If you’re not checking out Food52′s food blog, you should be.  If you are a foodie, or simply want to get some ideas to impress others in kitchen, this is the place to be.  Check out their website to find gems like this recipe below.  So perfectly simple, yet bursting with flavor.  Start channeling your inner gourmet cook and make something delicious today!

Tad’s Roasted Potatoes

Serves 4

• 1 pound old white potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• Olive oil
• 8 sprigs herbs (any combination of thyme, sage and rosemary)
• 3 garlic cloves, lightly smashed (leave the skins on)
• Coarse salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Spread the potatoes in a well-seasoned cast iron pan — they should fit comfortably in one layer. Douse with olive oil, like you’re marinating them. Add the herbs and garlic, and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss the potatoes a few times to mix in the herbs and seasoning.

2. Roast in the oven, scraping up and turning the potatoes every 10 minutes or so, until the potatoes are well caramelized and tender, about 40 minutes.

Watching incredible mind/body/spirit transformations are an excellent motivation to invisioning your own mind/body/spirit transformation.  It’s a practice one should seek regularly.

The Iowa Women’s Health Study, which has been investigating the health habits of 34,000 women for nearly 20 years, named apples as one of only three foods (along with pears and red wine) that are most effective at reducing the risk of death from heart disease among postmenopausal women. Other massive studies have found the fruit to lower risk of lung cancer and type 2 diabetes—and even help women lose weight.

Eat an apple as an afternoon snack with a tablespoon of peanut butter (think protein), or add slices to sandwiches or salads.

The Tea Time Vivabox includes seven Numi Organic Teas: Aged Earl Grey, Monkey King Jasmine Green, White Rose, Ruby Chai Herbal Rooibos, Temple of Heaven Green, Starlight Rose Flowering Tea, and Sunset Oolong Flowering Tea. In addition to the teas, a gift card for one of Vivabox’s Tea Time Gift Set options is included. Winners can choose from one of the following products: the Single Origins Tea Set, a Bamboo Flowering Gift Set, the Dancing Leaves Teapot with five flowering teas, a Bamboo Book of Tea with six different flavored tea bags, or the iRelax with Numi Organic Tea gift. All winners will also receive a soothing CD to help enhance your teatime experience. (value $49.50). VivaboxUSA.com

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You’ve heard the cliche, you are what you eat.  As it turns out, that’s exactly right!  Since the body doesn’t store excessive amounts of wrinkle-fighting vitamin C, you need to consume Oranges, Lemons, Limes, and Grapefruit (in addition to a multivitamin) to keep your skin looking hydrated and youthful.  Oranges contain the highest level of vitamin C of these four fruits.  Eating citrus fruits helps the body maintain high levels of vitamin C, an antioxidant, which increases collagen, the supportive protein fibers that stop your skin from sagging.   Of note, collagen breakdown increases in your mid 30s, so be proactive and eat citrus fruits to help your skin fight the good fight. 

If you’ve been to my house, you’ve probably eaten my hummus and fresh pita bread standing around my kitchen island.  It’s a staple around my house.  Super-delicious and good for you, too.  The basic recipe is below, but you can add anything you want to it.  My favorites include roasted garlic and roasted pine nuts, but add whatever flavors you love.   

Hummus is one of the more popular Middle Eastern dips, generally served with fresh or toasted pita bread.  Hummus makes for a great snack or appetizer. Tahini is an important part of the hummus recipe and cannot be substituted.   You can find Tahini in the grocery store.

I use a food processor to make mine.  Be sure to blend ingredients until they are smooth (not grainy and loose) for better texture.    

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
• 1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
• 3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.

Serve immediately with fresh, warm or toasted pita bread.  So delish!

Start the day off healthy with an apple smoothie.  You’ve tried all the berry flavored smoothies before, but apples bring a new taste to your blender.  Perfect with homemade apple cinnamon muffins. 

Serving contains 232 calories, 1 gram of fat and 15 grams of protein.

* 1/2 cup nonfat yogurt
* 8 ounces nonfat milk
* 2 tablespoon frozen apple juice concentrate
* dash ground cinnamon
* 1/2 whole green apple – seeded and cut in pieces
* 2 or 3 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

Makes one 12-ounce serving.

For more great recipes like this, check out Mr. Breakfast. 

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You may also like these blog posts:

  Blueberry Cheese Cake Smoothie

  Peach Blackberry Smoothie

Beyond endless health benefits and countless delicious recipes, here are a few (more) things you should know about garlic:

*  In order to maximize the photochemical power of garlic, it should be allowed to sit for at least several minutes after being crush or chopped. 

*  The more finely garlic is chopped or crushed, the more healthful properties are activated…and the more that are retained in cooking.

*  The aromatic compounds in garlic undergo conversion and are released when the cell walls of a clove are breached by crushing or chopping and the contents oxidize.  This is why we cry when chopping onions, garlic’s first cousin. 

Terminology:

Vegetarian:  A vegetarian is an individual who chooses, for health, environmental, ethical, or religious reasons to abstain from the consumption of animal flesh, including poultry and fish. 

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian:  A lacto-ovo vegetarian eats no flesh, but consumes dairy (lacto) and eggs (ovo). 

Vegan:  A vegan (pronounced VEE-gun) is an individual who chooses to abstain from the consumption of all animal products.  While vegetarians avoid flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs as well as fur, leather, and other goods that cause suffering to animals.