Getting Buff with Alton Brown

The hubby and I try to be a little adventuresome in the kitchen. Last week we embarked on a new journey: Alton Brown's Buff Smoothie.

Strawberries! Photo Credit: Morguefile

The infamous Food Network food guru claims he lost 50 lbs. by enjoying this berry-filled smoothie for breakfast and making healthier eating decisions.

Since I love everything about smoothies, and the hubby thinks losing a few pounds would be fun, we've been mixing up these smoothies in the old blender. So far, so good. The purple concoction is sweet, filling and a pretty shade of purple. I'm hooked. I'm still amazed these smoothies stick with me until lunchtime.

Has anyone else tried Alton Brown's Buff Smoothie? (Get the recipe HERE!) I'd love to hear if it has helped you shed a few pounds. Of course I know drinking a smoothie for breakfast isn't going to make pounds melt away. But, when combined with exercise, watching portions and making healthier eating decisions, I wonder if this smoothie really has some magical powers. It seems like a lot of (natural) sugars to me!

Thoughts?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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All About Pumpkin!

Colorful maple leaves blanket my yard, the evenings beg for a roaring fire in the fireplace and fall produce abounds at the farmer's market. It's pumpkin season!

Fresh Pumpkins
Photo by Ladyheart, Morguefile.com

I truly love everything about autumn including the availability of local squash. From acorn and butternut to spaghetti, I really enjoy them all. But, the best known player in the bunch is probably the pumpkin.

Nutritional Information About Pumpkins

One cup of fresh mashed pumpkin contains 49 calories and 2 grams of protein. Pumpkin is cholesterol and fat free. If you're looking to increase your vitamin C, E or riboflavin levels, pumpkin is a good source of these nutrients.

The number one vitamin found in pumpkin is vitamin A. One mashed cup contains 245 percent of your daily requirements!

Pumpkin is even good for your skin. Check out my article about pumpkin seed oil on Daily Glow.

Cooking and Baking with Pumpkin

Once you've sparked your curiosity about baking with pumpkin and gobbled up a homemade pumpkin pie, get ready to experiment. In addition to pumpkin bars, pumpkin muffins and pumpkin cookies, the squash also works as an ingredient in a few healthy dishes.

Mashed Pumpkin
Photo by Maxstraeten, Morguefile.com

Australians serve pumpkin soup as often as Americans enjoy a bowl of chicken noodle soup. During my time in Melbourne, Australia I sampled many versions of pumpkin soup. One of my favorite cooks, Alton Brown, offers his recipe for Squash Soup here.

Cubes of pumpkin caramelize beautifully under a drizzle of olive oil in a hot oven. Add a few sliced onions and green peppers to the pan to create a colorful autumn side dish.

If you're looking to skim a few calories from your dinner tonight, whip up mashed pumpkin in lieu of mashed potatoes. Boil and mash the squash the same way you prepare potatoes, then season with sea salt, fresh cracked pepper and sweet cream butter.


Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!
Angela