Category: Food

National Garlic Day – April 19, 2021

April 17, 2021
GARLIC TOAST

Garlic is a pungent and powerful vegetable whose closest relatives are onions, leeks, and chives.    Garlic is anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial.   It is used to prevent and treat colds, and helps to lower blood pressure.

GARLIC VERSATILITY

GARLIC & BASIL PIZZA
  • Sautéed Garlic Over Fettucine
  • Toasted  Italian Bread with Olive Oil & Crushed Garlic
  •  Pickled Garlic on Crackers
  • Garlic Oil  Drizzled Over French Bread
  • Garlic Granules Over Red Peppers & Salad Greens
  • Garlic Paste added to Seafood Dishes
  • Sautéed Garlic and Onions in Soup 
  • Roasted Garlic Over Pizza
  • Garlic Oil over Tomato with Hard Cheese & Crusty Bread

For all things garlic visit www.NationalGarlicDay.com, and  www.GarlicFestival.com.

Irene Pastore is a native New Yorker, health and fitness blogger, and personal trainer. Irene owns this website, and writes all the blog posts. For her complete bio, visit the About Page.

Do Calories Count?

April 12, 2021

Think of your body like a furnace. A furnace burns fuel such as oil, or wood.  Food is the fuel your body burns in order to get the energy you need to carry out your daily tasks.

If your oil, or wood burning furnace has no fuel, your house will get very cold. If you stopped eating, you’d have no energy, and would feel weak.

Calories are units of energy derived from the food you eat. If you eat more food than you burn, your body will store the excess calories.  The results of consuming excess calories is weight gain. The excess weight gain is stored as fat.  So yes, calories do count.

Irene Pastore is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 23 years experience teaching exercise in New York City.  For her complete bio, visit the About Page.

Not All Americans Get Sufficient Exercise

April 7, 2021


“22.9 Percent Of U.S. Adults 18-64 Meet The Guidelines For Both Aerobic And Muscle Strengthening Activities During LTPA* Activities During 2010-2015″ CDC 2018 Report

*Leisure Time Physical Activity

22.9 is an overall percentage. Other results varied by state. Read the most recent report here. June 28, 2018 National Health Statistics Report

Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 23 years experience teaching exercise in New York City.  To read her complete bio, visit the About Page.  

One Pot Vegan Lentil Dinner Recipe

April 6, 2021

ONE POT VEGAN LENTIL DINNER RECIPE

INGREDIENTS
1 package (12 oz) ground beef substitute*
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. finely chopped garlic
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
32 oz. vegetable broth
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 cup dried green lentils
1 large bay leaf
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

*Lightlife.com sells vegan plant protein that substitutes for meat.

DIRECTIONS
Pour oil into Dutch oven. Add garlic and sauté until lightly browned. Crumble the beef substitute over the garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat until browned (2-3 minutes).
Add cumin and thyme leaves. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium, cover and continue cooking for 15-18 mins. or until lentils and vegetables are soft.
Serve with artisan bread.

Note: cooking time is shorter if you prepare the lentils and vegetables in advance.

KITCHEN UTENSILS
Dutch Oven
Measuring spoons and cups

Frugal Kitchen: How To Revive Wilted Vegetables

April 2, 2021

A Simple Method To Restore The Crunch In Veggies

Works on carrots, leafy greens, celery. You can also store wilted vegetables in a water-filled container in the refrigerator.

Information from a Canadian source, about saving money, while helping the environment, by reducing food waste.

Food Waste In The United States

PBS NewsHour 8/31/19 video, discusses the affects of food waste on climate change, and how we can practice food waste prevention.

Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator,
and speaker. She has 23 years experience teaching exercise in New York City.
To read her complete bio, visit the About Page.

Is Buckwheat The Same As Wheat?

March 2, 2021
  • WHEAT GRAINS
  • BUCKWHEAT NOODLES
  • BUCKWHEAT BREAD
  • CROISSANTS MADE FROM WHEAT
  • BUCKWHEAT SEEDS
  • FOCACCIA WHEAT BREAD
  • WHEAT CROP
  • BUCKWHEAT PUMPKIN CAKE

Buckwheat Is A Seed

Buckwheat is a triangular shaped seed. Wheat is a grain. Botanically they are not the same. Rhubarb, a vegetable, is a close relative of buckwheat. Wheat contains gluten, while buckwheat is gluten-free. Buckwheat is a versatile substitute for wheat, in cooking and baking.

Wheat Is A Grain

Buckwheat flour is available in dark and light, and is used to produce cookies, quick breads, pancakes, and dishes similar to cooked rice. It is also consumed as a warm breakfast cereal.

Do You Have Gluten Sensitivity?

If you’re trying to avoid gluten, visit the Celiac Disease Foundation to find helpful information about gluten-free food.

Buckwheat Flower

Irene Pastore is a native New Yorker, health and fitness blogger, and personal trainer. She owns this website, and authors each blog post. To read her complete bio, visit the About Page.