Got Lemons? Freeze 'Em!

     This nifty tip comes from my friend Sue in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where folks are apparently much more citrus savvy than I am because I've never heard of it.  Here's the deal:  Put a whole lemon in your freezer and once it's frozen solid, grate it over fish, chicken, vegetables, salad, yogurt, anything your little heart desires.  And grate the entire lemon -- peel, pith, pulp, and all.  Seriously!  I tried it over warm salmon and a green salad, and it was equally delicious on both, adding an intense lemon flavor with no discernible bitterness from the white pith.  Who knew?  Sue knew!  Thanks, Sue!

The Nut for Your Gut

    Nuts make quick and healthy snacks, and there are many varieties to choose from, but a recent study showed that in addition to being one of the lowest calorie, lowest fat choices in the bunch, pistachios are also tops at promoting the growth of healthy bacteria (probiotics) in your digestive system.  A nut that gives back -- eat up!

My New Favorite HEALTHY Thing: Cucumber Lime Water

    If you're struggling to stay ahead in the hydration game this summer, try adding a little flavor from the garden to your water.  In a pitcher or large Mason jar, combine cucumber slices, lime slices, and a few sprigs of fresh mint.  Fill to the brim with water and lots of ice, and refrigerate for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to marry.

     Craving a little more flavor?  Replace the plain water with flavored sparkling water or a nutritionally enhanced water such as Propel or VitaminWater.  

     Keep a pitcher in the fridge all summer, and drink up!

Dip It Good!

     Hot enough for you?  (Don't you hate it when someone asks you that?  Oh, aren't you funny.)  Too hot to eat?   Sometimes it is.  And if you're too hot to eat, chances are you're also dehydrated.    Here's an opportunity for double duty by eating lightly AND eating your water.   That's right, I said EATING YOUR WATER.  Not only can you rehydrate by drinking fluids, you can also help the cause by eating foods with high water content, namely fruits and vegetables.  Load up on melons, peaches, grapes, and citrus.  And for a quick, easy, healthy snack or light meal, try this:

     Combine plain Greek yogurt with lemon pepper, garlic powder, and your favorite herbs.  Refrigerate to allow the flavors to blend well.  Then use it as a dip for colorful vegetables with a high water content such as cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, or even plain old romaine lettuce leaves.  The dip is also a tasty, high-protein mixer for tuna or chicken salad, and it makes a great topper for baked potatoes.  Keep some in your fridge at all times!

Lettuce Wrap It!

     Now that summer's here, hopefully we're all taking full advantage of the colorful bounty available at the grocery store or farmers' market.  But maybe you're tiring of plain old salads?  If so, what could be more fun than wrapping that salad up and eating it with your hands!  And I'm not talking about stuffing it into a tortilla or a heavy flat bread.  Pile that tasty filling into a big lettuce leaf to reduce calories and add even more fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants to your day.  

     Romaine and butter lettuce work particularly well for wraps, but even plain old iceberg can do the trick.  Or try green or purple cabbage for a change of pace.  

     What goes into your wrap?  Green salad, pasta salad, couscous salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, shrimp salad, egg salad, hummus, beans, deli meats, leftover rotisserie chicken or steak, ground beef or chili, need I  go on?  The possibilities are positively endless.  And don't forget to pile on the tomatoes, peppers, onions, sprouts, carrots, broccoli, asparagus, fresh corn, and anything else available to take the flavor right over the top.

     Wrap up summer and enjoy!

Fry Me to the Moon!

      Friday the 13th?  Who gives a flip about that when it's National French Fry Day!  Now, maybe your first thought was the same as mine:  Is there a day that ISN'T French Fry Day?  Because I have always operated under the assumption that French fries make any day better, and it has served me well.  

     So be sure to scarf yourself down some good hot, crispy fries sometime today, and if you haven't yet experienced them fried in duck fat, let me just say this about that:  Go get some.  And don't tell anyone I told you to.  But I dare you to come back here and tell me to my face that they weren't the best little taters you've ever had in your mouth.  Go on, I dare you.  

Herbal Headache Healers

     Next time you get that annoying pain between the ears, skip your medicine cabinet and head for your kitchen cabinet instead.  These herbs and spices may help relieve your discomfort:

1.  Ginger may soothe migraine symptoms.

2. Willow contains salicin, an aspirin-like substance, that can be ingested in a cup of brewed tea.

3. Red pepper's heat-containing ingredient, capsaicin, may help prevent cluster headaches.

4. Thyme can be prepared in compress form to relieve aching muscles in the neck, shoulders, and back that may contribute to tension headaches.  Or sip a cup of thyme tea instead.  

    Tap into the power of your spice rack!