COOKING CORNER

By Nanette Wiser

Eat local, cook global. Shopping your local markets and Florida farmers and eating in season is a huge first step to boosting your immunity and promoting longevity. We love Grace O’s “Anti-Aging Dishes from Around The World,” with 250 superfood snacks and healthy meals. The creator of FoodTrients®, she has collected easy-to-make dishes with everyday ingredients, and each recipe has a symbol for its benefits including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, disease prevention, gut health, mind boosters, strength and more.  The book is available on Amazon. 

The book introduces the benefits of global ingredients from Africa, North America, South America, Australia/New Zealand, Caribbean Islands, China (Yin & Yang food balances), France, Great Britain, Greece, India, Korea, Mexico, Scandinavia, Spain, and the Middle East. I learned about the medicinal properties of hibiscus, lavender and mint from France, hearty warming spices such as horseradish, black pepper and nutmeg from Great Britain and the benefits of berbere spice mix and Moroccan ras el hanout

Stews, soups, vegetables, plant-based and non-dairy foods star in this cookbook, from tofu to pickled ginger and exotic fruits and vegetables that you can shop in Oriental and Latin markets or Whole Foods and Fresh Market. She lists 50 foods that can help you live longer (almonds, apples, avocados, beets, black beans, blueberries, chia seeds, cruciferous veggies, cranberries, lentils, garlic, quinoa, mushrooms, salmon, olives, and–yay–red wine).  The cookbook demystifies the best oils for every dish and flours from amaranth to chickpea, a great source of protein. The importance of fermented foods as probiotics and how to cook with them changed my culinary game as did the section on how sea salts can help with digestion and bone strength and vascular health. 

I decided to make chickpea pasta, mixed with spiralized and sauteed zucchini and the book’s pesto sauce. It was sensational. You can use this sauce as I did, or on grilled chicken or roasted fish. It’s also delicious mixed in with softened, unsalted Kerry Gold butter. This recipe is ketogenic, gluten-free, low-carb and vegan.

AFGHANI PISTACHIO PESTO  In a small bowl, toss the dry ingredients and mix in the oil. You can flash blend if you like. Serve immediately.

  • ¼ cup freshly chopped salted pistachio nuts
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh mint leaves
  • ½ tsp minced garlic
  • 1 Tb fresh lime zest
  • ¼ tsp Himalayan sea salt
  • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tb olive oil

Find more delicious recipes at https://www.foodtrients.com.

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