Spinach…did you know it did ALL of this?

As we continue down the healthy eye month path, we would be remiss if we left out spinach as a wonderful natural way to fight eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. However, spinach aids so much more than good eye health!

Spinach is a natural powerhouse and is almost at the top of Mother Nature’s perfect foods list.  Here are some additional health benefits of the wonder food:

Anti-inflammatory:  The nutrients in spinach can help conditions where inflammation plays a role, like asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimers.

Anti-Oxidant:  Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamins C and A. These nutrients are important in reducing the amount of free radicals in the body.

Iron:  Spinach is a wonderful source of iron, a mineral that’s important for menstruating women, or are more at risk of iron deficiency.  Iron is an important part of hemoglobin, which moves oxygen from the lungs to all of the body’s cells.  It’s vital to have oxygen in our cells for energy and overall health.

Strong Bones:  The vitamin K in spinach is important for maintaining bone health.

Health “further down there”:  The vitamin C and beta-carotene in spinach help to protect the colon cells from the damaging effects of free radicals, and the fiber keeps things moving along smoothly.

Are your kids a little bit afraid of the green stuff?  Do what I do and sneak it into your favorite sauces.  They will never know it’s there but you certainly will.

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CobornsDelivers Delivers on the Deals!

You already know you can find great recipes, tips and updates from CobornsDelivers on their Facebook page, but did you know you can also find awesome deals there too? Every Thursday, CobornsDelivers will post a new promotion on their Facebook fan page for you to take advantage of …just visit the page and look for the promo code, then enter the code when you check out. It’s that simple!

Quantities are limited, so I suggest acting fast to get in on these great deals. Last week was a free ham to the first 100 customers who placed an order of $150 or more – check back this Thursday to see what the next deal of the week will be!

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April Fool’s Day Food Pranks

I love celebrations of any kind – this is why April Fool’s has become a “holiday” in my family (albeit a “minor” one and not on par with Thanksgiving or Valentine’s Day.)

Pulling pranks is a yearly ritual and our kids have come to expect that we try to fool them at least one time on the first day of April. Last year, I made my son a ham and cheese sandwich for school but I didn’t remove the plastic wrapper on his American cheese. His classmates got quite the show from my son as he was trying to figure out what was wrong with his sandwich.

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Foods that are Good for Vision

I’m as blind as a bat.  Well, maybe not technically—but without my glasses on or contacts in, the world is a fuzzy, blurry place.  But even with my “I’ll never be a pilot or an astronaut with NASA” eyes, I value them and expect them to work for me throughout my lifetime.

With that expectation, I need to keep in mind the importance of protecting my vision.  March is “Eye Health Month”—what a great time to think about foods that are good for your vision and look at ways to add more to your menu.  Thankfully there are lots of delicious, healthy foods that are good for your eyes and the rest of your body.

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Healthy Snack Alternatives for Final Four Parties

It’s March Madness time.  “Bracket” talk is everywhere—on Facebook, around the office, and in the newspaper.  I enjoy basketball but admittedly like it more when it’s accompanied by a good party and delicious food.  Alas, according to the calendar, shorts and swimsuit season will also be here soon.  If you’re like me, it might be wise to think about some healthy alternatives to some of those typical “sports party” dishes that can be high in fat and calories.

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  Baked Tortillas with Fruit Salsa

  Dips:  What party menu is complete without some type of dip?  Instead of serving a cheesy dip, think of dips that are made with nutritious ingredients.  Personally, I’m a big fan of hummus, which is high in fiber and protein.  I like to serve it with whole grain crackers and raw vegetables.  Another dip to consider is guacamole.  It’s relatively high in calories and fat, but it’s the good-for-you (monounsaturated) fat found in avocados.  Serving guacamole with a baked, trans-fat free chip can help it be a healthy choice.  Another option is to make a home-made salsa.  Check out “Baked Tortillas with Fruit Salsa” found on cobornsdelivers.com.

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Tips for Making Your Final Four Party A Slam Dunk!

With March Madness in full swing, there is still plenty of hoops left before the field of 64 is pared down to 4.  However, since some of the anticipation can be gone by then, you can be sure your Final Four party will still be something to look forward to with these festive ideas.

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Plan Ahead to Save Money

Last year, my family went on a 2-week driving vacation.  As you can imagine being gone that long can mean a lot of eating out, but as a family we made a pact – to try and avoid fast food at all costs.

As spring break draws near, you might be planning a road trip of your own.  If car travel is in your near future, you will benefit from these food tips – while saving time, money and your health.

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Super Food for our Super Athletes

With March Madness upon us, we are once again reminded that sports are an important part of life for most of our kids (and us adults too!). As devoted parents, we support their passions with endless car rides, innovative snacks, healthy meals and hours watching them play. And as winter is waning, many of us are faced with final tournaments to close out the season.

The pressure is building for the young athletes at my house as they are feeling the weight of the responsibility to win the next big championship. I feel a little helpless watching my stressed out offspring and I find myself wondering what I can do to help. Lately, I’ve been turning to my stove to offer some relief. Food, after all, offers a stress-free cure to most pressures and anxiety!

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St. Patrick’s Day Dessert!

Slainte, Erin Go Bragh and Happy St. Patrick’s Day.  Oh goodness – I do love this day. Most people who know me tend think I’m 100% Irish.  I’ve got the fair skin, the red hair and the fiery Irish wit… err… maybe that’s temper… but I digress.  Truth is – I have no idea exactly how much of my family tree was seeded in Ireland though my grandmother has always told it’s not much.  No matter what the lineal percentage – in my heart I’m 100% Irish.  For as long as I can remember – Celtic pride has run through my veins.

So while I grew up learning the ways and recipes of my more prominent family heritage – Dutch and Norwegian – my heart and mind would always wander west across the North Sea and the United Kingdom to my Emerald Isle.  I eventually traveled there and took in everything I could of the food and culture. We’re talking beer-battered, skin on fish and chips to leek and vegetable soup to blood sausage and of course tea and scones.  But the delicious dish I have for you today is not one I picked up in Ireland – though it does use three of the country’s most popular beverages. I’m talking about Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey’s Cream Cheese Frosting.  Oh, did I mention there’s a chocolate ganache filling that has a little Jameson Irish Whiskey in it?

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A family favorite recipe for St. Patrick’s Day!

We all know that holidays mean two things – traditions and food. And since I’m 100% Irish, my favorite holiday is St. Patrick’s Day, a day that brings back fond memories of my childhood and the lingering scents of corned beef cooking in the kitchen.

When we were young, my Dad would have green carnation corsages for us to don on the morning of March 17^th for school!  We wore every piece of green we could find in the house, and covered our shirts with buttons that said things like, “Kiss me I’m Irish” and “100% Irish”. It was pure joy and fun for all 14 of us children.

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