Despite being April already, cold weather continues to randomly creep up and cut our sunshine short. This temperature fluctuation in the middle of flu season can take a serious toll on our well-being this month. Here are three healthy recipes to get us through this truly dreadful month.
Not another manic Monday
Most of us get our vitamin D from sunlight. Since Vitamin D boosts our mood and energy, it’s most important to incorporate it into our diet while we wait for sunny days to come. Here’s an easy breakfast that’s rich in vitamin D, which you can whip up with minimal effort on a Monday morning. Bonus tip: Add a couple of drops of CBD in your coffee for more of a mood booster.
Fresh Salmon Omelet
Courtesy of Taste of Home
Ingredients:
- 1 salmon fillet
- ¼ cup finely chopped onion
- ¼ cup finely chopped green pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 eggs
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 medium tomato
- ¼ medium green pepper
Directions:
- First, skin and bone the salmon. Then, saute half-inch pieces in a skillet with onion, green pepper, tomato, and one tablespoon of butter. Remove and set aside.
- Next, beat the eggs in a small bowl as you melt the remaining butter in the same skillet. Add the eggs over medium heat.
- After the eggs set, add the salmon mixture to the open side of the omelet. Sprinkle with cheese and pepper before folding the omelet over.
A new twist on a mundane menu
One way to beat cabin fever this month is by getting creative in the kitchen. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel here. There are a few truly easy ways of going about a new menu with some much-needed pizzazz.
First, you could take an inventory of ingredients that are about to expire and think of some ways to combine them into one—or two—meals. Another tip is to pull out a kitchen appliance that you haven’t used for awhile, which could lead to cooking a dish already know how to make but in a different way. Finally, you could try a new ingredient. Local farmers markets and specialty shops are a great place to discover new oils, spices, and produce.
Here’s a creative salad that’s loaded with texture and equally colorful and flavorful, and not to mention, healthy. The best thing about salads is that you can add literally a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g you want, so you use the following recipe as a framework but make it your own.
Shirataki Noodle Salad
Salad ingredients:
- Two 8-ounce packages tofu shirataki noodles
- ½ bell pepper
- 1 cup sliced red cabbage
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 3 diced green onions
- 1 cup green chickpeas
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1½ tablespoons sesame seeds
Dressing ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon chili oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon agave syrup
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh minced ginger
Directions:
- Drain liquid from the noodles before bringing them to a boil in a medium pot of water. Boil for two to three minutes. Remove the noodles from the stove and rinse them in a colander to cool.
- Combine cooled noodles with your bell pepper, cabbage, cucumber, green onions, chickpeas, cilantro, and sesame seeds.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a separate dish.
- Toss the salad with the dressing and chill before serving.
The secret ingredient to getting over a cold
If you have a lingering cough or a serious case of the sniffles, don’t overlook the power of a good soup. What’s more? A spicy soup. The temperature and flavors should really open up your sinuses and alleviate some of your symptoms.
BBQ Pork Hot and Sour Soup
Ingredients:
- 300 grams firm tofu that’s thinly sliced
- 50 grams chopped Shiitake mushrooms
- 30 grams rice vermicelli (soak for 5 minutes before draining and chopping)
- 100 grams BBQ pork
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 whole star anise
- 6 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water combined
- 2 medium eggs
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- Handful of Enoki mushrooms
- Sriracha to taste
Directions:
- Mix all of the first set of ingredients to a large pot and mix well. Mix cornstarch and water together before adding to the pot and mix. Simmer for two minutes.
- Beat the eggs and sesame oil together in a separate bowl before pouring the mixture into the simmering soup. Stir slowly until small strands form.
- Garnish with green onions, cilantro, Enoki mushrooms, and Sriracha.
Spring is also a great time to clean up around the house to prevent sickness through the rest of the year. When you find yourself fighting boredom, head to the kitchen to declutter the pantry, disinfect the fridge, and fix broken appliances, so you can fully enjoy spring as soon as it arrives.
