Make Any Meal Healthier

Just a few ideas to help us make our meals a little bit healthier!

1. Use meat as a condiment: According to the Mediterranean Diet, red meat is often a flavoring rather than the focus. Replace half the amount called for in a stir-fry, for example, with beans and veggies. This boosts fiber and antioxidants while reducing calories and saturated fat.

2. Reinvent your favorites with fish: for example, tuna burgers or salmon tacos. Having 2-3 servings of fish a week gives you a dose of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

3. Jazz up your grains: Stir in colorful veggies, like carrots, red cabbage or zucchini using olive oil to cook or season. This healthy fat helps your body absorb the antioxidants in the veggies.

4. Have fruit for dessert: In the Mediterranean, cookies and pastries are more special occasion treats than everyday fare. Baked pears sprinkled with toasted almond or yogurt with dried figs and honey are low-calorie options, plus it gives us a perfect chance to act like a gourmet chef! Last night we thawed frozen strawberries just slightly and put a dollop or two of homemade yogurt with a touch of honey and vanilla on top! Everyone loved it~kids and all! And oh so simple!

Here is the yogurt recipe that works for me! You need a candy thermometer and glass mason jars. When I made this exact recipe, I used 2 quart jars and 1 pint jar, but you could just as easily put it into any container with a lid.

Ingredients:
1/2 gallon of milk
6 T of room temperature yogurt starter, which is any plain yogurt from the store. I like to use organic Greek yogurt, but you can use any brand~greek or not.
1 c instant nonfat dry milk powder

1. Pour 1/2 gallon of milk into a pot and heat on stove over medium heat with a candy thermometer hooked onto the side of pot so that the tip is in the milk. When bubbles start to form around the edges (around 180 -200 degrees-it was 185 on my thermometer), remove from heat and stir in the instant dry milk powder.
2. Let the mixture cool until 110 degrees-It took about 30-35 minutes~if you need to speed it up a little you can put it in the fridge for a bit but keep your eye on it as it may not turn out if it gets too cool.
3. Once it reaches 110 degrees, stir a little milk mixture into the 6 T of yogurt starter and then add the yogurt starter and milk back into the pot and stir gently to mix.
4. Pour yogurt into mason jars and put on oven rack without the lids and switch on the oven light.
5. Keep in the oven overnight for 8 hours or more. Take out of oven, put on lids and put in the refrigerator.
6. Keep a small amount of yogurt for your starter for the next batch!

I just made yogurt last night and it turned out beautifully. Nice and creamy!

Enjoy God's wonderful food!

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 2