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February 2012 

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Visiting Kitchens: Comforting Crockpot Coffee Beef Pot Roast           

Senior Humor: Do Your Very Best

An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation.  

As he was about to get the anesthesia he asked to speak to his son. 

Need to Cut Salt Out of Your Diet? Here's How to Do It:

     If you've recently suffered a heart attack, your doctor likely advised you to cut back on your sodium (salt) intake, but for many people, that's easier said than done. The typical American diet has more salt in it than you may think.

     Even if you do not add salt while cooking or use a salt shaker at the table, you are probably eating too much. Processed foods, like frozen dinners, boxed noodle and rice dishes, canned soups and canned vegetables, are very high in sodium. Short of going on a hunger strike, what can do you do to cut back on the sodium?

Here are four tips from the Heart Failure Society of America:  

1. Stop adding salt to your food.
2. Adapt preferred foods to low-sodium versions.
3. Pick foods naturally low in sodium.
4. Learn to read food labels.

     It can be difficult to change your eating habits. It may take weeks before you enjoy the taste of low-sodium foods, but your taste buds will adjust. Eventually you may not even miss the salt.

     To learn more about heart failure and how to manage your condition, log on to the Heart Failure Society of America's Web site: www.abouthf.org.

 Courtesy ARA Content  

To learn more about how to take care of your heart, visit our "Caring for Your Heart" resource page on our website by clicking here. 

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Comforting Crockpot Meals Fit the Bill On Cold Nights  

Winter is here, and nothing says comfort like coming in the door and smelling a delicious and nutritious dinner just a moment away.

   Crockpots, the wonderful invention of the late 1970s, make all that possible. First introduced by Rival under the trademarked name Crock-Pot, they are a busy family's lifeline. Put the ingredients in the crock the night before, stick it in the fridge, turn it on before you leave for work, and by the time you walk in the door at night, it's done. Crockpot's insulator properties keep the cooking temperature even so it doesn't require constant attention.

   Many professional chefs are big fans of crockpots. Chef Ken Goodman, department chair for Culinary Arts at The Art Institute of New York City says "Nothing beats the crockpot for convenience, and with its slow, gentle cooking action, you can get beautiful, braised meats just loaded with flavor."

   Among his favorite crockpot recipes is Crockpot Coffee Bean Pot Roast. "Add your leftover fresh brewed morning coffee to the meat, vegetables and tomatoes, cook for 8 to 10 hours and you'll have an absolutely delicious meal waiting for you when you get home," says Chef Goodman. For something slightly more exotic, but just as easy, Chef Goodman likes a simple Crockpot Lamb Stew. "It's all about the slow cooking, and giving the meat and vegetables time to release all their flavors," he adds.

   At the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Chef Odette Smith Ransome extols the virtues of crockpot cooking to her students. "Many of my students cook for their whole families, even though they are full-time students," she says. "I encourage them to use crockpots and experiment with different kinds of spices and vegetables" adds Chef Smith Ransome.