Defining Natural and Organic Food with Recipes

From time to time, everybody wants to try something a little different with a delicious recipe to spice up your table, whether it is a holiday or not. Many of you have not tried making a recipe using all-natural or organic ingredients. It will make all the difference in the taste and health benefits to try cooking this way. Think of all the tasty, healthy dishes just waiting for you and your family to try. But first, let's learn a little about these different ways of preparation before we go any further.

Generally, shopping for your food is the most basic and best way to take control in how good it will be for you and your family. Most families have their own favorites, but as a whole, Americans are not eating enough whole foods, foods that come to us pretty much the way the left the tree or the animal. As a nation, we are consuming too much processed, or boxed foods and it is showing up in our trillion dollar health budgets and obesity from the oldest to the youngest. So next time you go food shopping try to keep this in mind and look for foods that are edible in a natural state.

The next thing to consider is 'Is this food "natural", processed" or "organic"? These are three very different ways of growing and producing foods and the labels will tell you which they are.

1) Natural - means that the item does not have added hormones or steroids, and no added extra ingredients. For example, if the label says Natural Apple Juice - apples or apple juice is all to be expected in that jar with no preservatives, or flavoring added. But natural on the label does not mean that it is organic.

2) Processed foods are anything with added sugar, white flour, any chemicals (long words that are unpronounceable), etc., powdered, etc. It will come boxed, dried or microwaveable. Beware of these foods; many will be favorites.

3) Organic foods are fresh fruits, vegetables, any meat or fish product which was allowed to grow in an environment where no pesticides were used, no chemicals of any sort were used in order to bring that food to your produce or meat department. It remains as close to the original state as possible. This includes meats, milk, produce, nuts, seeds, and even dried fruits and meats. It is the healthiest way to shop for the food that are putting into your body. And it is also the friendliest to the environment and is the 'Green' way to shop.

With this information in hand, shopping will once again be under your control. If you are new to the natural and organic ways, start out slow. Cut back on your "instant foods" - and all the packaged snacks. Let that only be 20% of your foods. Let the remaining be fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits, meat, fish, milk, eggs, pastas, potatoes and whole grain bread. Try that for a few months and see how much better you feel. Remember you also get the choice on your fresh foods of natural, organic, or simply processed. It's all on the labels!

Now that you are armed with some nutritional ammunition, here are a few recipes for you to try. They are a few especially good ones from my collection, and they are Delicious! You can't go wrong. Try one or all of them, and I am giving them to you in both the original, full- powered version complete with sugar and flour, but then I am also going to give you a choice in preparing them the natural or organic way. This can be an experiment for a lot of you or just some new, good recipes for those of you experienced in natural and organic. I personally like the natural, organic and healthier ways, but I was raised eating the same bad foods - it's all a process and a decision to live a better life. Here are four ala carte recipes that you can prepare regular, natural or organic and add a little Pizzazz to your table.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Take the stems out of 2lbs. of mushrooms: Portabellas or Baby Portabellas work well. Use organic if you prefer. Look for it on the label.

Mix together:

1 lb. cream cheese or natural ricotta

3 cloves of garlic, finely minced

1/2c. grated Parmesan

1-2 t. chopped flat leaf parsley

Spoon cheese mixture into mushroom caps and place on cookie sheet.

Broil for 5-6 minutes - or until cheese is just bubbly. These make great orderves and will melt in your mouth. Sprinkle with Paprika for a Holiday Flair.

Pineapple Chicken

With any meat ALWAYS get the brand with no steroids or hormones added. If you prefer, get organic, farm-raised.

3lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast Turn oven on to 425*

In a quart size ziplock plastic bag, combine:

2c. pineapple juice - regular or organic

1 clove of Garlic, minced

1/2c. Olive Oil

½ t. cinnamon

½ t. cumin

½ t. ground pepper

1t. Sea salt (regular is fine)

Place chicken breasts in bag and swish around until completely covered. No muss - no fuss. Place in refrigerator and let soak at least 1 hour. Then drain any excess juice and bake chicken in oven for approximately 25 minutes depending on the size. You want to cook the chicken at a higher temperature so that the fructose in the pineapple begins to caramelize. You can plate by adding a slice of pineapple on top of each breast and the placing on a bed of brown rice, and adding a nice green vegetable. Or, simply sprinkle with fresh chopped Basil (dried is fine) and serve with baked yams and fresh sautéed green beans, if you like. As suspected, this marinade gives the chicken a slightly sweetened flavor with no sugar and the spices add the spark of interest. Different and delicious!

Almond Pear Crumble Preheat oven to 375*

In a medium bowl crumble together:

¾ c. flour (or whole wheat flour)

1/3c. brown sugar & 1/4 c. sugar or 1/2c. wild honey

6 T. Butter - softened (do not use a substitute)

In a 1 ½ quart shallow baking dish or casserole combine:

6 ripe pears, sliced into ½ wedges

1/4c. sugar or honey

1 T. flour

1t. vanilla

1t. cinnamon

pinch of salt

Combine the pear mixture and spread in dish. Take the crumble mixture, and you guessed it, crumble over the pear mixture. Bake 45 minutes or until pears are tender and the topping is golden brown. If you want to take it over the top, add a scoop of Old Fashion vanilla ice cream, or plain natural yogurt. Serve warm.

Oatmeal Pancakes

In medium bowl:

1 1/2 c. flour or wheat flour

1/2c. brown sugar

4t. Baking Powder

1 1/4c Oats - natural, organic

2 c. milk, or Almond, Rice or Soymilk

2 eggs - Cage Free, Organic or regular

Combine all ingredients until lumps are out - (it will not be smooth as silk). Prepare a griddle or skillet with a light oil like canola that will take the high temperatures. Use a ¼ cup measure as your scoop and drop on hot griddle. When bubbles form and pop, pancake is ready to turn. Cook until golden brown.

Place in tall stack on plate with butter, if you prefer, and then drizzle your favorite marmalade or jam over the top. Fresh or natural...... with sugar or without you can adjust the levels of sugar to your taste. I bet these pancakes will be the Best Cakes you've ever tasted. Enjoy!