My Pug, Ferdi, was diagnosed with a mass cell tumor and was treated with chemo. He now has several health issues, including a a depressed immune system., inflammation and other issues. He just started seeing an integrated vet and is getting supplements to support his system. In addition, he is eating chicken, and chicken fish and beef stock and vegetables.
Fish stock is high in anti-inflammatory amino acids (great for arthritis), it is beneficial for dogs with kidney issues, and it is a natural source of iodine and thyroid nutrients Fish stock has gelatin which lines the digestive system and acts as a barrier to bad bacteria, it holds digestive juices in the belly longer which aids in digestion of nutrients and aids in increased absorption of vitamins and minerals. It is high in glycine which encourages liver detox. The omega fatty acids are great for the coat and skin.
I started Ferdi with chicken stock and the vet asked me on his second visit if I was giving him fish stock yet. I hadn't and he suggested I start. So I called Whole Foods and asked if they have fish carcasses and they do--they freeze salmon carcasses and sell it for $1.00 a pound. So I picked one up a couple days ago.
I put it in my 12 quart stock pot that has a pasta insert/strainer. Covered it with water and cooked for 3 hours. I lifted the pasta strainer and drained off the liquid and threw the carcass away. Really liked having the strainer because it caught all the bones. Put the stock in several containers and froze all but one.
I gave both Ferdi and Cobi (healthy dog) the stock with their meals. They loved it!
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Chinese Cold Noodles and Sesame and Salad with Asian Style Dressing
Cold Noodles and Sesame on salad greens |
The first time I had Chinese Cold Noodles and Sesame was in a Chinese restaurant in New York City in the early eighties. I was in college at the time and my boyfriend took me to this restaurant...it was my first experience eating anything spicy and I loved cold noodles immediately—even though it took me ages to eat the first few times, as my taste buds had to adjust to the spiciness.
Eventually, I
learned how to make them myself. Over the years, I have tweaked the recipe; it is quite different from the original--better, in my opinion. I like to serve it over salad with an Asian dressing to make a complete meal and to lighten it up a bit. I actually eat the dish warm--not cold--and like the way they make the salad greens wilt just a bit.
Cold Noodles with Sesame Sauce
Serves 4-5
1 pound Chinese-style dried noodle or spaghetti/fettuccine
2 tablespoons good quality peanut oil, like Loriva's roasted peanut
2 tablespoons good quality peanut oil, like Loriva's roasted peanut
6 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoons ginger, minced
3 tablespoon black and/or white sesame seeds
1/2 bunch scallions, chopped
1 cucumber, julienned or cut thinly
2 tablespoon San-J® All Purpose Szechuan Hot and Spicy Sauce
1 cup crunchy or smooth natural peanut butter
2 tablespoons soy or tamari sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
Hot pepper flakes to taste
Water
Cilantro, chopped for sauce, leaves for garnish
Cilantro, chopped for sauce, leaves for garnish
While
heating water to cook pasta; sauté ginger, sesame seeds, scallion and garlic in peanut oil on low heat. Do not allow garlic to brown. Add remaining ingredients for sauce except cilantro and sesame oil, stirring well to combine. Add
small amounts of water until you like the consistency—should be thin
enough to coat the pasta easily. Taste the sauce, as you may want to add
more of one or more ingredients. If it is too hot and spicy, add more
peanut butter. Turn off heat and add chopped cilantro and sesame oil. Cook pasta, drain and return to pot; add the sauce. Embellish with
cucumber, cilantro leaves and more sesame seeds Serve room temperature or warm.
salad |
Cold Noodle sauce |
Asian Style Dressing and Salad
3 parts olive oil
1 part white rice vinegar
1 part soy sauce
crushed garlic
Pepper
Salad greens, like romaine, radicchio, thinly sliced kale
Combine dressing and toss with vegetables. Serve noodles on top of salad.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Curried Lentil
Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Kale
A package of assorted heirloom lentils in my pantry was calling me and I came up with this dish, because it also included sweet potatoes and coconut milk--a combination that I was recently told was terrific together. The result--a creamy, super flavorful dish that is also light and super healthy! This is a complete meal, but you can also add some nice crusty bread.
Serves
4
2
tablespoons olive oil
2”
piece of ginger, finely chopped
6
garlic cloves, finely chopped
2
medium sized sweet potatoes, diced
1
medium kale, cut chiffonade
1
large shallot or scallion, finely chopped
2
carrots, peeled and diced
1
tablespoon curry
1
can unsweetened coconut milk
4 cups water
1
cup dried lentils, rinsed and picked over
1/3
cup coarsely chopped dried cherries
3
tablespoons cilantro stems, finely chopped and leaves for garnish
Heat
oil in a pot over medium heat and add garlic, ginger, shallot, lentils,
potatoes and carrots. Stir often until soften, about 7 minutes. Add curry and
stir until fragrant, 1 minute.
Add
salt, ¾ can coconut milk, water and bring to boil. Cover and let simmer, about
10 minutes or until lentils and potatoes are soft. Add kale for another minute
or two, add cherries, saving a few for garnish and cilantro stems. Ladle soup
in bowl, swirl in remaining coconut milk in 4 bowls and add cilantro and cherries as
garnish.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Sweet Potato and Spinach/Cheese Ravioli on Arugula with Pumpkin Seeds and Brown Butter
Inspired
by the delicious sweet potato ravioli appetizer I had at my nephew's wedding at
Bernards Inn last month, I decided to make them, but as a main course. I was
stumped about what to serve them with as a complete meal and decided to make
them with spinach and ricotta ravioli atop arugula. I thought the same sauce
the restaurant used for the sweet potatoes would work with spinach/cheese and I
was right...the dish was delicious! The topping is brown butter, sage, pumpkin
seeds and black truffle salt. I decided to shape the sweet potato ravioli like
wontons to make the dish look more interesting. Two servings was 12 wonton and
8 raviolis.
1
12 ounce package of Nasoya wanton skins (found in grocery store in produce
section)
Sweet
Potato Ravioli
¾
pound sweet potatoes
1 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons
butter, room temperature
Bake
potato and remove skins. Add sugar and butter; mash well.
Spinach
Cheese Ravioli
4
ounces cooked spinach
1
cup ricotta
1
clove garlic, minced
1
egg
1
ounce parmesan
Mix
together
Topping
12
or more sage leaves, roughly chopped
3
T butter
1/4
cup raw pumpkin (pepitas) seeds
Parmesan
Truffles
or truffle salt (optional)
For
ravioli:
Lightly
brush 1 wrapper with water, put 1 T filling on skin and top with another,
pressing edges together to seal. To shape like wontons, place about 1 teaspoon
of mixture in 1 wonton, fold to make a triangle and bring long sides together.
Can cover with plastic and refrigerate if desired.
Saute
pumpkin seeds in butter. Add sage and truffle salt.
Meanwhile,
working in batches, cook ravioli in pot of boiling salted water until tender,
about 3 minutes. Ravioli/wantons will float when done. Drain well. Put arugula
on dinner plate and add ravioli; drizzle topping over. Add parmesan.
I
had leftovers of both mixtures and baked the sweet potato ravioli the next day.
Lightly spray ravioli (I made ravioli) with olive oil and bake at 350 for 10
minutes. They get a bit crisp and are quite tasty. I added more spinach and
ricotta to other mix and added it to 1/2 pound of pasta. Next time, would add
some chicken, too.
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