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 ...
Dinosaur BBQ’s Mojito Chicken
My neighbor Ben turned me onto this recipe. We are both fans of the Dinosaur BBQ in upstate New York – a favorite hang of bikers, too! If you are ever in Syracuse or Rochester, NY – check it out. I love it, especially on the weekend when having guests. It’s one of those dishes that you can get started in the morning, let it marinate all day, and just pop in the oven when the guests arrive. You don’t even have to hang out by the grill! The chicken is a crowd pleaser because it is so ...
Karina’s Aussie BBQ, Part Two
I’m back! Hope you had fun kicking off the Memorial Day weekend with a good ole BBQ. Did you try the beet dip on your DIY Burger? Like I promised last week, here is my classic meat marinade and some simple healthy side dishes to go with any BBQ: a classic slaw with a low-fat twist, a tangy potato salad and an asparagus-avocado-tomato salad. To keep things simple, I have created a basic dressing for all three. Making your own dressing is the way to go -- you can keep the calories down and ...
Healthy Outdoor Cooking
Hello Energized Bodies! Last week, I gave you some tips on how to increase your calorie burn. Did you try the interval work out? Will you stick with it? You have only 5 more weeks to go :) Today, I am very excited to introduce Karina Hines, the newest member of the Energized Body Team. Karina is an Australian-born gourmet chef. She is a perfect fit for The Energized Body because of her passion for light, healthy, innovative dishes using the freshest ingredients available. ...
Springtime Recipes for Holy Week
As a Catholic, I am partaking in a peaceful week of reflection, penance and fasting as we prepare for Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. The traditional name given to this week is Holy Week. It starts with Palm Sunday, followed by Holy Thursday, and Good Friday. I love the services and the quiet reflective quality that this week brings. Followed by a joyous Easter celebration with family and friends. Here are some simple meals so you, too, can have a little easier week, regardless if you ...