May 21, 2007

Chef Tim Says...

For the last few weeks I have been writing about the healthiest choices for you to make at the grocery store.

Today I am continuing with fish -- specifically shellfish -- and will move on to fin fish next week. A lot of Ask Dr. Gourmet questions are about whether shellfish can be part of a healthy diet because many of them contain a lot of cholesterol. This is another area of confusion for a lot of folks but all fish is good for you and has been shown time and again in research to prevent (and even reverse) heart disease. In Your Pantry: Shellfish, cont.

Featured Recipe

Crab and Corn Salad
This is a quick and very easy salad that makes for a lovely spring meal. The sweetness of the crab and corn together with the herbed flavor of the lemon thyme works great. And it’s great for you at only 240 calories and 9 grams of fat (1 gram saturated fat).

Ask Dr. Gourmet

I am on Coumadin for a PE approximately 1 year ago and love Pomegranates, nectarines and dried apricots. I have not been able to find out if these food items are a low, medium or high vitamin K product. Can you assist please?

Dr. Gourmet Says....

Pomegranates contain 7 micrograms (mcg) of Vitamin K in each 3 3/8 inch diameter fruit (that's about 5 1/2 ounces).

A 5 1/2 ounce nectarine has 3.4 mcg while a half cup of dried apricots contain only 2 mcg. Coumadin and Pomegranates

Featured Ingredient: Shallots

Shallots are a member of the onion family and have a shape like onions but grow segmented in cloves similar to garlic (but are not as harsh as garlic). They have a thin coppery skin with purple white flesh has a subtle onion flavor.

Two main types of shallots are found in the grocery store. The Jersey shallot is larger and has a sharper onion flavor than the smaller "true" shallot which has a softer flavor and a slightly grayer skin. As with onions, choose shallots that are firm and round with no dried areas or wrinkling of the skin. If there is a sprout from the tip of the shallot, don't buy it, it's not very fresh. Shallots

Did You Know?

Dr. Gourmet has created a list of selected items from common fast food restaurants for you to use when you must eat out. The items listed fall generally under 400 calories or so and under 15 grams of fat. If you are going to be stuck eating at such restaurants this is a fairly good guideline to use for any meal. Download a handy reference guide for some of the most popular fast food restaurants! Eating Healthier at Fast Food Restaurants

Hand on Heart

Dr. Harlan's latest cookbook, Hand on Heart, includes several of the recipes from drgourmet.com, plus a few that were developed specifically for the book, like Banoffee Pie! More on what's inside.

Cooking to Reduce the Burn

Cooking to Reduce the Burn was created specifically for those suffering from GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease). With Tummy Tips and easy recipes to help you eat well and eat healthy without painful acid reflux. Download it for FREE!