The Magic Teaspoon

Description

Behind the walls of a hidden monastery garden, a master herbalist teaches the secrets of healing to his apprentice. Half a world away, a tribal shaman gathers medicinal roots along the Amazon. In the hills of Tibet, a Buddhist monk brews a pot of green tea for an ailing brother. And, at home in a coastal Mediterranean cottage, a young mother keeps her child’s fever at bay with a simple spoonful of thyme.

For centuries, people across continents and cultures have experimented with the restoring properties of “nature’s bouquet.” And you, too, can enhance the flavor and vitality of your everyday meals with the health benefits found in such herbs as thyme, basil, parsley, cinnamon, dill, and many others. As a source of vitamins and antioxidants, herbs are natural energy boosters and disease fighters—and you can add them to your menu with the easy-to-prepare recipes found in this book. From amazing appetizers and super salads to extraordinary entrées and dynamic desserts, The Magic Teaspoon offers it all—with just the flick of a teaspoon:

• More than 100 recipes for health-boosting meals and snacks—listing the healing virtues each herb brings to your table
• “The All Naturals” herb chart revealing the best herbs to choose for specific health issues
• Vegetable profiles—from artichokes to zucchini
• How to make processed foods healthier
• The Sugar Lover’s Survival Guide
• How to make potent herbal purées for instant energizers
• The 25 top teas for healing
• The health properties found in honey, vinegar, and olive oil
• And much more

The Magic TeaspoonPart I: The Magic Teaspoon Herbs & Spices

1. Introduction: An Adventure in Healing Pleasure

2. Nature’s Bouquet of Healing Herbs and Spices for Cooking
The legends and lore of the herbs and spices come to life in your kitchen. In an alphabetical guide from allspice to watercress, you’ll find stories of the herbs and spices in history, their health profiles and culinary uses, and you’ll travel to gardens of the world for inspiration.

3. Buying and Storing Your Herbs and Spices

4. The All-Naturals Guide
This chart is the first of its kind to identify the vital health benefits of the herbs and spices for cooking in one easy reference guide. It includes natural antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, antacids, antibiotics, antidepressants, digestive aids, diabetes fighters, cancer fighters, cholesterol reducers, and more.

Part II: The Magic Teaspoon Recipes

Health and pleasure combine in energizing recipes to boost your immunity; increase your vitality; reduce inflammation; lower cholesterol; fight diabetes, heart disease, digestive disorders, depression, and free radical damage; and help you burn fat.
More than one hundred recipes are provided for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks that include fabulous herbal purees, soups, sandwiches, sauces, dips, salads and fresh dressings, and healing iced teas. You’ll also find easy ways to transform your processed food into healthier fare and gain sugar smarts to help you cut excess sugar without sacrificing sweetness. The power is in your food!

5. A Fresh Start
6. Herbs and Spices for Butter, Honey, and Salt
7. Breakfast Energy
8. High-Energy, High-Potency Herbal Purees
9. Sauces and Dips at Your Fingertips
10. Sumptuous Green Salads and Fresh Salad Dressings
11. Sandwich Haven
12. Veggie Versatility
13. Chilled Side Dishes and Snacking Sensations
14. Hot Side Dishes
15. Pasta and Rice Pleasure
16. Potatoes with Pizzazz
17. Make a Little Magic with Chicken and Turkey
18. Make a Little Magic with Beef, Lamb, and Pork
19. Make a Little Magic with Fish
20. Delectable Soups to Savor
21. Desserts from Cool to Sweet
22. Magic Teaspoon Iced Teas
23. Transforming Your Processed Foods
24. Sugar Smarts
Bibliography

Victoria Zak is an award-winning writer and researcher who specializes in health topics.US

Additional information