This digital edition published by Parragon Books Ltd in 2016 and distributed by
Parragon Inc.
440 Park Avenue South, 13th Floor
New York, NY 10016
www.parragon.com
Copyright Parragon Books Ltd 2016
Copyright 2016, Igino Marini with Reserved Font Name IM Fell English Italic Copyright 2016, Kimberly Geswein with Reserved Font Name Dawning of a New Day Copyright 2016, Huerta Tipogrfica with Reserved Font Name Sarala
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electric, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright holder.
ISBN 978-1-4723-9881-9
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
New recipes: Georgina Fuggle
Introduction text: Anne Sheasby
New recipe photography: Mike Cooper
Home economy: Lincoln Jefferson
Cover photography: Haarala Hamilton
Designer: Karli Skelton
Senior Editor: Cheryl Warner
Illustrations: Sarah Dennis, courtesy of New Division agency
NOTES FOR THE READER
This book uses standard kitchen measuring spoons and cups. All spoon and cup measurements are level unless otherwise indicated. Unless otherwise stated, milk is assumed to be whole, eggs are large, individual vegetables are medium, and pepper is freshly ground black pepper. Unless otherwise stated, all root vegetables should be peeled prior to using.
The times given are only an approximate guide. Preparation times differ according to the techniques used by different people and the cooking times may also vary from those given.
Garnishes, decorations, and serving suggestions are all optional and not necessarily included in the recipe ingredients or method. Any optional ingredients and seasoning to taste are not included in the nutritional analysis. The nutritional values given are approximate and provided as only a guideline; they do not account for an individual cooks abilities, imprecise measurements, and portion sizes.
The Natural Way
Fresh, natural, and simple ingredients play an important role in eating well and encourage a clean and health-giving approach to everyday eating. Incorporating more nutrient-dense foods and fewer processed ones into your everyday diet will also help to boost, balance, and benefit your overall health and happiness.
Forget fad diets and quick-fix weight-loss plans, because we have the perfect guide to healthy home cooking, the natural way. This inspiring and creative cookbook includes an amazing array of delicious, nutrient-rich recipes to help you feel more energized and revitalized, plus some hints and tips and savvy solutions for good, simple, natural eating. These recipes include plenty of fresh and natural ingredients, as well as a range of superfoods, making them perfect for the healthy home cook who wants to create tasty, nourishing, nutritionally balanced dishes that are ideal for everyday eating. We cater for all tastes and preferences, plus we feature some scrumptious sugar-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free options for those who need to avoid certain foods.
A healthy breakfast is important to get you off to a good start, because it boosts your energy levels in the morning and improves your ability to concentrate and perform. Therefore, to stimulate your senses first thing, we begin with a great choice of sustaining breakfast recipes, including the always popular pancakes, plus delicious blinis, baked eggs, oatmeal, muffins, and waffles.
Next, we focus on a tempting assortment of energy-packed lunches that are sure to hit the spot just when your stomach begins to rumble. Appetizing soups, superfood salads, flatbreads, frittatas, wraps, tarts, and quiches are all given the spotlight in this chapter.
When energy levels begin to flag during the day, why not turn to our next chapter to discover a savvy selection of supercharged snacks and sides? These are guaranteed to recharge and sustain you until your next meal. Top picks include popcorn, power balls, snacking nuts, roasted fries and wedges, not forgetting wonderful falafels and mashed carrots.
Delicious dressings and sauces follow next, and these are perfect for adding a beneficial health boost to vibrant salads and wholesome pasta dishes, plus we include some standout dips to enjoy, too.
A fabulous feast of versatile vegetable-loaded dishes includes choice cold and hot creations, featuring a range of vegetables, beans, rice, and pasta, as well as wholesome grains and seeds, such as farro and quinoa.
Power-packed protein dishes include a mouth-watering collection of healthy, balanced recipes from around the world, boasting nutrient-rich salads and stir-fries, hearty roasts and grills, plus some feel-good couscous creations.
A scrumptious selection of healthy desserts and baked items promises plenty of appealing recipes to satisfy sweet cravings. Temptations range from family favorites, such as brownies and cupcakes, to chilled or frozen sensations, such as cheesecakes, mousses, and sundaes.
Finally, to finish things off on a healthy high note, we showcase some nourishing nectars that are ideal for refreshing and revitalizing. We include invigorating juices, tonics, coolers, whips, and milk shakes, as well as some restorative teas and infusions.
Nourish and Cleanse
Explore the diverse selection of simple, natural, healthy foods that are readily available, and aim to include a good variety of these foods in your everyday eating plan. Include lean meats, white fish, oily fish, a variety of beans and legumes, plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five different portions every day), some whole dairy foods as well as soy or other dairy-free alternatives, whole grains, rice, pasta, eggs, nuts, and seeds. Herbs and spices add an arsenal of clean, natural flavors to many dishes, too.
Aim to eat an assortment of different fruits and vegetables in different colors, including a number of those high in antioxidants, such as beets, berries (for example, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries), broccoli, cherries, kale, red grapes, red bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes, and so on.
Healthier choices of grains include fiber-rich brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain flours, and whole-wheat bread. Occasionally, opt for something different, such as barley, buckwheat, quinoa, and farro, to add interest and variety to your meals.
Nuts are packed with protein, plus they provide a variety of valuable vitamins and minerals, and although nuts are typically high in fat, the fats tend to be the more healthy unsaturated types. Seeds, such as pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, chia, and flaxseed, add a nourishing nutrient boost to dishes, too. For the sweet stuff, choose unbleached sugars instead of refined ones, if you can.
If you are a meat or fish eater, then choose leaner cuts of meat and poultry and include both white fish and oily fish in your diet (oily fish are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids).
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