Spice Up Your Life!

Spices are for seasoning food, right? We use them to change and enhance the flavors of our meals and make them tastier. But, did you know that spices are also health foods? They aren't just tasty, they are also super healthy for you!

 

Turmeric
Turmeric is a yellow root that you can find at most grocery stores. It can help prevent breast cancer, protects against UVA damage and can make your skin look younger and healthier. It also can help lower cholesterol, alleviate allergies and aid in brain health. This little root is more than meets the eye! Add it to your smoothies, salad dressings and so much more!

Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a pretty popular spice. It helps to control blood sugar, prevents irritable bowel syndrome(IBS), and it can help to ease a stomach ache. Cinnamon can also help to preserve food and neutralize odors. It can aid in lowering LDL cholesterol, prevent tooth decay and help in weight loss. No wonder this spice is so popular! I'm sure you've used cinnamon before, but I like to add it to oatmeal, smoothies, muffins and bread and even curries!

Ginger
Ginger is another root, but it's not as vibrant as turmeric. It can help to relieve motion sickness, nausea and migraines. Ginger can also ease or prevent heart burn, reduce inflammation and help fight cancer. Ginger isn't just good for making cookies anymore! Add it to your smoothies. salad dressings, rice and so much more!

Cumin
Cumin is a smoky spice, commonly used in chili. Like ginger, cumin aids in digestion. It can also help fight diabetes and treat food poisoning. Cumin can aid in increasing a mother's milk supply and treat skin problems such as eczema and acne.  The  next time you are making chili, tacos, or any other spicy dish, throw some cumin in there!

Cayenne
Cayenne  is a pepper that is made into a spice. It also aids in digestion and can boost the metabolism. Cayenne can relieve migraines, help fight off colds and the flu,  help in weight loss and prevent allergies. It also it a source of vitamin A and E. I love adding cayenne to Pico de Gallo, Guacamole, Tacos, and so much more. If you are looking to add some serious spice, cayenne is the one for you!

So these are just a few of the many many spices out there! Hopefully now you look at spices as health foods as well as flavoring and seasonings! Adding just a bit of spice into your diet can help you have a healthier body and life!

I hope you enjoyed this post! Please share it with your friends and family to spread the love of healthy living!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!

H. Banana

Oven Roasted Peppers and Onions

Bell Peppers and onions have become a staple in my house. I love to throw them in just about any thing! They are great sautéed for tacos or taco salad, on hamburgers, in quinoa.. the list goes on!

Another way bell peppers and onions are good is roasted in the oven. Roasting the veggies makes them soft yet crispy in places. These are a perfect side dish, topping for tacos, salads, fajitas, or mix in with rice or quinoa. The sweetness of the peppers and onions blend so well with the salt and pepper to make a simple, yet delicious dish!

So, lets get started making these Oven Roasted Peppers and Onions!

Ingredients:
3 Bell Peppers. Try and get each one a different color.
1 Large Onion (or 2 smaller ones)
4 TBS Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 F.
Cut up your Peppers and Onions. Last summer, when we went to Houston ,Texas and I went to a cooking class with my cousin. While there ,we learned basic knife skills. One of the most useful things I learned was, how to cut up a pepper without wasting too much of it. I want to share with you how I cut up my bell Peppers!

We buy our peppers at Costco in big bags because we use them so much. In each bag is two of each color( Yellow, Red, and Orange) except green. If you can, pick one of each for a great presentation!

Wash and dry your peppers and get a large cutting board ready. Begin by slicing off the top of the pepper.

If there are any seeds in the top, brush them out into a bowl or sink.

Then, slice down the sides, cutting along the white seed pocket in the center.

Keep going until you are left with four pepper sides, a top, and the seeds separated.

Dispose of the seeds and move on to the top of the pepper.

Cut along the green steam. You don't want to go to close, but don't waste a whole lot either!

 

Now that we have our peppers de-seeded we can move on to chopping them up. In this recipe you want to keep the pieces rather large.

Do the same with your onion. Sadly, I'm not the greatest at cutting up an onion so I won't show you that!

Throw the peppers and onions together in a baking pan. I am using a 9x13 to get a flatter layer of veggies, but use what ever you have handy!

Aren't the colors amazing? This is why I like to use all three colors instead of just one! It makes for a much prettier dish!

Sprinkle with the olive oil and salt and pepper. Stir well to cover each piece of veggies with oil and seasonings. Then, place in the oven for 30-45 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes. When they are done the peppers will be soft and the onions translucent and soft. The edges will have started to crisp and the smell will be amazing!

Let cool for a bit before serving!

I served these along side my Honey Roasted Carrots from my last post. If you won't to know how to make those too, check that post out!

Along side the spicy chicken, sweet carrots and fresh salad, the peppers and onions added a great flavor to our meal! They were a favorite of everyone!

I hope you will try these delicious oven roasted veggies. If you like it, please share it with a friend!

Keep healthy and Safe!
H.Banana

NOTE: Be careful when working with knives! I don't want anyone to get hurt!

Follow the blog on Twitter @ Spinachisgood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett