Winter is upon us -- brrrr! Cold weather coupled with the busy holiday season can be taxing on our immune system, which can cause us to get sick, leaving us not so jolly. Although there are many great strategies and power foods to strengthen your immune system, today we will focus on my top three, specifically designed to keep you healthy during the often hectic holiday season. 1. Lather Up! Washing your hands is crucial for preventing illness -- get in the habit before leaving a public ...
From My Table to Yours
Happy Thanksgiving! Last week was the kickoff for my new cooking series "Denise's Table." We had a lovely evening of holiday dishes, party tips and great company. This week's recipe, Millet with Cranberries, Chestnuts and Brussels Sprouts, was featured at Denise's Table -- and will be on my Thanksgiving table, as well! Chef Karina has a way with millet, that ancient grain that has all of the wonderful nutritional properties of quinoa but not the cost. The dish also features Brussels ...
Exotic Coconut Pumpkin Soup
Thanksgiving is upon us and that means it's pumpkin-time. Pumpkin is everywhere - lattes, pies, muffins! Although it is a healthy vegetable, giving us vitamin A and C, it is usually paired with sugar and fat, which completely counter all of its goodness! Instead of the traditional pumpkin pie, I was looking for a different way of bringing our good friend the pumpkin to my Thanksgiving table that highlighted all of its nutritional goodness. Did you realize that a big ol’ slice of Pumpkin pie a ...
How To Enjoy A Gluten-Free Thanksgiving
Amy has some great ideas this week for making a gluten-free Thanksgiving stress-free and delicious, too. Enjoy! -- Denise If you love food – and who doesn’t? – then Thanksgiving is a hard holiday to beat. But when you need to be gluten-free, that same holiday becomes challenging. Here are some tips for taking the stress out and putting the fun back in. Eating at someone else’s home? Interview your host: find out what they are serving and how they cook. Little things can make the ...
Make Thanksgiving Sides The Main Attraction
Ah, Thanksgiving - my favorite holiday. Why? Because it’s all about food, of course! What brings me the most joy is getting people around a table and sharing a meal that celebrates the goodness that Mother Nature has to offer. I am particularly excited this year because I have the pleasure of hosting and will be cooking in my newly remodeled kitchen! Even though Thanksgiving is a traditional meal, with the turkey, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes, remember that you can make it your own. ...
Preparing for a Gluten-Free Holiday Season
Halloween signals the end of Breast Cancer Awareness month and the start of the winter holiday season for young and old. For those needing to live gluten-free, this can be an especially challenging time of year. Office parties, open houses and family events are all complicated enough without having to make sure your food is safe, too. Don’t panic! We’ve got some great tips for getting ready now, so you can enjoy the parties & holidays later! Be prepared! A little planning goes a long ...
More Super Stars for Breast Health!
I’m back with another recipe packed full of nutrients for breast health -- this time it has raw veggies, which are cancer choking super stars. Why do I call raw veggies cancer choking? Because we know that oxygen and a healthy PH are cancers’ enemies. When our bodies are too acidic from eating sugar, dairy, animal protein, or refined foods, we set the stage for a slew of ailments, ranging from chronic degenerative diseases to fatigued body to cancer. What we know, thanks to Nobel-prize winning ...
Spiced Lentils with Grilled Fish
Karina is here with a delicious and elegant way to celebrate good breast health. I'll be back next week. Enjoy! -- Denise This one is for the ladies; October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and in support of that I have the perfect recipe that is full of ingredients that help boost the immune system, aid the body in absorbing nutrients, have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and have lots of omegas, vitamins and minerals. This is a light dish, very low in fat and warming; a perfect fall ...
If I had breast cancer, I would eat…
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, and as I listen to the statistics of women diagnosed, I ponder the reality that it could happen to me. I can’t help but wonder, what would I do? What power foods would I eat to strengthen my immune system? What I do know is that we have incredible power over our health. Even if there are genetic factors involved, our lifestyle can have an effect on whether or not those genes are expressed. That being said, cancer is a stinker and can appear in even the ...
But You Don’t Look Sick! Living with Celiac Disease
Have you heard the one about the child with a tummy ache? “He wasn’t really sick, he was just nervous.” Or the one about the freshly-baked cookie: “one won’t hurt you!” Having celiac disease or other gastrointestinal disorders often means looking fine while feeling sick. Unlike when you have the flu or hives, where you “look as bad as you feel,” when you have celiac disease and have been “glutened,” you may look outwardly fine while feeling terrible inside. For my family members with ...