Inside HBC

Flatbread with Leeks, Capers, and Asiago Cheese

In the springtime, add leafy greens, onions, leeks, and other early vegetables to your meals. Looking at Food as Medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine (and maybe just by common sense?) eating seasonal foods is the way to go! The foods that arrive in the spring, tender green vegetables and herbs, provide energy as directly from the sun as possible and support us as we become more active and the days get longer.

Here’s an easy recipe for flatbread that can be adjusted to use your favorite seasonal toppings all year long.

• 2 cups GWF Baking Mix (sweet, salty)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup olive oil (sweet)
• 1 medium leek, white and light green parts, cut into long thin strips (pungent)
• 3 oz cheese, shredded or cut into 1/4 cubes (sour, salty)
• 2 TBS capers (salty)
• Freshly ground pepper (bitter)
• Olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Place 2 cups of GWF Baking Mix in a large bowl and add water and oil.  Mix well.
3. Press dough onto a lightly oiled baking sheet to about 1/4 in thick.  Drizzle about 1 tsp olive oil over top of dough and spread leeks evenly over the top. Generously spread cheese and capers over the leeks.  Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper, and drizzle again with olive oil.
4. Bake in oven for 25 minutes.  Remove, slice and enjoy!

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.