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At
"Gina's Kitchen", we hope that we can
inspire and
motivate you to cook
delicious, homemade meals. |
| Did
you know? |
Most
people believe that yellow, white and pink tomatoes are low in
acidity. That's not the case. A lot of misinformation has been
printed in the popular press about "low acid"
tomatoes referring to those with a sweet, non-tart
taste. The higher sugar content actually masks the
acidic flavour. Since all tomatoes are high in acid, Gina adds sugar to her
red tomato
sauce.
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| Recipe |
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Basic Tomato Sauce Once you try this
easy, delicious recipe, you may never eat sauce from a jar again!
6-8 Servings
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1 28-oz can crushed plum tomatoes 1 5-oz
can tomato paste 1 ½
cups water 2
large bay leaves 1
teaspoon dried oregano 2
sprigs fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried basil) 2
tablespoons salt Fresh
ground black pepper
1 tablespoon sugar (brown or white)
In a large pot, heat olive oil and crushed
garlic clove until golden.Remove garlic and add the next 9 ingredients.
Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring
occasionally for 15 minutes and remove. Use right away or
allow to cool for 1 hour and refridgerate or freeze. |
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Welcome to Gina's
Kitchen
Food
Facts
Learning While Enjoying Food
Food
is vital to human life. And because it is so crucial, we
tend to overlook many interesting bits of information about
food. When you take some time to learn about what you eat,
you can get a bit of a smile. Here are some interesting
facts that may amaze you:
Most
people believe that yellow, white and pink tomatos are low in
acidity. That's not the case. A lot of misinformation has been
printed in the popular press about "low acid"
tomatoes referring to those with a sweet, non-tart
taste. The higher sugar content actually masks the
acidic flavour.
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Bananas
are the number one fruit for the world’s athletes. Just
two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous ninety
minute workout. Bananas are also known to help with dealing
with various diseases and preventing others. Bananas are
very low in sodium and high in potassium, ideal for blood
pressure issues. Snacking on bananas helps keep the blood
sugar up. This helps with avoiding morning sickness.
Bananas
can aid heartburn because it has a natural antacid
component. Regular consumption of bananas has been linked to
significantly cutting the risk of strokes. Because they are
high in iron, bananas help produce haemoglobin production
and helps with anaemia. Bananas contain tryptophan which the
body uses to produce serotonin. Serotonin helps lift
depressed moods and helps people relax.
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Carrots
have been consumed in many cultures for centuries.
Cultivation began over a thousand years ago in the
steppe regions of Central Asia. Originally, carrots
were pretty much any colour except orange. It is an
integral part of many Western cuisines today and
it’s prized for its nutritional value.
Carrots
provide carbohydrates, protein, calcium, and iron.
It is rich in fibre, potassium, biotin, thiamine,
and Vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, and K. It provides the
highest level of beta-carotene in vegetables
commonly consumed. Beta-carotene provides protection
against cancer development. Carrots are easily
digested by most people and provide relief of
constipation and other gastro-intestinal issues.
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Garlic
provides true wealth in both its nutritional and
medical value. Garlic has been used in food
preparations for thousands of years. It has been
used medically for just as long. Medical studies
have shown that garlic can help with various heart
issues. High cholesterol, blood clots, and high
blood pressure can be alleviated with the
consumption of garlic.
Garlic has also been shown to
help in preventing cancer and against some
infections. What makes garlic so powerful? Garlic
contains dozens of active compounds that have been
shown to help in various ways. Garlic can be
consumed naturally in food or with garlic capsules.
Benefits aside, garlic just make foods taste
fantastic. And what is a bit of garlic breath
between friends?
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Apples
These
marvels of nature deserve their reputation for keeping
the doctor away when you eat one a day. And now, it
seems, they can help you melt the fat away, too.
First of all, they elevate your blood glucose (sugar)
levels in a safe, gentle manner and keep them up
longer than most foods. The practical effect of this
is to leave you feeling satisfied longer, say
researchers.Secondly, they’re one of the richest
sources of soluble fiber in the supermarket. This type
of fiber prevents hunger pangs by guarding against
dangerous swings or drops in your blood sugar level,
says Dr. James Anderson of the
University of Kentucky’s School of Medicine.
An
average size apple provides only 81 calories and has
no sodium, saturated fat or cholesterol. You’ll also
get the added health benefits of lowering the level of
cholesterol already in your blood as well as lowering
your blood pressure.
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Peppers
Hot,
spicy chili peppers fall into the same category as hot
mustard says Dr. Jaya Henry of Oxford Polytechnic Institute in
England. He studied them under the same circumstances
as the mustard and they worked just as well. A mere
three grams of chili peppers were added to a meal
consisting of 766 total calories. The peppers’
metabolism-raising properties worked like a charm,
leading to what Henry calls a diet-induced thermic
effect. It doesn’t take much to create the effect.
Most salsa recipes call for four to eight chilies –
that’s not a lot.
Peppers
are astonishingly rich in vitamins A and C, abundant
in calcium, phosphorus, iron and magnesium, high in
fiber, free of fat, low in sodium and have just 24
calories per cup
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Berries
This is the perfect
weight-loss food. Berries have natural fructose sugar
that satisfies your longing for sweets and enough
fiber so you absorb fewer calories that you eat.
British researchers found that the high content of
insoluble fiber in fruits, vegetables and whole grains
reduces the absorption of calories from foods enough
to promote weight loss without hampering nutrition.
Berries
are a great source of potassium that can assist you in
blood pressure control. Blackberries have 74 calories
per cup, blueberries 81, raspberries 60 and
strawberries 45. So use your imagination and enjoy the
berry of your choice.
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Broccoli
Broccoli
is North America’s favourite vegetable, according to a recent poll.
No wonder. A cup of cooked broccoli has a mere 44
calories. It delivers a staggering nutritional payload
and is considered the number one cancer-fighting
vegetable. It has no fat, loads of fiber, cancer
fighting chemicals called indoles, carotene, 21 times
the RDA of vitamin C and calcium.
When
you’re buying broccoli, pay attention to the colour.
The tiny florets should be rich green and free of
yellowing. Stems should be firm.
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Melons
Now, here’s great taste and great nutrition
in a low-calorie package! One cup of cantaloupe balls has 62 calories, one
cup of casaba balls has 44 calories, one cup of honeydew balls has 62
calories and one cup of watermelon balls has 49 calories. They have some
of the highest fiber content of any food and are delicious. Throw in
handsome quantities of vitamins A and C plus a whopping 547 mgs of
potassium in that cup of cantaloupe, and you have a fat-burning health
food beyond compare.
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Onions
Flavourful, aromatic, inexpensive and low in calories, onions deserve
a regular place in your diet. One cup of chopped raw onions has only 60
calories, and one raw medium onion (2.15” diameter) has just 42.
They
control cholesterol, thin the blood, protect against cholesterol and may
have some value in counteracting allergic reactions. Most of all, onions
taste good and they’re good for you.
Partially
boil, peel and bake, basting with olive oil and lemon juice. Or sauté
them in white wine and basil, then spread over pizza. Or roast them in
sherry and serve over pasta.
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Hi
Gina
Just wanted to let you know your recipes are a great hit
here!! Everyone wants to know when your next book will
be ready. Congratulations on it!!!!!!!!
Barb - Drayton, Ontario
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Kudos
to Gina's Kitchen!
Easy to prepare recipes with everyday ingredients always
available in my kitchen.CD
style holder allows you to prop-up each recipe for
convenient
viewing while preparing. I particularly like that each
recipe has a photo of
the finished product. Veal Marsala is excellent for
entertaining friends.
Best meatball recipe ever!
Sid - Steveston, BC
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Hi Gina!
I just wanted to tell you that my mom made your Manicotti and
Caesar salad on the weekend, and I made the Italian
Wedding
Soup. It was unbelievably delectable! My kids loved
the soup so much that Zayne had 3 bowls. We are looking
forward to trying more!
Thanks for the great recipes!
Elisa - Guelph, Ontario
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