Chances are that none of us will reflect back on our lives and wish we would have eaten more carbs!

There is much emphasis on not overdoing carb intake in our food plans. I feel this is important, but we also need healthy carbs to balance our food plans. I could not pass up this time at the beginning of the year without telling you about this recipe for Almond Bread. Almond bread is a healthy way to reduce your carb and grain intake. This recipe uses almonds to make a low carb bread. I found this to be simple, very tasty, and easy to make. This bread is also a good source of nut protein. I think you will find this is a healthy addition to your food plan. It is great for an occasional change of pace. Try it!

Almond Bread

1 lb. almonds, raw
2 eggs, beaten
1 ½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp sea salt
1 Tbsp olive oil
¾ cup carbonated water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend almonds (a small amount at a time) in a food processor or blender to a fine texture. Place in a bowl and add salt and baking soda. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and add olive oil & carbonated water; stir. Add egg mixture to almond mixture & mix well. Pour mixture into olive-oiled bread pan and bake 1 hour.

This bread can stay fresh for over a week in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use this for sandwiches or as a snack with olive oil garlic butter, hummus, or avocado. It’s fabulous right out of the oven or toasted!

For vegans: 2 ½ Tbsp flax seed mixed with 3 Tbsp water is the equivalent to 1 egg.

Enjoy!

Garlic, honey, apples, and turmeric are highly recommended foods to have regularly in your food plan for prevention and maintenance of health.

Turmeric is an herbal spice that is not well known in our American diet, but it is very popular in Indian and vegetarian food plans. Turmeric is known as curcumin as a spice powder. It is known as the “Golden Goddess” by ancient Indian healing traditions.

Today, there are numerous scientifically proven uses for healing with Turmeric. Turmeric affects over 150 distinct biological and genetic / epigenetic pathways for health – this is more than any one drug has ever been designed to do! Turmeric reduces oxidative stress and inflammation among many other uses.

Look for recipes using Turmeric, and incorporate something new into your food plan!

Here is an easy, delicious recipe for Turmeric Dip:

Ingredients:
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp white sugar
2 tsp dried minced onion
1 tsp prepared horseradish
1 tsp white vinegar

Directions:
Stir together all ingredients in a small bowl. Chill 2 hours before serving. Great with raw vegetables.

It is the time of year to boost your immune system with a generous intake of seasonal foods high in Vitamin A. I have enjoyed this recipe for years! The recipe is from my sister, Beth, and all foods in the recipe are organic.


Ingredients:
2 Acorn Squash (about 2lbs each)
2 Butternut Squash
8 Tbsp. Butter
8 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
3 Carrots, peeled and halved
1 large Onion, thinly sliced
10 cups Chicken Stock
¾ tsp. ground Mace
¾ tsp. ground Ginger
1 pinch Cayenne Pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut squash in half, length-wise, scoop out seeds & discard
Place squash, skin-side down in a shallow roasting pan.
Place 1 Tbsp. butter and sugar in each cavity
Arrange carrots & onion slices around squash
Pour 2 cups of chicken stock in pan, cover tightly with foil and bake for 2 hours.
Remove pan from oven and let cool slightly
Scoop the squash pulp out and place in a soup pot
Add carrots, onions and cooking liquid
Add remaining 8 cups of stock & seasonings, and bring to a boil
Reduce to simmer for 10 minutes, uncovered.
Puree soup in batches in a food processor.

This recipe is delicious and is full of Vitamin A.

[See more about boosting your immune system with yellow & orange vegetables from my blog entries of October 2010.]