COBB SALAD PANINI

INGREDIENTS

1 head romaine lettuce
2 tomatoes, seeded
1 avocado
1/2 pound turkey breast
8 slices bacon, cooked
1/2 pound bleu cheese
4 hard cooked eggs, shelled and sliced
1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves
1 lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 ciabatta rolls or a baguette

DIRECTIONS

Chop the lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, turkey, bacon, cheese, and eggs into 1/2-inch pieces and put them into a large bowl. Add the parsley, lemon juice, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and season with salt and pepper; mix well to coat all the ingredients.

Slice the rolls horizontally. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil on each of the cut sides. On the 4 bottoms place about 1/2 cup of the chopped salad and spread it out evenly. Put the tops on and gently press each sandwich to flatten it slightly; drizzle lightly with olive oil.

Place each sandwich on a preheated panini press and grill until the bread is toasted and the cheese begins to melt, about 5 minutes. Alternately, preheat a dry cast iron or non-stick pan. Place the sandwich in the pan and weight it down with another pan or a clean brick wrapped in foil. Grill 5 minutes, turn the sandwich over, re-weight it, and grill for another 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Article Credit: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/

PASTA WITH WINTER SQUASH AND TOMATOES

INGREDIENTS

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup sliced shallots

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste

2 cups chopped tomatoes

1 1/2 to 2 pounds peeled, cubed or shredded butternut or other winter squash, about 5 cups

8 ounces ziti or penne cut pasta

Freshly chopped parsley or Parmesan, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Put olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, and pepper flakes and cook for about 1 minute; add tomatoes and squash, and cook with some salt and pepper.

When squash is tender, about 10 minutes for shreds, 15 or so for small cubes, cook the pasta until it is tender. Combine the sauceand pasta, and serve, garnished with parsley or Parmesan.

Serves: 4 (does not include Parmesan/parsley garnish)

Article Credit: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/

HEART HEALTHY BREAKFAST IDEAS

You already know that there is no better way to start your day than with a healthy breakfast. Unfortunately, many people skip breakfast because they are trying to lose weight or are in a rush in the morning. Eating a nutritious breakfast actually helps kick start your metabolism and promote satiety in the morning, which is helpful strategy for weight control. In addition, eating a high-fiber breakfast can also play a role in helping people lower their cholesterol.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people consume about 25-30 grams of fiber each day from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Starting your day with a high fiber, heart healthy breakfast can go a long way toward meeting these recommendations. In addition, foods with soluble fiber can, such as oatmeal, help lower cholesterol levels as part of diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Listed below are some delicious and nutritious breakfast options available that are not only good for your heart, but are also easy to prepare when you are in a hurry.

• Add fresh fruit, such as chopped apples, sliced bananas, or whole berries to a bowl of Quaker Instant Oatmeal Take Heart.
• Spread fat free cream cheese and fresh fruit preserves or reduced fat peanut butter and slices of banana on a whole grain bagel.
• Serve whole-wheat pancakes or waffles topped with fresh fruit preserves. For an extra fiber boost, try mixing finely chopped apples or berries to the pancake batter before cooking.
• Top nonfat yogurt with your favorite fresh berries, and crunchy homemade granola.
• Stuff a whole-wheat pita pocket with fat free cottage cheese and slices of tomato or pineapple.
• Make a healthier omelet by using a cholesterol-free egg substitute instead of eggs and filling it with chopped onion, peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, and fat free cheese and topped with salsa. You can also add a couple slices of whole-wheat toast on the side for some extra fiber.
• When choosing a cold breakfast cereal, look for whole grain cereals that contain at least 5 grams of fiber per serving. Add a sliced banana, apple, or berries to your cereal for extra fiber.
• Make a batch of your favorite whole grain muffins and enjoy one with a piece of fresh fruit and a glass of orange juice or skim milk.
• Create a breakfast smoothie by combining nonfat yogurt, strawberries, bananas, blueberries or other fresh fruit in a blender. If you prefer a thicker smoothie, try adding some oats to help thicken it and add fiber at the same time.
• Article Cradit: http://www.quakeroats.com/

SUMMER DRINK

An Age-Old Summer Punch

Before Gatorade, hardworking farmers in colonial days turned to Haymaker's Punch, also called switchel, for refreshment. This was the drink of choice for workers out in the field who wanted to cool off with something with a bit more of a kick than just plain old well water.

A simplified version of ginger beer, switchel may be sweetened in a number of ways--sugar, honey, or maple syrup--but our preference has always been molasses.

Here's a classic recipe:

Mix 1 quart water, 1/2 cup molasses, 1 teaspoon powdered ginger, and the juice of 1 lemon.Serve ice-cold.

Article Cradit: http://www.almanac.com/