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Grains & Legumes

  • Italian-Style Chicken in White Wine with Olives
  • Italian-Style Chicken in White Wine with Olives and Polenta
  • Creole Chicken With Red Rice
  • Peppery Chicken QuinoaPeppery Chicken Quinoa
  • Indonesian-Style Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng)Indonesian-Style Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng)
  • Red Beans and Red RiceRed Beans and Red Rice
  • Roasted Red Pepper RisottoRoasted Red Pepper Risotto
  • Korean Style Rice BowlKorean Style Rice Bowl
  • Sausage- Spiked Peas ‘n’ RiceSausage- Spiked Peas 'n' Rice
  • Arroz con PolloArroz con Pollo
  • Kasha and Beet Salad with Celery and FetaKasha and Beet Salad with Celery and Feta
  • Gingery Chicken and Wild Rice SoupGingery Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
  • Smoked Salmon and Grits CakesSmoked Salmon and Grits Cakes
  • Moroccan-Style Couscous StuffingMoroccan-Style Couscous Stuffing
  • Peppery Meatloaf with CouscousPeppery Meatloaf with Couscous
  • Cuban-Style Hash with Fried PlantainsCuban-Style Hash with Fried Plantains
  • Whole Grain Spaghetti with Bulgur-Laced MeatballsWhole Grain Spaghetti with Bulgur-Laced Meatballs
  • Wheat Berry Minestrone with Leafy GreensWheat Berry Minestrone with Leafy Greens
  • Cranberry-Orange Pecan MuffinsCranberry-Orange Pecan Muffins
  • Creamy Polenta with Corn and ChilesCreamy Polenta with Corn and Chiles
  • Beef and Chickpea Curry with SpinachBeef and Chickpea Curry with Spinach
  • Shrimp’ n GritsShrimp' n Grits
  • Oat Groats or Steel Cut OatsOat Groats or Steel Cut Oats
  • Syracuse SauceSyracuse Sauce
  • Miso-Spiked Vegetable Soup with BarleyMiso-Spiked Vegetable Soup with Barley
  • Fragrant Lamb Curry with BarleyFragrant Lamb Curry with Barley

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After working as a journalist and political speechwriter for many years,  I was able to pursue another of my passions when I was offered the opportunity to write a cookbook. That marked the beginning of my serious interest in the health benefits of consuming nutritious whole foods.  Several years ago, this interest took me in an entirely new direction when I discovered the work of epidemiologist David Barker. My most recent book, You Are What Your Grandparents Ate is based on 40 years of research into the field of science spawned by his research, which is known as the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease.  Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of studies are now showing that many of the risks for chronic diseases can be traced back to your first 1,000 days of existence, from the moment you were conceived and perhaps even beyond to the experiences of your parents and grandparents. 

Yes, you may be more susceptible to certain chronic illnesses due to your ancestors’ experiences. The good news is you can change this story. Emerging research in the field of epigenetics is showing that taking even small steps, like getting more exercise and eating more nutritious food, can help to reverse inherited vulnerabilities by changing how your genes express themselves.  The end result is better health, not only for yourself but also for your offspring and their children, and likely for generations to come

judith.finlayson

Why do so many kids suffer from obesity? It’s a Why do so many kids suffer from obesity? It’s a serious problem that sets the stage for many conditions as well as premature death. If you’re interested in learning more about the roots of this so-called epidemic read my article on your zen mama.com
By now most people know that a robust micro biome By now most people know that a robust micro biome supports good health. But did you know its benefits are trans generational? Follow the links to read my latest article on this fascinating topic.
My husband went a little crazy at the weekend farm My husband went a little crazy at the weekend farmers’ market and bought too many heirloom tomatoes. I know they aren’t the best for making sauce, but I had to use them up.
With tomatoes that good, simple is best: I softened a small amount of minced onion and carrot in lots of olive oil, added a copious amount of garlic and seasoned well with the Italian herb salt, Salamaia Bolognese. (A friend gave it to me and yes, I had to look it up.) A splash of white wine, the peeled chopped tomatoes and less than 15 minutes on the stovetop --- et voila!  Tomato variety notwithstanding, there really isn’t anything better than a fresh tomato sauce tossed with pasta. Simply delicious, for sure.
Sometimes only chicken wings will do. I cook these Sometimes only chicken wings will do. I cook these crispy, spicy and sweet treats on the grill so it’s another reason I’m sad that summer is ending.  Ditch the fries and serve with a big bowl of coleslaw. Pat yourself on the back for making a finger-licking, nutritious meal.
I have very fond memories of visiting smorgasburg I have very fond memories of visiting smorgasburg in Brooklyn several years ago and was very excited when I learned this outdoor food fest was coming to Toronto. It was a beautiful day on the lakefront; so many vendors, so challenging to choose. I went for spicy chicken skewers and jollif rice from Afrobeat and loved every bite.
I jumped the gun on Father’s Day and took my hus I jumped the gun on Father’s Day and took my husband out for a fabulous dinner at Stockholm’s @gastrologik. What a wonderful experience!  Their ingredient-focused and eco-conscious menu is right up my alley. The dishes change seasonally and are often foraged or sourced from local producers. Herbs like elderflower, sweet woodruff and wood sorrel, fresh bee pollen, spruce shoots and cloudberries put unique spins on this New Nordic cuisine.  We loved every bite. Scroll right to see a few highlights from this truly memorable meal.
Oysters with elderflower and spring onion; Green asparagus with grilled asparagus cream and lumpfish roe; White asparagus with buttermilk and Swedish caviar; Rowan leaf ice cream with spruce shoots.
You may think there are two identical glasses of r You may think there are two identical glasses of red wine on this table; in fact, the one in the forefront is chokecherry juice. Because I have trouble drinking red wine, which is very high in histamine, I asked for a juice pairing to accompany the quail course at Stockholm’s incomparable @gastrologik . It worked beautifully. Its inherent fruitiness and tannic overtones balanced very well with the slightly assertive flavors of the tiny bird.
Juice pairings are becoming increasingly popular at fine dining establishments, not only because many people are trying to cut down on how much alcohol they consume but also because fresh juices have so many health benefits. Having grown up in North-western Ontario, I know chokecherries quite well. They are the strongly-flavored fruit of a bush that grows wild in those climes and also in Sweden, it would appear.

Chokecherries, which belong to the rose family, are very good for you. They provide a wide range of nutrients, including vitamins A, C, E, K and various B vitamins, as well as folate and minerals like calcium, magnesium, manganese and potassium. They are, perhaps, best-known for their disease-fighting antioxidant content. They are particularly high in polyphenols, like anthocyanins which provide their deep color. Polyphenols are attracting a great deal of attention in scientific circles these days for numerous reasons, including their microbiome-boosting capacities which may help to protect against allergies, among other benefits.
If this mushroom soufflĆ© with woodruff ice cream If this mushroom soufflĆ© with woodruff ice cream and blueberries isn’t the most unusual dessert I’ve ever had, it’s certainly among them. It was served at the delightful @ekstedtrestaurant, where they cook most of the food over wood fires, and I absolutely loved the combination of sweet and savoury flavours. I also loved the use of woodruff, a wild herb with powerful medicinal benefits.
One thing I’ve enjoyed about dining out in Swede One thing I’ve enjoyed about dining out in Sweden is the tendency to top a dish with a spoonful of fish roe…as they did here , served at that Stockholm institution @sturehof.  Not only does this add a pleasant pop of taste and texture the roe also enhances the nutritional profile of any dish.  Although nutrients vary among the species, fish roe is high in protein and a good source of healthy fats like omega 3s which help to keep inflammation under control, among other benefits. They also provide vitamin B 12; when combined with asparagus, the dish also provides folate. The two nutrients create a methylation supporting package, which can help you slow down the process of aging.
When I saw it on the menu @KOKsbarenumea. I though When I saw it on the menu @KOKsbarenumea. I thought this ā€œburratatinaā€ was a Swedish version of buffala. Not quite on the mark—- it’s a fresh mozzarella made from cow not buffalo milk but IMO just as delicious. Served with green asparagus, pickled cucumbers with dill, and a sprinkling of hazelnuts it’s loaded with nutrients and is especially mineral-rich. As a woman of a certain age I need to take special care of my bones so I loved all the calcium it offers.
If I lived in Umea I’d probably succumb to cravi If I lived in Umea I’d probably succumb to cravings for this divine combination: house-made chips (from local potatoes) with shaved truffles and truffled sour cream. I can’t give you a nutrient rundown on truffles but they are wild fungi and likely loaded with valuable nutrients. In any case, I savoured every bite. šŸ˜‹
Fuelling up before my presentation on You Are What Fuelling up before my presentation on You Are What Your Grandparents Ate at the Umea Food Symposium in Umea, Sweden. Red pepper soup, carrot and cabbage salads and a scoop of potato salad —- probably because it’s Sweden. (I don’t think I’ve had a meal here without potatoes … except breakfast.) I’m pleased to say this lunch is right in line with my message: Eat whole foods, mostly plants. There are lots of nutrients on this plate and not too many calories. Delicious!
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120 Eglinton Avenue East Suite 800
Toronto, ON Canada M4P 1E2
tel: (416) 322-6552 fax: (416) 322-6936
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