-- Simple Smart Nutrition

Kale, Squash and Apple Salad

Everyone knows the advantages of eating kale, but now is the time to add squash to your meals as well. There are so many different varieties available right now–and all are delicious!

This awesome vegetable is a superfood of its own right, and is very high in beta-carotene, which provides the majority of vitamin A in most diets–as long as it is eaten with some fat so it can be absorbed and utilized. (Antioxidants don’t work unless you eat this.) Squash also contains vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids, which helps fight cancer, colds and flu, and heart disease–to name just a few.

Unlike summer squash, which has edible skin and can be eaten raw, winter squash usually has a tougher skin and will need to be peeled. There are many methods to cooking squash, but the best method for most squash is roasting. Carefully cut the squash in half and scoop out the fibers and seeds. At this point, you can separate the seeds from the fibers to toast them for a snack. Roast the squash cut-side down at 350 degrees F until tender–or do like I did and half or quarter and put on medium heat on grill for about a half hour or so, depending on the size of the squash pieces.

Fall Squash, Kale and Apple Superfood Salad

1/2 Granny Smith apple, chopped

1/2 McIntosh, Gala, Fuji, etc apple, chopped

1/2 firm pear, chopped

1 small squash, roasted, cooled and chopped in cubes (I used a Delicata squash)

1/2 red onion chopped

1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds (I roasted in pan over med heat for about 2-4 min)

Dinosaur kale, chopped and massaged (can use a rolling pin to make it more tender)

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup tart dried cherries or unsweetened cranberries

1-2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice

Salt, pepper, hot pepper flakes to taste

Roast squash, cool, peel, and cube in small pieces. Chop kale in small pieces, and roll with rolling pin or ‘massage’ by wrapping in clean dish towel and rolling with a rolling pin or can to make it more tender. Mix the rest of ingredients in and serve. Serves about 4. Works as a great vegan meal too!

A Votre Sante!

Catherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN, is an international health, wellness and longevity expert. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing, she has spent the last 30 years studying sustainable diets, health and nutrition all over the world. She also has 4 books including the worldwide best-seller, “The Fat Burning Kitchen,” “The Top 101 Foods That Fight Aging”, and “The Superfoods Diabetes Reversal Diet”, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

Her mission is to help create a healthier planet and healthier people.

Cat’s Global Green Kitchen

Perfect Paleo Salad Nicoise

This salad is definitely a meal in itself. High in protein, it is very satisfying and incredibly healthy too. It’s the perfect Paleo dinner full of fat burning antioxidants and bursting with nutrition.

And don’t be afraid of the potatoes. An occasional potato is not going to hurt your efforts to stay lean, especially if it is combined with other fibrous vegetables, a healthy fat, and some good quality protein. And potatoes (especially organic ones) are rich in vitamins and minerals as well.

Use good quality fresh greens, as they are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants. I really like to add arugula with its sharp, slightly bitter taste. Arugula is a member of the same family as broccoli, which makes it an excellent fat-burning food, and an excellent source of vitamins A and C, folic acid, calcium, manganese, and magnesium. It’s also a very good source of potassium, iron, zinc, riboflavin, and copper.

Salad
1 big handful of baby greens
1 big handful of baby arugula
2-3 new red potatoes, quartered
½ lb or so fresh green beans or asparagus
2 eggs hard-boiled, quartered
½ cup tomatoes, chopped
¼ cup kalamata or Greek olives
1 lb grilled tuna or 1 can of tuna packed in olive oil
Handful of fresh basil, and capers for garnish

Dressing
1-2 garlic cloves, smashed and minced
1 small shallot, minced
½ cup extra extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Steam green beans lightly until tender crisp and then cool under cold water. Quarter and cook potatoes if necessary and soak in ice water, while you prepare the rest of the salad. Whisk together ingredients for dressing. On a large plate or shallow bowl, place greens on bottom, and arrange potatoes, green beans, eggs, tomatoes, olives and tuna in separate sections on top of greens. Drizzle with dressing and garnish with capers. Serves 2 or 4 smaller servings.
Enjoy!

Till next time, stay health and lean!

Catherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN, is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. She also has a book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 60,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

Cooling Cucumber Salad

Cucumbers aren’t the sexy new superfood topping all the lists lately, but this vegetable quietly sits amongst the nutrition superstars with plenty of benefits in its own right. Cucumbers contain very valuable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits.

This salad is, by far, the best in the summer when big luscious tomatoes are in season and full of flavor, and the cucumbers are fresh and tender. Continue reading “Cooling Cucumber Salad”

Asian Ribs Are the Hit of the Weekend BBQ!

The Fourth of July weekend is the traditional time to barbecue outside, gather with some friends or family to enjoy all that summer has to offer. While regular ribs usually are slathered in bbq sauce full of high fructose corn syrup, these spicy ribs have an Asian twist you’ll love.

Happy SUMMER!

The Fourth of July weekend is of course, the traditional time to barbecue outside, gather with some friends or family and get outside to enjoy all that summer has to offer.

While regular ribs usually are slathered in a sweet sauce full of high fructose corn syrup, these spicy ribs use a Korean marinade followed by slow cooking on the grill to produce some mouth watering tender ribs with yummy Asian twist. This one is sure to please everyone!

Ingredients
1 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup raw honey
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup sesame oil
juice of 1 fresh lime
5-6 big cloves minced garlic
2-4 large green onions, chopped
1/2 to 1 tsp of red pepper flakes
5 lbs Korean-style short ribs* or any type ribs
Combine marinade ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend well. Pour into heavy jumbo resealable plastic bag. Add ribs; seal bag. Turn bag over several times to coat ribs evenly. Refrigerate overnight, turning bag occasionally.

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Drain ribs; discard marinade. Grill ribs over medium low heat, until browned and tender, about 5 minutes per side (if using Korean style rib cut). If using regular pork ribs, grill over indirect medium low heat, turning often, about 45 minutes to an hour.

Serve with marinated cucumber salad.

*beef chuck flanken, cut 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick across bones; about 20 pieces*

Marinated Cucumber Salad

This salad is a refreshingly cool and tasty way to enjoy cucumbers. Smaller locally grown cucumbers work, or try the European or Persian style cucumbers that are appearing in stores. These have a more tender skin that is fine to leave on, especially if you can find the organic cucumbers. Make ahead of time to marinate. You can make a day or so ahead and let it soak up the flavors of the marinade.

2 large cucumbers, sliced thinly, with or without skin
1 large sweet onion sliced roughly
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp or so of honey
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
handful fresh basil, chopped
sprinkle of red pepper flakes

Combine all ingredients in glass bowl, and store in fridge a few hours or overnight. Serve with ribs.

Have a safe, happy and FUN Fourth of July everyone!

Till next time, stay healthy, lean and energetic!

Look for the Fat Burning Kitchen Superfood Recipes coming in July!!

Catherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN,is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. She also has a book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 60,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

Guacamole Deviled Eggs

These delicious eggs have guacamole as a healthy addition to the egg yolks. So on top of all the great fat burning benefits you get from eating the eggs and the yolk, you get the healthy fats, vitamins and minerals in the avocado as well. This high protein, low carb snack will keep your blood sugar stable.

PHAT GUACAMOLE DEVILED EGGS

The healthy fats and other nutrition you get from avocados help your body to maintain proper levels of hormones that help with fat loss and muscle building. The healthy fat in avocados helps control insulin levels and gives your brain a signal that you are satisfied when you eat them, so you eat less.

Avocados contain plenty of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that helps lower cholesterol and is helpful in preventing breast cancer and other cancers. One cup of avocado has about a quarter of your required daily amount of folate, or folic acid, a B vitamin that plays an essential role in making new cells by helping to produce
DNA and RNA.

This hunger satisfying low carb snack will keep your blood sugar stable, fill you up, replenish and fuel your body with lean, fat burning nutrition.

Check these out—they are absolutely delicious!

Ingredients

4-6 eggs, hard-boiled

1 avocado

1 clove minced garlic

¼ cup finely minced red onion

1 small roma or plum tomato, seeded and finely chopped

2-4 Tbsp chopped cilantro

Frank’s Redhot sauce or Tabasco, more or less to taste, depending on its hotness

1 tsp lemon or lime juice

Cilantro, chopped

Sea salt

Directions

Peel hard-boiled eggs and cut in half length-wise. Gently pop out yolks into a small bowl with avocado, garlic, tomato, onion, hot sauce and lemon juice. Mash yolks and avocado mix together. Season with sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Refill egg whites with the yolk/guacamole mixture, sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

Serves 4.

Enjoy! Or take to the next party you go to–everyone will love this new twist on deviled eggs!

Till next time, stay healthy and lean!

Catherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN, is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. She also has a book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 60,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

Bacon, Blue Cheese, Apple and Arugula Salad

I had this crazy idea for a salad recipe and thought these things would work together. I was right…

I had a crazy idea for a superfood salad recipe and thought these things would work together and I was really not surprised they worked as well as I had thought. I purchased some delcious creamy, nutty raw blue cheese that was just magnificent with the saltiness of the bacon, the bite of the arugula and the tart-sweetness of the apple.

I topped it off with an olive oil, and cinnamon-pear balsamic mixture. You don’t need cinnamon-pear balsamic but a nice, mellow sweet balsamic will do just as well.

I purposely did not include measurements in this recipe, it’s very easy to adjust to whatever size crowd you are serving. Hint: Add more Bacon to gain more popularity! 😉

Dark green leafy vegetables are, calorie for calorie, probably the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are a rich source of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins, including vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide a variety of phytonutrients including beta-carotene,lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of healthy omega 3 fats as well.

The standout of all the nutrients in dark green leafies is Vitamin K.

A cup of most cooked greens will give you about 9X the minimum recommended intake of Vitamin K, and even a couple of cups of dark salad greens usually provide the minimum all on their own.

Here ya go…I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. 🙂

Bacon, Blue Cheese, Apple and Arugula Salad

Any combination of Arugula, regular baby greens and/or baby kale

2-4 slices thick sliced natural (no nitrites) bacon, cooked and cut up in small pieces

1/2 to 1 apple, chopped in small pieces (Granny Smith is good, or any tart-crisp apple variety)

Crumbled Blue Cheese (try something exotic here like Maytag Blue or another aged delightfully nutty flavored blue cheese)

Thin sliced red onion

Add greens to large glass bowl, with apple, bacon, and blue cheese sprinkled on top. Drizzle equal amounts of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil on salad and serve.

Breakfast Quinoa Scramble

Looking for a quick and tasty breakfast but tired of the same old scrambled eggs and bacon? Here is a great idea that you can make from virtually anything–leftovers are ideal!

Breakfast Quinoa Scramble

Looking for a quick and tasty breakfast but tired of the same old scrambled eggs and bacon? Here is a great idea that you can make from virtually anything–leftovers work great!

This particular recipe uses bacon, eggs, sweet onion and green onion and sliced carrots. You can also add peas, broccoli, fresh tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, kale, parsley, cilantro or whatever other yummy veggies you’d like to add. The key ingredients are cooked quinoa, sweet or green onion, bacon and eggs.

When I make quinoa, I like to make a big batch, because the leftovers are great for breakfast. This recipe is quick and easy and absolutely delicious and satisfying–and very nutritious as well! This recipe serves two but is easily expandable to 4 or more. There are no hard and fast measurements here, just add more ingredients for a bigger crowd.

Ingredients

1 cup cooked quinoa

3 slices of (natural, nitrite free) bacon

1 or 2 organic, free range eggs

1/4 cup sweet onion, coarsely chopped

3 green onions, chopped

1-2 carrots, sliced

1/4 cup frozen peas

handful of cilantro or parsley,if desired

1 Tbsp of olive oil

Sea salt and hot pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

In a skillet, cook the bacon till done, but not too crisp. Set aside to cool, then cut or break into smaller pieces. Scramble egg in pan with leftover bacon grease and set aside with bacon.

Add vegetables, and stirfry in leftover bacon grease until slightly tender but not mushy. (5-6 minuutes)

Add olive oil to pan, and add cooked quinoa, and stir into veggies and heat through. Add chopped bacon and egg and mix in with quinoa-veggie mix. Add sea salt and hot pepper flakes and serve. Enjoy! You will have superpowered energy to burn all day!

Till next time,

Stay healthy and lean!

Find out what foods age you the fastest and how to reverse aging here.

And get the Anti-Aging Superfoods Recipe book too!

The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging

Cat’s book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

Warm Lentil, Kale & Bacon Salad

Lately I have been really liking lentils. Lentils are a power food–loaded with protein, fiber, B vitamins and iron; and the stellar health benefits of kale. And there’s bacon…

Lately I have been really enjoying lentils. Now for the die-hard Paleo/Primal folks, lentils are not on the ‘list’, but as an athlete who needs to get plenty of non-grain high quality carbs, lentils are a perfect addition. Lentils are a power food–they are loaded with protein, fiber, B vitamins and iron.

Lentils contain more folate than most any other plant food. Besides protecting your body against heart disease and inflammation by lowering dangerous homocysteine, folate is ideal for women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, as it helps prevent birth defects. And did you know that folate, combined with vitamin B6 (also in lentils) helps reduce the risk of breast cancer and other cancers.

Lentils’ high fiber makes them filling and satisfying, while keeping blood sugar low. This low calorie legume is a great dietary addition if you are trying to lose weight as well. The lentil is an easy to digest food that is helpful to those who have digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrom and diverticulosis.

Lentils contain the third highest level of protein of all legumes and nuts, so not only are they a great slow burning carbohydrate source, but they are also an excellent source of protein.

And one of the main reasons I love lentils is their steady, slow-burning energy they provide for athletes, along with the iron which helps to transport oxygen in the body. Oh, and did I mention they taste delicious?

And of course, there is the kale, which we all know is a known ‘Superfood’. A member of the cruciferous family, it has anti-cancer, fat burning properties, along with its powerful anti-oxidants, calcium and vitamin K, among other more numerous health benefits.

There’s also turmeric in this recipe too. If you don’t know about turmeric, read more here. It’s one of the most powerful, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging spices you can use.

I used black lentils in this recipe. They are a slightly smaller, firmer lentil than the more common brown lentil you see at the grocery store, although you can use either type. Brown lentils cook relatively quickly, so don’t overcook or they will become mushy.

This recipe, that I made up on the fly, turned out surprisingly good. I may have to make it again tonight!

Warm Lentil, Kale and Bacon Salad

2 slices of thick sliced, natural (nitrite/nitrate free) bacon

4-6 good sized garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup (or so) cooked black or brown lentils

1/2 bunch of kale, chopped in small pieces

sea salt

1/2 tsp turmeric

juice of 1 fresh lemon wedge, to taste

hot pepper flakes, to taste

toasted sesame seeds, optional

In a frying pan, fry bacon until medium crisp. Remove from pan and chop or break in small pieces. Set aside. Leave about 1-2 Tbsp of the bacon grease in pan, and stir and cook garlic for a few minutes, until soft. Add chopped kale, salt, drained lentils, red pepper flakes, and turmeric. Cover with lid and cook over medium to medium-low heat for a few minutes until kale is tender. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over kale, stir and serve. Enjoy! Serves 2-4.

This can be served as a side dish or as a complete meal.

Easy Lentil Curry Salad

So I am doing this detox diet, and for some strange reason, I’ve been craving lentils. When you crave something that’s good for you, listen. It’s most likely your body telling you it needs a particular nutrient…

So I am doing this detox diet, and for some strange reason, I’ve been craving lentils. I know enough about my body (and you should too) to listen when I am craving a certain type of food. No that doesn’t mean when you crave candy, cake, mac and cheese, or anything else that isn’t healthy for your body.

But when you truly crave something that is good for you, then listen. It’s most likely your body telling you it needs a particular nutrient.

So what about lentils? Well, I try to eat a mostly Paleo style diet, and legumes are a ‘no-no’ on a Paleo diet. I’m not sure why, it seems that primitive folks would want to eat lentils if they had ’em. Maybe they didn’t cozy up around the camp fire to a big bowl of steaming lentil soup, but really, there are worse things, right?

Well, for starters, lentils are full of fiber. Guess that’s good for a detox diet, don’t ya think?

And, lentils help lower cholesterol, and stabilize blood-sugar. Lentils are also very high in magnesium, that calming mineral that the majority of us are short on. Got leg cramps? Get magnesium. Trouble sleeping and relaxing? Get magnesium. You get the idea…

On top of that, lentils also provide plenty of B vitamins and protein and are not heavy on the calories. Good thing for a detox diet, it sounds like. Plus they are tasty, go great in a salad or soup and fill you up. I’m all for that.

So here is the salad I whipped up while I was craving lentils and on my detox diet. I have to say it was delicious and satisfying. You can play around with the ingredients as you like, but this combo was pretty tasty! Just be sure to use organic veggies as much as possible.

Lentil-Veggie Salad

1 cup or so dry lentils, rinsed

1 bunch of radishes, chopped or sliced

6-8 asparagus stalks, chopped and lightly cooked

1 medium size cucumber

1 firm tomato chopped

1 firm avocado chopped

1 red onion chopped or 4-5 green onions sliced

1 clove or 2 of garlic

handful of fresh cilantro chopped

1 tsp or so of curry powder

red pepper flakes

sea salt and pepper

juice of one fresh lemon

2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Rinse and cook lentils till tender. Rinse with cool water and drain. Add veggies, lemon juice, olive oil and seasonings. Stir and chill. Enjoy! Serves 2-4, and makes great leftovers too.

Till next time,

Stay healthy and lean!

Catherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN, is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. Get the latest Gluten Free, Superfoods Recipe book HERE–The Fat Burning Kitchen Superfoods Recipes. Cat also has a book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 60,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

Immune Boosting Asian Chicken Soup

Try this with any leftover chicken or turkey. Besides the healing properties of chicken soup, this soup contains shiitake mushrooms with powerful healing properties…

This is a great way to use a leftover chicken or turkey. All you have to do is throw the leftover chicken or turkey, bones and all into a pot of water. OR you can use cut up chicken pieces (with bones), or just chicken or turkey meat. I decided to use shiitake mushrooms and give it an Asian twist, and we were all pretty happy with the way it turned out. So, here is the immune boosting Asian Chicken Soup recipe.

Aside from the healing properties of chicken soup, this soup contains shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms have some powerful healing and immune strengthening properties all on their own.

The Shiitake is featured in many Asian cuisines and has long been considered a delicacy as well as a powerful medicinal mushroom. As far back as the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368–1644), it was known that shiitakes were a remedy for upper respiratory diseases, poor blood circulation, liver trouble, exhaustion and weakness, and to boost qi, or life energy. It was also believed to prevent premature aging.

Scientific studies have shown shiitake’s ability to stimulate the immune system, kill bacteria, reduce platelet aggregation, and possess antiviral properties. One of the substances in shiitake, AHCC (active hexose correlated compound), increases the body’s resistance to pathogens such as the flu virus, West Nile encephalitis, and certain bacterial infections. Another compound is actually used as an intravenous anticancer agent in some countries.

Shiitakes are an excellent source of vitamins B2, B5 and B6, as well as manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, copper and zinc, and a good source of protein, magnesium, and vitamin D. They also provide a wide variety of unique phytonutrients.

One especially interesting area of immune system support involves the impact of shiitake mushrooms on immune cells called macrophages. Among their many important activities, macrophage cells are responsible for identifying and clearing potentially cancerous cells from the body. Shiitake mushrooms help macrophage cells do a better job killing off potential cancer cells.

While shiitakes are known for their immune strengthening properties, they are also known to modulate and prevent excessive immune activity–as in the case of those with auto-immune disease. So, shiitakes are known for overall immune benefits, even for those with overactive immune systems.

Any kind of chicken works for this soup. I used a leftover roasted chicken with some meat left on it, along with a couple of thighs. You can also use a whole cut up chicken, chicken breasts, leftover turkey, etc. Just add enough meat so it’s sufficient for the number of servings you are making.

Ingredients

1 chicken or turkey carcass with some meat on

2 thighs

4 cups water

Sea salt

4-6 cloves garlic chopped roughly

1 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced

1 cup chopped organic kale

3 carrot slices

1 medium sized baby bok choy chopped

1/2 lb shiitake mushrooms, sliced

1 carton of organic chicken stock

1/2 cup of quinoa

chopped green onions

sprinkle of red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp of soy sauce

1-2 Tbsp of miso paste

Fish sauce to taste

Directions

In a large saucepan or dutch oven, add in chicken and about 4-6 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for about a half hour to an hour, until meat is done and falling off the bones. If you added in large pieces, remove them with a strainer spoon and remove meat from bones, and return meat to stock.

Add in vegetables, and seasoning and simmer for another half hour to an hour. Serve with a tossed green salad and enjoy!! Makes 4-6 servings.

Till next time, stay healthy and lean!

Look for the new 101 Anti-Aging Superfoods and the Anti-Aging Superfoods Recipe book due out next week! (Yes, really–the book did get hung up in production, but it really will be out next week–just in time for Christmas! 😉

Catherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN,is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. She also has a book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 60,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

Her mission is to help others prevent disease, lose weight, and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

Swiss Chard and Egg Scramble

In true inspiration borne of necessity, I looked in my (pretty empty) fridge for something I could rustle up for lunch. I had a few nice stalks of Swiss Chard, a part of a red onion, some garlic, and a couple eggs…

I often get requests for a quick, easy and healthy breakfast–and this would make a great healthy breakfast. Today, however, this was my lunch. And in true inspiration borne of necessity, I looked in my (pretty empty) fridge for something I could rustle up for lunch. I had a few nice stalks of Swiss Chard, the superfood greens with a mild taste not too different from spinach; a couple of mushrooms, a part of a red onion, some garlic, and a couple eggs.

[Since I was way too hungry and gobbled mine up so fast, I didn’t get a photo, so I borrowed my friend Sonora’s picture from her website, www.oncemorewithveggies.com. She has a lot of other yummy recipes on her site too! ]

Some of the massive health benefits from Swiss Chard include:

The amazing variety of phytonutrients in chard is quickly recognizable in its vibrant colors, including the rich, dark greens in its leaves and the rainbow of reds, purples, and yellows in its stalks and veins.

Virtually all of these phytonutrients provide antioxidant benefits, anti-inflammatory benefits, or both. In addition, many provide health benefits that are more specific certain systems in the body.

Chard provides some very specific and powerful phytonutrients that regulate our body’s blood sugar, making this a valuable food item to add to meals if you are working on keeping blood sugar low and preventing or managing diabetes.

Alrighty then, it’s going to be a Swiss Chard and Egg Scramble for lunch.

Holy Cow! It was really good!!

Darn it, I meant to take a picture, but ate it too fast!

Here’s what I did…(the only thing I would change if I had it, would be to add bacon!)

Ingredients

2T Extra Virgin Olive Oil or butter

1/4-1/2 red onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

2 sliced mushrooms

2-3 leaves of fresh Swiss Chard, chopped (include white or red stalks, but chop of tough ends)

Or, use a handful or two of chopped organic spinach (read about the “Dirty Dozen” here)

1 or 2 eggs

Hot pepper flakes

Sea salt, fresh ground pepper

1/2 fresh lemon

Directions

In a pan, melt butter or add olive oil, garlic and onion over medium heat. Saute until until is soft. Add Swiss Chard and stir, about 1-2 minutes, or until it just begins to wilt. Don’t overcook! Push veggies to the sides and add to the center of pan. Scramble lightly and then stir into veggies. Add hot pepper to taste, salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. I’m thinking this would have been good with a squeeze of Siracha sauce as well…

Note: if using bacon, chop and cook first until brown. Drain excess grease, and then cook as above.

Enjoy!!

Till next time,

Stay healthy and lean!

P.S. Look for the new 101 Anti-Aging Superfoods and the Anti-Aging Superfoods Recipe book due out this week! (I’m hoping Saturday!)

Catherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN,is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. She also has a book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 60,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health. Her mission is to help others prevent disease, lose weight, and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

The Fat Burning Kitchen will get you started on the path to a healthy diet, weight loss and vibrant health.You will notice a difference in the first 24 hours! Learn about the so-called ‘health’ foods you may be eating that are actually ruining your health, and causing you to gain weight. And find out the best, fat-burning super-powered nutritious foods to eat to lose fat, gain boundless energy, and feel better than you ever have!

Cat’s Crazy Energizing, Fat Burning Energy Bars

Here is my latest attempt at homemade energy bars. I don’t like the ‘store-bought’ varieties, and the “Go Raw” bars I do buy are pretty expensive, so I made my own version, and they turned out great!

Well, here is another attempt at some good homemade energy bars. I don’t generally like the ‘store-bought’ varieties–so many of them have too much sugar (in the form of rice syrup, extra fruit, corn syrup, etc.), soy protein, artificial ingredients, etc.

The bars I do like best–are pretty darn expensive, so I decided to make my own version of these.

These are full of nuts, a little bit of fruit for sweetness, a touch of salt and not baked, but dehydrated at a low oven temp overnight. This preserves the natural enzymes in the ingredients, plus helps the bars hold together with just the right amount of chewiness.

And they are gluten free, dairy free, corn free, soy free and Paleo as well.

This particular rendition actually tasted a lot like Clif bars–without the grain or other additives. If you’d like them to have some extra sweetness, I’d suggest adding those miniature chocolate chips, or whole raisins–after you are done blending them.

Give these a try, these bars are excellent fuel for a longer bike ride, run, hike, or busy day.

These ingredients are all approximate. I just added ingredients to get the right consistency.

Ingredients
1/2 cup mixed nuts ( I used all natural, roasted cashews, pistachios, and almonds)
1/2-1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup raisins
10 or so dates
1/3 cup natural peanut butter (I suggest Trader Joe’s Valencia and flax seed peanut butter)
2-3 scoops of cold processed vanilla protein powder
1/2 raw apple
1/3-1/2 cup natural flaked or shredded coconut
2 Tbsp or so real Maple Syrup or Honey
cinnamon
sea salt
1/4 cup or so water

Directions
In a food processor, add pumpkin seeds, nuts, raisins, and dates and mix. Add peanut butter, and other ingredients and mix until well blended. Add a small amount of water if mixture is crumbly. Mixture should end up like thick cookie dough. If you’d like chocolate chips or whole raisins, stir in after everything is mixed up.

Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet lightly with butter, and drop cookie-sized spoonfuls on sheet. Smash down till about a half inch or less thick. Cook in oven overnight–about 8 hours. Bars should be solid when done. Cool. Enjoy!!

I will keep working on these to come up with different varieties and flavors. Let me know what you think!

Till next time, Stay Healthy and Lean!

For more easy to fix, gluten free, dairy free, superfood recipes, click here to subscribe to my Simple Smart Newsletter.

Catherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN, is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. She also has a book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold 100,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

3 Great Tomato Recipes

Oh joy! It’s midsummer and tomatoes are in season. Real, juicy, red, luscious, sweet tomatoes that burst with flavor in your mouth–not those mushy, pallid ones from a hothouse. What to do with this bounty of nature?

Oh joy! It’s midsummer and tomatoes are in season.

Real, juicy, red, luscious, sweet tomatoes that burst with flavor in your mouth–not those mushy, pallid ones from a hothouse.

If you are lucky, you may be able to pick your own fresh tomatoes red and ripe, from your backyard, or have a friend or neighbor supplying you with those warm, juicy red globes. If not, head to your local farmer’s market or look for “locally grown” in your favorite supermarket.

Tomatoes ripen in the sun, but if picked a bit early, they will continue to ripen if you leave them out on your counter top or windowsill. Refrigerating tomatoes not only stops their ripening process, but it also lessens their sweet and tangy flavor.

What to do with this bounty of nature? If you’re tiring of just sliced tomatoes with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh basil, sea salt and pepper, here are some other delicious ways to enjoy these antioxidant rich, cancer fighting, heart health enriching phytonutrients.

Tomatoes are full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, especially potassium. And they contain powerful bioflavinoids, which counteract inflammation, allergic reactions, fight cancer and protect your heart. Eating tomatoes will substantially reduce your risk of:

ovarian cancer
digestive tract cancers (mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, colon and rectum)
heart disease
asthma and COPD
prostate cancer

American men who ate tomatoes (in one study), had a 40 percent reduction in the risk of prostate cancer. Studies of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer found that increasing consumption of tomato products was associated with a marked decrease in cancer progression.

And it isn’t just the red color that makes tomatoes so healthy for you. Tomatoes of any color: red, green, orange, yellow or purple are all spectacular for your health.

Easy Baked Tomatoes Parmesan

Ingredients

4 medium sized tomatoes, cut in half

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano, basil or thyme in any combination

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 450° F.
Place tomatoes cut-side up on a baking sheet. Top with Parmesan, oregano, salt and pepper. Drizzle with oil and bake until the tomatoes are tender, about 10-12 minutes.

Tomato and Watermelon Salad

Ingredients

3 or 4 small to medium tomatoes, in assorted colors, cored and cut into 3/4-inch chunks

1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into 3/4-inch cubes

2 cups 3/4-inch-cubed yellow or red seedless watermelon flesh

1 tablespoon chopped mixed fresh herbs, in any combination: basil, tarragon, chives, and cilantro

1/4 teaspoon coriander seed

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, watermelon, and herbs.
In a spice grinder, grind the coriander seeds to a fine powder. Add the ground coriander to the tomato mixture and toss gently. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Combine dressing with vegetable/watermelon mixture and refrigerate, allowing flavors to mix for an hour or so.

My Favorite Tomato Salsa

Ingredients

4-6 fresh, ripe tomatoes, depending on size, chopped in small pieces

½ red onion, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 or more jalapeño pepper, ribs and seeds removed, and minced finely

1 organic or locally grown green or red bell pepper, chopped in small pieces

2-4 tomatillos, chopped

1 big bunch of cilantro, finely chopped

Juice of one lemon or lime

Sea salt

Teaspoon of sugar

Directions

There are two ways to make this salsa. One method is the chunky version. Just chop all the ingredients by hand with a sharp knife, and mix together with lemon or lime juice and sea salt. You can make it extra chunky or use a finer chop.

For a smoother, more pureed version, coarsely chop the veggies and place in a food processor to mix. Process just enough so mixture is smooth, with no large chunks and serve. This will produce a slightly juicier version, so drain off some of the excess juice with a colander. Add lemon, lime and salt after draining liquid.

Either way, you will enjoy it immensely! Serve with chicken, fish, chips, tacos or on your scrambled eggs. Serves 4 or more.

Enjoy tomatoes while you can, because soon enough tomato season will be over.

Now, what to do with all that zucchini? Stay tuned… 🙂

Till next time,

Stay Healthy and Lean!

Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

Refreshing, Sockeye Salmon Salad

The pigment that helps to make salmon’s flesh pink is astaxanthin. Astaxanthin lowers C-reactive protein (CRP), which measures inflammation in blood vessels, and your risk for heart attacks and strokes. Astaxanthin can actually reduce wrinkles and sun damage…

Most any type of wild caught salmon works in this salad, but sockeye salmon is definitely my favorite. Salmon contains a large amount of antioxidants, and the darker pink the flesh, the more antioxidants–as long as it is wild caught.

Astaxanthin may just be the best antioxidant for DNA protection. It’s 6,000 times more effective than vitamin C, 800 times more effective than CoQ10 and 550 times more effective than vitamin E or green tea.

The effect astaxanthin has on DNA is rather amazing. DNA is damaged by free radicals when you’re exposed to things like pollution, smoke, radiation and processed food. In one study, DNA damage dropped by 43% after subjects took astaxanthin supplements.

Wild caught salmon is especially rich in omega 3’s and the health benefits from this mega nutrient are endless! Salmon is also a great source of easily digestible protein, niacin, B6, B12, selenium, phosphorus and magnesium.

Eating salmon even twice a week may help raise omega 3 levels as effectively as taking daily fish oil supplements. And those healthy fats in salmon help burn body fat, contribute to a healthy heart, protect against strokes, reduce inflammation in the body, fight cancer, improve asthma, protect your eyesight, and more.

Eating a diet high in astaxanthin and omega 3 fats protects skin against sunburn and wrinkles. The omega 3’s in salmon lift your mood and fight depression, improve memory and learning ability, and help with disorders like ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Healthy fats in salmon and other wild caught cold water fish also help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Ingredients

2 cans (6.5 oz each) canned sockeye salmon, drained and chunked

3 Tbsp organic mayo (see recipe below to make your own)

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 Tbsp capers, drained

1/3 cup finely chopped fennel root

1/3 cup finely diced red onion

Pinch of organic black pepper

1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill or 1/2 – 1 teaspoon dried organic dill weed

4-6 large leaves green or red leaf lettuce

Directions

Drain salmon and discard skin and any bones (if desired). In a medium bowl, combine ingredients. Add salmon and stir gently to combine.

Lay out lettuce leaves and place a scoop of salmon salad on each leaf. Serves 2-4.

A Healthier Mayonnaise

Ingredients

1 whole (fresh, organic) egg

2 egg yolks
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Sea salt to taste
¼ tsp white pepper or black pepper
2/3 cup Udo’s Choice Oil or extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Combine the eggs, mustard, lemon juice, salt and white pepper in your blender or food processor. Then with the blender or food processor running on a low speed, start adding the oils very slowly. Start out with drops and then work up to about a small stream. It takes about 5 minutes to accomplish this, but the end result is worth it! Continue blending until all the oil is incorporated.

Makes about 1½ cups. Refrigerate to thicken. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Stay Healthy and Lean!

Look for my new book, “The Flat Belly Kitchen” Series on Amazon Kindle soon!!

Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

Steak Fajitas You will LOVE!

While this dish is special enough to be served to a crowd, it is also a quick and easy meal to make anytime. Serve with guacamole, tomatoes and lettuce and let everyone build their own masterpiece! Use good quality grass fed beef skirt steak for the juiciest, healthiest flavor.

While this dish is special enough to be served to a crowd, it is also a quick and easy meal to make anytime. Serve with guacamole, tomatoes and lettuce and let everyone build their own masterpiece!

Meat
1 lb grass fed skirt steak, sliced into thin (1/4”) slices
1 large sweet red onion, sliced 1 red bell pepper, cut in slices
1 yellow bell pepper, cut in slices

Marinade
Juice of 1 medium lime or 1 and a half small limes
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 soy sauce
2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp of Frank’s Red Hot sauce or a few sprinkles of hot pepper flakes or cayenne

Guacamole
(Measurements are approximate, adjust to taste)
1 whole ripe avocado (should just yield lightly to touch, but not too soft)
2-3 Tbsp of minced red onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small tomato, chopped
Juice of one fresh lemon or lime
Handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
Sea salt, to taste
Optional–1 small jalapeño, minced, with seeds and ribs removed (use gloves or wash hands if you handle it) or some red pepper flakes

Additional Ingredients
Brown rice or regular soft tortillas, heated till just soft and warm.
Generous amounts of chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
Red or dark green leaf lettuce, chopped thinly
Diced tomatoes

Directions
Mix up marinade in a shallow glass container, add in slices of beef, pepper and onions, cover and marinate 2-4 hours or overnight in refrigerator. Drain off half or more of the marinade and discard.

Cook remaining marinade, meat and vegetables in skillet over medium heat, until meat is done and vegetables are tender, and liquid is mostly gone. For extra flavor, squeeze some fresh lime or lemon juice over the meat and veggies when done, and garnish with a fist full of chopped cilantro. Serve with warm tortillas(optional!), guacamole, lettuce and tomatoes. Serves four.

Works with chicken or pork as well! Enjoy!

Till next time, stay healthy and lean!

Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.