This is a meal that even non-cooks can throw together easily. My brother will be going to Europe next year for a semester abroad so he wants to learn how to cook, especially some Canadian inspired meals. This is one of his favorite salmon dishes and now one of his specialties. Continue Reading →
Spring Prawn Salad with Mojito Dressing
As soon as the sun comes out I start dreaming of lazy afternoons on patios with friends and mojitos. It wasn’t that kind of day so I settled for a mojito inspired salad. Limes are very high in vitamin C, so much so that they were used to save British sailors, or “limeys” from scurvy. Like lemons they contain several other nutrients and are cleansing and detoxifying. Continue Reading →
Smoked Salmon Kamut Pasta
Here in the Pacific Northwest, smoked salmon is a regional delicacy. Cold smoked and served over bagels, bread or crackers with cream cheese is pretty common but I like the hot (temperature, not spiciness) smoked versions the best. The end product is denser and flakier, just like baked salmon but with a slight smokiness and firm crust around the top from the pre-smoking curing. All smoked fish and meats tend to have more added sodium than their fresh versions and the use of smoke makes them potentially carcinogenic in large quantities, so they are best saved for occasional indulgences. When I have no inspiration to cook, I like to find an ingredient that I don’t normally use or that I think is really special, like smoked salmon, and build something around that. If it doesn’t work out that great then at least the process is fun. Continue Reading →
Tuna Avocado Cups
Avocados are technically fruits but they are more like nuts, being low in sugar and high in fat with a creamy texture and rich flavor. In many nutritional philosophies and general thinking there is the principal that like increases like, but this is not the case with certain dietary fats. Seemingly contradictorily, eating good quality fats in moderation does not increase body fat percentages, and it can even help the body to metabolize current excess fat stores, or burn fat. Continue Reading →
Poached Salmon
Salmon, especially wild, is an incredibly nourishing food for us. It is high in essential omega 3 fatty acids- a type of fat that many of us in North America are deficient in. It is also a reliable source of the B vitamins (including hard to get B12), vitamin A, and several minerals, including energizing iron and magnesium and calcium, which have calming effects on our bodies. This is one of the quickest and most flavorful yet healthy ways of preparing it. Continue Reading →
Creamy Potato Tuna Salad
Tuna is a great source of protein when there is not much time or desire for cooking, however it should not be consumed more than once or twice a week because tuna can accumulate mercury, a damaging heavy metal. Potatoes are one of, if not the most universal and widely consumed vegetables. They often get a bad rap for being a causal factor in weight gain, and when they are fried, this blame is warranted. However, they can be a low cost and very nourishing food. Continue Reading →
White Wine Mussels
Mussels are part of the mineral rich mollusk family. They are high in protein and are a great source of vitamin B12- an important nutrient that many people can easily become deficient in. Vitamin B12 is crucial for maintaining a healthy nervous system and deficiencies can potentially lead to fatigue and depression. Continue Reading →
Tuna Cucumber Rolls
Cucumbers are a good source of silica, a mineral that helps maintain healthy and lustrous skin, hair and nails. They also have a very high water content which helps maintain optimal hydration, a second factor that contributes to looking healthy and youthful on the outside. Continue Reading →
Winter Brown Rice Risotto with Prawns
Risotto is a satisfying winter comfort food but unfortunately there are no shortcuts to obtaining the creamy texture. This version requires three pots and enough time to diligently stand guard while it is cooking. The extra fiber and vitamins from the brown rice and vegetables Continue Reading →
Mega Omega Salmon Salad
Omega 3s are an essential fatty acid, essential meaning that our body cannot make it, so adequate sources must be obtained from food. Fatty acids are important for the development and regulation of the nervous system and immune system; plus they keep hair, skin and nails hydrated and strong. The ideal ratio of omega 3s to omega 6s is between 1 to 1 and 1 to 4, but the majority of North Americans consume upwards of 1 to 20. Continue Reading →