YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT (YIKES)

Years ago I used to go with some co-workers to a McDonalds every morning. We enjoyed each others company and most of us invariably ordered coffee and biscuits. I always made it a point to not have more than two, because I considered them perhaps a little dangerous. I knew white flour was not all that healthy, so I didn’t gorge on them. I figured the trans-fats in the biscuits were not as healthy as old-fashioned lard, because the manufacturers hydrogenated the oils and added chemicals to make them stable. This was for the shelf life of their products, not to add goodness. Any (fresh) product that when treated can be stored for over a year simply cannot be healthy. I know there are exceptions like dried beans, but they are simply dried, an ancient preservation technique. Supermarket shelves are loaded with processed “food” products that if you read the ingredients you probably couldn’t pronounce them unless you studied chemistry. Our taste buds get so jaded with these manufactured “foods”. To pump up the taste they use a lot of salt. As filler and to mask the taste, corn syrup is used. And if you look carefully, you’ll see plenty more chemicals that shouldn’t be in that gaily-wrapped “food” product.

I don’t enjoy fast food. It doesn’t seem real to me. Years ago when my work was out-of-doors in different parts of the city, if I got hungry I would get a small loaf of French bread and a tin of Brisling sardines at a grocery store. (A grocery store is like a miniature super market, only a few aisles) Back then those Brislings were packed in Sild oil, very healthy and more importantly at the time, very delicious. A friend of mine used to go to a fast food place and get a hamburger (incredible how they can make those patties so paper-thin). Whenever we talked about it, he exclaimed he didn’t particularly enjoy them, but it filled him up. That was so sad to hear. Food should be a wonderful, tasty, soul satisfying experience.

If I’m stuck out in the field and get hungry, peanuts are readily available, along with other nuts as well. It’s a shame that people are so rushed for time that they consume chemical laden products. Let me show you two different ingredient lists for the same basic product.

Full ingredient list for a Chicken McNugget (from McDonald’s website)

White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary). Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.



Full ingredient list for Homemade Fried Chicken:

Bone-in chicken pieces, egg, milk, flour, oil (I like lard or peanut oil) salt and pepper.

How can something so simple get so complicated? All to save time? My mother used to say: What do people do with all this “time” they save?

Surely, in a few minutes you can wolf down an inexpensive, filling meal. Use the drive-thru and you don’t even have to walk the hundred feet or so to get your “meal”. But for goodness sakes what is the true cost of these “fast foods”. They may be cheap on your wallet, but also your body, health and longevity as well.

A little planning can make your life better. Get a decent thermos bottle and pack homemade soups. Carry peanuts or pack a lunch sandwich made with quality stuff. Once you study it, you will see how horrible a steady diet of fast food is. Read the ingredients on store-bought products. But remember, prepared food is overwhelmingly loaded with chemicals that may not be healthy. Sure, they may not kill you… yet.

FASTER PASTA THREE FOR THREE

Everyone loves pasta, and why not? You can elevate a box of pasta into a very delicious meal, and do it quickly and simply. Just add a nice salad or soup and some quality bread and you’re done. I see many people in the market purchasing prepared bottled pasta sauces, but that can be very limiting. Forget about it, try these three recipes and you can have pasta more often and it needn’t ever get boring. If you have a pressure cooker, you can boil the pasta water very fast. While it is coming to a boil, you can get the ingredients ready, and complete the sauce before it is done.

SMOKED ALMOND PESTO Serves 4

1 pound (500 grams) Spaghetti or any pasta shape you prefer
1 clove of garlic
½ cup (4 oz, 150 ml) smoked almonds
1 small bunch of fresh basil leaves, washed and dried
¼ cup (2oz, 75ml) best quality olive oil
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil a big pot of water, add a little salt, stir in pasta, cook for about 9-10 minutes or as package directs.

Meanwhile, chop garlic, almonds and basil finely. Transfer this mixture to a serving bowl and stir in the oil, cheese, salt and pepper.

Drain the pasta, toss into the bowl, stir thoroughly and serve.


Many people grow string beans, and if you do or just plain like them, you will want to try this dish:

Lemon Garlic Ziti with Green Bean Sauce Serves 4

1 pound (500g) Ziti (Penne would be good too).
1 pound green beans, trimmed
3 tablespoons (1oz, 40ml) best quality olive oil
1 medium-size onion, chopped
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
3 cloves of garlic, minced
Grated zest of 1 lemon

Boil a big pot of water, add a little salt, stir in ziti, cook for about 9-10 minutes or as package directs. But three minutes before done, add the green beans to the water

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in big skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook about 2 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes, the garlic and cook for half a minute. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon zest

Drain the ziti and green beans. Stir them thoroughly with the sauce in a serving bowl.


Lastly, here is a sophisticated wine and cheese sauce that can be quickly made. Select a cheese you are fond of, such as: Edam, Gouda, Muenster, Gruyere, Bel Paese or Monterrey Jack.

Cheese Sauce Serves 4

1 pound (500g) fettuccine
6 oz (200g) cheese, rind removed, shredded or finely chopped
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons best quality olive oil
½ medium onion, chopped finely
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups of dry white wine
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons Italian flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Boil a big pot of water. Add salt and fettuccine, stir and boil for 9-10 minutes, or as package directs.

Meanwhile, combine cheese and cornstarch and set aside. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cayenne and stir. Add the wine and boil for 1 minute. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

A minute before the fettuccine is finished cooking, bring the sauce back to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the cheese and whisk until the sauce is smooth.

Drain the fettuccine and toss in a serving bowl with the sauce and parsley.

Try these delicious recipes. They are easy and sure to please.






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