Buttermilk Baked Chicken

Buttermilk Baked Chicken
Description: Here's a yummy dish for your holiday buffet table - and it's simple to make. Bread chicken pieces in flour, then bake until cooked through. If you've made this recipe ahead of time, refrigerate and warm up before serving, or serve cold. The chicken is delicious either way!
http://www.carnationmilk.ca/recipe-details.aspx?rid=1457

You Docs: Cholesterol-lowering drug offers several benefits

January 10, 2012, DR. MIKE ROIZEN AND DR. MEHMET OZ

Here’s a surprise: Statins, the drugs used to lower cholesterol, have more than one benefit when consumed. They also prevent heart attacks and strokes. So, what makes statins such superpowers?


First, they do reduce lousy LDL cholesterol, which helps keep your arteries younger, more flexible and freer of plaque. That’s terrific for your heart, brain and all of your roughly 10 trillion cells. Second, statins cool chronic inflammation, which effectively cools cancer activity and cardiovascular mayhem, not to mention reduces inflammatory diseases like arthritis. But that’s not all.

Statins also:

• Protect against prostate cancer, enlarged prostates and erectile dysfunction.
• Fend off dangerous blood clots in your legs and lungs.

• Slash your risk of cataracts.

• Protect against Alzheimer’s. Some statins — particularly Crestor and Lipitor (atorvastatin) — could cut your risk by 60 per cent.

• Shrink and stabilize any plaque pileups already in your arteries.

• Help protect Type 2 diabetics against an extra-high threat of heart disease.

And there’s more. Turns out the top benefit of taking statins for years isn’t protecting you against heart disease and stroke, though that doesn’t waver. Long-term use also greatly reduces your chances of dying from infectious diseases, news that surprises even statin researchers.

New data reveals that if you get a seriously nasty flu infection, statins can be life savers. People hospitalized for influenza who don’t take statins are almost twice as likely to die from flu as those who do.

There are huge payoffs to taking this one tiny pill.

YouDocs Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen are authors of YOU: Losing Weight. Order it at StarStore.ca. Submit questions and find more info at RealAge.com

http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/1112662

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What are some examples of Statins?  Statins that are approved for use in the U.S. include:
atorvastatin (Lipitor),
fluvastatin (Lescol),
lovastatin (Mevacor),
pravastatin (Pravachol),
rosuvastatin (Crestor),
simvastatin (Zocor), and
pitavastatin (Livalo).

How to make dosas: Recipe

http://www.thestar.com/living/food/recipes/article/1110458--how-to-make-dosas-recipe

By Jennifer Bain

Food Editor

Dosas are thin, lacy, crisp South Indian pancakes made from fermented rice and lentil batter. They’re huge in restaurants, but more modest at home. Geetha Upadhyaya cooks hers in a cast-iron skillet. She serves two to four per person with chutney ans uses “idli” rice. I could only find it in 20-pound (9-kg) bags (for a reasonable $12.99) so also tried a batch with long-grain rice that was almost as good.


Dosas

2 cups (500 mL) idli, white long-grain or white basmati rice, washed several times
1/2 cup (125 mL) white urad dal (skinned, split, black urad lentils), rinsed
1/4 cup (60 mL) channa dal (split, yellow chickpeas), rinsed
1/2 tsp (2 mL) fenugreek (methi) seeds, rinsed

Table or fine sea salt to taste
Water as needed for thinning batter
Olive oil for brushing pan
Ghee (clarified butter) for drizzling

Coconut & Red Chili Chutney (recipe follows) or purchased coconut chutney.


In large bowl at room temperature, soak rice in cold water to cover by 1 inch (2.5 cm), 6 to 12 hours. Drain; reserving soaking liquid.

In separate medium bowl at room temperature, soak urad dal, channa dal and fenugreek seeds in cold water to cover by 2 inches (5 cm), 6 to 12 hours. Drain; reserving soaking liquid.

In blender, process rice, with a little reserved soaking water, until smooth but slightly grainy. Transfer to large bowl.

In blender, process urad dal mixture, with a little soaking water, until smooth but slightly grainy. Transfer to bowl with rice; stir well to combine.

Let mixture stand, uncovered and at room temperature, in warm place 12 to 24 hours. Mixture should froth a bit when swirled. Depending on the season and temperature of your kitchen, you may need to put the bowl in an unheated oven with its lights on for 5 hours.

Just before making dosas, stir well and thin with water if needed to create pourable consistency of pancake batter. Season with salt.

Brush large (about 12 inch/30.5 cm) cast-iron or non-stick skillet with oil (or use paper towel to spread oil). The oil should be barely visible. Heat over medium. (If you like, use 2 skillets at once.)

Using ladle, scoop about 1/3 cup (80 mL) batter into centre of skillet. Use bottom of ladle to gently spread batter in about 8 clockwise circles to make very thin, 8-inch (20-cm) crepe that has some tiny holes. Sprinkle lightly with ghee or more olive oil. Cook until bottom is golden, covering with lid if desired, several minutes. Using spatula, fold in half. Serve immediately. Repeat with remaining batter, brushing skillet with oil and adjusting heat as needed.

Batter will keep several days in fridge. Return to room temperature before using.

Serve dosas with chutney. To eat, break off pieces of dosa by hand and scoop up chutney.

Makes about 6 cups (1.5L), enough for about 18 dosas.

Star-tested by Jennifer Bain

jbain@thestar.ca

Magnesium

Reduce Leg Cramps, Hypertension, and Diabetes , By W. Gifford-Jones, M.D

Doctor, am I taking enough or too much calcium?" It's a question I'm often asked by patients. But I can't recall a single instance when a patient has asked the same question about magnesium.

It's ironic, as studies show that many North Americans are not obtaining sufficient amounts of this important mineral. In some cases this can be a fatal error. Now there's a simple, natural way to prevent this.

Calcium has always enjoyed star status for good reason. Without sufficient calcium, bones develop osteoporosis, and a minor fall, or a big hug, can snap a bone. But few realize that magnesium is required for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body.

For instance, a magnesium deficiency can result in hypertension, muscle cramps, restless leg syndrome, diabetes, migraine attacks, emotional trouble, fatigue, and an irregular heart rate.

Magnesium is nature's natural muscle relaxant, but this fact went unnoticed for years.

Magnesium is nature's natural muscle relaxant, but this fact went unnoticed for years. Then in 1979, Dr. J. R. Chipperfield reported in the British Journal Lancet that patients who suffered from angina often had low blood levels of magnesium, and that by prescribing this mineral, the spasm of coronary arteries and pain could be eased.

This important finding helps to prevent heart disease, man's No. 1 killer. But in addition to expanding coronary arteries, magnesium adds oil to the circulation, preventing platelets (small particles in the blood) from clotting, and sudden death.

Magnesium plays another vital role. Each beat of the heart is controlled by an extremely complex electrical system. Low blood magnesium can toss a monkey wrench into this process, triggering an irregular heart rate called auricular fibrillation. In extreme cases, this can result in ventricular fibrillation and death.

Whether or not you die from a heart attack depends on several factors such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and blood cholesterol. But one dilemma, which has been difficult to explain, is why 50 percent of people who die from coronary attack have normal blood cholesterol. Low blood magnesium may be a factor.

The DASH study (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) showed that this major killer could also be calmed by a diet high in magnesium, potassium, and calcium. In another study of 30,000 male health professionals, it was found that the incidence of hypertension was less in those who had a greater intake of magnesium.

A deficiency of magnesium is also fueling the epidemic of diabetes. A report from the University of Virginia showed that a low dietary intake of magnesium is associated with increased insulin resistance.

In this study, patients were placed on a diet deficient in magnesium for a mere three weeks. Researchers found that, not only did the cells become lacking in magnesium, but also insulin became less efficient in transporting sugar (glucose) from the blood into cells.

Since 1976, Harvard University has carried out a huge study called the "The Nurses Health Study." During this time, researchers followed 85,000 nurses and 43,000 men. They discovered that nurses who consumed 220 milligrams (mg) of magnesium daily were 33 percent more likely to develop diabetes than those consuming 340 mg of magnesium each day.

So how can you get 350 mg of magnesium daily?

A good start would be the following:
• One baked potato with skin (55 mg)
• One-half ounce of almonds (43 mg)
• One shredded wheat biscuit (40 mg)
• One cup of plain low fat yogurt (43 mg)
• One-half cup of brown rice (42 mg)
• One banana (32 mg)
• Three-ounces of grilled salmon (23 mg)
• One slice of whole wheat bread (24 mg)
• Fruits and vegetables, of course.

Related Articles

• Hazelnuts: A Healthy Indulgence

Since most people don't consume 350 mg of magnesium daily, it's important to use magnesium supplements. Tablets and capsules are available from a number of companies.

Dr. Gifford-Jones is a medical journalist with a private medical practice in Toronto. His website is DocGiff.com. He may be contacted at Info@docgiff.com.

Tags: magnesiumnutrition

Savoury Quick Bread

http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/life/article/1027929--put-on-your-baker-s-hat

Savoury Quick Bread

Ingredients:
500 ml (2 cups) all-purpose flour
50 ml (1/4 cup) cornmeal
12 ml (2 1/2 tsp) baking powder
5 ml (1 tsp) salt
30 ml (2 tbsp) sugar
250 ml (1 cup) sour cream
45 ml (3 tbsp) melted butter
2 eggs
250 ml (1 cup) cooked, mashed potato (unseasoned)
Mix-ins (see fact box)

Preparation:
1. Heat oven to 180 C (350 F). Coat a loaf or muffin pan with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and sugar. In another bowl, mix together sour cream, butter, eggs, mashed potato and the mix-ins of your choice. Add potato-sour cream mixture to flour mixture and mix just until combined.

3. For loaf, spread batter into prepared pan. Cook until a wooden skewer inserted at the centre comes out clean, 60 minutes. For muffins, spoon batter into prepared tins and bake 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes in pan, then turn out onto a cooling rack. Let loaf cool fully before cutting.

• Emily Richards is a professional home economist, cookbook author and a tv celebrity chef. For more, visit emilyrichardscooks.ca.

Variations
    Southwestern
    125 ml (1/2 cup) diced cooked bacon, 50 ml (1/4 cup) cooked diced green pepper, 125 ml (1/2 cup) cooked diced onion, 15 ml (1 tbsp) diced jalapeno
    Olive-herb
     175 ml (3/4 cup) chopped olives, 125 ml (1/2 cup) grated Parmesan, 30 ml (2 tbsp) chopped capers, 15 ml (1 tbsp) chopped fresh thyme, 15 ml (1 tbsp) chopped fresh rosemary
    Blue  cheese walnut
    50 ml (1/4 cup) diced roasted red pepper, 125 ml (1/2 cup) toasted chopped walnuts, 125 ml (1/2 cup) crumbled blue cheese, 2 ml (1/2 tsp) black pepper

Pear Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 Butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

2 cups rolled oats

1  1/2 cup flour

2 pears chopped

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

granulated sugar

Cream butter with brown sugar until smooth. Beat in remaining ingredients just until combined. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto lightly greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake in 350 degree oven 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes about 4 1/2 dozen.

As they feed antibiotics to animals to keep them healthy, they are making our families sicker by spreading these deadly strains of bacteria,#fb

When Food Kills
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF


Published: June 11, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/opinion/12kristof.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

Five fresh and healthy facts about mint, #fb

Five fresh and healthy facts about mint


1. It aids in digestion: Mint is known in the world of herbal medicine as a carminative and an antispasmodic agent, due to its ability to reduce stomach cramping, indigestion, pain and discomfort. Mint is very soothing for conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), heartburn and nausea.


2. It's antimicrobial and anti-fungal: Mint has the ability to not only kill the bad bacteria that are in our digestive tract, it also combats the overgrowth of fungus that is present after many of us take prescription antibiotics. Mint is a powerful herb in the prevention and treatment of candida albicans (a common yeast infection).

3. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory: Many varieties of mint are traditionally consumed as an anti-inflammatory for the lungs. Mint is showing to have promising effects in clinical trials of asthma treatments by extracting the active nutrient rosmarinic acid, which can block inflammation. Mint should not be used as a substitute to any asthma medication, but rather in addition to it.




4. It may have the potential to kill cancer cells: Mint is in the early stages of research for cancer treatments for its cytotoxic (cell-killing) effect on certain types of cancer cells, because of a specific phytonutrient it contains called perillyl alcohol. It is also a great preventative treatment, as it is packed full of antioxidants.



5. It can relieve common cold and flu symptoms: Inhalation of the essential oil found in mint leaves (through steam or humidifier) has been shown to clear the passages of the nose and throat to aid in the discomfort we experience during a cold or flu. Mint can also aid in the recovery of a cold or flu due to its antimicrobial and anti inflammatory actions.

Five reasons to add medicinal mint to your... Chatelaine.com
It's great to have something refreshingly minty on a hot day, but did you know that this herb also has medicinal properties? Find out how it can help your digestion, and what else mint does for your health.


By Julie Daniluk, R.H.N. Mon Jun 13 2011

 

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Fresh Restaurants - Toronto

http://www.freshrestaurants.ca/main.asp

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Toronto Public Health's DineSafe - Crumbine Award 2011

2011 Winner: City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
http://www.fpi.org/EXPAGES/crumbine.asp

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