Apr 6, 2015
Another great recipe for leftover ham. Smoky ham and sweet corn combine with just a pinch of heat from cayenne pepper to create a flavourful, hearty soup that is suitable for any occasion. Serve with soda bread or saltine crackers.
Prep. time: 20 mins Cook time: 40 mins Servings: 8
Tip: If you want to add even more complex flavour, you can always grill corn on the cob on the barbecue. Just slice the kernals off the cob and substitute for the frozen corn.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1/4 cup onion, diced
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 2 tablespoons margarine
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 3 cups milk
- 2 cups cooked ham, diced
- 2 cups potatoes, diced, and cooked
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
- 1 (15 ounce) can cream-style corn
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
DIRECTIONS
- Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add diced potatoes. Cook 10-15 minutes; or until just fork tender (do not overcook). Drain.
- While the potatoes are cooking, dice ham, onion, celery and carrots.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute the onion, celery and carrots in butter until onion is softened.
- Stir in the flour and stir until well blended, then gradually add milk; stirring constantly. Bring to a boil and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in ham, corn and seasonings and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, add potatoes and cover and simmer about 15 minutes or until heated through. Ladle into bowls to serve and top with fresh parsley, if desired.
Apr 6, 2015
Rudi’s breads are free of any artificial chemicals, preservatives and dangerous pesticides.
Baked with heart and a little dash of sunshine.
For the month of April, we’re featuring Rudi’s Organic Breads, “baked on the bright side” in Boulder, Colorado, in small batches, using time-tested methods and no artificial ingredients. Rudi’s is very serious about their quality assurance and were one of the first to be part of the Official Organic Certification Programme in the U.S., which makes Rudi’s Organic Bakery veterans in their field. Does this translate across to improved flavour? Make your next sandwich with Rudi’s and see!
Visit Rudi’s website for Gluten-Free Recipes and Organic Recipes.
Apr 6, 2015
Here’s a new spin on a life-style drink that’s been growing in popularity recently, Harvest Bay Coconut Water!
Unlike the others, Harvest Bay use only fresh, young, green coconuts from Thailand, including the popular Ham-Nom , renowned for its sweet taste and refreshing flavour.
Harvest Bay Coconut Water is unsweetened, not made from concentrate and contains only 6gm of sugar per serving.
Harvest Bay’s mission is to deliver superior alternatives to the mainstream products we’ve been seeing.
We’re featuring the All-Natural Organic Coconut Water.
Apr 6, 2015
Leftover ham from Easter? Don’t let it go to waste. Instead, make this cheesy ham and vegetable casserole. It’s so good even the kids will eat the veggies!
PREP. TIME: 10 mins COOK TIME: 50-60 mins MAKES: 6 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ teaspoons butter or margarine
- 2 tablespoons minced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups milk
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 1 cup ham, cut into bite-size chunks
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 cup dark red kidney beans
- 1 small red and 1 small yellow Bell pepper, seeded, sliced, and cut into strips
- 1 cup green beans, partially cooked, drained, sliced into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9 X 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In small saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour. Cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes longer.
- Gradually stir milk into saucepan. Simmer, stirring frequently, 10 to 15 minutes or until thickened. Add cheeses. Cook, stirring constantly, 5 to 7 minutes longer or until melted. Stir in the white pepper.
- Add vegetables and diced ham to coated baking dish. Pour the cheese sauce over the vegetables.
- Cover and bake 40 minutes. Uncover; bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.
Apr 6, 2015
By Stephanie Simons,
Head Pharmacist,
Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire
Many of us experience gas, bloating and cramps on a regular basis but don’t know where it comes from. Yes, it could be something we ate, or it could be something more serious like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
According to the American Gastroenterological Association, IBS is a common disorder of the intestines that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, bloating and changes in bowel habits. Some people with IBS have constipation, others have diarrhea and some people experience both. Sometimes the person with IBS has a crampy urge to move the bowels but cannot do so. It’s a chronic and unpredictable condition with symptoms that can change over time.
If these symptoms sound familiar to you, you might have IBS. April is IBS Awareness Month, so we’re helping to raise awareness of this health issue. Of course, you will need a doctor to diagnose you. IBS is usually diagnosed after doctors identify certain symptoms that are typical for the condition and are present after excluding other illnesses. The doctor will take a complete medical history that includes a careful description of symptoms.
Millions of people live with IBS every day. There isn’t a cure, yet, but there are ways to improve your quality of life. It may take some detective work by you and your doctor before you find what works best.
There are many triggers of IBS, which you should be aware of if you have it. Many people report that their symptoms happen after a meal. Eating causes contractions of the colon. Normally, this response may cause an urge to have a bowel movement within 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. In people with IBS, the urge may come sooner and may be associated with pain, cramps and diarrhea. Certain foods may trigger spasms in some people. Sometimes the spasm delays the passage of stool, leading to constipation.
The kinds of foods you eat can also affect people with IBS. Foods such as caffeine, chocolate, fatty foods or alcohol can cause loose stools. In addition, women who have IBS tend to experience more symptoms because reproductive hormones can increase IBS symptoms.
Other triggers include stress, fatigue, overeating, or lack of exercise. All of these can produce intestinal symptoms of diarrhea, constipation or discomfort in everyone, but more so in those with IBS who seem more sensitive to these events.
So what can you do to treat IBS? First things first, start with a good diet. But before you make changes, it might be a good idea to record everything you eat in a food journal and note which items cause IBS symptoms. Once you’ve tracked your food, discuss the journal with your doctor. For instance, if you find that dairy causes your symptoms to flare up, he might suggest you decrease your intake.
Sometimes it is not what you eat but the amount you eat that activates IBS symptoms. Many find that eating smaller portions more frequently can reduce symptoms.
Incorporating more fiber into your diet also can help. High-fiber diets keep the colon mildly distended, which may help to prevent spasms from developing. Whole-grain breads, cereals and beans are good sources of fiber for patients with IBS. However, in some cases, fiber aggravates IBS so keeping a food diary is important.
The good news is that there are ways to manage IBS so that you can feel better. . The key is finding a healthcare provider who will work with you over the long term to help you treat your IBS.
Stephanie Simons is the head pharmacist at Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and has been practicing for over 20 years. She is a registered pharmacist with the Bermuda Pharmacy Council and is a member of the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association.
