Category Archives: Recipe

Chicken Soup for R.A.

soup

There  are some studies that show that undenatured chicken collegen may help relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.   So can chicken soup help RA?   I’ll leave that to the scientists. I know that I always feel better after a bowl of soup!  I love soup!  Expecially when the weather is cold and damp.  This  is my chicken soup recipe. It is loaded with nutrients, antioxidants and has anti-inflammatories also. I have purposefully left the size of the cut up vegetables up to you because I know how hard it can be to get small cuts when your hands are hurting and it really does not matter what size they are because they will simmer for long enough to fully cook anyway. I hope you try it!

If I have the time I prefer to make the stock myself.  If not commercial stock is fine but make sure that it is low fat and sodium.

Chicken Stock:

1 Chicken Roaster carcass (It is more economical to use the leftover roaster, but you can use fresh chicken (with the bones) as well)

1 small Onion quartered with the skin

2 unpeeled Carrot cut up

2 Celery stalk cut up

16 cups purified cold Water.

Put chicken, onion, carrot and celery in large stock pot.  Add water. Heat to boil.  Reduce heat to simmer.  Simmer 2  hours.  Place colander in 2nd stock pot strain chicken and vegetables. Remove colander from pot so that stock remains. Put chicken and vegetables to the side to cool. Once cooled discard vegetables and chicken bones.

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Medium Onion chopped

1 Tablespoon Fresh Ginger Root peeled & minced (or if it is easier you can use a grater and just grate it)

2 Clove Garlic crushed or minced ( you can grate the garlic as well)

2 Ribs Celery with leaves diced( or cut to whatever size is manageable)

10 cups Chicken Stock

1 Large New Potato chopped with skin

2 Carrots (peeled) chopped

1 cup frozen kernel Corn

1 Bay Leaf

1 Tablespoon Parsley

1/2 cup Brown Rice

1 Whole Boneless Chicken Breast ( optional based on how you get your stock ) diced

Salt ( I prefer sea salt ) to taste

Pepper ( I like fresh ground ) to taste

In the original pot heat 1 Tbs olive oil.  Add onion, garlic, ginger and celery.  Saute over medium heat until the onion begins to wilt and the celery begins to brighten.  From the cooled colander remove chicken from the bone and cut into bite size pieces if necessary.

Note: If you are using a commercial stock, saute the chicken breast with the onion and celery before adding the stock

Add chicken stock, carrot, potato, corn, bay leaf, parsley and chicken.  Heat to boil and add brown rice. Reduce heat to medium, cook for 20 minutes reduce to simmer.

Serve with garnish of fresh chopped scallion or chives.

Salt & Pepper to taste.

White-Ginger Iced Tea

This is a great tasting iced tea recipe that fights the inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with both ginger and white tea.

icedtea

2 Cups Cold Filtered Water Heated to a boil

6 Cups Cold Filtered Water

Ice

8 White Tea Bags

About 2-3 inches of Ginger Root peeled and sliced thin

1 Lemon cut into wedges

Sugar, Honey or Agave to sweeten to taste

Steep the tea bags and the ginger in the boiling water for at least 10 minutes. Add the remaining cold water. Chill about 1 hour till cold.Strain. Pour over ice. Sweeten with your favorite sweetener to taste. Garnish with lemon. Enjoy!

Pasta Primavera with Chicken

This is a nice light easy meal to make. This recipe is usually done without the chicken, but my boys tell me that they need their meat so this is my compromise. It takes only about 20 minutes from start to finish. Serves about 6 people.  The garlic is a good inflammation fighter. The peas are loaded with vitamin K ,C and B6, folate, thiamin, niacin, and riboflavin. The squash is rich in vitamin K, manganese, vitamin A, potassium, folate and copper. The vitamin K in this recipe is important for fighting osteoporosis and helps to prevent oxidative cell damage. The vitamin C in this dish helps to support your immune system and it tastes great!

pasta-primaveracut

I whole boneless skinless chicken breast

1 Zucchini Cut into bite sized pieces

1 Summer Squash Cut into bite sized pieces

1 Carrot Sliced on the bias

1 Medium Onion Chopped

5 Cloves Garlic minced

2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 pound of your favorite pasta. ( I like Fettuccine  but I have used many different varieties of pasta for this dish)

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 Cups fresh peas ( or I prefer using snow peas in the pod )

The juice of 1/2 lemon

Sea Salt

Fresh Ground Pepper

Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Garnish: I like the taste of fresh basil with this dish, so I usually add a sprinkling of chopped basil on top of each serving.

Cook the pasta in salted water,follow the cooking  directions on the package. Reserve 1 ladle of the pasta water. The cooking  time will vary based on the pasta variety that you choose. In the meantime, cut the chicken into bite size pieces. Heat 1 tsp of the olive oil add 2 cloves of minced garlic and the red pepper flakes.  Add the chicken. Cook until the chicken is cooked thoroughly about 6-7 minutes. Remove chicken from pan. I know that this is not very Italian, but I use a wok to keep everything from spilling over onto the stove. Cut squash and onion and carrot. Add the remaining olive oil, onion and the remaining garlic. Cook over medium heat until the onion and garlic are translucent. Add the carrot, squash and peas. Saute until the colors of the vegetables become bright (about ten minutes) Add the pasta water and lemon. Toss with the pasta. Add salt and pepper to taste.Garnish with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese (optional) Serve and enjoy!

Thai Chicken with Tahini Wrap

Chicken Wrap

This is a tasty recipe that is loaded with anti-inflammatory such as ginger,garlic, turmeric, honey and cabbage. It also has vitamins C, D, E and Folic Acid.  It is a great lunch or a nice light dinner.

Marinade:

1 Cup                    Orange Juice

1 Tablespoon     Paprika

1 teaspoon          Turmeric

2 teaspoon          Cumin

1 ½ teaspoon      Orange Zest

1 Tablespoon      Fresh Ginger Minced

2                              Whole Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

With a mallet pound out the chicken to a uniform thickness. Place all the dry ingredients into a zip close bag with the chicken and coat the chicken completely just be moving it around the bag. When coated add the orange juice, orange zest and ginger. Close bag and refrigerate.While the chicken is marinating, prepare the dressing and vegetables.

Dressing:

3 Tablespoon     Tahini

½ Cup                   Orange Juice

½ Cup                   Sour Cream or Yogurt

2 Clove                 Garlic (minced)

1                              Shallot (minced)

2 Tablespoon     Soy Sauce (Good Quality like Tamari)

1 Tablespoon     Sushi Vinegar

¼ teaspoon        Chili paste

2 Tablespoon     Honey

1 Tablespoon     Cilantro

Mix all the dressing ingredients together in a bowl and whisk until everything is incorporated.If whisking is an issue you can put all the ingredients in the blender in pulse until well mixed. Place in refrigerator and chill.

Filling:

½ Cup                   Shredded Cabbage

1                             Carrot Julienned

½                           Cucumber peeled, seeded and julienned

½ Cup                   Bean Sprouts

1/8                        Red Onion sliced really thin

½                           Zucchini julienned

6 Whole Wheat Wraps ( I used the rectangular ones. I find it easier to wrap)

The longer you marinade the chicken the more flavors it will have.  I only marinaded mine for the time it took me to prepare the dressing and the vegetables and it tasted great.  Make sure your grill is really hot and grill the chicken for about 8-10 minutes per side depending on the thickness of the chicken. Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes.  Slice the chicken into thin strips.

Layer the vegetables close to the end of the wrap leaving about 1 inch on either side(the short side) and about 2 inches from one edge(the long side) of the wrap. .  Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables. Layer chicken strips on top of vegetables.

Fold up the sides and while holding them in grab the end on the wrap with your thumbs and fold over the filling then start to roll the wrap toward the end the wrap. I like to cut the wrap into 2 pieces to make it a little easier to hold.  Serve and enjoy!

Green Bean Almondine Recipe

This is a really quick easy recipe that can be served warm or chilled for a nice summer side dish.  The beans and lemon are rich in vitamin C, the almonds are loaded with omega 3 fatty acids, and the garlic is anti-inflammatory.

2 lbs. Fresh Washed Green Beansgreenbeans 004

2 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 Clove Garlic minced

2/3 cup sliced almonds

1/2 lemon juice

Steam green beans approximately 4 minutes until they become bright green in color.  On high heat, in a nonstick skillet place the almond slices stir constantly until  the almonds release their oils and begin to become crisp (about 2 minutes) Remove the almonds from the pan.  In the same pan heat the olive oil and garlic until the garlic begins to become soft.  Add the green beans, almonds and squeeze the juice from 1/2 lemon.  Toss and remove from pan and serve. Enjoy.

Pina Colada Smoothie

Pina Colada SmoothieI really love smoothies for breakfast.  This is one of my favorites.  The soy protein keeps me feeling full all morning and has omega 3 fatty acids that fight inflammations. T he pineapple is fights inflammation as well.

1 Cup Soy Milk ( I prefer Light Soy Milk  use whichever you like best)

6 oz Pineapple Juice

1 Cup Fresh Pineapple

1  1/2 Tablespoon Cream of Coconut

5 Ice cubes

Place milk, juice, pineapple, cream of coconut and ice cubes in blender.  Blend on high until well incorporated.  Serves 2.  Enjoy

Grandma’s Potato Salad Recipe

This time of year I have to make potato salad.  It is one of those seasonal menu items that brings me back to my childhood. Sometimes it’s the simplest recipes that taste the best.  My grandma made the best potato salad I have ever had.  This is as close as I can come to her recipe, you add the love.potato salad 005

3  lbs  New Potato

1 Medium Onion minced

2 Celery Stalks diced

4 Eggs

1 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise

1 1/2 Tablespoon Spicy Brown Mustard

1 1/2 Teaspoon Dill

In a large pot place whole potatoes with eggs (in the shell) on top.  I buy new potatoes so I don’t need to peel the potatoes. Cover with cold water.  Heat on high until a vigorous boil.  Reduce heat to medium. Cook until a fork can easily go through the largest of the potatoes. Drain. Cool.  Once the potatoes are cool. Cut into bit size pieces.  Add to a large mixing bowl   Remove the eggs from their shells. Dice the egg add to the potatoes.  Add onion and celery and fold to incorporate.  In a medium size bowl add mayonaise, mustard and dill.  Mix well.  Add mayo mixture to potato mixture. Chill. Serve.

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