched an episode of Good Eats w/ Alton Brown tonight that was all about Chinese noodles.  Perfect!!!  He made a dish called 螞蟻上樹 (ma-3 yi shang-4 shu-4) which translate to "Ants Climbing in Trees".  It doesn't sound very appetizing but this dish is EVERYTHING that I love all in one easy, simple dish.  If it wasn't 12:30 am. right now I would be in my kitchen making this.  I will be making this tomorrow night for dinner!  Can't wait!

Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 ounces mung bean noodles
  • 2 ounces soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine
  • 1 tablespoon sambal chili paste
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 10 ounces ground pork
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 4 green onions, chopped, divided
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth

Directions

Soak the noodles in enough hot water to cover by 1 inch for 20 minutes. Use kitchen shears to cut the noodles into 3 to 4-inch pieces and drain thoroughly in a colander for 10 minutes.
Combine the soy sauce, rice wine, and chili paste in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Add the cornstarch and whisk until combined. Add the pork and mix until thoroughly integrated. Set aside for 30 minutes.
Place a 12-inch saute pan over high heat for 1 minute. Add the oil and swirl to coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Once the oil shimmers, add the meat mixture. Stir constantly for 2 minutes, breaking the meat up into very small pieces. Add 2/3 of the green onions and continue cooking and stirring until the meat is well browned and in very small pieces, approximately 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-high and add the broth. Cook until reduced, approximately 3 minutes.
Slowly add handfuls of the noodles to the pan, tossing with the meat mixture until combined and the pieces of meat cling to the noodles and no liquid remains. Serve immediately with the remaining green onions.

02 May, 2011

Sweet Corn and Black Bean Salsa


So simple, so healthy and so, so good!!! 

In a blender or food processor combine:
1 Can Rotel Tomatoes
1/2 bunch Cilantro
1/4 Onion
1 Garlic Clove
The juice of one lime

Pour into bowl and add:
3 Ears of Sweet Corn cooked and cut off of the cob
1 Can Black Beans rinsed and drained

Salt, Pepper and Cumin to taste! 

This makes a perfect low calorie, low fat lunch!  I plan to make lots of things like this over the summer months to eat for lunch for convenience and healthy meal options!  

P.S. My favorite tortilla chips are a perfect paring for this salsa.  These chips are similar in fat and calories to baked chips but SO much better.  They seem to be getting harder and harder to find but I can still get them at Kroger.  Try them out......I think you will agree!  Snyder's Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips


Never a dull moment!!

This is my niece Jovi Sue!  She, as you can see, has the chubbiest cheeks I've ever seen on a little girl.  Her Daddy, my brother Christopher, LOVES her cheeks so much that he tries to eat them....HA!  Jovi was laughing out loud when he was doing this.  I think it is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. 
My Grandmother was completely grossed out over it. 
That made it even funnier!




 I LOVE MY FAMILY!!! :)

01 May, 2011

Honeybaked Ham

Salty, sweet, juicy and delicious! Ham is ham, but Honeybaked ham is a whole different story! These mini sandwiches are SO good. Hawian bread rolls, dijon honey mustard, muenster cheese and ham all warmed up are little pillows of sodium filled deliciousness! My swollen fingers and toes are the consequence of over indulging, but well worth it! Everytime!!!