Saturday, January 24, 2009

 

Healthy information from the Lebanese Garden:

Tomatoes: There has been a lot of publicity given to the claim that tomatoes and tomato products lower the risk of prostate cancer. Lycopene is found in substantial amounts in tomatoes and has been said to be the active principle responsible for protection.

Parsley is one of the world's seven most potent disease-fighting spices which also include Ginger, Oregano, and Cinnamon, Turmeric, Sage, and Red chili peppers. Parsley grows in most climates and is readily available throughout the year.
Parsley’s Many Therapeutic Health Benefits Include Its Use For:

1- Anemia: Builds up the blood because it is high in iron. The high vitamin C content assists the absorption of iron.
2- Antioxidant: Increases the anti-oxidant capacity of the blood.
3- Bactericidal (kills bacteria)
4- Bad breath
5- Blood purifier
6- Blood vessel rejuvenation: Maintains elasticity of blood vessels, and helps to repair bruises.
7- Diarrihea: great benefit by drinking parsley tea.
8- Digestion: Parsley is an excellent digestion restorative remedy. It improves the digestion of proteins and fats therefore promoting intestinal absorption, liver assimilation, and storage. Because of its high enzyme content, parsley benefits digestive activity and elimination.
9- Dissolves cholesterol within the veins
10-Diuretic
11-Ear health: Treats deafness and ear infections.
12-Edema: Acts as a diuretic, and blood vessel strengtheners.
13-Fatigue: Parsley is high in iron so helps repair and provides components for better blood cells.
14-Gallstones: Helps dissolve them.
15-Glandular support: for the liver, spleen, kidneys and adrenal glands.
16-Gout
17-Hormonal support: in women, parsley improves estrogens, nourishes, and restores the blood of the uterus. Conditions like delayed menstruation, PMS, and the menopause (dry skin, irritability, depression, and hair loss) can often improve.
18-Hormone balancing is achieved through the volatile fatty acids contained in parsley.
19-Immune booster: The high vitamin C, beta-carotene, B12, chlorophyll, and essential fatty acid content render parsley an extraordinary immunity enhancing food. Parsley is an immune-enhancing multi-vitamin and mineral complex in green plant form and one of the most important herbs for providing vitamins to the body.
20-Inhibits tumour formation: particularly in the lungs.
21-Insect bites: Rub on to relieve the swelling and itch.
22-Jaundice
23-Kidneys: Parsley is effective for nearly all kidney and urinary complaints except severe kidney inflammation. It improves kidney activity and can help eliminate wastes from the blood and tissues of the kidneys. It prevents salt from being reabsorbed into the body tissues; thus, parsley literally forces debris out of the kidneys, liver, and bladder. It helps improve Edema and general water retention, fatigue and scanty or painful urination.
24-Liver congestion: It enriches the liver and nourishes the blood. Parsley helps reduce liver congestion, clearing toxins and aiding rejuvenation.
25-Menstrual irregularity: Parsley helps to make the cycles regular by the presence of apiol, which is a constituent of the female sex hormone estrogens.
26-Menstrual pain
27-Night blindness: Bad eyesight is a sign of Vitamin A deficiency.
28-Rheumatism
29-Spleen strengthening: The parsley root in particular strengthens the spleen, and can therefore, treat malabsorption.
30-Stamina loss and low resistance to infection, point to a sluggish liver. This can manifest itself in blood deficiencies, fatigue, a pale complexion and poor nails, dizzy spells, Anemia and mineral depletion.
31-Stomach problems
32-Strengthens loose teeth: In the Middle Ages parsley was used for many conditions including 'fastening teeth' (Scurvy, which is caused loose.)
33-Uterine tonic
34-Weight loss benefits from being a diuretic


Nutritional Benefits of Parsley:
Parsley is a nutrient powerhouse containing high levels of beta-carotene, vitamin B12, folate, chlorophyll, calcium, more vitamin C than citrus fruits, and just about all other known nutrients. Parsley is a moistening, nourishing, restoring, ‘warming’ food, pungent with a slightly bitter, salty flavour. It enhances and stimulates the energy of organs, improving their ability to assimilate and utilize nutrients.
Beta-carotene: is used for protein assimilation. This nutrient benefits the liver and protects the lungs and colon. The body to vitamin A, a nutrient so important to a strong immune system that its nickname is the “anti-infective vitamin”, converts beta-carotene.
Chlorophyll Parsley is abundant in chlorophyll, thus purifying and inhibiting the spread of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms. Chlorophyll from parsley is slightly anti-bacterial and anti-fungal which acts to enhance immune response and to relieve mucus congestion, sinusitis, and other ‘damp’ conditions. Chlorophyll, high in oxygen, also suppresses viruses and helps the lungs to discharge residues from environmental pollution.
Essential Fatty Acids Parsley is a source of alpha-linolenic acid, an important essential fatty acid that is too frequently deficient in today’s diets.
Fluorine is an important nutritional component abundantly found in parsley. Fluorine has an entirely different molecular structure from chemically produced fluoride. Tooth decay results from a shortage of fluorine, not fluoride. It is the combination of calcium and fluorine, which creates a very hard protective surface on teeth and bones. Fluorine also protects the body from infectious invasion, germs, and viruses.
Folic Acid, one of the most important B vitamins, but one of its most critical roles in relation to cardiovascular health is to convert homocysteine into benign molecules. Homocysteine is a potentially dangerous molecule that, at high levels, can directly damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke in people with atherosclerosis or diabetic heart disease. Folic acid is also a critical nutrient for proper cell division and is therefore vitally important for cancer-prevention in two areas of the body that contain rapidly dividing cells--the colon, and in women, the cervix.
Iron: The iron content of parsley is exceptional with 5.5mg per100g (4oz). A half-cup of fresh parsley or one tablespoon dried has about 10 percent of your iron daily requirements. In addition, parsley has the vitamin C your body needs to absorb that iron.
Protein: Parsley is made up of 20% protein. (About the same as mushrooms.)
Vitamin B12 Parsley contains traces of B12 producing compounds. Such compounds are needed for the formation of red blood cells and normal cell growth, important for fertility, pregnancy, immunity and the prevention of degenerative illness. The action of vitamin B12. However, is inhibit by a Vitamin C deficiency, makes the gums spongy antibiotics, intoxicants, stress, sluggish liver, and excess bacteria or parasites in the colon or digestive tracts. Parsley helps to counteract these inhibitors.
Vitamin K: Getting at least 100 micrograms of Vitamin K a day can drastically cut your risk of hip fracture. Vitamin K is necessary for bones to get the minerals they need to form properly. Parsley is loaded with vitamin K (180 mcg per 1/2 cup). Cooking parsley nearly doubles its Vitamin K.
Vitamin C: Parsley contains more vitamin C than any other standard culinary vegetable, with 166mg per 100g (4oz). This is three times as much as oranges. Flavonoids, which make up the Vitamin C molecule, maintain blood cell membranes, and act as an antioxidant helper.
Volatile oil components: including myristicin, limonene, eugenol, and alphathujene. Parsley's volatile oils, particularly myristicin, have been shown to inhibit tumour formation in animal studies, and particularly, tumor formation in the lungs. It acts as an antioxidant that can help neutralize particular types of carcinogens (like the benzopyrenes that are part of cigarette smoke, charcoal grill smoke, and the smoke produced by trash incinerators).
Parsley also contains calcium (245mg per 100g), phosphorus, potassium (1000mg per 4 oz), manganese (2.7mg per 100g), inositol, and sulphur.
Well my friends, after reading all these information about Parsley and the benefits of including this vegetable in our daily diet, do you think we need any more medicines and pills to hurt us more than give us the cure we need.

What can be simpler than eating fresh parsley twice or three times a week in any type of salad you desire.


Mint:

For centuries, mint has been enjoyed for its wonderful aroma, its great taste, and its healing power. Long known for its ability to settle a nervous stomach, mint has a great many other health benefits as well. Whether as a soothing mint tea or part of a recipe, mint has long been part of both the cuisine and the medicinal cultures of societies as diverse as the Middle East, India, and Europe. Mint is well known for its ability to sooth the digestive tract ,and reduces the severity and length of stomach aches. In addition, mint teas and other herbal preparations have shown great promise at easing the discomfort associated with irritable bowel syndrome, and even at slowing the growth of many of the most harmful bacteria and fungi. The well-documented antifungal properties of mint are thought to play a role in the treatment of asthma and many allergy conditions as well. It is even thought that mint may have benefits as an anticancer food. Mint is known to contain a phytonutrient called perillyl alcohol, which has been shown in studies on animals to prevent the formation of colon, skin, and lung cancer. Further study is needed to see if this important benefit extends to the human world.
Mint is used in a variety of ways, but the most common is through the brewing of mint tea. There are many excellent mint teas on the market, and fresh mint tea can be made by pouring hot, but not boiling, water over fresh leaves of mint. When preparing mint tea, it is important that the preparation be covered while it is steeping to prevent the valuable volatile oils from evaporating.

The health benefits of eating garlic, onions, and peppers

on a daily basis were well known to our ancestors. They used them to protect themselves from illness and to act as an antiseptic for a wide range of infections.
Modern dietary advice, supported by scientific evidence, emphasizes the benefits of a daily intake of garlic, onions, and peppers. These pungent natural foods contain chemicals that can protect the body from so many major and minor illnesses, including:
v Cardiovascular disease
v Infections
v Diabetes
v Respiratory problems
v Cancers
v Garlic: Since early civilisation, man has used garlic for its powerful healing qualities. Today, there is worldwide scientific evidence to support the many health benefits that can be derived from the daily consumption of garlic.
Extensive tests on humans have concluded that a regular intake of garlic can:
· Lower total cholesterol (but raise the good-type HDL cholesterol)
· Produce more "natural killer" cells in the blood that will tackle infections and tumours
· Lower blood pressure
· Reduce the risk of blood clots (that are responsible for most heart attacks and strokes)
· Destroy infection causing viruses and bacteria
· Reduce the risk of certain cancers, in particular, stomach cancers.
· Garlic is best eaten raw. Cooking can destroy some of the "allicin" compound, which is responsible for the powerful healing effects of garlic.
Onions: Like garlic, onions too, have significant health benefits. A real panacea! It fights cancer and strengthens the heart, the neural system, and the glands.
v Boost good-type HDL cholesterol (particularly when consumed raw)
v Reduce total cholesterol levels
v Increase blood-clot dissolving activity
v Reduce the risks of diabetes
v Attack bacteria that cause infection
v Reduce the risk of certain cancers
Scientific tests have further identified a compound in onions called "quercetin" which is a powerful antioxidant and cancer-attacking agent.
For sniffles and cough: Slice some onions, spread the slices in a dish, dredge them with fine sugar, and let them soak for 24 hours. Drink 2-5 spoonfuls a day of the syrup that will be produced.
For hangnails: Before you go to bed slice an onion, wrap 1 slice over the hangnail around the finger, tie it with a piece of bandage and let it be till the morning.
For sensitive nails: rub them with half onion every day.
To remove the onion odour from your hands, rub them with salty water and lemon juice or with ammonia solution (2 spoonfuls of ammonia in 1 litre (33.8 oz) of water).
Peppers: Along with garlic and onions, offer many significant health benefits. Top of the list has to be their healing effect on respiratory problems. Hot peppers have always played an important role in traditional Chinese medicine. They are recognised for their ability to tackle pulmonary and respiratory illnesses. Peppers contain "capsaicin" which helps the lungs function more effectively. In addition, a daily intake of peppers is highly recommended for smokers and even non-smokers.
The health benefits of a daily intake of peppers are well established. Eating peppers can:
* Reduce respiratory illnesses
* Help asthmatics breathe more easily
* Control and often cure sinus and nasal passage problems
* Reduce headaches
* Provide a major source of vitamin C
In conclusion, there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that you can boost your health by eating garlic, onions, and peppers, on a regular basis. Work them into your daily diet by eating them raw (ideally) or cooked. Use them as flavouring, crush, mince or chop them and include this powerful trio in as many ordinary, day-to-day recipes as you can. Do not just think of them as occasional food items to be used for special meals or when entertaining. Instead, for example, add them to burgers, casseroles, etc. Let your imagination come up with new ways of incorporating them into your daily diet - ideas that will really suit you and fit in with your family eating preferences.


Burgul or cracked wheat

Wheat, 1 cup (120g) (hard white)Protein: 21.7gCarbohydrate: 145.7gTotal Fat: 3.3gFiber:*Excellent source of: Iron (8.7mg), Magnesium (178mg), Zinc (6.4mg), and Niacin (8.4mg)
Making smart carbohydrate choices are an easy way to add a layer of health insurance to your life. Whole grains are packed with many healthy nutrients, including carbohydrates, protein, fiber, B vitamins (thiamin, folate, riboflavin, and niacin), antioxidants, vitamin E, and trace minerals (iron, zinc, copper, selenium, and magnesium). According to the USDA, at least half of all the grains eaten should be whole grains.
Research demonstrating the health benefits of whole grains is the backbone of health recommendations. A diet rich in whole grains has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and some forms of cancer. Whole-grain diets also improve bowel health; they help maintain regular bowel movements and provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories.
Just because a product is made from whole grain does not suggest that it is nutritious. Sugared cereals made with whole grain are not suddenly considered health food.
"Consumers need to read the label and select cereals based on the whole-grain content and amount of sugar it contains. The less sugar, the better," says whole-grain expert Joanne Slavin, PhD, RD, professor of food science and nutrition from the University of Minnesota. "Less dense products such as puffed or flaked cereal are lighter by nature and will have less fiber than denser cereals."


Whole Grains and Fiber
Whole grains can be an excellent source of fiber. But not all whole grains are good sources of fiber. Whole wheat contains the highest amount of fiber of the whole grains. Brown rice contains the least amount of fiber.

Lemon:

Lemon is used as a beverage and an ingredient to some dishes to enhance its flavour. Lemon contains Flavonoids a compound that contains antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.
Nutritive Values of Lemon: Per 100 gm.
v Vitamin B : Thiamine .04 mg.;
v Riboflavin : Trace;
v Vitamin C: 50 mg.
v Calcium: 40 mg.
v Phosphorus: 22 mg.
v Carbohydrates: 8.7 gm.
v Protein: .9 gm.
v Calories : 32
Health Benefits of Lemon: As a natural antiseptic, the juice of the lemon will destroy harmful bacteria found in the cuts and other areas of infection.
v For toothache, apply fresh lemon juice on the painful are.
v For skin problems, the juice of the lemon should be applied directly to the skin, and allowed to dry especially for acne and eczema, and then remove with water with olive oil added. The juice is also good for the removal of blackheads, freckles, and wrinkles.
v Lemon juice when applied to hair after rinsing it, will give shine and volume to your hair.
v Lemon juice helps to prevent and cure osteoarthritis.
v Helps to prevent diabetes.
v Lemon juice helps in preventing the development and progression of atherosclerosis.
v Lemon juice is a great liver tonic.



Green Cabbage:

Cabbage is a popular vegetable that is used for cooking and is also known for its medicinal properties (it said to contain chemicals that can prevent cancer). The history of its uses can be traced to the Greek era, where the Greeks used fresh white cabbage juice to relieve sore or infected eyes. During those times, the Romans and Egyptians would drink cabbage juice before meals to prevent intoxication.
Provides a source of protein, dietary fibre, carbohydrates, vitamin C, folate, calcium, and iron. A three-ounce serving contains about 25 calories. Although some if its benefits are lost in cooking, studies show, Cabbage is a cancer fighter, especially for stomach, colon, and breast cancers. Having strong antiviral and antibacterial properties, Cabbage has also been reported to be a helpful remedy for the treatment of ulcers.
1. Cabbage is anti – inflammatory vegetable 2. Cabbage contains lactic acid that acts to disinfect colon3. Cabbage can also be used to reduce headache pain4. Another benefit of cabbage is in it's anti –cancer properties and is also said to be able in treating other skin conditions
5. Drinking cabbage juice from the stem is a good remedy for ulcers.
How to use Cabbage:
1. Drink fresh cabbage juice if you suffer from gastritis 2. This is another benefit of cabbage. Drink 25 – 50 ml cabbage juice everyday to treat headache, asthma, bronchitis and other digestion problems.3. White cabbage juice dabbed on mouth ulcers will make the healing faster.
Tips:
1-Do not buy halved or quartered heads of cabbage even if it is well wrapped. As soon as the leaves are cut, cabbage will loose its vitamin C.2- Wash cabbage only when you are ready to use it.3. Look for solid, heavy heads of cabbage, with no more than 3 – 4 loose outer leaves.

Basilica or Basil
v Astringent: it is used in cases of mental strain, weak memory, melancholy, and neural headaches.
v Spasmolitic: it is used in cases of anxiety, nervous insomnia, dizziness, whooping cough, gastric spasms, vomit, and enteric disorders.
v Diuretic: it is used in cases of kidney gravel, urination difficulties, and retention.
Also useful in cases of epilepsy and arthritis.
One teacup every evening (sugar to taste) should do. Its volatile oil is used in wasp or scorpion stinging. If you have earache, boil basilica in a casserole, take the casserole off the fire, and put your ear over the vapours. Then lay in bed, well covered.

Celery:

contains vitamin A and vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, sodium, calcium and phosphor. This makes dry celery a perfect substitute of salt, for those who want to avoid it. Boiled celery root broth is a perfect diuretic. In addition, celery helps against rheumatisms, arthritis, bronchitis, catarrh, hypertension, high fever, and chilblains. Celery also helps against diabetes, farts, and mouth malodour and kidney diseases.
Normally, for most of the diseases above boil 25-30 gm (1 ounce) of celery leaves in water and drink the hot broth.
For mouth malodour: chew some fresh celery leaves.
For chilblains: Boil 1/2 kilo (1.1 pounds) of celery in 2 litres (67.6 oz) of water, empty the broth into a basin, and dip your feet in it. Repeat for several days.
For catarrh and hypertension: Boil 25-30 gm (1 ounce) of celery leaves in fresh milk and drink this broth unfed.
After a hangover: Chew 1 small spoonful of celery seeds.

Chamomile:

A versatile and effective herb, particularly useful for children's diseases, it also relaxes from sentimental problems. It is counter convulsive, neurosedative (for migraines, dizziness, and insomnia), anti-inflammatory, it heals wounds and burns, and it soothes eczemas. Moreover, it is a strong vermicide, digestive and it soothes eye ache (daily washing with a piece of cotton), it calms babies (added in their warm bath), it soothes the mumps (with cataplasms), and it also turns hair fair, used frequently together with a shampoo. In most cases boil 1 spoonful of chamomile in 1 cup of water and drink the broth.
Against obesity: Boil 1 spoonful of chamomile in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes and strain it. Drink 1 cup of that in the morning, unfed and 1 cup at night before going to bed, for 1 month.
Against acne: Boil 1 spoonful of chamomile in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes and strain it. Add 1 lemon juice and wash your face out, 3 times a day for 1 month.
In the bath: Boil 300 gm (0.66 pound) of chamomile in 2 litters (67.6 oz) of water and let it rest for 10 minutes. Then strain it and add it in the bath water. It calms and rests.

Fennel:

has proved to neutralize dangerous mushroom poison and to dissolve kidney gravel.
Diuretic:: as well as helpful in cases of cystitis.
Astringent: in cases of exhaustion.
Soothing:: of cough, croup, asthma and triggered respiratory system.
Fennel also kills worms and pests of the peptic system, it soothes windiness and aerophobia.
In most cases boil 1-2 spoonfuls of fennel seeds in 1-2 cups of water and drink the broth.
For kidney gravel: Boil 1 spoonful of fennel seeds in 2 glasses of water together with 5-10 orange leaves and drink 1 wine glass every morning, unfed.
For the flu: Chew some fennel seeds.
For stomach-ache: Boil 1 small spoonful of fennel seeds in 1 cup of milk for 5 minutes and drink it warm.

Lemongrass:

Lemongrass is the proper medicine for various kinds of pain. It soothes headaches if you mince its leaves and smear them on your forehead. It does well to the eye ache by washing your eyes and it relieves from ear ache if you put your ear over the steams of its boiling broth. Moreover, it is a fine diuretic, useful to those with kidney gravel, it helps mothers produce more milk for their babies, it helps in slimming diets drinking 1 cup of its broth every night before going to bed, it is a strong digestive, and if you put some of its broth over a wound it will be healed much sooner.
Particularly for kidney gravel, boil 2 small spoonfuls of lemongrass in 1 cup of water, let it rest for 12 minutes, strain it and drink it. Repeat that up to 3 times a day.

Mallow:

Mallow contains A, B1, B2, and C vitamins.
Soothing: Its root, dried and boiled, produces a decoction which sooths sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and laryngitis.
Relieving: It does well in cases of visceral pain, gripes, gastritis, cystitis, Diarrihea, and supposing epilepsy.
Cathartic: Large doses of its decoction combined with honey are said to help us discard the toxins from our body.
Mallow also smoothes calluses and relieves tired legs.
For cough and catarrh: Soak 30 gm (1 ounce) of mallow root (peeled and julienne) in 1 litre (33.8 oz) of cold water for 2 hours. Then strain it and drink 1 glass of it every 6 hours.
For calluses: Put some mallow poultice on the callus all night long. Then the callus will come off easily.
For swellings and bruises: Boil 250 gr (0.55 pound) of dried mallow root in 5 cups of water until they reduce to 3 cups. Then, soak some piece of clothe or bandage and tie it over the swelling or bruise.

Nettle:

Indeed a wonderful plant. It contains vitamins, chlorophyll, nitrogen, iron, calcium, potassium, manganese and many more minerals and microelements.
Anti anaemic: In general, body debility.
Anti diarrheal: Some nettle decoction will stop diarrheic at once.
Haemostatic: In bleeding, hematuria, tuberculosis.
Diuretic: It dissolves uric acid and kidney gravel.
Anti rheumatic: For arthritis, rheumatisms, and sciatica.
Also helps against epilation.
For nosebleed: Soak a piece of cotton in nettle broth and put it into the bleeding nostril.
For rheumatisms: Pick up nettles before the sunrises, pound them, fry them in olive oil, strain them, and put that oil in a bottle. Use that oil to rub your aching joints. Another painful but very effective method is to rub your aching joints with fresh nettle leaves and then rub them with fresh mallow leaves to relieve the nettle rash.
For epilation: Combine and boil together leaves and roots from nettle and thyme and rub the hair regularly.
For mouth ulcer: Boil 1 handful of nettle leaves in 1/2 litre (17 oz) of water and use the broth to gargle and wash your mouth.

Rosemary:

A wonderful stimulant and astringent, valuable in physical as well as mental strain.
Heart Astringent – Anti diabetic - Vision Astringent
Beneficial for neural system disorders, hysteria, epilepsy, dizziness and migraines.
Digestive, enteric Gases fighting. Eliminates Mouth Ulcers, Stop Alopecia
Soak rosemary into water for 8 hours and wash your hair with it. This helps in hair growth and fights dandruff. In addition, if you suffer from diabetes or amoebae boil one 3-flower stem in 1 cup of water and drink it in the morning, unfed.

Sage:


It enhances physical strength; it is a strong astringent and stimulant of the neural system, a fine sedative, anti diabetic, diuretic, anti tumor and styptic. It also does well to laryngitis by gargling some sage decoction.
For physical or mental strain: Dip 80 gm (0.17 pound) of sage leaves in 1 litre (33.8 oz) of good red wine and let them soak for 1 week. Then, strain the wine and drink 1 to 3 spoonfuls after meal.
For epilation: Soak 100 gm (0.22 pound) of sage leaves in 1 litre (33.8 oz) of water for 1 hour and wash your hair with that.
As a sedative: Drop 2 spoonfuls of sage leaves and 1/2 spoonful of basilica into boiling water, let that decoction rest for 10 minutes and then drink it.


Thyme:


Thyme is considered Nature’s antibiotic.
General stimulant: It increases mental lucidity; it helps in physical and mental strain, stress, depression, debility.
It increases low blood pressure.
It is a strong lung and bowel antiseptic.
Valuable cure for flu, sniffles, and cold.
Heart astringent, light hypnotic.
It stops epilation, it cures scabies and shingles, and it fights gingivitis. Using compresses, it soothes from rheumatic pains.
For epilation: Boil 1 handful of thyme in 1 litre (33.8 oz) of water until it reduces to half and strain it. Then wash your hair with a shampoo, rub your head with the thick thyme broth, wait for 3-5 minutes and wash your hair again.
For sniffles: chew some thyme
For insomnia: Put 2-3 thyme stems under your pillow.


When the Lord Created the Earth in 7 days. He created a wonderful nature, full of healthy and tasty gifts, each has its own secret, full of healthy nutrition to heal us. God wants us to be healthy and enjoy the gifts he gave us, so he created our natural healing garden. Eat enjoy the flavours and be healthy and strong, without the need to any chemicals.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

CALLING ALL COOKS

I am interested to start a cooking challenge "training" on some of the recipes I grew up eating.

The invitation is open to any one who has access to a computer, not only food blogger, to any one who enjoys cooking and is interested in experiencing new cuisines.

Please leave me a message, I will get back to you SAP.

Arlette

CLASSIC BARBECUE SAUCE


Today 's Dinner is BBQ Back Ribs with Roasted Potatoes and Salads.
I did home made dry rub and rubbed the ribs all over, they were on a baking rack, covered with foil paper, in a 275F oven for four hours,(my oven is very low without the fan-check yours) they were brushed with home made BBQ Sauce, put them back in the preheated 375F oven for 15 minutes on each side

If you like a rich, thick barbecue sauce on your ribs, then this is the perfect one for you. By using tomato sauce and tomato paste instead of ketchup you get a richer flavor in your barbecue sauce.
Ingredients:
1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic crushed
4 tablespoons minced onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon cayenne
fresh ground pepper to taste
if you have liquid smoke you can add couple of drops this will give the flavour of outdoor BBQ specially in the winter when you are BBQ indoors.

Preparation:
Cook minced onion and garlic in olive oil until onions turns opaque. Add remaining ingredients, mix thoroughly and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes. Makes about 1 1/2 cups of barbecue sauce.
Dry Rub:
8 tablespoons light brown sugar, tightly packed
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon jalapeno seasoning
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon rubbed thyme
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
try this and let me know..... they are tender and full of flavour, the sauce and the rub are home made , instead of using bottled spices.
Also I made roasted potatoes, I sliced the potatoes on a wooden spoon, not cutting all the way, brushing the potatoes with olive oil and then stuffed them with slices of garlic,salt and pepper.

what left from our dinner will be another meal for tomorrow... I wonder What?????????????

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

LEBANESE FATTOUSH SALAD

Platter of Fattoush



The Fattoush Mix

p.s.: This recipe was published online to to share with readers the Flavours of the Lebanese Food , and not for local restaurants to steal and add it to their menu. Shame on you

Sunday, January 18, 2009

MAAMOUL MAD - Lebanese Date Squares

Lebanese Date Squares made with Semolina flour




Ingredients:


For the dough:
5 cups semolina or 1000 g (600 gm coarse semolina 400 gm fine semolina)
200 gm melted butter
200 gm melted ghee ( you can use 400 gm clarified butter instead of the 2)
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg .+ 1 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground mahleb (from Middle Eastern Stores)
1 teaspoon instant dried yeast
¼ cup rose water + ¼ cup blossom water or 60 ml


for the date filling:

500gm date, pitted and chopped
¼ cup butter or 50 g
1 tsp of cinnamon
¾ cup walnuts or 75 g, toasted, crushed (optional)
¼ cup of sesame seeds


Syrup: 3 cups sugar + 1 1/2 cup water and squeeze of lemon juice. Cook and let it cool



For the Pistachio Filling or you can use walnuts:


3 cups pistachio nuts or 450 g, roughly chopped
1/2 tin NESTLÉ® Sweetened Condensed Milk or 1/2 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons rose water
2 tablespoons blossom water

Preparation:

In a bowl, combine grain semolina, fine semolina, ghee, sugar, mahleb, yeast, rose water and blossom water. Mix the ingredients well then cover and set aside for at least 1 hour.

Mix pistachios, NESTLÉ® Sweetened Condensed Milk , rose water and blossom water until all ingredients are well combined. Cover mixture and set aside.
Press ½ quantity of the maamoul dough over 28cm round non-stick oven tray to flatten evenly all over the tray.
Pour pistachio mixture over the maamoul dough in the tray with equally level then press it gently and set aside.
Place the remaining ½ of the maamoul dough between two sheets of greaseproof paper, then gently roll it between the papers using a rolling pin to reach the size of the tray. Remove the top paper and turn the dough carefully over the pistachio mixture and press gently. (Remove exceeding dough from the sides).
Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown color, add the cool syrup and set aside to cool. Cut into squares and serve.



For preparing the date stuffing

In a pot over medium low heat add the dates and the butter and spices, and cook to soften and become tender, if you cook enough you don’t need to mash the date.
Mix in the walnuts and place in fridge for ½ hour.

prepare the dough same as the pistachios, bake till golden brown, remove and pour 1 cup of so of syrup , let it cool before you cut into squares.


Plate of Maamoul hand made shaped into eggshell for pistachio stuffing, and fingers for date stuffing and rounds for walnuts almond stuffing, the square on the far end is date squares with a special mold.