Ingredients:
1 (16 oz) package whole-wheat spaghetti
Salt
2 tbsp canola oil
1 medium onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 piece ginger, peeled and finely diced
1 small eggplant, sliced into small chunks (about 2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, finely sliced
1 cup frozen broccoli florets, thawed
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 chicken breast, cooked and sliced
2 green onion, sliced

Instructions:
Cook the pasta according to package instruction until al dente.

In a large skillet or wok, heat canola oil over high heat. Stir fry onion, red pepper, ginger, eggplant for about 1 minute. Add garlic, broccoli, tomatoes, and soy sauce and cook for a further 2 minutes. Then add the al dente pasta and the chicken slices to the vegetables, toss well and cook for 1 minute.

Top with green onion slices and serve immediately.

Who says that exercise has to be grueling or boring?  More and more people are getting into the dance craze.  Dancing is a way to let loose and have fun while learning a new step or remembering steps that you knew a long time ago.

Dancing can be used to get regular physical activity into your daily routine.  Exercise keeps the body younger for longer.  Muscle mass increases and bone health improves.  Because you have to learn and remember the different steps of the dance, your brain is also getting a workout that builds new synaptic pathways and increases brain power.

Ballroom dancing is just one form of dance but it combines different dance techniques.  It features dances done by partners and can be slow or fast depending on the type of dance you are performing.  Modern ballroom dancing includes Latin dances, as well as American-style dancing that features a lot of dips, turns, and quick movements.

Dancing has many benefits for the body, mind and spirit.  First of all it is a low-impact form of exercise that provides a weight-bearing component.  You can strengthen your bones and muscles as you twirl.  The entire body gets a workout.  Doing many of the steps requires certain positions for the arms and legs which mean the abs are engaged the entire time.

Over time, you develop stamina as you get used to the movements and the time it takes to complete the dancing class.  Well-conditioned muscles are more flexible and give a slender look to the body.

So what are you waiting for?  Keep the mind young, the body firm and the spirit high with a little ballroom dancing.

Ingredients:
2 cups canned butter beans
2 cups canned kidney beans
2 cups canned green beans
2 cups yellow beans
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/4 cup red onions, chopped
1/4 cup red pepper, chopped
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp celery seeds

Method:
Add all drained cans of beans to a large serving bowl. Add chopped celery, pepper and onion and gently stir.

In a saucepan, combine vinegar, olive oil, celery seeds and sugar and bring to a quick boil. Pour the mixture over the beans and gently toss.

Cover and marinate for 24 to 48 hours.

This is a great salad to take to a potluck BBQ. Enjoy!

Among the various diets found in today’s world of searching for better health, you can find what is known as a juice fast or detoxification diet. This type of fast diet involves the consumption of only water, raw vegetable and fruit juices for a certain period of time. The reason behind this diet is for the beneficial antioxidants and vitamins contained in fresh juices. This diet is considered one of extreme detox as there is no solid food consumed for the duration.

There are many reasons people may choose a juice fast diet over another type. Juice fasts can be used for losing weight, religious reasons, or to assist in weaning oneself from possible unhealthy habits. These could include overeating, caffeine addiction or smoking – to name a few. Then there are fasters who are a little more serious about their routines with juice fasting. They use it as an alternative healing technique to many conventional treatments. It may be used as a healing method for pain management, arthritis, infections resistant to antibiotics and other ailments as well.

There are certain people for whom juice diets aren’t recommended. This group of people includes pregnant or nursing women, children, diabetics, or people with anemia. Anyone with an impaired immune system, low blood pressure, terminal illness or epilepsy should also stay clear. People with any chronic illness or condition should steer clear of a juice fast unless they doing so under strict medical supervision. Never try a juice fast before or after surgery.

When considering how long your juice fast is going to last, there is an easy rule of thumb to follow. Continue with the juice fast until you have two days without any symptoms of detoxification. If you wish, you can also stick to a juice fast three or four days a week while eating a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables the other days. Along with sipping your juice during the day, it is recommended you also consume approximately six glasses of water at room temperature.

Whey protein powders are quite popular as a supplement in the diets of athletes and bodybuilders. Proteins are an essential factor in the repair and building of muscle. A supplement of protein in your diet is important – not only to protect you from injury but especially for those who are looking to build more muscle.

The most common form found is whey protein. It’s a product derived from milk used during the cheese-making process whey protein is collected and separated from the cheese. It is quite easy to frequently find fantastic deals on this already inexpensive product.

While searching for whey protein powders, you will see just how many different types are out there. Whey protein concentrates (the least expensive) and whey protein isolates are the most common. The purity of the protein powder in the concentrated form is approximately 75% protein by weight.

Although types containing a higher quality by weight will be of higher quality and have better absorption rates into your body but they will carry a heavier price tag as well.

Our bodies need amino acids in order to be used as fuel for the rebuilding of muscles. Whey protein happens to contain these amino acids at the appropriate level for rapid intake and usage. This helps to increase the response from both hormones and cells, but it must be consumed immediately following a workout. Not only will this assist in building muscle – it will also enhance muscle endurance while reducing any deterioration. These amino acids will have the ability to be metabolized directly into the muscle tissue rather than the liver as with other amino acids.

It’s not to be assumed, however, that you will become bigger with larger amounts of protein consumed – no matter what your lifestyle is. Leading a sedentary lifestyle isn’t going to make the whey protein achieve anything miraculous. The more exercise you do, the more protein you need. It is recommended that strength athletes consume an approximate 0.7 to 0.8 grams of protein for each pound of body weight. However, going over this amount will only lead to extra fat to burn, no matter how much strength training you intend on doing.

Shrimp Pizza

Ingredients:
2 small ready-made pizza bases

8 thin slices mozzarella

8 to 10 prawns, peeled and clean but with tales intact

1 tbsp tomato paste

2 tsp capers

4 anchovy fillets, chopped (optional)

12 small black olives

1 garlic clove, finely slices

1 pickled jalapeno chilli, finely chopped (optional)

1 small red onion, finely sliced

1 small red bed pepper, finely sliced

2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated

1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

Splash of olive oil

Method:
Preheat the oven to 400º F.

Put the pizza bases on a large baking tray and spread with the tomato paste. Place the mozzarella slices on top and add the remaining ingredients to the two pizzas. Drizzle with a splash of olive oil, then cover with the grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the prawns are tender and heated through.

Sprinkle the chopped basil leaves on top and serve immediately.

(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

2 blocks firm tofu (16 oz)
1/4 cup tamari soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons grated orange peel

Fresh parsley or fresh coriander, chopped

Method:

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Cut tofu into large bite-sized pieces and place into a dish. Combine all other ingredients and pour over the tofu pieces. Marinate for one hour.

Remove tofu and place into a small baking dish with 1/2 cup of the marinade. Bake in oven for about one hour, occasionally stirring and basting with the remaining marinade.

Sprinkle finished tofu with chopped parsley or coriander and enjoy with brown rice and a tossed salad. .

A great vegan dish!

People have discovered what their ancestors knew a long time ago:  the earth can be used to heal the people who live on it.   Some remedies for cuts, scrapes, cold, fever and internal ailments are as close as the kitchen in your home.  Two of those cures are found in honey and garlic.

Bees have known since the beginning of time that they were special.  They spend their entire lives gathering pollen to create nectar and turn it into honey.  You enjoy the sweet-tasting fruit of their labors in your tea and desserts, but what about when you are sick?  Honey has a wide range of applications for curing what ails you.

Honey has properties to fight infections in the body.  When you cut yourself, apply a little honey to the wound to kill any bacteria in the vicinity.  It is sticky and dries quickly to form a seal over whatever it is resting on.  If it happens to be your scrape or cut, honey can be just as good if not better than a bandage for keeping dirt and bugs out of a healing wound.

Honey has been added to tea to soothe tired vocal cords and reduce the irritation of a sore throat.  Forget the tea and eat a spoonful of honey every day to induce a restful night of sleep and keep your immune system operating at optimal levels.  That same spoonful of honey can turn that irritating cough into a productive one by loosening mucous secretions.  Mix it with vinegar and apple juice for a stomach soother.

What about garlic?  It is not a desirable smell on your breath, but it does wonders for your body.  Garlic and onions are from the same family of plants that contain a substance called allicin.  This substance has been found to lower blood cholesterol, blood pressure and cut the symptoms of a cold.  Those who ingest garlic regularly are doing a good thing for their heart and vascular systems.

The best way to get garlic is to include it in your diet.  Pills are a second choice, but the garlic tastes so much better sprinkled on a baked potato or baked into a steak.  Garlic is activated when it is cut; that is when the smell of the allicin is given off.

Garlic is known to be an anti-microbial agent, fighting bacteria, fungus and viral infections.  It strengthens the immune system to fight colds and their symptoms.  Eating hot soup infused with garlic keeps the body strong against colds, flu and sinus issues.   You can use garlic in a paste or poultice directly on the body to aid in healing of cuts.

Garlic has a strong odor but it also does a mighty job.  Add a little garlic to your daily menu to keep the body healthy proactively.  As for honey, just ask a bee how helpful it is.

Ingredients:
1 lb dried black beans (or other beans your choice)
8 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup dry red wine
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp pepper
2 cups onions, chopped
2 cups red potatoes, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrot, sliced
6 garlic cloves, minced
1.12oz can stewed tomatoes

Method:

Place black beans into a bowl, cover completely with water to about 2 inches above the beans and leave overnight. Then drain.

Add beans to large crock pot, add 8 cups of water and remaining ingredients. Cover with lid and simmer for about 2 1/2 hours on very low temperature or until vegetables are tender.

Serve hot with a crusty French bread.

(Serves 4)

Ingredients

2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp walnuts
1 cup of vegetable broth
1 cup mushrooms, such as fresh shitake, sliced
1 head of broccoli, coarsely chopped
1 tbsp cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons cold water
3 tbsp soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Seeds to garnish

Method:

Heat oil in a wok and sautÈ carrots and onions until almost tender. Add broccoli and walnuts and stir. Add 1 cup of broth and cook until veggies are tender. To thicken the sauce, add the dissolved cornstarch. Stir briefly, then add soy sauce, salt and pepper to your taste.

Sprinkle with seeds of your choice and serve with whole-grain noodles.