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Tomato And Herb Salad With Roasted Lemons

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You need roasted lemons in your life! Try this tomato and herb salad with roasted lemons.

tomato and herb salad with roasted lemons

When I was in cooking school we used to roast citrus fruits a lot… lately I’ve been seeing this technique making a comeback in lots of blogs. The one that inspired me most is from Epicurious, so a big thanks to them! And, now that I tried it in this salad, I remember why it’s so good.

If I had to pick one word to describe this salad it would be: “bright”. Because it is. It’s bright in color and it’s bright in flavor.

I made it the other day to have for lunch. The day kind of got away from me (as it often does) and all of a sudden it was time for dinner. So, while I ate this as a salad, I cooked some gnocchi for Steve and tossed them with lots of this salad. And yes, now that’s his new favorite dish: Gnocchi with Tomato And Herb Salad With Roasted Lemons…

When you slice up lemons, sweeten them, add some herbs, and then roast them, the most amazing thing happens… the lemon peels take on the best flavor and texture ever! I know to a lot of people it seems weird to eat the peels of the lemons, but believe me, this recipe will make you a big fan. I like to eat the rinds of citrus fruits whenever I can — I like the taste and the nutritional benefit is awesome. My favorite lemonade recipe includes the peels, so if you want to try another lemon-peel recipe, try my Strawberry Whole-Lemon Lemonade recipe.

In this salad, I’ve used lots of fresh herbs because the really taste great with the tart lemons. I love a dish that begs for lots of fresh herbs… it kind of puts me in my happy place!

tomato and herb salad with roasted lemons

Aside from the delicious brightness of this salad, here’s why you should try it:

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels.

In Chinese medicine, we use tomatoes to aid in digestion and to help detoxify the body. They are also good to combat excess cholesterol, lessen inflammation and curb asthma. Tomatoes can also quench thirst, and they can help fight some kidney infections.

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Cilantro is also known as Chinese Parsley. It is good for the common cold, indigestion, and energy flow in the body. An old Chinese remedy for the common cold and even for measles was to drink cilantro and mint tea. Cilantro is one of those herbs you either love or hate; I’m a lover…

Mint is a Chinese herb called Bo He. It’s one of the best things to fight a cold, sore throat, or fever and it’s good for some abdominal pains too.

tomato and herb salad with roasted lemons

 

Tomato And Herb Salad With Roasted Lemons
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Recipe type: salad
Cuisine: recipe inspired by:Epicurious
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 lemon, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced and seeds removed
  • 1 Tbs sliced fresh sage leaves
  • 1 tsp coconut sugar
  • 1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb multi-colored grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 2 Tbs roughly chopped fresh mint leaves
  • 2 Tbs roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • For dressing:
  • 1 Tbs pomegranate molasses
  • ½ tsp allspice
  • 1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F Convection setting, or 350°F regular bake setting.
  2. Boil the lemon slices in a small pot of water for 1 minute.
  3. Drain the lemon slices and toss them in a small bowl with the sage, coconut sugar, and 1 Tbs of oil.
  4. Spread the slices onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and put them in the oven for 15- to 20- minutes or until they start to brown.
  5. Make the dressing by whisking all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
  6. In a large bowl, toss the tomatoes with the onion, mint, and cilantro. Add the lemon slices.
  7. Toss with the dressing.
  8. Serve as a side salad or mix into a hot bowl of gnocchi for a real treat! Enjoy!

 

tomato and herb salad with roasted lemons

Paleo Lemon Cake

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Paleo Lemon Cake! This is so delicious; it’s kind of like a cake grandma used to make, but way healthier!

paleo lemon cake

I’m a chocolate lover. But when I tasted this cake, I thought to myself: hmmmm… I think this might be better than chocolate.

And then, I remembered that it was grain-free. Yup, I actually forgot this is a paleo cake when I tasted it… it’s that good!

If you’ve been following me at all, you may know that I don’t consider myself the best baker. I’m a great cook, but baking… not so much. I’m not much of a measurer or a perfectionist, but with baking when you just wing it or go with the flow, sometimes it’s just a hot mess.

I saw a recipe for lemon bread on a blog called Connie’s Finally Losing It. Connie calls it a bread, and I’m sure hers is perfect and delicious. When I made it, mine didn’t look quite as perfect, and it tastes more like a cake, but OMG, it is just delicious!

And yes, it’s really as good as chocolate. I think part of this is due to the fact that when I made the glaze and poured it over the cake, instead of it sitting prettily on top of the cake, mine soaked into the cake and made it so sweet and lemony, that I can’t imagine doing it any other way.

I put the leftovers in the fridge and we’ve been eating it cold all week. So, put your chocolate bias aside, and try this lemony, sweet, tart, amazing cake!

paleo lemon cake

You should make this cake because it’s delicious. But you should also make it because it’s so good for you:

Lemon peel contains calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your digestion, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH, and they act as an antibacterial. They also can soothe a sore throat, lessen a cough, and hydrate the body.

I am a big proponent of eating the whole egg. So many of the nutrients and the taste are in the yolk; I’ll never understand separating nature’s perfect food. Eggs help with many types of dryness in the body. If you have a dry cough or a frog-in-your-throat, try eating some eggs. They have also been shown to help women with various conditions during and after pregnancy.

Honey is an amazing food. It is also a Chinese herb (Feng Mi). Raw honey is honey in its purest form; it has not been filtered, strained or heated above 115 degrees. This means when you eat it, the enzymes, anti-oxidants and nutrients haven’t been disturbed. I use raw honey in my tea, smoothies and in any recipe that calls for honey. Raw honey is solid and may need to be melted before you use it, but this is easy and only takes a minute or two. Honey helps with constipation, some coughs, and some stomach ulcers.

Coconut strengthens the body, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding. It kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. It’s the coconut flour in this recipe that holds it together, and there is also some coconut oil in this cake.

paleo lemon cake

 

Paleo Lemon Cake
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Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: Connie's Finally LosingIt
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8-10
This lemon cake is sweet, and tart, and when I ate it, I forgot it was grain-free! It's so healthy and delicious and simple -- it will become your new favorite dessert!
Ingredients
  • 1 Tbs coconut oil to grease a loaf pan
  • For cake:
  • 6 large eggs
  • ¼ cup coconut oil, melted and cooled
  • juice from 2 lemons plus enough almond milk to equal a total of 1 cup liquid
  • zest from 2 lemons
  • ⅓ cup raw honey, melted and cooled slightly
  • ⅔ cup coconut flour
  • 1-1/4 tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • For glaze:
  • 2 Tbs coconut oil
  • 2 Tbs raw honey
  • 2 Tbs almond milk
  • zest and juice from 1 lemon
  • ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Grease a loaf pan with the coconut oil.
  3. Put all of the cake ingredients into the bowl of a mixer and mix until well combined.
  4. Pour into the loaf pan.
  5. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown. Mine took 49 minutes. (Please watch the cake carefully, because the original recipe calls for only baking the cake for 32-45 minutes.)
  6. Remove the cake from the oven and let the pan cool on a rack.
  7. When the pan is cool, remove the cake and let it cool completely on the rack, out of the pan.
  8. Make the glaze: put all of the glaze ingredients into a small pot and simmer over low heat until it's all melted together. Turn off heat and let cool slightly
  9. When the cake is completely cool, pour the glaze over the top of the cake. (My glaze was very liquid, but I poured the whole thing over the cake and let it soak in and it was delicious. In the original recipe, the glaze in the picture looks while and thick and pretty... I'm just letting you know that either way it should be delicious!)

 

paleo lemon cake

Grain-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

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You’ll swear there’s oatmeal in these grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies, but nope… totally grain-free!

grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies

These grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies are magical. I say that because there is no way you can tell that they are grain-free. You can’t tell by the texture — they have the exact texture of traditional oatmeal cookies. You can’t tell by the taste –nthey taste better than most oatmeal raisin cookies!

Full disclosure: I am not the magician here. The original recipe is from Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain, cookbook, so kudos to Danielle! I took some liberties with the recipe when I made it (because I am pretty sure I am incapable of not changing a recipe…), and I (not being the best baker in the world) was so impressed with the end result that I ended up making a ton of these cookies and putting bags of them in my freezer! Another disclosure: they are so good that sometimes we eat them frozen instead of waiting for them to defrost…

A few weeks ago I had some old friends over for dinner. It was the first dinner party I had in our new apartment. But more importantly, the women who were coming are amazing women who I re-connected with after many years and I really wanted the serve special food.  I knew some of my guests would bring dessert (at least those that were not bringing wine) so I just wanted to have something here that was healthy to nibble on so I wouldn’t go crazy eating all of the decadent desserts I expected would be on the table. Well, my friends did not disappoint. Yes, we had lots and lots of wine. But, between the Italian pastries and the cheesecake and the prettiest boxes of cookies I ever saw, I set a basket of these grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies. And, they were able to withstand the competition! They really are that good!

If you like chocolate chip cookies, but don’t want the grains, try my Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookie recipe.

grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies

Here are some of the reasons these cookies are awesome for you:

In Asian medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. Even if you are not on a dairy-free diet, almond milk is the way to go. This recipe uses almond meal instead of a grain-based flour.

Coconut strengthens the body, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding. It kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. It’s the coconut flakes that mimic the texture of oatmeal in these cookies, and there is also some coconut flour included.

Raisins help relieve constipation, can help bring down a fever, and can be good for you if you have anemia. Research has also shown them to be effective in helping to ward of cancer because they increase antioxidant levels in your body.

Cinnamon is one of the best herbs to warm the body. It’s great if you have a cold. If you are nauseous or have diarrhea, go for the cinnamon. It also gives you energy and helps with menstrual pain. Cinnamon is used in different forms in Chinese medicine: “gui zhi” is the cinnamon twig and “rou gui” is the cinnamon bark. Both are warming and are used for a variety of ailments. In the winter I add cinnamon to all sorts of foods. It helps with the common cold, swelling, various menstrual issues and some aches and pains. Be careful with it if you have a fever because it is so warming.

Goji berries are a Chinese herb (Gou Qi Zi). They are great for your blood. I prescribe them to some people with chronic pain in the legs and lower back. They are also good for men experiencing impotence and can be used to treat some eye problems. Women who are pregnant and people with intestinal issues should be careful not to eat too many gojis, but the amount in these cookies shoud be fine for anyone.

Honey is an amazing food. It is also a Chinese herb (Feng Mi). Raw honey is honey in its purest form; it has not been filtered, strained or heated above 115 degrees. This means when you eat it, the enzymes, anti-oxidants and nutrients haven’t been disturbed. I use raw honey in my tea, smoothies and in any recipe that calls for honey. Raw honey is solid and may need to be melted before you use it, but this is easy and only takes a minute or two. Honey helps with constipation, some coughs, and some stomach ulcers.

grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies

 

Grain-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
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Recipe type: dessert, grain-free, paleo
Cuisine: Recipe adapted from: Against All Grain
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2 dozen
These are oatmeal cookies with no oatmeal... but no one will ever know!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a mixer bowl, place the shortening and egg and mix until well combined.
  3. Add the honey and vanilla and mix until creamy.
  4. In a separate small bowl, combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, almond meal, coconut flour, baking soda, salt, and flax meal.
  5. Add these dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix for about one minute, scraping down the sides as necessary.
  6. Add the coconut, raisins, and goji berries and mix again until combined, about one minute.
  7. Using a tablespoon, place balls of dough onto 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. You should end up with about 2 dozen balls.
  8. Wet your palm and gently flatten each ball. I like my cookies kind of thick, so I didn't flatten mine too much.
  9. Bake for 6 minutes, then swap the tray positions so they will evenly cook. Then cook for 4 minutes and then swap again and cook for another 4 minutes. Then repeat for 3 minutes in each position.
  10. *This is how long my cookies took to bake; be aware and check the cookies often -- if they are thinner than mine were (see how thick mine are in the photos), they will cook faster. The original recipe calls for 12 minutes total cooking time.

 

grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

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This hot chocolate smoothie bowl is my favorite breakfast of all times! It’s deliciously healing and energizing.

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

This is my favorite breakfast of all times!!!

I know I say a lot of things are my “favorites” but I really mean it this time…

Many mornings I make a healthy superfoods packed shake for breakfast. I adjust the ingredients depending upon what my body needs on that particular day. I use herbs, superfoods, fruit, vegetables… you name it and I’ve blended it up for breakfast.

If you’re looking for a whole list of great breakfast ideas, there are some great  recipes here: 10 Breakfasts To Boost Your Energy.

Last week, on a cold windy morning, Steve wasn’t feeling great and asked me to make him a shake to make his sore throat and emerging cold feel better. Now, I’ve done this many times before so I started pulling out the cold and flu healing ingredients from the cabinets and refrigerator.

All of a sudden it was like a lightbulb went off and poof… the best idea ever!

It’ cold outside. He’s cold inside. He needs something warm and comforting. I’m going to make a hot shake! And I started putting the ingredients into a pot on the stove before I put them into the blender. When the new creation was done, I tasted it and it was incredibly delicious, but too thick for a shake in a glass. It ended up being a warm smoothie bowl, and it’s the best breakfast ever!

It tastes like hot chocolate in the consistency of a smooth and creamy chocolate mousse. Yum. And it’s got a kick of ginger and the sweetness of bananas. This Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl is truly amazing. You have to try this!

He felt better, but I made this yummy bowl 3 mornings in a row, and I rarely make the same thing more than once… but this is that good!

My favorite summer smoothie bowl is my Cherry Berry Smoothie Bowl, so if you want something cold try this one too!

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

Look at some of the amazing things in this healing smoothie bowl:

In Asian medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. Even if you are not on a dairy-free diet, almond milk is the way to go.  This recipe uses almond milk and almond butter.

Raw cacao is a superfood. It is packed with magnesium, iron, zinc and other minerals. Not only is it packed with health benefits, but it actually has properties that help the body absorb nutrients better and it’s filled with antioxidants. Cacao can actually be translated as “food of the gods”… Raw cacao can help lower blood pressure, promote healthy heart function, improve digestion, and may even help increase the libido.

Baobab is a superfood that is a powder made from an African fruit. This amazing superfood has tons of vitamin C to boost your immune system and it’s great for energy. Sometimes I put some in my water bottle to keep my hydrated throughout the day. It’s easy to put a scoop in anything for a pick-me-up.

Maca Root is one of the superfoods I take every day. It has many healthy benefits including increasing libido, helping menopausal symptoms, relieving menstrual cramps, regulating hormones, and increasing energy.

I add either collagen or grass-fed gelatin powder to my smoothie bowls. They are great for your bones, joints, sleep, skin, and hair. It’s a superfood and it’s a protein. (See the recipe below for the one I like and where to buy it.)

Research shows that pumpkin seeds may reduce blood sugar and increase bone density. And, because they are rich in iron, they are good if you are tired or have anemia. In Asian medicine, pumpkin seeds are sometimes used to get rid of intestinal parasites and to decrease inflammation in the body. I buy pumpkin seed protein in powder form because it’s a great easy way to add protein to my shakes and smoothies without adding any extra sugar. (See the recipe for where to buy it.)

Ginger is a Chinese herb (Gan Jiang) that warms the body. It’s especially good during cold weather and also during seasonal changes. So, when it’s winter or when winter is trying to turn into spring, and we (those of us on the east coast) get some of these cold, raw, damp days, ginger will make you feel better and will help boost your immune system. Old folklore shows that ginger was rubbed on scalps to stop baldness. And, in some circles, a ginger paste is still rubbed on arthritic joints to stop pain (don’t try this at home unless you are diagnosed with a cold-condition by an acupuncturist).

I love to add bananas to smoothie bowls; they give it a great natural sweetness and a nice thick texture. Bananas are good for your intestines (an old Asian remedy was to eat a banana every day to relieve hemorrhoids) and your lungs, and they even help relieve the effects of overindulging in alcohol.

Dates are rich in potassium, dietary fiber and tannins. Fiber is good for your gut and tannins help the body fight inflammation and infection. Dates are also rich in vitamin A and iron. The most amazing thing about dates is that they can be used to replace sugar in almost anything. I stopped using sweetened protein powders in my smoothies and now I use unsweetened ones but I add a few dates.

Chaga mushrooms are a longevity superfood. I use a chaga mushroom extract powder that makes it easy to add this immune-system-boosting mushroom to my smoothies. There’s a lot of research being done on the power of chaga right now and it’s possible ability to help fight cancer. It’s also good for your intestinal system and it can help calm your nerves. (See the recipe below for where to buy this amazing ingredient.)

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

 

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl
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Recipe type: Breakfast, Smoothie Bowl
Cuisine: American, superfoods
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2
This is a hot smoothie bowl! It tastes like hot chocolate, is filled with immune-boosting superfoods and has the texture of a creamy chocolate mousse. It's the best breakfast ever!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Put the almond milk, almond butter, cacao, baobab, chaga, maca, coconut oil, collagen, pumpkin protein, and ginger in a medium pot. Whisk to combine.
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 3 minutes.
  3. Put the banana and dates into a blender.
  4. Pour the liquid from the pot into the blender.
  5. Cover the blender tightly with a clean dish towel (using a towel instead of the blender cap will allow steam to escape so you don't burn yourself), and blend until creamy and smooth.
  6. Pour into 2 bowls.
  7. Top with chopped walnuts

 

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken

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Get the amazing healing benefits of apple cider vinegar in this delicious creamy apple cider vinegar chicken dish!

Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken

I’ve been making a lot of creamy recipes lately. Maybe it’s because it’s cold. Maybe it’s because I’ve been craving comfort food and creamy somehow means comfort to me. Or, maybe it’s for some other reason that I haven’t yet figured out. But, one thing’s for sure: these creamy recipes are delicious. And they are dairy-free. And they are simple to make. So, really, who cares why I want them…

Today is Friday and in New York we are bracing for the blizzard said to be coming our way tonight. There’s no fireplace here In the apartment we just moved to, so there’ll be no sitting around the fire with a blanket. More likely, we’ll be sitting around the TV binge-watching something while eating this Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken recipe.

Did you know that raw apple cider vinegar is one of the 10 Foods To Keep You Young Inside And Out?

I buy boneless organic chicken thighs in bulk. Costco sells them in packages and I keep tons of them in my freezer for occasions just like this one.

I used to much prefer the taste of chicken on the bone. But I have to say, boneless thighs are amazing. They are juicy and flavorful. And, they are so much easier to eat with a plate on your lap in front of the TV (I think House Of Cards will be our pick this weekend!)

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now (okay… always…), so let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a chicken recipe with your name on it…  So CLICK HERE  to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

And, here’s my new FREE ebook:

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Raw apple cider vinegar is something we use a lot of. It’s really kind of a miracle cure for so many issues in our bodies. Steve and I actually drink a big gulp of it every day (and he doesn’t even make as much of a pinched up face anymore when it goes down). Look below at the ingredients for a full explanation of this amazing liquid. So, if I can make a recipe using it, I’m a happy camper. I also love this Romaine Wedge Salad With Minced Vegetable Apple Cider Dressing.

Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken

Binge watching TV may not be so healthy, but here’s why this Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken is:

Raw apple cider vinegar is one of the most amazing ingredients available today. My husband and I really do take a big spoon of it every day along with our other supplements. It helps you maintain a healthy alkaline level in your body, detoxifies the liver, and is good for your heart. This vinegar helps intestinal function, much the way probiotics do. It also acts as an antacid and can help break down mucous in the body. In this recipe the taste is amazing, and, I’m here to tell you that even when taking it straight from the spoon, it’s not so bad…

Chicken is something I always buy organic. Organic chicken is a great, healthy protein to give you energy, lessen the pain of some types of arthritis, and boost your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery, childbirth, or illness. Chicken is good for nourishing the blood and it’s a healthy source of protein and vitamin B6.

The creaminess of this dish comes from a can of coconut milk. In Asian medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes.

Bone broth is filled with bone marrow and essential fatty acids — these things promote optimal brain health. It also contains glycine, which is an amino acid that helps with memory, concentration, stress, and focus.  You can make your own bone broth, but you don’t have to anymore. Bone broth is now available in tons of markets. (See the recipe below for the awesome ready-made bone broth I used in this soup recipe.) It’s sold in boxes just like chicken or vegetable broth. The glucosamine in bone broth can reduce inflammation and strengthen the bones. It’s also great for your skin, hair, and nails. This is a great thing to use for a quick soup base, or to just sip on during the day. Sometimes I’ll have a hot cup of bone broth first thing in the morning for a quick healing pick me up.

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. Since it’s cold and flu season now, let me tell you again how amazing onions are. Several times lately I have recommended that patients with bronchitis or severe colds put sliced raw onions in their socks before bedtime. The onion actually draws the toxins out of the body and in the morning many people feel much better. Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Raw Chinese herbs are an amazing tool in the kitchen. If you have access to them, you can add them to tons of things simmering on your stove and let them infuse their magic into your sauces. Here, I used Dang Shen. To the novice, this herb looks like ordinary thick twigs. To me, they are like gold. I added these herbs for energy; to raise my qi. If you are feeling fatigued, I highly recommend looking into this herb.

Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken

If you make this Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken recipe, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken
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Recipe type: Main Dish, Chicken
Cuisine: recipe inspired by:healingfamilyeats.com
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This one-pot chicken recipe is amazing. The creamy sauce is made with coconut milk and the apple cider vinegar gives it a delicious flavor and will help keep you healthy during cold and flu season.
Ingredients
  • 1-1/3 lb boneless chicken thighs (about 7 thighs)
  • 1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 4 large garlic cloves, smashed
  • ⅔ cup raw apple cider vinegar (I use this one)
  • 1 cup chicken bone broth (This is a great organic bone broth)
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 can full-fat coconut milk (use the thick cream on the top and save the liquid for another use) (I buy these cans by the case)
  • 2 sticks of Dang Shen (an optional raw Chinese herb)
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
  3. Add the chicken and brown on both sides.
  4. Remove the cooked chicken to a plate and add the onions and garlic to the pan. Stir for 1-minute.
  5. Pour in the vinegar and stir, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
  6. Pour in the broth.
  7. Put the chicken back into the pan and add the thyme sprigs and raw Chinese herbs if using them.
  8. Cover and simmer 20-minutes, or until it's cooked through (flipping the chicken over halfway through).
  9. Remove the chicken from the pan and pour the coconut cream into the pan. Whisk until combined well and let simmer about 5 minutes, or until the sauce starts to thicken a bit.
  10. Discard the thyme sprigs and serve.
  11. Enjoy!

 

Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken

Creamy Broccoli And Mushroom Casserole

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This creamy broccoli and mushroom casserole is vegan!

Creamy Broccoli And Mushroom Casserole

I am not vegan, but I have to say that I love vegan food. I stopped eating cheese a million years ago when i realized how much better I felt without it, but it wasn’t until recent years — when I learned how to make foods taste cheesy and creamy without real cheese and cream — that I became a lover of all things vegan. I’m not a huge fan of meat substitutes, but give me a vegan creamy, cheesy casserole or some non-dairy ice cream and I’m in foodie heaven.

This creamy broccoli and mushroom casserole makes me happy. It’s comforting and warming and smooth and creamy and it’s just plain delicious.

I make it whenever I’m looking for a simple healthy side dish, especially in the cold winter months.

And, in my house, I’m embarrassed to say that even though everyone loves it, but I can’t call it vegan. They scarf it down but for some reason my unenlightened crew thinks they don’t like vegan food…

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now (okay… always…), so let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a vegan recipe with your name on it…  So CLICK HERE  to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

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I love to serve this recipe with my favorite simple roast chicken or with this easy Slow Cooker Whole Chicken.

creamy broccoli and mushroom casserole

Here’s some great reasons to make this recipe:

Broccoli has a lot of potassium and is great for brain function; it also has magnesium and calcium to help regulate blood pressure. It’s also good to clear your body of excess heat and it actually can help your vision too.

I love mushrooms. In Chinese medicine, mushrooms ARE medicine. They are herbs. They are one of the most healing foods around. However, I was taught to stay away from the plain white button shrooms that are so readily available. Recently, however, I learned that I was doing myself a disservice by avoiding these mushrooms. It turns out, if you make sure they are organic, there are lots of benefits in button mushrooms! They are detoxifying, can help get rid of phlegm, ease diarrhea, are good for circulation, and new research has shown that if you eat them often enough, they can reduce cancer cells in the body.

Shiitakes are probably the variety of mushroom that I use most. I love the way they taste and they help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. These shrooms also promote healing and have been found to fight tumors. In Asia, shiitake mushrooms are often fed to a patient who has just had surgery to help the healing process. I also added portabella mushrooms here. They too are good for you, and they taste great!

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. Several times lately I have recommended that patients with bronchitis or severe colds put sliced raw onions in their socks before bedtime. The onion actually draws the toxins out of the body and in the morning many people feel much better. Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Hemp seeds are a superfood. They are high in protein, easily digestible, and contain a full complement of amino acids. They contain disease-fighting phytonutrients that are good for your blood, immune system, tissues and skin. Hemp contains a specific fatty acid that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also helps balance hormones, making it a great choice to fight the symptoms of PMS. This super seed is also good for your liver and your brain.

In Asian medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes.

creamy broccoli and mushroom casserole

If you make this Broccoli And Mushroom Casserole recipe, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Creamy Broccoli And Mushroom Casserole
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Recipe type: vegetables, side dish, casserole
Cuisine: vegan
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This creamy vegan casserole is so comforting and warming you will want to serve it with everything. Broccoli and mushrooms cook together in a velvety vegan cream sauce to make it the perfect side dish.
Ingredients
  • Florets from 2 heads of broccoli
  • 1 Tbs plus 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
  • sea salt
  • 4 oz sliced shiitake mushroom caps
  • 10 oz sliced white button mushrooms
  • ¼ cup hemp seeds
  • ¼ tsp dried hot red pepper flakes
  • 1 can of full-fat coconut milk (use all of the solid cream on the top and ¼ cup of the liquid
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Convection setting or 400 degrees regular bake setting.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  3. Add the broccoli to the water for 1 minute. Drain.
  4. Heat 1 Tbs of the olive oil in a medium skillet. Add the onions and saute them, over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until they begin to caramelize, about 25 minutes.
  5. In a large bowl, combine the blanched broccoli, all of the mushrooms, the caramelized onion, hemp seeds, and hot red pepper flakes.
  6. Grease a large baking dish with about 2-tsp olive oil.
  7. Pour the broccoli mixture into the baking dish.
  8. Stir the coconut cream together with ¼ cup of the coconut liquid and pour this mixture evenly over the broccoli mixture.
  9. Bake about 15 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Pin it here!
Creamy Broccoli And Mushroom Casserole

Hot And Sour Soup

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Once you make this homemade hot and sour soup, you won’t want take-out again!

Hot And Sour Soup-0852

It’s freezing here in New York. I’m not complaining, because the winter has been so mild, but the mild weather did stop me from making as many pots of hot soup as I usually do. This hot and sour soup made me realize how much I miss having a big pot of healing warming soup in the fridge at all times!

When I was a kid I remember getting hot and sour soup from the Chinese restaurant and we used to top it with those deliciously fried Chinese crispy noodles… does anyone else remember this? I’m so out of the take-out food loop now that I don’t even know if you still get those little waxy bags of crunchy noodles… But, this soup recipe is so good that it doesn’t need the noodles. Really. I did, however, put little dots of sriracha in mine at the end because it looks pretty and made it extra awesome.

The beauty of hot and sour soup is that you can make it as spicy or as mild as you like. Did you know that the spice comes from black pepper? I remember being surprised at that the first time I made it… but this makes it even easier to prepare and to shop for.  You can customize it with whatever mushrooms you like (I rehydrated some dried shiitakes) and whatever seaweed you like (if any).  I added pork to this pot, but feel free to use chicken or if you are vegan, use tofu.

So, this week we kept this pot of comforting, warming, spicy soup in a big pot in the fridge for 4 days. We ate a lot of it. Like, an embarrassing amount. But it’s so good. And it’s so light and healthy. And it just makes you feel good. And, I also remembered another thing that happens here when there’s a pot of soup in the fridge all week. Today I went to take the pot out, got my bowl and spoon ready, opened the lid, and saw about 1/4 cup of soup left in the bottom of the pot. It’s like leaving one sheet of toilet tissue in the bathroom… ugh!!!! So disappointing, but so typical!

If you want to jump on the soup bandwagon, you should definitely also make a pot of my Butternut Squash And Apple Soup.

Hot And Sour Soup (rehydrated shiitakes)-0831

Here’s some of the great things in this soup:

I love mushrooms. In Chinese medicine, mushrooms ARE medicine. They are herbs. They are one of the most healing foods around. Shiitake mushrooms are probably the variety of mushroom that I use most. I love the way they taste and they help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. These shrooms also promote healing and have been found to fight tumors. In Asia, shiitake mushrooms are often fed to a patient who has just had surgery to help the healing process.

I like to use some type of seaweed in my hot and sour soup. I used nori in this pot because it’s what I had on hand, but feel free to use whatever type you like. Seaweed is good for your thyroid gland and your lymphatic system. If you have swelling in your body or you are retaining water, seaweed is great because it acts as a diuretic. In the olden days, seaweed was fed to people to get rid of goiters and tuberculosis.

Bamboo shoots actually make you feel better if you have overeaten and are feeling full and bloated or if you have diarrhea. And, if you have a hangover, reach for the bamboo shoots because they will help you feel better faster. This vegetable can also act as a diuretic, so if you have edema, this would be good for you.

Black pepper is a Chinese herb (Hu Jiao). It helps relieve vomiting and food poisoning.

Pork strengthens the digestive system, helps with constipation, and can moisten a dry cough and other dryness in the body. It’s also good to strengthen your qi and give you energy.

Hot And Sour Soup

Hot And Sour Soup
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Recipe type: soup
Cuisine: Chinese
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Recipe adapted fromthekitchn.com. This is better than take-out. It's delicious, healthy, and so incredibly warming!
Ingredients
  • 1 oz dried shiitake mushrooms, rehydrated in a bowl of hot water for about 20 minutes (be sure to save the soaking liquid to add to the soup)
  • 1 qt chicken broth
  • 1 Tbs liquid aminos (or soy sauce) (you can buy aminos here)
  • ⅓ lb pork cutlet, sliced into thin strips (or use tofu for a vegan version)
  • 5 oz can sliced bamboo shoots, drained
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ¼ tsp (or more to taste) ground black pepper
  • 7 Tbs white vinegar
  • 3 Tbs cornstarch whisked together with 4 Tbs water
  • 2 Tbs nori krinkles (or substitute another type of seaweed) (you can get them here)
  • 1 beaten egg
  • Optional toppings: extra nori, drizzle of sriracha
Instructions
  1. Soak the mushrooms in a small bowl of water. Drain them and reserve the soaking liquid. Slice the shrooms.
  2. In a large soup pot, heat the chicken broth, aminos, and sea salt.
  3. When it comes to a boil, add the mushroom soaking liquid, pork strips, nori, and bamboo shoots.
  4. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover for 5 minutes.
  5. Add the vinegar and black pepper.
  6. Bring to a full boil, and stir in the cornstarch mixture. Continue stirring until the soup begins to thicken, about 5 minutes.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in the egg -- stir continuously until it looks like egg drop soup.
  8. Ladle into bowls and top with additional nori and sriracha if desired.
  9. Enjoy!

Pork Chili With Bok Choy

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This pork chili with bok choy has a great traditional chili taste will some awesome added extra healing ingredients!

pork chili with bok choy

Chili is awesome. It’s warming and delicious and there are about a bazillion different ways to make it. Yes, a bazillion.

I love to open the fridge and put whatever catches my eye into my chili pot.

Right now we are in the process of moving, so sometimes it’s challenging to cook dinner, because half of my things are in the new place and half are in the old place. Sometimes when I start cooking dinner, I forget what’s where and I end up using kitchen tools that really don’t work for the job I need. But chili makes it easy… one pot… no special tools.

There are white chilis and red chilis and hot ones and mild ones. There are meaty versions and veggie versions. There are ones that are sweet and ones that are tangy. OK, now my mouth is watering and my mind is already coming up with another pot I have to make. Soon.

And, it just so happens to be football season now. There’s no better tradition than a big pot of chili for the upcoming playoffs and Superbowl…

When I created this chili I looked in my crisper drawer and saw a few heads of beautiful fresh bok choy. Yes, I know, bok choy is not a traditional chili ingredient, but I figured what the heck, let’s try it.  And the combination of bok choy with pork is just perfect. I’m telling you, this amazing veg is perfect in this meaty chili. I decided not to put any beans in this pot so the bok choy would stand out more, but feel free to add beans if you’re in that kind of mood.  If you’re in the mood to try another really unique but amazing chili, try my Sweet Potato Chili With Goji Berries next time.

pork chili with bok choy

I bet you didn’t know chili could be so healthy, but here are the stats for this one:

Pork strengthens the digestive system, helps with constipation, and can moisten a dry cough and other dryness in the body. It’s also good to strengthen your qi and give you energy.

In Eastern medicine, bok choy is used to quench thirst, aid digestion, prevent constipation and treat diabetes. It is rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, folate and fiber. And there are only 20 calories in one cup of Bok Choy. So, it’s good for you, it’s easy to prepare, and it tastes good.

Bone broth is filled with bone marrow and essential fatty acids — these things promote optimal brain health. It also contains glycine, which is an amino acid that helps with memory, concentration, stress, and focus.  You can make your own bone broth, but you don’t have to anymore. Bone broth is now available in tons of markets. (See the recipe below for the awesome ready-made bone broth I used in this soup recipe.) It’s sold in boxes just like chicken or vegetable broth. The glucosamine in bone broth can reduce inflammation and strengthen the bones. It’s also great for your skin, hair, and nails. This is a great thing to use for a quick soup base, or to just sip on during the day. Sometimes I’ll have a hot cup of bone broth first thing in the morning for a quick healing pick me up.

Hot peppers contain more vitamin C than any other vegetable and they are good at fighting off the common cold. So, if you like spice, as I do, use a generous amount of whatever hot peppers you like. And feel free to add more chili powders or spicier ones if you’re a spice-a-holic. The main component of hot peppers is capsaicin. Capsaicin actually works with your body and mind to make you feel happy. It’s also good for reducing swelling and can relieve arthritic joint pain. If you have high blood pressure, check with your doctor before eating too many hot peppers because they can actually raise the blood pressure in some people.

Turmeric is actually a Chinese herb (Jiang Huang). It is great for reducing inflammation throughout the body. If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, try turmeric. It can help relieve menstrual pain and some other abdominal pains but, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor before you eat too much turmeric.

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

Bell peppers help with indigestion. If you are feeling bloated and full from over-eating a lot lately, consuming bell peppers will help reduce this feeling. They are also good for blood circulation and research has shown that they are good for people with a low appetite or anorexia. It used to be common in China to use green pepper tea to soothe indigestion.

I also added some raw Chinese Herbs to the pot. My favorite thing about cooking things like soups, stews and chilis, is that it’s a great vehicle for my Chinese herbs because they get lots of time to infuse their healing capabilities into my food. I added Huang Qi (Astragalus) and Shan Yao (Chinese Yam) for energy.

pork chili with bok choy

Pork Chili With Bok Choy
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Recipe type: chili
Cuisine: mexican, american
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
This is a great bowl of healthy chili. It's spicy and refreshing at the same time. The bok choy is an amazing addition! Touchdown!
Ingredients
  • 2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 lb ground pork
  • 1 med onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 5 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 2-inch piece of a hot pepper, minced (I used an Anaheim chili)
  • 3 Tbs chili powder
  • 1 Tbs cumin
  • ½ tsp chipotle chili powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 28-oz can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup chicken bone broth (This is a good organic one)
  • 2 medium heads of bok choy, sliced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • raw Chinese herbs (I used Shan Yao and Huang Qi) (optional)
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the pork and saute until most of the pink color is gone.
  3. Stir in the onion, bell pepper, garlic, hot pepper, salt and pepper to taste, chili powders, cumin, and turmeric. Stir until the meat is coated with the spices and continue cooking and stirring for about 5 minutes.
  4. Pour in the can of tomatoes and the chicken broth. Add raw Chinese herbs if using. Bring to a boil. Add the bok choy, cover the pot, and cook 20 minutes. Then, uncover and cook an additional 20 to 30 minutes, or until the chili is the consistency you like.
  5. Ladle into bowls and top with avocado.
  6. Enjoy!

Cherry Berry Smoothie Bowl

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This cherry berry smoothie bowl is delicious, healing, and has everything your body needs to stay healthy!

Cherry Berry Smoothie Bowl

I remember the first time I had a smoothie bowl. I had been seeing them pop up in photos all over the internet and I thought they were the most beautiful things. Yeah, I’m a bit of a freak that way — I think food photos are gorgeous the way other people think pictures of amazing sunsets are the best…

Then, I went to visit my daughter at college, and I went to a juice bar (I can find a juice bar in any city) and lo and behold they had a whole smoothie bowl menu. I ordered one, ate it, and then went back every morning for another one.

Smoothie bowls are the perfect way to start your day.

I still think these bowls are awesome. I put all of my greens and superfoods in them and I top them with such great healthy toppings. There are just so many options!! I get excited just thinking about it!

This Cherry Berry Smoothie Bowl was one I made for my husband. He’s a happy camper when he gets a great smoothie bowl for breakfast. As with all smoothie bowl recipes, feel free to add whatever ingredients you like and top it with things that make you smile.

I know the smoothie bowl craze is bound to end sometime, but not in my house! And, if you want a simple but great smoothie of a different type, try my Banana Chai Smoothie.

Cherry Berry Smoothie Bowl (close)-0558

Here’s some of what I put in my bowl:

Cherries are one of the best foods to combat many types of arthritis and joint pain. Also, because cherries help improve circulation, they can be helpful for post-stroke patients. In Chinese medicine, we also believe that cherries help to maintain the body’s “essence” or life-force. I always keep a bottle of organic black cherry juice in the fridge and I often drink a few ounces before bedtime or put a little in my smoothies. I also keep bags of frozen cherries in the freezer. And when fresh cherries are in season, you can always find a big bowl in my kitchen.

I love to add bananas to smoothie bowls; they give it a great natural sweetness and a nice thick texture. Bananas are good for your intestines (an old Asian remedy was to eat a banana every day to relieve hemorrhoids) and your lungs, and they even help relieve the effects of overindulging in alcohol.

Most people think of Popeye (I just realized I’m really dating myself with this reference!) and iron when they think of spinach. It is true that spinach contains iron, but it’s this vegetable’s lesser-known qualities that really hold my admiration. Spinach contains a substance that helps eliminate prostate cancer. It’s also great for your bones and also for memory loss. Diabetic patients may find that eating spinach helps combat excessive thirst and can even be good for night blindness. Spinach can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb calcium, so calcium-rich foods should be avoided when eating this leafy green.

In Asian medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation.

Figs are good for anemia, constipation, indigestion and fever. They are also good at fighting fatigue and boosting memory retention.

Lucuma powder is made from a South American tropical fruit. It’s sweet and contains a good amount of calcium, magnesium and potassium. It also has a great anti-inflammatory effect and can improve the condition of your skin. If you don’t have access to lucuma, you can use coconut sugar or add any sweetener that makes you happy, or just add more figs or a few pitted dates.

I add grass-fed gelatin powder to my smoothie bowls. Gelatin is great for your bones, joints, sleep, skin, and hair. It’s a superfood and it’s a protein. (See the recipe below for the one I like and where to buy it.)

Cherry Berry Smoothie Bowl

Cherry Berry Smoothie Bowl
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Recipe type: Breakfast, Smoothie Bowl
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 1
This smoothie bowl is deliciously refreshing and will energize you for the day; it's an awesome breakfast!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Put cherries, cranberries, banana, almonds, figs, lucuma, and gelatin in a blender. Whiz it up until it's smooth.
  2. Pour into a bowl.
  3. Arrange toppings so it makes you happy.
  4. Enjoy!

Spicy Crispy Chicken

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Spicy crispy chicken is a staple in my house. It’s one of those recipes that pleases everyone!

Crispy Spicy Chicken

We are doing a detox in my house. After a full month of parties, vacations, and celebrations, we are actually looking forward to it! It’s funny, when I just wrote that sentence I realized that while we did celebrate more than usual this month, really a lot of our overeating  was done at home when not celebrating… ugh! It’s time to stop!!!!

But, in our house, a detox doesn’t mean green juices all day long (although I do love my green juice…). For the month of January, we are eliminating all grains, sweeteners, beans, and a long list of other things our bodies feel better without.

Nobody really knows they are detoxing because recipes like this spicy crispy chicken are on our eating plan.  And for the rest of this month, you will see plenty of other great recipes that fit into our elimination diet.

Just look at this picture — can you believe this is a healthy recipe that would fit into an elimination diet? Well, it is… and it tastes even better than it looks!  And, if you are looking for a simple salad to go perfectly with this dish, try my Romaine Wedge Salad.

This chicken is really crispy (my son thought it was fried) and you can adjust the spiciness to your particular taste. For my son, I dipped the chicken fully into the amazing spicy/sweet sauce and really rolled it around so it was extra spicy. For the rest of us, I drizzled it on top or left it on the side for awesome dipping.

Crispy Spicy Chicken (sauce bowl in hand)

Let’s get cooking and get back to feeling healthier:

Chicken is something I always buy organic. Organic chicken is a great, healthy protein to give you energy, lessen the pain of some types of arthritis, and boost your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery, childbirth, or illness. Chicken is good for nourishing the blood and it’s a healthy source of protein and vitamin B6.

Hot peppers contain more vitamin C than any other vegetable and they are good at fighting off the common cold. Whenever I have a cold I eat lots of hot sauce. So, if you like spice, as I do, use a generous amount of whatever hot sauce you like. Read the ingredients on the label (as with any pre-made food) to make sure it meets your dietary requirements — there are so many hot sauces, wing sauces, and barbecue sauces out there that are gluten-free, paleo, etc. The main component of hot peppers is capsaicin. Capsaicin actually works with your body and mind to make you feel happy. It’s also good for reducing swelling and can relieve arthritic joint pain. If you have high blood pressure, check with your doctor before eating too many hot peppers because they can actually raise the blood pressure in some people.

Tapioca is a starch that comes from the cassava plant. It’s not really a flour in the traditional sense; it’s grain and gluten free. It’s good for your circulation and your digestion. Oftentimes I will make recipes with tapioca flour — it seems to crisp things up well — it certainly works well on this chicken.

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. Sometimes it can even be used topically on skin disorders. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc…. When I have a cold I will actually make a garlic concoction in my blender and drink it — it works wonders!

Strawberries are good for your heart and they are great at reducing plaque in your mouth. They will make you feel better if you have an annoying dry cough or if you feel bloated from eating too much…

If you know me, you know I almost always add raw Chinese herbs to my sauces while they are cooking. This time I added some Bai Zhu. Bai Zhu can be good if you are feeling run down and bloated (and I am!).

Spicy Crispy Chicken

Spicy Crispy Chicken
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Recipe type: Entree, Chicken, Dinner, Poultry
Cuisine: inspired by: Host The Toast
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This chicken is so crispy that it tastes fried -- but it's not. The spicy sauce has a sweetness from strawberries -- this is amazing and simple and healthy!
Ingredients
  • 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 cup tapioca flour (you can buy it here)
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Raw Chinese herbs (optional) (I used Bai Zhu)
  • For sauce:
  • ½ cup hot sauce or Buffalo wing sauce (these are my favorite hot sauces)
  • 3 tsp minced garlic
  • ¼ cup vegetable or chicken broth
  • ½ cup strawberry preserves (I use this one)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Convection setting, or 425 regular bake setting.
  2. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a rack on top of the foil.
  3. In a pie plate or shallow bowl, mix together the tapioca flour, a generous amount of salt and pepper, smoked paprika, turmeric, and cayenne. Stir until mixed.
  4. Pour the oil into a second dish.
  5. Dip each piece of chicken into the oil and flip over until coated, then dip into the flour mixture.
  6. Place the pieces as they are dredged onto the rack.
  7. Bake the chicken until it's crispy and cooked through. Mine took 35 minutes on the Convection setting.
  8. Meanwhile, make the sauce by stirring the ingredients in a small pot and then letting it simmer for about 20 minutes.
  9. Remove the chicken from the oven and either coat in the sauce or pass the sauce on the side. Enjoy!

Spicy Crispy Chicken