Did you know pepper was first cultivated in India in about 1000 B.C. and wasn’t used for seasoning?  The original uses of peppercorn were medicinal.  People would ingest the hot, zesty spice to aid in breathing and decongestion believe it or not.  Peppercorn causes an increase in mucous membrane secretions, thus opening airway passages and acting as an expectorant.  It was also commonly used as an external ointment for hives.  Not to mention, a mixture of pepper and water lightly sprayed on plants will deter ants and other insects from feeding in your garden and making trails in your pathways.

Here’s another fun fact for you:  Black, white and green peppercorns are all from the same plant, only they are in different stages of growth, similar to that of bell peppers.  Ever wonder why you can’t find red and yellow bell pepper seeds or seedlings?  If you let either alone long enough on the plant, the end result will be a variety of colors.  Unrelated to black peppercorn are the pink berries and pink peppercorn.  Pink berries, imported from Madagascar were formerly banned by the FDA but now considered safe for consumption.  Pink peppercorn isn’t recommended and can be toxic in large amounts.  For safety sake, we’ll stick with the black, white and green peppercorn varieties.

Pepper is the third most common ingredient in all recipes; above it are salt and water.  In its natural form of peppercorn, before the mills shred it apart and place it in tiny tin cans for household cooking, it has many benefits for your health.  Pepper aids in digestion, lessens the heartburn causing acid and can prevent bacterial growth in your digestive tract.  Not to mention the antioxidant benefits, as well as the outer skin aiding in an accelerated metabolism, thus enhancing weight maintenance and weight loss regimens.  And if pepper increases blood flow and opens airway passages, it’s safe to say it can aid in heart health, as well as joint pain relief.

Professional chefs prefer peppercorn to its canned byproduct, table pepper.   Once peppercorn is ground it loses a substantial amount of the pungent aroma, thus chefs prefer to use a peppermill and grind it themselves for immediate use.  Peppercorn will also lose flavor if not stored in an airtight container away from direct sunlight.

As always, cooking with fresh ingredients can make a world of difference in your diet, for both health and appeal.  Freshly ground peppercorn will add a nice compliment to any dish.  When compared to the store bought combinations of spices, most of which contain that water-retaining salt as their first ingredient, peppercorn simply beats the competition hands down!  You can even alternate, using white peppercorn for gravies and mashed potatoes for a less visible ingredient.

You can purchase fresh peppercorn and peppercorn mills at most grocers and at several online stores.  Culinary venues also offer a wide variety of peppercorn.  No matter where you get your peppercorn, your taste buds and overall health will be rewarded!

photo credit: Vladimir Morozov

What you should know about Peppercorns! is a post from: Your Healthy Food Recipes Now!

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Did you know there are over 175 varieties of chickens or that chickens can lay pink and even blue eggs? While a chicken egg takes approximately 21 days to hatch, a chicken lifespan can be as long as 10 to 15 years. Americans love chicken! It’s a fact. They are more than just meat; they also bring provide us with eggs and their manure is recognized as high-quality fertilizer.

Every health conscious person should know their facts about chicken. Not all chicken is good chicken. In today’s market, while the claim has been made that all chickens are supposedly hormone-free, some plants still continue to use antibiotic therapy to stimulate growth. Seriously, get your antibiotics from your doctor, not your chicken! They have also been injected with salt water thus causing water retention, increased weight and more money at the register when we purchase poultry by the pound. Think about this: If your food is chemically treated, you too are ingesting those chemicals. If your chicken is injected with hormones, antibiotics and salt water, you too are ingesting these things. If you are absorbing the salt water found in some chicken, not only are you going to retain water as well, you are potentially increasing your risk for hypertension and other health-related issues.

According to the USDA all chickens labeled “free roam” have an added requirement with the coops. These chickens are provided, not only with a window in the coop itself, but they are allowed to leave the coop and roam outside. Of course you need containment fences or the chickens will end up on the porches and in the streets of every chicken farm and poultry plant, but they are given the freedom of soaking up the sun, getting exercise and even foraging for natural food. Doesn’t that sound like a happy chicken? It may sound odd, but a stressed chicken is a tough chicken. Literally. Tough, not-so-tasty meat.

An added benefit of increasing your chicken intake is the protein the meat carries. Good protein found in chicken promotes easier healthy tissue growth. Why do we care? We need those amino acids found in chicken to bring that metabolism rate up. When your metabolism rate is up, your body feeds on the fatty tissue and not the lean tissue, ultimately resulting in weight maintenance and even weight loss. Now don’t go deep fat frying an entire chicken with the misconception you will drop 10 pounds overnight. However, a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of protein rich foods like chicken will enhance any weight loss initiative. Feed your body the appropriate fuel and it will thank you!

So here’s the deal. The next time you’re out shopping for that perfect chicken breast to grill and place on top of your whole wheat noodles and marinara, be sure to look carefully at the label. Check for “free range” and “hormone free” and even “antibiotic free” labels. If you can’t find what you are looking for at your local grocery store check your local farmer’s market or Trader Joes. You can even find great chicken online through Grassland and Lobel’s of NY that will deliver right to your door. You might find advertisements in your local newspaper or Craigslist for farms in your area.

In A Fowl Mood? Have Some Chicken! is a post from: Your Healthy Food Recipes Now!

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While olive trees were probably first cultivated in the eastern Mediterranean around 5000 B.C., their popularity moved westward throughout history and their ancestry has been traced back to Italy 20 million years ago. Think back to Roman times and you’ll remember seeing royalty adorning olive crowns; van Gogh paint and The Olive Trees, said to be the counterpart to his more famous painting Starry Night; countless references in the Bible. The typical olive tree has an array of bendy branches connected near the bottom of the trunk. Its leafy branches bear dainty sprigs of white blooms, and the tasty green fruit we love so much. Some say the trees symbolize peace and prosperity, which explains where the delicious oils from the olives themselves became such a commodity.

Italians are most known for their use of fresh, fragrant ingredients, and of course, their extra-virgin olive oils. While most people won’t fry with olive oil, mainly because of the expense, the added drizzle of the tantalizing oil as a final touch will certainly compliment the dish. Quality olive oil is cold-pressed, meaning no artificial heat used in processing, and if subjected to high-heat cooking you are basically eliminating the antioxidants olive oil provides. Which also means if stored in a window sill in direct sunlight the color changes and shelf-life decreases. Even though we like to show off our fancy, and somewhat expensive, kitchen ingredients, make sure your olive oil is in a dark, tinted bottle or store it in a cool, dry place.

Being a monounsaturated fat (a fat that studies show does not raise the LDL, or bad cholesterol) is a big plus for olive oil, and may be why the olive oil industry is bigger now than ever. Americans are more health conscious than ever and constantly looking for ways to stay young and fit. Any physician will tell you crash diets and surgeries are not the preferred way to a healthier life. Not only are they dangerous, they aren’t permanent. The only tried and true, fool-proof way to lose that extra weight, lower the cholesterol and get more physically fit is through a lifestyle change of diet and exercise. Not a fad. Not a pill. Not a temporary fix. We are talking an overhaul of eating habits, getting off the couch and being held accountable for what we put into our bodies. Here are some fun facts for you: According to the Center for Disease Control and the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States; an estimated 47% of cardiac emergencies are pronounced dead before emergency service arrives; in 2009, it’s projected that heart disease will cost $304.6 billion in health care, medication and lost productivity. Alarmed yet?

Olive oil alone isn’t going to drop your BMI (body mass index) to under 25, and it’s not the solitary answer for healthier living, but it can definitely be a great start. Instead of deep fat frying that fish, try dipping it in egg-whites, then breadcrumbs, and lightly spray with an olive oil before baking it. You get the crispy texture, great taste, and it’s better for you. Instead of saturating your salads with ranch dressing, try using an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing. Simple changes like these can go a long way with your heart, your health and your life.

A Little Olive Oil History is a post from: Your Healthy Food Recipes Now!

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