Category: Guest Post

  • Halibut Tacos with Spicy Cilantro Pea Purée

    Halibut Tacos with Spicy Cilantro Pea Purée

    Halibut Tacos with Spicy Cilantro Pea Purée

    This dish takes inspiration from two classic fish dishes―the mushy peas served with fish and chips and spicy fish tacos. We’ve made the peas fresh, bright, and a little spicy by using fresh or frozen peas, lots of fresh cilantro, serrano pepper, and lime juice. Combined with lightly marinated and baked halibut and topped with radishes and more cilantro, these tacos are satisfying and delicious.

    Halibut Tacos with Spicy Cilantro Pea Purée

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    Servings: 4
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    Pea Purée
    • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
    • 1 garlic clove peeled and crushed
    • 1 shallot finely diced
    • 1 cup frozen or fresh shelled peas
    • Pinch salt
    • 1 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves and stems plus more for garnish
    • ½ serrano pepper
    • 1 tablespoon freshly squeeze lime juice
    Fish
    • 8 ounces halibut fillet
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil divided
    • 1 garlic clove peeled and crushed
    • ½ teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon cumin
    • Pinch cayenne pepper
    • Pinch salt
    • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
    • 6 corn tortillas
    • 6 radishes sliced

    Method
     

    1. In glass container with lid, drizzle olive oil over fish. Crush garlic overtop and use brush to coat fish on both sides.
    2. In small bowl, combine paprika, cumin, cayenne, and salt; sprinkle on both sides of fish.
    3. Drizzle lime juice on both sides. Marinate fish, covered, in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Prior to cooking, remove from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature.
    4. Preheat oven to 375 F°.
    5. Place fish on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 4 minutes on each side.
    6. While fish is cooking, in large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and sauté garlic and shallot on medium-low heat for about 2 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Remove from heat and set aside.
    7. Bring 2 cups water to the boil. Add peas and pinch of salt. Cook peas for 4 to 6 minutes. Drain.
    8. Use rubber spatula to scrape garlic, shallots, and olive oil into bowl of food processor. Add cooked peas, cilantro, serrano pepper, lime juice, and a further 1 tablespoon olive oil. Blend to a fine purée.
    9. Toast or grill tortilla shells. Spread some pea purée onto each tortilla shell, top with fish, and garnish with sliced radishes and additional cilantro.

    by Helena McMurdo

    Recipe Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Spicy Ginger and Garlic Braised Bok Choy with Egg and Rice

    Spicy Ginger and Garlic Braised Bok Choy with Egg and Rice

    Spicy Ginger and Garlic Braised Bok Choy with Egg and Rice

    This is a quick and easy meal full of powerful flavour that you can throw together in minutes from a handful of cupboard ingredients. The starring green is delicate baby bok choy which is lavished with ginger, chili, and crispy garlic, then braised just enough to make it tender with a bit of a bite. Serve it on green onion-studded rice, top it with an egg, and you’re done.

    Spicy Ginger and Garlic Braised Bok Choy with Egg and Rice

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    Servings: 4
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup jasmine rice
    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 1 Thai chili
    • 6 cloves garlic peeled and sliced crosswise
    • 1 1-inch piece of gingerroot sliced into matchsticks
    • 1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns crushed with a rolling pin
    • 4 baby bok choy quartered, rinsed, and held in cold water
    • 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
    • 2 green onions green and white parts sliced
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • 4 organic eggs
    • 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds

    Method
     

    1. Cook rice according to package directions. Keep warm.
    2. In large skillet, on medium-high, heat sesame oil and sauté chili, garlic, and ginger for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly to keep garlic from burning. Add crushed peppercorns. Lower heat slightly, drain bok choy pieces and, without drying them, add to pan and sauté for a further 2 minutes, stirring constantly. The garlic should start to get crispy but if it doesn’t, turn heat up slightly. Add vinegar and remove from heat.
    3. Add green onions to cooked rice and stir to combine.
    4. Place a scoop of rice on each of 4 plates, place 4 quarters of bok choy on top, being sure to include crispy garlic, chili, and ginger. To a skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and fry eggs. Place one fried egg on each plate atop rice and bok choy. Sprinkle with black sesame seeds.

    by Helena McMurdo

    Recipe Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Maintaining the brain as we age

    Maintaining the brain as we age

    Maintaining the brain as we age

    How to leverage nutrition and lifestyle science to slow brain aging

    A 2024 brain-imaging study in older adults compared intake measures of key nutrients with signs of brain health, identifying the foods and nutrients most strongly associated with slower brain aging.

    Omega-3 fatty acids

    Individuals who demonstrated signs of delayed brain aging tended to have higher bodily concentrations of the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids Inflammation is considered a hallmark of brain aging as it disrupts the blood-brain barrier, making the brain more susceptible to structural damage over time.

    EPA and DHA are found in fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and trout, while ALA is found in flaxseed, hempseed, chia seed, soy-based foods, and walnuts.

    Carotenoids

    Oxidative stress, which carotenoids help to combat, is considered another hallmark of brain aging. It’s unsurprising that a high carotenoid intake was associated with better brain health.

    Carotenoid sources include spinach, kale, bell peppers, tomato, watermelon, broccoli, carrots, grapefruit, and cantaloupe.

    Vitamin E and choline

    Having higher bodily levels of vitamin E is associated with better cognitive health. Vitamin E is found primarily in nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and fish.

    Choline is a precursor to creating a compound known as phosphatidylcholine, which populates brain cell membranes and regulates the release of various neurotransmitters required for optimal brain function. Choline is found in foods including eggs, edamame, cauliflower, beef, chicken, peas, pork, broccoli, and milk.

    The gut-brain connection

    Older adults with cognitive issues are much more likely to have a gut microbiome characterized by imbalances in good and bad bacteria, with an overrepresentation of pro-inflammatory species.

    A healthy gut microbiome produces beneficial compounds known as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have an anti-inflammatory influence and facilitate healthy gut-brain communication via multiple pathways.

    These influences include enhanced nutrient absorption and keeping the intestinal lining strong, thus preventing toxins from entering the blood stream and crossing the blood-brain barrier via the gastrointestinal tract. This is where polyphenols come in.

    Polyphenols―the gut-brain connectors

    Polyphenols are a family of plant-based compounds known to encourage gut bacteria to produce beneficial SCFAs.

    In 2018, Neurology published a study—involving 1,329 older adults followed over 12 years—that found those in the highest consumption category of polyphenols had a 50 percent lower risk of dementia than those in the lowest consumption category.

    Easy ways to boost your dietary exposure to polyphenols include cocoa powder, ground flaxseed, artichoke, blueberries, and more frequent use of culinary herbs/spices.

    by Andy De Santis, RD, MPH

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Cookies & Cream Dirt Dessert

    Cookies & Cream Dirt Dessert

    Cookies & Cream Dirt Dessert

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    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 packages 3.4 ounce – vanilla instant pudding mix
    • 3 cups cold milk
    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
    • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
    • ⅔ cup powdered sugar
    • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 10.5 ounces chocolate vanilla sandwich crème cookies
    • Gummy worms

    Method
     

    1. In a large bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and milk for 1-2 minutes until fully combined.Place in the fridge to chill while you proceed.
    2. In a separate bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar until smooth and uniform. In another bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks.
    3. Combine cream cheese mixture with the chilled pudding mixture until fully combined. Then, gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture until smooth and fluffy.
    4. Crush cookies with a rolling pin until a coarse crumb forms or pulse briefly in a food processor.
    5. Spoon half of the cookie crumbs into the bottom of 12 serving dishes or a 9×13-inch pan. Top with the pudding mixture-if making individual cups, aim for a scant ½ cup of pudding per cup. Top with remaining cookie crumbs.
    6. Decorate with gummy worms and serve promptly.
  • Crispy Sheet Pan Ramen

    Crispy Sheet Pan Ramen

    Crispy Sheet Pan Ramen

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    Total Time 40 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Ingredients Method Notes

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅔ cup teriyaki sauce or your favorite stir fry sauce
    • 2 teaspoons sriracha hot sauce
    • 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon optional
    • 6 tablespoons avocado oil
    • 4 packages ramen noodles
    • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast sliced into ¼" thick pieces and halved
    • ½ pound broccoli cut into ½" pieces
    • 6 ounces sugar snap peas trimmed
    • ¼ pound carrots peeled and sliced into ⅛" slices
    • 4 scallions cut into 1" pieces

    Method
     

    1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Whisk together teriyaki sauce, sriracha, optional chicken bouillon, and oil until smooth.
    2. Cook ramen noodles based on the package instructions.Drain and rinse.
    3. Place chicken, broccoli, snap peas, carrots, scallions, cooked noodles and half of the sauce mixture in a mixing bowl and toss to combine.
    4. Evenly spread mixture on one or two unlined sheet pans.Rearrange chicken pieces so they are on the top of the noodles and veggies.
    5. Bake for 15 minutes then turn the broiler on high and continue to cook until chicken has cooked through, approximately 3-5 minutes, and to desired crispness.
    6. Remove from oven and drizzle with remaining sauce as needed.

    Notes

    *Chicken can be substitute for another protein of choice. Proteins should be cut into 4″ slices for fast cooking.
  • Japanese Style Guacamole

    Japanese Style Guacamole

    Japanese Style Guacamole

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    Total Time 10 minutes
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 ripe avocados
    • 2 scallions thinly sliced
    • 3 – 4 tablespoons rice vinegar or lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon white miso
    • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

    Method
     

    1. Cut avocados in half, discard pit and scoop flesh into a mixing bowl.
    2. Add scallions, rice vinegar, miso, and sesame oil. Mash until desired consistency.
    3. Taste with the dipper of your choice, such as veggie sticks or tortilla chips. If additional seasoning is required, add additional miso paste or salt to taste.
  • Portobello & Goat Cheese Sandwich

    Portobello & Goat Cheese Sandwich

    Portobello & Goat Cheese Sandwich

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    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 large portobello mushrooms stems discarded
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons tamari
    • ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
    • 1 ciabatta loaf
    • 4 ounces herbed goat cheese
    • 1 ounce baby arugula
    • 1 large beefsteak tomato sliced (8 slices)

    Method
     

    1. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, tamari, and black pepper. Brush portobello mushrooms generously with the marinade and place in a baking dish.Cover tightly and let the marinade absorb. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    2. When the oven is hot, bake for 15-20 minutes, or until mushrooms are tender and juicy. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
    3. Slice the ciabatta loaf in half lengthwise. Spread goat cheese evenly on both cut sides. Layer the bottom half with tomato slices, portobello mushrooms, and arugula. Top with the remaining bread.
    4. Cut into four sandwiches and serve immediately.
  • Roasted Carrot Salad

    Roasted Carrot Salad

    Roasted Carrot Salad

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    Total Time 40 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup quinoa
    • 1 ½ cups water or vegetable broth
    • 1 ¼ pound carrots peeled and cut into 2-inch sticks (¼-inch thick)
    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • 3 ounces baby arugula
    • 2 avocados chopped
    • 1 cup crumbled feta
    • 6 ounces toasted seeds such as sunflower or pumpkin
    Dressing
    • 6 tablespoons avocado oil
    • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

    Method
     

    1. In a small saucepan, combine quinoa and water or stock. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 10 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let rest, covered, for 10 minutes. Spread quinoa on a sheet pan to cool completely.
    2. In a mixing bowl, toss carrots with avocado oil, maple syrup, paprika, and salt. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 15-20 minutes, until tender and lightly caramelized. Let cool completely.
    3. Whisk together avocado oil, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard until fully emulsified.
    4. In a large bowl, gently toss quinoa, roasted carrots, arugula, and avocado. Divide among shallow bowls or plates. Drizzle with dressing and finish with seeds and feta.
  • Swiss Chard and Barley with Gruyere

    Swiss Chard and Barley with Gruyere

    Swiss Chard and Barley with Gruyere

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    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅔ cup pearled barley
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • ½ medium yellow or white onion diced
    • 8 ounces cremini or button mushrooms quartered
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
    • 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
    • 1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
    • 1 cup vegetable broth or water
    • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
    • ¾ teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 bunch chard stemmed and chopped into 2" pieces
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 8 ounces gruyere cheese grated
    • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese sprinkle on after it comes out of the oven

    Method
     

    1. Cook barley in a medium pot of lightly salted water for 35 minutes or until tender. Drain.
    2. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Add mushrooms and cook until browned, about 4-6 minutes. 
    3. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds then add tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Add chard and cook until wilted. 
    4. Stir in cooked barley and butter. Top with gruyere cheese and cover. Continue cooking on low until cheese has melted.
    5. Garnish with grated parmesan and serve.
  • Shrimp Alfredo for Two

    Shrimp Alfredo for Two

    Shrimp Alfredo for Two

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    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp
    • 2 large garlic cloves minced
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 shallot minced
    • ¼ – ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ½ cup dry white wine
    • 1 15-ounce jar Alfredo sauce
    • Grated Parmesan
    • Fresh basil leaves

    Method
     

    1. Combine shrimp, garlic powder, paprika, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside to marinate.
    2. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
    3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté shallots with red pepper flakes until translucent. Add shrimp and cook 1-2 minutes per side or until opaque. Deglaze with white wine.
    4. Add Alfredo sauce and cooked pasta. Heat through and serve with shredded parmesan cheese and fresh basil.