Chic-Shuk Secrets

All peppers are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, but Red Peppers are simply bursting with them plus considered to be a great source of Vitamin B6. This very nutritious vegetable and the antioxidants it contain help preventing cell damage, cancer, and diseases related to aging. Further more, Red Pepper support the immune function, can reduce inflammation like that found in arthritis and asthma, promotes proper blood clotting and strengthens bones.

With all of these great health benefits and nutrition values, I love cooking this Moroccan-style healthy veggie meal since satisfy as steak and tasteful as a gourmet dish:  With 302 calories, 9 grams of protein,  8 grams of fat and 4 grams of fibre per serving, you cannot go wrong with this MUST TRY RECIPE !!!

Couscous-Stuffed Red Pepper W/Yogurt:

Ingrediants:

85 grams of whole wheat Couscous
2 tbsp Raisins
50 ml hot vegetable stock
1 tsp clear honey
1 large lemon- squeez for juice
2 garlic cloves
small bunch flat-leaf parsley
150 ml tub non-fat natural yogurt
2 tomatoes , roughly chopped
2 red peppers , halved, cores removed
1 tbsp olive oil

How to make:

• Pre-heat oven to 400* degrees.

• Place couscous and raisins in a heatproof bowl. Stir stock, honey and lemon juice, then pour over the couscous. Cover and leave to absorb for 5 mins.

• Place the lemon zest, garlic and parsley in a mini food processor and whizz until everything is well chopped.

• Stir 1 tbsp of this mixture into the yogurt, then set aside. Stir the remaining mixture into the couscous with the tomatoes and some seasoning.

• Spoon the couscous mixture into each pepper half, then sit them in a small roasting tin. Drizzle with oil, then bake for 40 mins until peppers are tender.

• Serve with the yogurt and a simple green salad on the side, and- ENJOY!!! 

Healthy diets almost always contain fish, which have fewer calories and higher nutrition values than other meat sources. It’s also one of nature’s most versatile foods – can be steamed, baked, fried or poached and even great as raw, in the form of sashimi.
Many health institutes recommend eating up to two portions of fish a week, based on several different studies. Eating fish could lowers the risk of death from heart disease by 36 per cent, thanks to the oils in fish, that appear to reduce stickiness of blood, therefore can prevent it from clotting. Fish also contains selenium which thought to have cancer-fighting properties plus omega-3 fatty acids which are believed to raise levels of the brain chemical- Serotonin, which aids in reducing depression. Omega 3 regulate the body’s inflammation cycle as well, which prevents and relieves painful conditions like arthritis and cystitis.

One of the benefits I like the most, from eating fish, is its ability of reducing signs of age! Some dermatologists say that a fish rich diet acts like a facial smoothing-out age lines.
 

Recommended fish: Salmon, Trout, Sardines and Tuna:

Try some of my favorite healthy recipes, taken from MyRecipes.com:

Baked Salmon With Dill Herb:

 
Tuna with Ginger Cream:

Trout with Brown Butter and Pecans:

Sardine and Potato with Romesco Sauce:

Dill is one of the greatest herbs, and is sadly under-appreciated and underused in the U.S.  Native of the Mediterranean region and Southern Russia, Dill grows wild among the corn in Spain and Portugal and upon the coast of Italy, however rarely occurs in Northern Europe.  

This herb is a considerable medicinal value as stimulant and carminative stomachic properties.  Is herbal benefits are great treatments to ailments and problems such as colitis and gas, healing of the skin and controlling of infections.

 The freshly cut leaves can be chopped up and used to enhance the flavour of salads and fish dishes, since its tangy spice blends with all of these healthy values!  

Here are some of my favorite supper easy- making, low-calories weight watcher`s salad recipes with Fresh Dill:

Corn & Mushrooms Mediterranean Salad:

Ingredients:     (4-6 servings)

2 cups sweet corn kernels

1 small red pepper, seeded and chopped

1 large chopped pickle

1 small canned sliced mushrooms, drained

2 table spoons chopped Dill`s leaves

2 table spoons low-fat mayonnaise

 Salt and Pepper as desired    

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and- ENJOY!  Only 120 calories and 3 grams of fat per servings!

Delicious Albacore Tuna Salad:

 Ingredients:     (4-6 servings)

1 large canned Albacore Tuna in water, drained and squashed.

 1 large chopped pickle

2 Celery sticks, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 table spoons chopped Dill`s leaves

2 table spoons low-fat Mayonnaise

1/2 Iceberg lettuce- chopped large

 Salt and Pepper as desired    

Preparation:

In a medium bowl, Mix all ingredients except lettuce. Place lettuce in a larger bowl and  top with the tuna mix.      

ENJOY!    Only 115 calories and 3.5 grams of fat per servings!

Light Cucumber Salad:

  Ingredients:     (4-6 servings)

2 large House Cucumbers or 6 medium Persian Cucumbers (recommended), sliced thin.

1 medium red onion, peeled, halved and sliced very thin

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill

2 table spoons capers

1 single pack Splenda sweetener  

Salt, Paper as desired    

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and- ENJOY!  Only 45 calories and 1 grams of fat per servings!