GOODNESS
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.

Rosemary: This piney herb adds great flavor to many meats, but the surprise is how good it is for you. It has anti-inflammatory chemicals, making it useful in the treatment of liver and heart disease as well as asthma. It seems to have some potent anti-tumor properties and has been researched for its use against breast, colon and skin cancer. Although still being researched, it may be a useful tonic for the brain and has been used since ancient times as a memory enhancer. Although it is just fine in foods, you should avoid strong tinctures of rosemary if you are pregnant.

Thyme: This aromatic herb has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties and contains thymol, a well-known antiseptic (you might be gargling with it). It's good for the digestion and is supposed to have some aphrodisiac qualities, although that just may be be due to the well-known connection between love and good food.
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Recipe

Herb-Basted Chicken with Pearl Barley, Bacon, and Root Vegetable Pilaf

serves
prep time: 10
cook time: 126

ingredients

  • Pilaf
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed, drained
  •  ,
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 1/4 cups 0.25- to 0.333 inch cubes peeled root vegetables (such as celery root, carrot, turnip, rutabaga, and/or winter squash)
  •  ,
  • Pinch of sugar
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
  •  ,
  • Chicken
  • 1/3 cup canola oil
  • 4 large chicken breast halves with skin and bones
  • 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

directions

pilaf:

Bring 2 cups water and salt to boil in medium saucepan. Mix in barley. Cover pan, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until barley is tender, about 30 minutes. Drain barley.

Sauté, bacon in large pot over medium heat until brown and crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings from pot. Add shallot, stir 30 seconds. Add cubed vegetables and sugar, sauté, 6 minutes. Add barley, lemon juice, and herbs, stir 2 minutes. Mix in bacon, season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 hour ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Cover and place in oven to rewarm while chicken roasts, adding water by tablespoonfuls to moisten if dry.)

chicken:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Place chicken, skin side down, in skillet. Cook until skin browns, about 7 minutes. Add butter and herbs to skillet, stir to blend. Turn chicken skin side up. Place skillet in oven, roast chicken until cooked through, basting occasionally with herb butter, about 20 minutes.

Divide pilaf among 4 plates, top with chicken. Spoon pan juices over.