NUT LOAF

Ingredients:
½ cup cashews
½ cup almonds
10 almonds for decoration
2/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
½ cup walnuts (chopped)
1 cup short grain brown rice
1/3 cup soya flour
4-6 tbsp soya sauce
1 onion
2 pieces of celery
¼ cup water
2 tsp basil
2 tsp. marjoram
2 tbsp flax meal

Directions:
1.    Lightly roast cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in the oven.
2.    Chop and sauté onion and celery.
3.    Chop all the nuts and seeds.
4.    Mix all the ingredients together and moistening with water.
5.    Pat mixture into a well-oiled bread tin.
6.    Decorate top with 10 almonds and line bottom of tin with grease proof paper.
7.    Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes.
Serve with mushroom or onion gravy.
   
Usually the problem with cranberry sauce is that it is full of sugar. Here is my version of the popular Cranberry Sauce without any sugar which is no easy thing when is comes to cranberries as they are so tart.

CRANBERRY SAUCE (sugar free)

Ingredients:
1 Package whole, organic cranberries (fresh, not frozen)
1 Organic Apple, cored and chopped
1 Cup Apple juice
1/4 Cup Organic, Brown Rice Syrup
1 tsp Stevia (Sunny Dew is best)
Pinch of salt

Directions:
1.    Put all ingredients into a sauce pan and let simmer for a few moments.
2.    Remove and let cool.
3.    Taste and add more Stevia or Brown Rice Syrup if you like it sweeter.

Nutritional Tips: Cranberries are high in vitamin C, and have antioxidant and antibacterial effects in the body.

In clinical studies cranberries have been shown to help maintain a healthy urinary tract and be especially beneficial to the eyes (significantly improve symptoms of cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy)

ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON JUICE

Ingredients:
1 pound asparagus, washed, trimmed, and cut diagonally into 2 inch lengths
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 lemon juiced
Dash of Spike seasoning

Directions:
1.    In a large frying pan over low heat, heat the olive oil
2.    Add Asparagus and cover and cook for 5 minutes.
3.    Add Spike and stir cook an additional 1 minute.
4.    Add lemon juice stir well and serve.

Nutritional Tips: Asparagus is full of nutrients!  It is a very good source of vitamin K, the B vitamin folate, vitamin C, vitamin A and also numerous B vitamins (B1, B2, B3 and B6) as well manganese, copper, phosphorus, potassium and protein.

 
Here is a simple dish to make and have in the oven at the same time as your nut loaf.
 BAKED SQUASH WITH VEGETABLES

Ingredients:
1 medium squash
2 sweet potatoes
2 medium carrots
2 parsnips
10 very small onions
3 – 7 cloves garlic, sliced (optional)
1 tsp rosemary
3 tbsp. vegetable oil or butter
Salt to taste

Directions:
1.    Cut carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and squash into 2 inch pieces.
2.    Remove skins from onions and leave whole.
3.    Place all vegetables into a glass casserole dish.
4.    Mix in sliced garlic, rosemary, vegetable oil, and sprinkle with salt.
5.    Bake in 450º F. oven for 35 to 45 minutes till tender.
6.    Stir occasionally while baking.

Copyright © Diana Herrington  You are welcome to share this article with anyone who you think may benefit from this information as long as you give credit to Real Food for Life by including the link to the home page www.RealFoodforLife.com  or the direct link to this post.

It is Asparagus season and that means it is Spring!

Did you know that asparagus is a member of the lily family?!   Do you know what other common foods come from the lily family?

The first person to give the complete list in the comment section below will be announced next week as the 'Vegetable Smartie'.

Besids being yummy the asparagus plant is very long lived, lasting up to 15 years!

Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans liked asparagus as much as we do and ate it when in season.

Asparagus root is used  to treat urinary as well as kidney and bladder stones. In Ayurvedic medicine a type of asparagus is used as a tonic.  It has a reputation of being an aphrodisiac so it is known as "lady with the 100 husbands".

Asparagus is one of the most nutritionally balanced vegetables; it is full of nutrients!  It is a very good source of vitamin K, the B vitamin folate, vitamin C, vitamin A and also numerous B vitamins (B1, B2, B3 and B6) as well manganese, copper, phosphorus, potassium and protein. It contains No Cholesterol or Fat, is low salt and has less than 4 calories per spear.

One of the special things about asparagus is that it contains a carbohydrate called inulin that we don't digest but the friendly bacteria Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, do. Good amounts of inulin promote the growth and activity of these friendly bacteria thus making it difficult for unfriendly bacteria to grow in our intestines.

• The easiest way to get asparagus into your diet is to eat it raw; simply cut it up and add to your salad.

• Another simple thing to do is to just steam it for a few minutes and it is done.

Here is a simple recipe from my next e-book which we will be releasing soon. Be on the lookout!

Asparagus with Lemon Juice

Ingredients:

1 pound asparagus, washed, trimmed, and cut diagonally into 2 inch lengths

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 lemon juiced

Dash of Spike seasoning

Directions:

1. In a large frying pan over low heat, heat the olive oil

2. Add Asparagus and cover and cook for 5 minutes.

3. Add Spike and stir cook an additional 1 minute.

4. Add lemon juice stir well and serve.

This recipe combines the GOODNESS of asparagus with all the good nutritional benefits of LEMON. Lemon is so good for you that we will be creating its own posting soon.

Feel free to leave your comments – and your answer to our 'lily' question below.

Copyright © Diana Herrington  You are welcome to share this article with anyone who you think may benefit from this information as long as you give credit to Real Food for Life by including the link to the home page www.RealFoodforLife.com  or the direct link to the post. Asparagus Season