GOODNESS
Allspice: No, this isn't a mixture of everything in your spice rack, but rather a dried berry of the pimenta tree. If that's a surprise to you, imagine how Columbus felt -- he thought it was pepper (thus the name pimenta, which is Spanish for pepper). The berries look a little like plump peppercorns and the flavor is pungent, but it is not pepper. The best allspice comes from Jamaica.
For the freshest flavor, you should buy allspice in berry form and grind or crush it as needed. The taste is a pleasant mix of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Used in jerks and for pickling, it goes great with meat and gives a nice kick to soups and stews.

Broccoli: Although not the favorite of many kids, broccoli is one of the healthiest foods you can find. It is a member of the cabbage family and is rich in isothiocyanates, sulforaphanes and indoles, which are big words for powerful cancer fighters. It is chock full of nutrition, and on top of it all is good for your eyes. All parts of the broccoli are good for you, including the stems and leaves. Even the sprouts are touted as alarmingly healthy. So it's probably time to get over your aversion and bite the broccoli.

Carrots: We all know that carrots are good for your eyes, but did you know they have anti-cancer properties as well? They have the nicely named carotenoids that are antioxidents -- chemicals that mop up the damage that results from ordinary metabolism. That, in turn, helps to keep your cells from turning rogue and hanging with the cancer gangs. If that's not enough to make you grab a carrot, they turn out to be immune-system stimulators as well, meaning you'll have fewer occasions to ask "What's up, doc?" Yes there's a little sugar in them, but also a lot of fiber to buffer it, so only the most sugar-restricted people should worry. By the way, the vitamin K in carrots is easier to absorb if you eat them with a bit of oil or fat, like a dip.

Celery: Celery isn't just for Bloody Marys, although that's as close as many people get to this healthful veggie. Celery may have been used as a hangover cure in ancient Rome, but its real power lies in its ability to lower blood pressure and to keep your weight under control. If you have either of these problems (and they often travel together) you could do worse than grabbing a stalk of celery to chew on.

Garlic: Garlic is in the same family as onions and leeks, and purportedly provided ancient Roman soldiers the courage to battle the barbarians. Whether or not it gives you courage, it is known to lower blood pressure, which is great for your heart and helps prevent stroke. In addition, it has a long history as a digestive aid, so don't be shy with this wonderful herb, no matter what it does to your breath!

Oregano: This tasty herb finds itself in much Mediterranean cooking, and is just loaded with nutrients. It is good for the digestion, and has many powerful anti-oxidants (even more than blueberries) and anti-carcinogens. It also has antibacterial and antiparasitic properties. As if that weren't enough, is also an antifungal, even taking on the notorious candida yeast. You want to use fresh oregano, as the dried herb loses the volatile oils that are responsible for its many benefits.
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Recipe

Black Sea Bass with Moroccan Vegetables and Chile Sauce

serves
prep time: 10
cook time: 70

ingredients

  • Sauce:
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped leeks (or onions)
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 dash freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups chopped fresh tomato
  • 1 large green bell pepper, cored, seeded and thinly sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium, fat-free vegetable stock
  • Fish:
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup cauliflower florets
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium, fat-free vegetable stock
  • 1 quart fresh spinach
  • 2 large summer squash, cut into 0.25 inch chunks
  • 4 fillets black sea bass (about 3/4 cup each)
  • 1 cup couscous
  • 2 teaspoons pine nuts
  • 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta

directions

Line a 9 foot x 12 foot baking dish with foil. Set aside. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook leeks, garlic, oregano, curry, allspice and black pepper until leeks become translucent, stirring, 3 minutes. Add tomato, bell pepper, celery and soy sauce. Cook until pepper softens, 3 minutes. Add stock. Simmer, covered, 28 minutes. Place carrots, cauliflower, broccoli and stock in prepared dish. Bake until vegetables begin to soften, 11 minutes. Remove from oven. Add spinach and summer squash. Place fish on top of vegetables. Drizzle with sauce. Bake until fish is cooked through and vegetables are tender, 18 minutes. While fish cooks, prepare couscous as directed on package. Top each plate with 1/4 cup couscous, 1/4 of vegetables and 1 fillet. Sprinkle with pine nuts, dill and feta. Serve immediately.