As gardens begin to grow, one of the first perennial herbs to appear are chives. Chives are quite resilient and are particularly easy to grow both in garden beds or in pots. They can stand a bit of shade, tolerate drought, and grow well in any type of garden soil. For first time gardeners, this is an excellent plant that will yield a reliable source of flavorful nutrition.
Chives belong to the lily family and are part of a large genus of over 500 species of perennials that contain bulbs or underground stems. Known for their strong scent and distinct flavor, chives, along with garlic, onions, scallions and leeks are known as allium herbs. Allium species have been cultivated around the world for centuries and are valued both medicinally ad for their fabulous flavor.
If you grow your own chives, you can continually cut them back so the crop will continue into early fall. If you let happen to let them go you will get lovely purple-pink globe shaped chive flowers that make a beautiful garnish as well as a bright addition to spring or summer salads.
Chives are best when used fresh. Rinse and dry them well, then snip with scissors or cut with a very sharp knife. Snipped chives can be placed in freezer bags and frozen for later use, but will not maintain the texture of fresh shoots.
This is an herb that will elevate so many dishes, including soups, stews, salads, sauces, marinades, dressings, and dips. Adding a few tablespoons of chopped chives to cottage cheese will add a pleasing punch to a super simple snack. Make an easy supper of baked potatoes or sweet potatoes topped with Greek yogurt and chives. Mixing chives into cream cheese, along with lemon zest, and a grinding of black pepper will make an excellent spread for sandwiches or crackers. Omelets prepared with chives, parsley, and dill are a nice choice for any meal.
Chives contain valuable vitamin and mineral content. Vitamins K, A, and C are found in chives, as well as calcium, an important mineral. Chives also contain small amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. Purported to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral, eating more chives may boost your immune system and assist in maintaining superior levels of health.
If you buy your own chives at the grocery store, look for a bright green color with no sign of yellowing or wilting. Chives will keep in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator for several days. Before using, rinse and dry well and trim the ends before using.
Enjoy this light and bright spring herb.
“Work With What You Got!”
©Tiny New York Kitchen © 2020 All Rights Reserved
When You Have Leftover Crumble Serve It For Breakfast With A Dollop Of Greek Yogurt.
Grilled pineapple is so very versatile because you can use it for savory or sweet, hot or cold dishes. Grill over indirect heat and the sugars in the pineapple concentrate bringing out a sweet and meaty fruit that is ideal for endless summer recipes.
6 Ways To Use Grilled Pineapple
Slice and serve with grilled pork or fish.
Cut into chunks and toss with salt and lime juice for a smoky fruit salad.
Muddle and use as the base for a sweet-savory cocktail.
Dice and mix with chopped cilantro and chiles for salsa.
Purée and spoon over vanilla ice cream or good Greek yogurt.
Top with ice cream or sorbet.
“Work With What You Got!”
© Victoria Hart Glavin Tiny New York Kitchen © 2017 All Rights Reserved
Healthy & Whole Foods
Many Americans have been struggling with weight issues for years. People may lose a few pounds by trying various diets, but only to gain a few extra pounds when resuming old eating patterns. As we get older we find that losing weight becomes much more difficult with our metabolisms slowing substantially. Being overweight brings on serious health risks such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. It is important for us to make a real connection between what we eat and our overall health. Here are some eating tips that typically make a difference in weight loss and, of course, incorporating exercise into your daily routine helps significantly.
Breakfast
Eat a healthy breakfast every day. A healthy breakfast is one that consists of
Protein, fruit and whole grains. Avoid processed foods. Eating breakfast helps
prevent overeating later in the day. Try eating an egg sandwich with a piece of fruit or whole grain cereal with low fat or skim milk and a banana.
Water
Drink more water. Most of us don’t drink enough water. Substitute water for sodas, juices, alcoholic drinks and even diet sodas. Substitute water for those high calorie drinks and you will begin to see the pounds melt away. I like to drink sparkling water when I crave a soda.
Fish
Fish is great for giving you those good omega-3 fatty acids that we all need and
is lower in calories. Stay away from eating processed meats like hot dogs and sausages. Eat fish two to three times per week and eat red meat once a week at most.
Whole Grains
Whole grains are chock full of vitamins, minerals and high in fiber. Eat whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta and brown rice. Stay away from refined grains such as white bread and white pasta.
Fruits & Vegetables
We need our fruits and vegetables. They are antioxidant rich foods that help in weight loss. Fresh produce contains water so we feel full and satisfied longer. Berries are great antioxidants.
Dairy
Including low-fat dairy food into our diets is important. These foods are rich in calcium and vitamin D. Many of us are deficient in obtaining these bone building vitamins.
“Diet” Foods
Just because the label says “diet” or “low-fat” or “fat-free” doesn’t mean that they are healthy for us or will promote weight loss. These foods are typically loaded with sugar and are highly processed which means empty calories. It would be better to eat a hand-full of nuts than to turn to these impostors.
Home Cooking
As you know I am big on cooking at home. I rarely use processed foods and would rather cook my own meals. It takes time, money and energy, but in the end it’s worth it. When we eat out in restaurants we truly don’t know how our food is cooked. Chefs tend to put butter on “everything” and that’s why the meals taste good. Also, we tend to eat much larger portions when we go out for dinner. For certain stay away from fast food restaurants.
Portion Sizes
I am a visual person. It sounds ridiculous but the serving size for fruits and vegetables should be fist size. Look at your fist and get a visual of what a fruit/veggie serving size should be. A serving size of meat should be the size of a deck of cards and a serving size of fish should be the size of a checkbook. Eat smaller meals!
Slow Down
Eat slower. We should spend 30 minutes eating a meal. Eat at the table sitting down.
Food Labels
Read those food labels for calories and other nutrients. Scan the food labels for how many grams of sugar an item has. Just because a food item my say it is low in fat it just may have a high amount of sugar.
Snacking
Snacking twice a day on healthy snacks helps from overeating later in the day. Healthy snacks are items such as fruit, carrots or a handful of nuts (not sugar coated candy type nuts). Don’t forget that water!
Gum
Believe it or not chewing gum can help keep that weight off. I like to nibble so when I get the urge to nibble I will pop a couple pieces of gum in my mouth.
Sleep
Sleep at least 7 hours per night.
Exercise
Join a gym and go at least 3 times a week. If you can’t make it to a gym then walk. Go for a walk after lunch or after dinner for 45 minutes to an hour. Incorporate lifting some free weights into your routine.
Foods To Avoid
Butter
Ice Cream
Chips
Crackers
Instant Oatmeal
Fish Sticks
Sugary Cereal
White Pasta
Cereal Bars
Candy Bars
Fried Chicken
Regular Pretzels
Potato Chips
White Bread
White Potatoes
Prepared Salad Dressings
White Rice
Cookies
Foods To Eat
Olive Oil
Greek Yogurt
Nuts
Seeds
Steel Cut Oats
Broiled Salmon
High Fiber Cereal
Whole Wheat Pasta
Blueberries
Piece of Dark Chocolate
Grilled/Roasted Chicken
Whole Wheat Pretzels
Unbuttered Popcorn
Whole Wheat Bread
Sweet Potatoes
Oil & Vinegar Salad Dressing
Brown Rice
Figs
Ditch The Plain Sandwich And Dial Up Taste & Health
If you’re tired of the same old sandwich or just want to build a healthier sandwich then try using these delicious spreads instead of mayonnaise.
Reduced Fat Greek Yogurt
Avocado
Olive Tapenade
Beetroot Dip
Tomato Relish
Corn Salsa
Sweet Chilli Sauce
Horseradish
Pesto
Cottage or Ricotta Cheese
Dijon Mustard
Light Cream Cheese
Macadamia Nut Spread
