Inside HBC

Wasabi Crusted Chicken Tenders

The Pungent flavor can also be described as “hot”.  I prefer calling it pungent because not everything that falls into this flavor has heat in the traditional sense, but many things do.  Garlic, jalepeno peppers, ginger and cinnamon all share the pungent flavor, but so do parsley, cilantro, and peppermint.  I like to describe pungent as a “burst” of flavor.

The following recipe is very simple, and combines all of the flavors at once.  All you need is a nice salad or a dark green vegetable side.  Broccoli is my favorite!

• 1 cup of almond flour or *GWF Baking Mix (sweet, salty)
• 4 tsp wasabi powder (pungent)
• 4 skinless chicken breasts or 8 chicken tenders (sweet)
• 4 TBS peanut or coconut oil (sweet)
• 4 tsp soy sauce (salty)
• 4 tsp mirin (rice wine vinegar) or vinegar (sour)
• 3 TBS Sake (sweet, bitter)
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced (pungent, sweet)

1. Combine flour and wasabi powder in shallow dish.  Rinse chicken, then pat dry.  If using breasts, slice into three strips lengthwise to resemble tenders.  Dredge through wasabi flour.
2. Heat 2 TBS oil in large skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken until golden brown and cooked through, 3-5 minutes each side depending on thickness.  Transfer to a platter, and repeat with remaining oil and chicken.
3. Once chicken is finished, add soy sauce, vinegar, and Sake to the pan and bring to a boil, scraping any browned bits from pan.  Drizzle over the chicken and sprinkle with green onions.  Serve with a side of dark green vegetables.  Enjoy!

*GWF Baking Mix is a grain-free, high protein mix that can be purchased exclusively at the Heavenly Bodies Clinic and website.  It is extremely versatile, and can be used to make sweet and savory baked goods like pancakes, waffles, muffins, breads, and crackers.

Kale with Garlic and Bacon

Five flavor eating is about making sure you eat enough, but not too much, of healthy, delicious, real food.  The flavor I found the most difficult to satisfy when I first started eating this way is Bitter.  I found that many dark leafy greens, like kale, Swiss chard, collard greens, mustard greens, etc, are mainly bitter in flavor.  I never ate these before, so I began playing with recipes.  Here’s one that I loved.  You can substitute whichever green you prefer for the kale, and just adjust the cooking time.

• 1 bunch of kale, tough stems and center rib cut out and discarded (bitter, sweet)
• 5 strips of bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (salty, sweet)
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or minced (pungent, sweet)
• 2 cups of chicken broth or water (sweet)

1. Stack the kale leaves and slice into 1/4 inch strips with a sharp knife.
2. Cook the bacon in a wide, 6-8 inch heavy pot over moderate heat (about 4 on the dial).  Stir occasionally until crisp, then remove to paper towel to drain.
3. Drain all but about 3 TBS of fat from the pot.  Turn the heat to low (about 2), then add the garlic and cook until golden, about 30 seconds.
4. Add the kale and toss with tongs (or stir) until it is bright green and wilted, about 1 minute.  Add broth and simmer, partially covered, for about 6-10 minutes, until just tender.
5. To serve, toss with bacon, salt and pepper to taste.  Enjoy!

Note:  This recipe can also be found in the “Heavenly Bodies Clinic Recipes” book, which can be ordered at: http://www.heavenlybodiesclinic.com/biodetox/detox_products/index.nclk

Strawberry Lemonade

The weather outside is frightful!  Frightfully warm, that is.  Here’s a quick recipe that will cool you down (as both the citrus and the strawberries have a cooling effect) and at the same time satisfy the sweet and the sour flavors.

• 1 1/2 cups of lemon and or lime juice (sour)
• 5 cups of water
• 1 16 oz package of fresh strawberries, hulled and pureed (sweet & sour)
• 1 cup of heavy whipping cream (sweet)
• 20 drops of stevia liquid (sweet)

1. Combine the juice, water, and stevia in a large pitcher.  Add the pureed strawberries and the cream.  Stir until combined.
2. Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and a mint leaf, if desired.  Enjoy!

Note:  This recipe can also be found in the “Heavenly Bodies Clinic Recipes” book, which can be ordered at: http://www.heavenlybodiesclinic.com/biodetox/detox_products/index.nclk

About Valentino

5-Flavor Eating

Did you know that balancing the flavors of the food you eat on a daily basis can actually prevent disease?  Food can and should be considered medicine.  You really can eat to lose weight, balance your emotions, and improve your overall health.  When your meals contain a variety of flavors and textures, you simply feel more satisfied sooner and don’t tend to overeat, burdening your body with too much.

The 5 Flavors:

• Sweet
• Salty
• Sour
• Pungent
• Bitter

When you include each of these flavors when you eat, you will find that you feel more satisfied, more energetic, and less inclined to snack.  Your concentration may improve, your moods may be more steady, and life just may seem brighter.  Come back to this category for scrumptious recipes and delicious meal ideas to help you on your journey to optimum health.