Fresh Salsa

Salsa is one of our favorite snacks.  We not only like to eat it with tortilla chips, but also on rice, Bulgar wheat, or on nachos, enchiladas, etc.  This recipe is adapted from Liana Frisbie's mom's recipe.

Not only are tomatoes a good source of Vitamin C and A, but tudies show that eating tomatoes lower the risk of cancer.  The secret may lie in lycopene, the chemical that gives tomatoes it's red color.  Processed tomatoes (i.e. canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, ketchup, etc) contain even more lycopene because cooking breaks down cell walls, releasing and concentrating carotenoids.  Eating tomatoes with a small amount of fat enables lycopene to be better absorbed by the body. (I often make guacamole and serve with the salsa, this would fulfill that requirement. Cilantro is a blood purifier, and has the ability to bind and excrete toxic heavy metals with efficiency and without unwanted side effects.  

Amazing Hummus Dip

The first time I had Hummus was at my sister-in-law Kathy's house.  She's a fabulous cook, and it didn't take long to devour that delectable snack. Unfortunately I don't have her recipe, but we really enjoy this one.

Several recent studies suggest this pale legume deserves the limelight.  Packed with fiber, protein, folate and hard-working phytonutrients, chickpeas (garbanzo) beans have a lot to brag about. Australian researchers  found that chickpeas helped with glycemic control and insulin resistance — which may be valuable in the prevention and managment of diabetes.  Other studies suggest chickpeas can tame your appetite (boost satiety) and could even help trim your waistline.