Tag: womens health

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This Cucumber-Avocado-Tomato Sandwich Has 20 Grams of Protein – from EatingWell. A Light and Easy Lunch

This tomato, cucumber and avocado sandwich is the perfect light and easy lunch. With just a few fresh ingredients, you can have a satisfying meal in just 10 minutes. Creamy avocado and hummus provide plant-based protein and healthy fats, while juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers bring refreshing crunch and flavor. Layer it all on whole-grain bread for an extra boost of fiber, and you’ve got a quick and wholesome sandwich at the ready!

Refreshing, light and satisfying, our Cucumber-Avocado-Tomato Sandwich is an easy and delicious lunch that will really hit the spot. Every sandwich starts with and needs a good condiment. For this one, we amplify store-bought hummus with the sweet tang of honey mustard and fresh dill for a hit of herby brightness. Then we stack on the fiber-packed veggies: cucumbers and onions give a nice crunch and contrast to the creamy, heart-healthy avocado and the juicy tomato; the alfalfa sprouts add great texture. Cheddar cheese adds bone-boosting calcium and a salty, sharp flavor that complements the fresh veggies perfectly, and hearty toasted whole-wheat bread is the perfect vessel for all these wholesome toppings. Keep reading for our expert tips, including recommendations on swapping out hummus flavors. 

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • Experiment with different flavors of hummus for your spread. Try garlic hummus, dill pickle hummus or even make your own. To prepare a batch of our Classic Hummus, use a food processor and add a handful of ingredients: garlic, chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil, tahini and salt. Best of all, this flavor-spiked hummus takes just 10 minutes to make!
  • While a chef’s knife can cut cucumbers, a serrated knife is more effective for slicing tomatoes. The serrated edge easily cuts through the skin and flesh without damaging the soft interior.

Nutrition Notes

  • Cucumbers aren’t brimming with the typical vitamins and minerals that you’ll find in many fruits and vegetables, but they are an important vegetable because they contain antioxidant phytonutrients that can help protect against inflammation. They are also more than 95% water, which makes them a hydrating vegetable—great for your skin. 
  • Avocados are known for being high in fat, but it’s the type of fat that your heart loves: monounsaturated fat. Avocados are also brimming with fiber, which has been shown to improve the health of the microbiome, and impacts your health in many ways, including strengthening your immune system, improving cognition and lowering inflammation. 
  • There are few things tastier than a really good tomato, and they are really good for you. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C, which is essential for healthy immune function. They are also high in a carotenoid called lycopene, an antioxidant that helps maintain healthy cells throughout the body, and eating foods with lycopene regularly can help lower your risk of heart disease. 
  • Whole-wheat bread is a heartier choice of bread for this sandwich and you’ll get the benefit of more nutrients and more fiber. Eating more fiber can lead to better digestive health. Whole-wheat bread is also a source of important B vitamins—essential for your working metabolism.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup plain hummus
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
  • 1½ teaspoons honey mustard
  • 2 thin slices whole-wheat bread, toasted
  • 1 (1-ounce) slice sharp Cheddar cheese
  • ½ small tomato, thinly sliced
  • ¼ medium avocado, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup alfalfa sprouts
  • ¼ cup thinly sliced English cucumber
  • 1 tablespoon thinly sliced red onion
  • Pinch of salt

Directions

  1. Stir ¼ cup hummus, 1 tablespoon dill and 1½ teaspoons honey mustard together in a small bowl until well combined. Spread the hummus mixture on 1 side of each of 2 toast slices. Layer 1 cheese slice, tomato slices, avocado slices, ¼ cup alfalfa sprouts, ¼ cup cucumber and 1 tablespoon red onion over the hummus on 1 toast slice; sprinkle with salt. Top with the remaining toast slice, hummus-side down. Cut the sandwich in half diagonally.
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Neven’s recipes: Open Steak Sandwich with Caramelised onions. Beef Stroganoff with Fluffy rice and dill pickle Shavings @rte lyricfm

There are times when you want something tasty and delicious but just don’t feel like cooking a full meal. This is one of those dishes you’ll find yourself cooking again and again. If you want to make it even more substantial, try serving it with crisp, fat chips and watch how quickly the plates are cleared!

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 large red onions, thinly sliced and separated into rings
  • 1 tbsp light muscovado sugar
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 4 x 175g (6oz) thin-cut rump or sirloin steak
  • 2 small ciabatta loaves
  • 8 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp wholegrain mustard
  • 4 ripe tomatoes, sliced
  • 50g (2oz) wild rocket
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and preheat the grill. Fry the onions for 10 minutes, until softened and golden, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle over the sugar and balsamic vinegar and cook for another 2–3 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved and is slightly syrupy, stirring continuously. Keep warm.

Heat a griddle pan over a high heat. Rub the remaining tablespoon of oil into the steaks and then season them generously. Add them to the heated pan and cook over a high heat for 3–4 minutes on each side for well done, or according to taste.

Split the ciabatta loaves in half and arrange on the grill rack cut side up. Place under the grill until lightly toasted. Mix the mayonnaise in a small bowl with the two mustards.

Place a piece of the toasted ciabatta on each warmed serving plate. Add a good smear of the mustard mayonnaise and then arrange a layer of the tomato slices on it. Season to taste and add the rocket. Place the steak on top and add the reserved caramelised onions. Dollop over the rest of the mustard mayonnaise to serve.

Beef Stroganoff with Fluffy rice and dill pickle Shavings

Traditionally this was served with buttered noodles, not unlike tagliatelle, but it is so much nicer with fluffy rice. The soured cream is not strictly necessary and regular cream will work just as well.

Serves 4

  • 1 tbsp plain flour
  • 2 tsp sweet paprika, plus extra to garnish
  • 450g (1lb) sirloin steak, cut into thin strips
  • 25g (1oz) butter
  • 2 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 1 large shallot, finely chopped
  • 150g (5oz) button mushrooms, halved
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 150ml (¼ pint) chicken stock
  • 4 tbsp white wine
  • 2 tsp tomato purée
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 150ml (¼ pint) soured cream
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • fluffy rice, to serve
  • dill pickle shavings, to serve

Toss the flour and paprika together in a shallow dish with seasoning and then use to coat the steak. Heat half the butter and oil in a frying pan over a high heat. Add the steak and stir-fry for 4–5 minutes, until sealed and lightly browned. Tip onto a plate and set aside.

Reheat the pan over a medium heat. Add the rest of the butter and oil and then add the shallot. Sauté for 2–3 minutes, until softened but not coloured. Increase the heat to high and add the mushrooms to the pan with the garlic. Season to taste and continue to sauté for another 2–3 minutes, until tender.

Add the white wine vinegar and allow to bubble right down, then add the stock, wine, tomato purée and mustard, stirring to combine. Tip the sautéed beef with any juices back into the pan, then bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for about 5 minutes, until the sauce has reduced by half, stirring occasionally.

Stir the soured cream into the pan and return to the boil, then reduce the heat again and simmer gently for a couple of minutes and cook until the sauce has thickened and slightly reduced. Divide the fluffy rice between warmed plates and spoon over the beef stroganoff. Add dill pickle shavings and serve at once.

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Chocolate Banana Smoothie with Flahavan’s Barista Oat Drink #FlahavansOats😃😘

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  • Happy National Smoothie Day! To start your day with a double dose of deliciousness and a much-needed mid-week energy boost, we’re sharing one of our favourite smoothie recipes – Chocolate Banana Smoothie! 🌞💪 Made using our very own Flahavan’s Barista Oat Drink, this smoothie is a game-changer…. cool, refreshing and moreish, it’s the perfect blend of health and indulgence. Enjoy! 🍌🍫
    #FlahavansOats #OatSmoothies

    Serves 1|Takes 5 mins

    Ingredients:
    1 Ripe Banana, sliced and frozen
    1 tablespoon of Cocoa Powder
    250ml Flahavan’s Barista Oat Drink
    Chocolate/Cacao nibs to decorate

    Method:
    Combine all the ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until smooth.
    If the bananas aren’t frozen, add a couple of ice cubes to the ingredients.
    Garnish with a few slices of banana and some chocolate nibs and serve immediately.
    And Enjoy your tasty smoothie on National Smoothie day !!22h