Posts Tagged ‘garlic’

Salad dressings

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Salads are good, tasty, and most of all healthy! but what can offer us a better taste of the ingredients? What can combine best the vegetables in order to achieve an exquisite taste? the asnwer is THE DRESSING! don`t forget this (one may consider) small detail!!! It is the sprinkle of novelty that makes your salad one of a kind!

Here are some dressing ideas for making your salad the best! just choose the most appropriate!

1)Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons honey
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup extra virgin olive oil


Whisk together first 7 ingredients until blended. Gradually whisk in olive oil


2) Easy dressing (best for Caesar Salad)

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Combine all ingredients in blender or processor. Blend until smooth.Season to taste with salt and pepper.


3) Tsatsiki Dressing

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt
3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup cucumber, peeled and seeded.

Peel and seed cucumber and chop into very small chunks. In food processor blend half of the cucumber with all other ingredients. Stir in remaining half cup of cucumber. Chill or serve over green salad or chicken salad.

to be continued…

Onions or Garlic ?

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

onion-setsA very important vegetable from the same family as garlic. Contains an acid, volatile oil, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, sodium, iron, vitamins A, B, and C, traces of zinc, iodine, silicon, phosphoric acid, and citrate of lime.

Onions are potent antioxidants. Effective as a poultice applied to the chest for colds, congestions and bronchitis, and on the ear for ear infections.onion

Also as a syrup for coughs and bronchitis. For croup, slice into thin slices and place in a small amount of honey and let it stand for about two hours. Makes a syrup for relief of asthma, colds, sore throat, and bronchitis. For a cold, place a slice in hot water for a few minutes and sip throughout the day.

Benefits:

  • hay fever and asthma
  • colds and fever
  • bronchitis and croup
  • lung infection

• heart disease

garlic picturePerhaps the most significant effect of garlic is on the lipid profile of the blood and  tissues. It lowers cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol levels, while increasing the beneficial HDL cholesterol. Onions have the same effect.

The bulb of the plant is a relative of onions and chives. The flavor is very strong use chopped, minced, and powdered to season many dishes.

Researchers at Loma Linda University have found that compounds in garlic activate enzymes in the liverthat destroy aflatoxin, a potent carcinogen produced by mold that can grow on peanuts and grains. Aflatoxins are a leading cause of liver cancer.garlic

Benefits:

  • lowers blood pressure
  • strengthens heart
  • is a natural insect deterrent
  • is a potent immune enhancer
  • is good for ear, stomach, spleen, and lungs

How to skin garlic

Monday, May 4th, 2009

If you like garlic, but only the thought of skinning it drives you crazy, try our method: dry the garlic cloves (also works for baby onions) well before using them; then put some oil on you palms and rub it well. Then rub the garlic between your palms, and the skin should come off easily.

If you want the garlic clove chopped, place it on a cutting board, and then with the side of a broad knife give the clove sharp whack with your free hand, breaking it open. You will be able to remove the peel easily. If the cloves are going to be garlicwhole, drop them in boiling water for a minute or two and they will peel easily.

Also you can try dropping the unpeeled garlic cloves into a glass of cold water and let them sit for 1/2 hour or more, which should make things a lot easier.