Benefits of Ginger & How To Use Ginger in Beverages + Smoothie Recipe

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

Gnarly and knotted up, a chunk of ginger may not be the most appealing item in my fruit and veggie bin – but, trust me, this weird-looking root is well worth your time, it is loaded with flavor, nutrients and healthy benefits. What first draws me to ginger is the spicy explosion of flavor it adds to my recipes – it’s at once lemony, peppery, sweet and pungent. Kinda complicated, like me! Foodies around the globe have been kicking up their respective cuisines with the zing of ginger for thousands of years – I’m surprised it’s not more popular in American kitchens beyond gingerbread and ginger ale.

In addition to feisty flavor, ginger also offers a powerful punch of preventative and restorative nutrition. For example, ginger eases up inflammation and muscle pain, something I appreciate as an athlete needing some extra recovery. Ginger also helps with a host of digestion issues including nutrient absorption and the reduction of gas and bloating (so I hear). Ginger also takes the edge off the “queasies,” including nausea caused by morning sickness, motion sickness and hangovers (again, so I hear). And, if that isn’t enough, ginger fortifies the immune It system, protects against many types of cancer and relieves migraines. Oh, and ginger helps clear the sinuses – take a bite of raw ginger root and you’ll see what I mean!

Try my Carrot Ginger Date Smoothie for a morning pick-me-up – it’s super nutritious with carrots, banana, and only the added sweetness from a date. The ginger in the recipe can be grated on a micro place or you can boil it down with water and mix in stevia to make a sugar-free simple ginger syrup. I’m including that recipe too!

Carrot Ginger Date Smoothie Recipe

8 steamed baby carrots (cooled)
2 large dates (seeded)
1/3 frozen medium banana
2 teaspoons finely grated ginger ( or 1 tablespoon sugar-free ginger syrup (recipe follows)
8-ounces milk of choice ( like almond or coconut)
Handful of ice
1 teaspoon hemp seeds

Add steamed carrots, dates, banana, ginger, milk to blender; process until smooth. Add ice and blend to achieve desired consistency. Pour into tall glass and sprinkle with hemp seeds. Serves 1.

Here is my special stevia-sweetened Zingy Ginger Simple Syrup recipe it will keep in the fridge, covered, for a couple of weeks! Plus, it’s made with

4 oz fresh ginger root, thinly sliced
2 cups water
1 tablespoon powdered Stevia

Add ginger and water to small sauce pot and bring to a boil. Lower to medium low and let simmer for about 30 – 40 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Remove from heat and pour through strainer into container. Discard ginger slices. Stir in Stevia and keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

I also like to use the ginger syrup in this refreshing Watermelon Ginger Limeade recipe. Such a thirst-quenching beverage, especially considering it is still in the upper 90s here in Austin. At least six more weeks until noticeably cooler weather in Austin!

Another little tip – you can also extract the juice of ginger root by squeezing it in a garlic press!

So, these are my top three ways on how to use ginger in beverages: 1) grate it on microplaner, 2) infuse it into a sugar-free simple syrup and 3) juice it in garlic press.

Do you have a specific herb or food you eat to feel better?

8 Healthier Herbed Snacks + Instantly Fresh Herb #Giveaway

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

Have an urge to snack, but looking for something with less salt yet still loads of flavor? In honor of Eat Less Salt and More Herbs Day (and yes, that’s a real food holiday), I have rounded up some healthy snack recipes that use herbs like rosemary, basil and lemongrass to magnify flavors and minimize salt. While too much sodium in your diet can contribute to high blood pressure and other medical concerns, it’s not completely evil – for example, athletes need to constantly replenish salt and other minerals lost through sweat. So, even if you’re not giving salt the complete shake off, making your own snacks at home gives you complete control over the amount of sodium consumed. And, I don’t know about you, but I like to be in control!

I’m also giving away Litehouse Food’s Instantly Fresh Herbs – the whole kit and caboodle, every herb in the product line! You know how a handy man totes around his tool box and a chef won’t travel anywhere without his professional knife set? Well, I won’t step foot into my kitchen to make a meal without these freeze-dried herbs on call in the pantry — I’ve become totally spoiled! Sure, fresh herbs are fabulous when you have the time and talent to grow them or have an enormous food budget – I’m a bust here on all counts. To me, traditional dried and ground herbs have always seemed (and tasted) boring, but these Instantly Fresh Herbs kick up the fun and flavor. Able to stay for months on end in the pantry, these freeze dried herbs rehydrate beautifully when coming into contact with moisture in a recipe. And, with 17 different products in the line, you can combine multiple herbs to get great flavor – the possibilities are almost unlimited. For example (and I calculated the combinations), there are 680 different ways to combine just 3 of the herbs in the Instantly Fresh product line! For reals!

Italian Herb Parmesan Popcorn An easy toss of herbs and cheese turn plain popcorn into the main attraction of your next movie night. Stop dousing your popcorn with salt and start herbing it up!
Fruit Herb Pops: With three yummy flavors, you’ll want to eat these frozen treats all at once! Hmmm, but which to try first — Pineapple Coconut Ginger Pops, Mango-Strawberry-Lemongrass Pops or Black Cherry Blackberry Pops?
Herb Goat Cheese Logs – These cheese logs owe their festive good looks and fine flavor to a combination of Instantly Fresh herbs – follow the appetizer recipe or create your own herb combos to serve with crackers, bread or veggies.
Oven Baked Dill & Sea Salt Potato Chips — So much crunch and crazy flavor, without any of the salty, fatty “feel-bads” of regular potato chips.

Trio of Herbed Teas – Complement your sensible snack with a refreshing ice tea steeped with spices and splashed with fruit and its natural juices. Pick from Jalapeno Pineapple Infused White Tea, Creamy Lemongrass Black Tea or Basil Peach Green Tea.
Cilantro Lime Feta Compound Butter – Butter elevated with herbs and other flavorings will turn ordinary snacks into the extra-ordinary. Spread a thin layer on French bread slices and toast for a simple homemade crostini.
Herbed Rooted Veggie Fries – Greasy drive-thru fries don’t have nothin’ on these delicious baked fries made from nutritious root vegetables. Use sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets . . . or even traditional potatoes to make this herb-dusted, to-die-for finger food.
Basil Fruit Kebabs – I call fruit “nature’s candy” – when threaded on a skewer and sprinkled with fresh basil snips, it’s a sweet treat on a stick that no one can resist (nor should they)!

Win 17 jars of herbs!

So are you ready to win herbs?!

One reader will win every herb in the line of Litehouse Food’s Instantly Fresh Herbs – 17 different varieties in all!

To enter the giveaway, please follow the instructions in Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bunch of Healthy Recipes for Banana Lover’s Day

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

Happy Banana Lover’s Day! I really NEED to celebrate this “a-peeling” food holiday – my potassium levels need a boost thanks (or no thanks) to all this hot weather running. In addition to keeping muscle cramps away, I think bananas are just a great all-around fruit. Not only are they cheap and tasty, but bananas are filled with fiber, antioxidents and other nutrients needed for optimal health. Bananas are also a great source of tryptophan which the body converts into serotonin to get you in a good mood!

So, let’s peel a banana and get happy! Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy bananas:

Eat a banana on or with your cereal. Better yet, pour banana-flavored Core Power over healthy cereal for an extra punch of protein.

Cinnamon Banana Peach Protein Smoothie – Add ½ frozen banana ,frozen peach slices and a sprinkling of cinnamon to your choice of milk (almond, soy, Core Power) and blend with ice until smooth. It’s the cinnamon and natural sugars that help with alertness and brain function.

Grilled Chocolate Raspberry Banana Boats – Say goodbye to the end of summer grilling with these warm and gooey sweet treats – kinda like s’mores, but so much better!

Baked Banana Protein Donut Holes – Take one step out of the morning rush by baking a batch of these mini-bites the night before – just grab a coffee along and you’ve got a decent breakfast to eat on the go.

Multi-Grain Peanut Butter Banana Muffins – The kids love to discover these moist muffins in their lunch boxes and often request them as an afternoon snack –I like to eat mine as a refueling reward after a workout. So delicious and they freeze well, too!

Not So Chunky Monkey Granola – This healthy granola recipe uses mashed banana as the binder and is speckled with freeze-dried banana chunks and chocolate chips – yum!

Bananas Foster Parfait — Check out this scrumptious yet sensible treat from CookingLight.com made with Greek yogurt, pecans and bananas — I won’t even tell if you use rum! If you don’t have enough BANANA INSPIRATION yet, check out this collection of 75 Banana Recipes!

Wrap crown of banana bunch with plastic wrap to delay over-ripening.

Did you know if you put plastic wrap around the crown of bananas, the bunch will keep for 3 – 5 days longer. I learned that fruit-lovers fact, along with some other really freakin’ awesome ways to keep produce fresher longer, from fellow Fitfluential Ambassador Jill Conyers. Also keep in mind that bananas produce more ethelyne gas than any other fruit; so, you’ll want to keep them alone in their own area on the counter to maximize freshness – not in a mixed fruit bowl!

So, how many bananas do you eat a week? What is your favorite banana recipe?

#MyAdventure with Artichokes & the Art of Yoga

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

Okay, random enough for you – artichokes and yoga?! Well, actually the pair makes perfect sense to me since discovering new ways to cook favorite foods and pushing myself into challenging and sometimes even uncomfortable situations (literally) are two of the ways I satisfy my adventure-seeking soul.

I was very excited, yet a bit skeptical, when Icebreaker.com invited me to try out their New Zealand Merino wool fitness, outdoor and travel clothing for my next adventure. My first thought was wool in August – now that will definitely be a memorable experience! However, this company makes clothing in all weights that perform beautifully in the extremes of weather – cold and hot! The clothing I ordered didn’t itch like traditional wool, didn’t leave me feeling sticky and clammy like synthetics and was never soggy or stinky like cotton can be.

The Villa Plume Dress (above) is my new favorite dress – which is a huge testament to its awesomeness because I love LOVE dresses and have a closet full to compete! What I appreciate about this 200-lightweight wool dress is that it feels as comfy as wearing my favorite nightgown around town, but is super stylish and dressy enough for business meetings or just heading to the market to shop for – ARTICHOKES! Plus, for summer trips – I just tossed it in my luggage and it came out totally wrinkle-free!

So, on a trip to Mount Vernon this summer, I packed along some other Icebreaker gear – the Siren Hipkini Underwear. Sorry, you’re not going to get to see me modeling these panties (ha) but trust me – the underwear are under there! While I was traipsing through George Washington’s lower gardens looking at the bounty of fruit and vegetable crops (including one of his favorite — the artichoke!), I thought I was going to melt – it was pushing 100 degrees and the Potomac River humidity was only adding to the sweatfest. Thank goodness for my lightweight wool undies – they wicked moisture right away and were quick to dry. Too bad Martha and her ladies in waiting didn’t have these itty-bitty green bloomers!

I also was able to try out the Women’s Multi-Sport Ultra-Light Micro Socks as I ran around the Mall in Washington, DC – lightweight for summer sports, non-chaffing toe seams and cute colors! I’ll be stocking up on more of these for my upcoming race season!

At artichoke growing in the garden at Mt. Vernon.

When I got home from #MyAdventure, I really had a hankering for those artichokes I saw growing in George’s garden. I’ve always purchased artichokes already prepared and marinated from my local gourmet store — Central Market has some delish ones on the deli bar. I’ve seen recipes for grilling artichokes and steaming artichokes the way my mom did back when I was a kid (I remember my parents dipping artichoke leaves into garlic butter as a special appetizer), but I was always a bit intimidated by these big thorny thistles.

Then, I had a light bulb moment – why not make them in a slow cooker? The low, slow cooking method would surely yield a tender treat – and I was right! Plus, I loved the convenience of just popping them in the slow cooker and then leaving to run errands for a few hours rather than standing around in the kitchen waiting for them to steam for 45-ish minutes. Also, instead of a decadent butter dip – I added a drizzle of Caesar dressing and a few Parmesan cheese sprinkles to keep things healthy. It’s a recipe I created for Litehouse Foods; check it out for the rest of the story and more mouthwatering photos!

Caesar Slow Cooker Artichokes Recipe

3 medium artichokes
3 lemons (divided)
1 ½ cups chicken broth
1 cup white wine or cooking wine
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 bay leaf
2/3 cup shaved or grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup garlic croutons crushed into crumbs
4 – 6 ounces Caesar salad dressing (I used Organic Caesar from Litehouse)

Prepare artichokes by first washing under water and shaking dry. Next, cut off stems and remove small lower leaves with paring knife. With larger knife, cut ½” off the top of artichokes to remove the prickly spines. Use kitchen shears to snip off remaining spines on lower leaves. Cut one lemon in half and rub on exposed areas of artichoke to prevent oxidization.
Pour broth, wine, garlic and bay leaf into bottom of 4 quart slow cooker. Place artichokes, bottom side down into slow cooker. Cut second lemon into slices and place a slice on top of each artichoke. Add remaining slices of that lemon to the broth mixture. Put lid on slow cooker and cook on high for approximately 3 hours, or until softened and leaves pull off easily.
Transfer artichokes from liquid to serving platter. While still hot, gently squeeze to pull apart leaves and stuff with bits of Parmesan cheese and crouton crumbs. Sprinkle remaining cheese and crumbs on tops of artichokes. Drizzle artichokes with Caesar Dressing and serve with third lemon that has been cut up into wedges.

The rest of #MyAdventure focuses on the “art of yoga” or in my case — it’s often “the agony of yoga.” I used to be a very flexible person but that bendiness got left behind a long time ago. However, I’ve been trying to build a few minutes into each day to practice some yoga moves to reclaim my flexibility – I hope the focus on a greater range of mobility will keep me from getting injured in my running and workouts as I get older. The fitness wear from Icebreaker was perfect for my little yoga session — check out the cool and comfortable Dart Shorts and Sprite Racerback Tank from Icebreaker. These items were ultra-light weight (150 gauge wool) and super soft — almost like wearing nothing!

If you haven’t tried working out in wool, you definitely should! Head over to Icebreaker, they are having a great end-of-the-season sale and have free shipping on orders over $99 and have a “love it or send it back” policy with free return shipping. I will definitely be trying out their cold weather gear come ski season – I am always the one that is too cold and I’m not going to let that happen this winter!

Icebreaker provided me with product in return for my review, but did not tell me what to say or how to say it – all opinions are my own!

Have you ever worked out in lightweight wool?

Do you have a favorite artichoke recipe, please share!

Busy Day Fuel – Southwestern Tuna Quinoa Salad Two Ways!

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

5:15 am – alarm clock, grab breakfast, run, shower, see three kids off to school, check emails, make work phone calls, start laundry, research and writing for client, leave for errands, hit the gym, eat lunch, grocery store, pick up kids from school, check mail, return emails, make more phone calls, go over kids homework, pick up clutter, make recipes, style photos, take blog photographs, chauffeur to sports practice and boy scouts, make dinner, pick up from band practice, finish laundry, pack next day’s lunches, go over family’s schedule, check emails, social media, talk to husband, play with dog, make a snack, sleep – 11 pm (hopefully).

Okay, so you can see I don’t usually have a lot of time for long, leisurely meals. Normally, I am scarfing down breakfast, lunch and dinner quickly while standing up at the kitchen island or on the go. While my kids always get a nutritious, sit-down dinner before their nightly activities, my plate of food often gets pushed down the priority list while I wash the dishes, talk to them about their days and tackle the remainder of my frenzied, gotta-get-out-the-door checklist. Oh, if I had a dollar for every artistically-plated meal I’ve dumped into a Tupperware container to eat it in the car . . . I’d have enough money to get the deluxe car detailing package that would remove crumbs from the nooks and crannies!

Maybe the whirlwind of life is why I love salads so much – by design, everything is meant to be jumbled up together – it’s not always pretty, but it’s productive! Salads can be made ahead of time without worry of reheating and will wait patiently in the fridge until called into service. A big hearty salad with all the fixings is also the standard fare for my late-working, non-cooking husband. To keep the love alive with my salads, I mix up the combination of dressings, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and extras like cheeses, nuts, grains and more – there a gazillion variations and I never get bored (this seems like an analogy for my life).

An easy and tasty protein that often tops my salads is tuna. I always keep a stockpile of Bumble Bee® Tuna in the pantry and it has saved me from the “hangries” on many occasions with no-cook, no clean-up, super nutritious convenience. I’m a fan of the single-serve, 2.5 ounce pouches of the Bumble Bee® Premium Albacore Tuna and Light Tuna because they don’t require a can opener or messy draining, making them oh-so workable in a lunch box. But, if you’re used to the traditional cans, don’t worry, Bumble Bee® still makes those!

If you need a quick and easy dinner idea, check out my Fiesta Tuna Quinoa Salad Recipe — it can be served two ways! First way is to serve in a bowl as pictured above and get your protein fix with a spoon – did you know that 2.5 ounces of the Bumble Bee® Premium Albacore Tuna has 17 grams of protein and the quinoa adds even more to the mix! Red quinoa and tuna make a snappy pair and all the healthy veggies and southwestern citrus dressing will make you want to jump up, stomp your boots and shout “Ole!” Don’t be scared that there are a lot of ingredients, it’s super easy to put together — chop, chop!

The second way to serve this healthy salad is to fill romaine lettuce leaves with this tasty tuna quinoa salad and eat them wrap-style. If you’re looking for more lunch box ideas, easy dinner recipes or other healthy meal inspiration, check out the Bumble Bee® collection of custom tuna recipes.

Fiesta Tuna Quinoa Salad Recipe

½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons ground chile pepper
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup olive oil (divided)
1 ½ cups red quinoa, rinsed
15 ½ -oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup quartered grape or cherry tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
½ cup diced red bell pepper
½ cup diced red onion
1 tablespoon diced fresh jalapeno
¼ cup sliced green onions (bulb and tops)
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus sprigs for garnish
1 large avocado, cubed
2 (5-oz) pouches Bumble Bee Albacore Tuna or Light Tuna (or four 2.5-oz pouches)
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 ½ tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
2 teaspoons honey
½ – 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce (depending on heat preference)
Extras (optional): lime wedges, cilantro sprigs and romaine lettuce leaves

Combine 1 tsp. salt, the cumin, coriander, and cinnamon in a small bowl.
In a 3-quart saucepan, heat 1 Tbs. of the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the salt, cumin, chile powder and cinnamon; stir well and saute for 30 seconds to make flavors bloom.
Add quinoa to spices, stir again for about 30 seconds. Add 2 cups water and bring mixture to a boil; reduce to a low simmer, cover, and cook until the quinoa for about 20 to 22 minutes or until water is absorbed.
Remove pot from heat and place clean dish cloth between lit and pot; let sit for about 4 to 5 minutes. This will help absorb remaining moisture and keep quinoa from getting sticky. Let quinoa cool to room temperature.
While quinoa is cooling, combine the black beans, tomatoes, corn, peppers, jalapeno, green onions, and chopped cilantro in medium bowl. Add citrus juices, remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil, garlic, honey and Sriracha sauce. Stir until coated. Mix in cooled quinoa, tuna and avocado; stir gently until combined.
To serve, place in bowls or lettuce leaves and garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs and lime wedges. Note: this dish is excellent made the day before as flavors have more time to mingle together.
Serves 4.

Do you have any favorite tuna recipes? Please share a description or link in the comments!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Category Archives: Recipes

Benefits of Ginger & How To Use Ginger in Beverages + Smoothie Recipe

8 Healthier Herbed Snacks + Instantly Fresh Herb #Giveaway

Bunch of Healthy Recipes for Banana Lover’s Day

#MyAdventure with Artichokes & the Art of Yoga

Busy Day Fuel – Southwestern Tuna Quinoa Salad Two Ways!