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Book Review: FoodTrients by Grace O

May 21, 2012 at 7:30 am by Claudia

Today I am reviewing FoodTrients by Grace O for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I try to eat healthy foods. I don’t always succeed, but I do try. I am a vegetarian. I once was macrobiotic, so I’ve spent a fair amount of time reading about various theories as to just what’s good for you. This book, by Grace O, is fascinating. An accomplished cook, restauranteur and now the owner of several senior healthcare facilities, she has researched food and its age-defying qualities.

Grace O has assembled the 5 categories of FoodTrients that ‘are essential to age-defying and healthful living.’ They are: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, disease-preventing, immunity booster and mind and beauty. Each recipe combines some or all of these categories and the FoodTrients categories are clearly listed at the top of each recipe. The recipes are made with whole foods and the author provides a list of some of her more unusual ingredients in the first part of the book.

The book is gorgeously photographed. I don’t know about you, but I like to see a photograph of the recipe. The recipes are easy to follow and the font size is nice and large. (Yay, no squinting required to read a recipe!) One recipe I really like is Quinoa Tabbouleh on Pita. Yum. It’s so easy that someone like me, who’d rather bake than cook, will find herself running to the kitchen to throw it together. It uses basic ingredients: quinoa, parsley, plum tomatoes, scallions, olive oil, lemon juice and whole-wheat pita rounds and takes next to no time. As in every recipe, the author provides information about the FoodTrient properties of the ingredients; in this case, of quinoa, tomatoes and olive oil.

The book is divided into sections: starters, salads, main courses, extras, desserts and drinks. There are plenty of recipes using meat for all you meat-eaters and there are plenty of recipes for non-meat eaters like me. Also included is a Guide to Age-Defying FoodTrients with lots of helpful information.

One of you lucky readers will be able to win a copy of this book and one of these aprons:

I want one! Sob. The winner will win both the book and the apron. Leave a comment on this post and I will pick a winner on Thursday night. There are no hoops to jump through, you know how much I dislike that, just leave a comment.

About the author:

Grace O has been cooking and baking professionally and recreationally all of her adult life. As a child in Southeast Asia, she learned the culinary arts by her mother’s side in the family’s cooking school. She became so well-versed in hospitality and the culinary arts, she eventually took over the cooking school and opened three restaurants. She is widely credited with popularizing shrimp on sugar-cane skewers and being one of the first culinarians to make tapas a global trend. She has cooked for ruling families and royalty.

Grace O’s move to America precipitated a career in health care, inspired by her father, who was a physician. Twenty years and much hard work later, she operates skilled nursing facilities in California.

Grace O strives to create flavorful food using the finest ingredients that ultimately lead to good health. Her recipes, although low in saturated fat, salt and sugar, are high in flavor. Grace employs spices from all over the world to enliven her dishes, creating food that is different and delicious. She believes that food can be just as effective at fighting aging as the most expensive skin creams. And since she’s over 50 herself, she’s living proof of that theory.

Discover more about Grace O and her work at FoodTrients.com.

Filed Under: TLC Book Review 28 Comments

A Lemon? Make Lemonade

May 20, 2012 at 9:18 am by Claudia

I’m home. I’m tired. I really liked that hotel bed – ours, as you know, needs to be replaced. It took me way too long to get to sleep last night and I have a lot to do today. One word: mowing. By the way, my husband changed the spark plug on the mower and, ta da, it works! I ran out of gas late yesterday afternoon and Don was at work. So this morning, I will be off to our local gas station. Since it is supposed to rain for most of the week ahead, I have to get all the mowing done today.

Don did mow, I don’t want you to think he didn’t. But he didn’t mow the back forty. That’s what I have to tackle today. I have all sorts of garden photos for you, but for today I thought I would concentrate on an unexpected benefit from the loss of the willow.

The clematis that is planted in front of the house has started blooming profusely. It’s been in this plot, between the boxwoods, for at least 6 years. Last year, I got one bloom. This year? Well, the evidence is right before your eyes. Clearly, it wasn’t getting enough sun. The willow was blocking the light.

Though I still miss my weeping willow terribly – I can’t even look at photos of the house where I can see it – this little miracle is of the ‘if you get lemons, make lemonade’ variety.

I have to prune the boxwoods a bit. I already started that yesterday. But this splash of, what would you call it? – magenta? – is a delightful surprise.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Filed Under: garden 17 Comments

What’s with the Fire Alarms?

May 19, 2012 at 9:34 am by Claudia

The opening night performance went really well. I made an appearance at the party afterward, then came home. I think I was asleep by a little after one in the morning. At 2:30, I shot awake to the sound of the fire alarm going off. We all had to vacate the building. I blearily grabbed my phone, my purse and my laptop. I did the same thing when a fire alarm went off here a month ago. Yes, that’s twice during my stay. Oh, and let’s not count the alarm going off at home. I wrote about it in a post earlier this week. Fire trucks came to the house, fire trucks (3 of them) came to the hotel. Lots of firefighters carrying long hoses. Thankfully, all is well.

At the moment, I’m trying to come out of my stupor so that I can get a move on. Have to finish packing. Poor Don worked very late last night and has to come get me this morning. I’m sort of sad, leaving this suite….it’s been rather nice. No lawns to mow, dogs to attend to, cleaning to do, other needs to take into account. Just me, my laptop, some books to read, the occasional television program. It is a luxury that I don’t take for granted.

Nevertheless, I’m glad to be going home. My husband, doggies and garden await. I wonder if those peonies have started blooming?

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: Uncategorized 12 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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