Super-Cool Heart-Shaped Tomatoes

Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves.

You prefer a more low-key approach, showing your love through your cooking. And now you've found a cute and creative way to help get your message across.

Using the Snap 'n Shape, you've grown a garden full of tiny heart-shaped tomatoes, ready to be tossed into salads, hidden in lunches or sliced and used as a romantic pizza garnish.

These small, hollow, heart-shaped molds clip onto the stems of young fruiting cherry tomato or other small-vegetable plants, like cherry peppers. As the vegetables grow, they take on the form of the molds. When you're done with one batch, you can move the reusable molds to new plants.

Each order comes with 10 Snap n' Shapes and a bonus packet of cherry tomato seeds.

Let love grow.

Order the Snap 'n Shape online at www.snapnshape.com.

Courtesy of FOOD NOW!

The New Cancer-Fighting Superfoods

Having trouble eating your five to nine servings of fruit and veggies a day? This may motivate you: If we all got our daily dose, there could be 200,000 fewer deaths from cancer every year. Fortunately, you aren't limited to a lifetime of broccoli. These six fruits and veggies offer just as much powerful protection for your breasts and the rest of your body—and they'll help fight diet boredom too.

Artichokes

A study in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that artichokes had the highest antioxidant capacity of 40 vegetables and herbs tested. "Like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, artichokes are rich in flavonoids, which help slow the growth of breast and other types of cancer cells in lab studies.

Pomegranates

High in polyphenols and vitamin C (both antioxidants), this fruit helps fight breast cancer. "Dozens of lab and animal studies show that pomegranates may halt the spread and recurrence of the disease.

Bok Choy

This type of Chinese cabbage is milder then green cabbage or kale, but like those veggies, it's packed with isothiocyanates. "These sulfur compounds help your body convert some of the estrogen it make into a weaker form, which helps protect your breasts," says Karen Collins, P.D., a nutrition adviser for the American Institute for Cancer Research. Don't overcook bok choy; that reduces its anticancer properties.

Tomatoes

Lycopene, a strong antioxidant, is what gives tomatoes their red color. "It plays a major role in helping cells communicate, mainly by rallying healthy ones to band together and kill a "sick" cell that could become cancerous," says Steven Pratt, M.D., the author of SuperHealth. But keep in mind that your body better absorbs lycopene from foods when they're cooked and served with a little bit of fat.

Swiss Chard

"Swap Swiss chard for spinach and you'll get similar amounts of important antioxidants-like vitamin C, bet-carotene, and lutein-which fight cell damage and strengthen your immune system," says Shin. But this dark, leafy green is less bland, so you get a flavorful boost when you add it to pasta dishes, soups, and stir-fries.

Purple Grapes

"Resveratrol, which is found in red and purple grape skins, is a plant estrogen, and getting enough of it can lower your breast cancer risk because it blocks the effects of the stronger estrogen your body makes," says Pratt. It also boosts immunity and fights cell-damaging free radicals.

Information provided by www.shape.com

Tuna Noodle Casserole

One of the childhood dishes I remember is tuna noodle casserole. I think every child in Rural Valley had to have grown up with this dish. It is healthy (for the most part) and very cheap to make. What could be less expensive and full of protein than a can of tuna! I varied the dish a little by adding pimientos and some parmesan cheese. Simply delicious!!

Ingredients
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 C. milk
2 Tbs. chopped pimientos
1 C. frozen peas
2 cans tuna, drained
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
2 C. medium egg noodles, cooked and drained
2 Tbs. dry bread crumbs
1 Tbs. butter, melted

Directions

Stir the soup, milk, pimientos, peas, tuna, cheese, and noodles in a 1 1/2-quart casserole. Stir the bread crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Bake the tuna mixture at 375°F. for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbling. Stir the tuna mixture. Mix the bread crumbs and butter. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture on top of the casserole. Bake for 5 minutes or until the bread crumb mixture is golden brown.

Thai Chicken

Once a week, I try to introduce new flavors into our family menu. These new offerings to the family are not always received with great enthusiasm. However, this one seem to strike a home run. Everyone loved it and asked for seconds. This recipe can be varied in spice depending how hot you like it.

Thai cooking is based on a fusion of strong flavours. The five flavours of Thai cooking are spicy (pet), sour (brio), salty (kem), sweet (waan) and bitter (kom). These flavors are combined to produce dishes of startling intensity that burst onto the taste buds. Thai dishes are generally eaten with rice or noodles to disperse the intensity of the flavours.

Ingredients
2 lb. chicken legs or chicken thighs
1/3 C. green onions, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbs. hoisin sauce
2 Tbs. peanut butter
1 Tbs. fresh ginger, minced
1 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. sesame oil
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. hot pepper sauce
2 Tbs. fresh coriander, chopped

Directions

In a bowl combine; green onions, garlic, hoisin, peanut butter, ginger, soy, sesame oil, lemon juice and hot pepper sauce. Arrange chicken legs in an oven proof dish. Spoon sauce over the chicken. Bake in 375 degree degrees oven for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown and cooked. Sprinkle with the chopped coriander. Serve with rice.

courtsey of recipe4living.com

Spring Clean Your Body

Spring has arrived along with Spring Fever. The desire to clean your house and your body. Months of covering up in sweatshirts is over....reality sinks in when you attempt to put on your favorite shorts. So, I have been heading to the gym. I feel more energized and it is great reconnecting with my old workout friends. When I arrived home, I was doing some cleaning so I put on The Doctors. I occasionally will pick up some very helpful information when I actually listen. Well today's episode caught my ear. I had to sit down and listen.

Top Ten Spring Foods

What you put on your plate can help or harm your internal organs. The Doctors and Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Prevention, showcase the wonder foods that can improve your body from the inside out.

1. Dandelion
Dandelions have been used for centuries to treat liver problems. The weed is rich in vitamins A, C and K, as well as beta-carotene and antioxidants. Taking a dandelion supplement can help improve production of bile in the liver.

2. Ginger
Ginger root, a diuretic, helps the kidneys flush toxins from the body.

3. Blueberries
Blueberries are the ultimate brain food. The tiny fruit packs a big punch with the highest concentration of antioxidants per serving among fruits. They also helps boost neuron signals in the brain.

4. Salmon
Omega-3 fatty acids, the unsaturated fats found in salmon and other fatty fish, help reduce the risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends that people eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids at least twice a week.

5. Avocado
Avocados are high in vitamins C, B6, E, K, as well as potassium and copper, all of which work wonders for the skin. The fruit helps restore hair’s luster as well. See how to make your own avocado hair mask!

6. Spinach
Spinach is high in the carotenoid lutein, a natural antioxidant that can help protect the eyes from cataracts, macular degeneration and other diseases.

7. Broccoli
Broccoli helps condition hair. The vegetable is high in vitamins A and C, which the body needs to produce sebum, an oily substance secreted by hair follicles to keep it healthy and shiny.

8. Flax Seeds
Flax seeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein, which help build muscles.

9. Jalapeños
Jalapeños contain capsaicin, an active component of chili peppers that has potent antibacterial properties. Capsaicin stimulates secretions that clear mucus from your nose, which relieves nasal congestion and helps fight and prevent sinusitis, or chronic sinus infections. See the sinus buster in action!

10. Celery
Celery is one of the best foods for teeth. The amount of chewing required to break down the crunchy vegetable increases the production of saliva, which helps destroy bacteria that cause plaque.

11. Sunshine
Sunshine is not a food, but it is the best source of vitamin D, which is produced in the body in response to sunlight. Without vitamin D, our bodies cannot properly absorb calcium, and our bones become weak and brittle.

Mexican Pasta

This meal is sure to satisfy even your most finicky appetites. If you love tacos, this is your meal with a healthier twist. I use whole wheat pasta instead of taco shells. I also used a roast for the meat, but you could certainly use hamburger or chicken! For the meat, I use whichever roast is on sale that day. For this particular recipe, I used a sirloin tip roast. They were BOGO so I couldn't pass it up!

Ingredients:

Meat Sauce
3 pound roast
2 cans of fire roasted tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
1 small onion, diced
4 gloves of garlic, chopped
1 can of chilies
1 bottle of beer (corona works well) & 1 cup of beef stock or 2 cups of beef stock
2 Tbsp. of canola oil
2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. of coriander
2 Tbsp. of cumin
1 Tbsp. of cracked black pepper

1 package of pasta (whole wheat penne used here)

Allow your roast to come to room temperature. About 20 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, coriander, cumin, and black pepper. Mix and rub on all side of the roast. In a dutch over, place 2 Tbsp. of canola oil. Heat on medium high for 2 minutes. Brown the roast on both sides. Set roast aside. Add the tomatoes, garlic, beer & stock, onions, and chillies. Mix well. Return roast to the dutch oven. Liquid should cover the roast entirely. If it does not, add beef stock to just covering. Place the roast, covered, in a 325 oven for approximately 3 hours. When done, shred the meat with two forks. If meat does not tear apart easily, place back in the over for an additional 35 minutes. Keep the roast in the dutch oven as you shred because the juice will absorb with the beef. The shredding process takes a little while, be patient. It is worth it. Once you shed the meat, place the lid back on the dutch oven to keep the sauce warm.

Boil your pasta in heavily salted water according to the packages direction. For whole wheat, about 11 minutes. Drain and return to pan. Ladle in about 1/2 of the sauce and mix.

To serve, add additional sauce on top and add your favorite taco toppings! Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheddar cheese, sour cream, taco sauce, and jalapenos.

Spring Cleaning Your Pantry~

The temperature is warming up. Spring is in the air. Time for outdoor walks, cook-outs, and inevitably ~ Spring Cleaning. Here are some helpful tips on cleaning your pantry. These tips courtesy of Good House Keeping Magazine.

Know what you have, when to use it, and when to toss it~

Good for 6 months
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Brown Rice and should be kept in an air tight container. This one surprised me.
Nuts
Oil, unopened!. Once open, use within 3 months or store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
Peanut Butter

Good for 1 year
Flour and should be stored in an air tight container. Whole wheat flower is good for only 6 months.
Grains

Good for more than a year
Canned goods (discard if can has leaks, rust, or large dents)
Dried beans
Honey
Sugar, white. Brown sugar should be used within 6 months
Vinegar, unopened. Once opened plan to use within 6 months.