Medical Update*

Chef Virginia, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Academy, shares her creative and professional expertise in creating the Pain-Free Recipes detailed in our program on-line and in our new book. Chef Virginia will add new recipes regularly to our web site at http://www.tampamedicalgroup.com/  and www.ipainfreediet.com. She uses the anti-inflammatory foods discussed in our book in simple, but delicious and easy to make recipes.

• Diet For a Pain-Free Life:  Learn to eliminate foods that trigger arthritis symptoms and increase healing foods that reduce inflammation.

• Steamed cauliflower: See recipe below for Sunny Cauliflower *, 1 cup cauliflower with sauce (1 tsp. mayonnaise, 1 tsp. mustard, 1 tablespoon cheese per serving) salt and fresh ground pepper to taste, 75 calories

• Steamed broccoli and parmesan cheese: In a medium bowl squeeze 1/2 lime over a head of broccoli, steam covered for 6 minutes, top with 2 tablespoons parmesan or sharp cheddar cheese and salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. 1 cup broccoli with 1 tablespoon cheese 65 calories

• 6 egg whites

• ½ teaspoon Spanish paprika

• 2 each large pita pocket bread

• 1 package soy bacon, pre-cooked

• 2 tablespoons soy mayonnaise

• salt and fresh ground black pepper

• 2 fresh, ripe tomatoes, sliced thickly

• 1 head fresh Boston lettuce, washed and dried

Pre-heat a non-stick skillet with a few sprays of fat free cooking spray. Scramble the egg whites with the Spanish paprika and season with salt and pepper.

Cut each pita pocket in half and gently open up the bread and spread 1/2 tablespoon soy mayonnaise on each half. Layer with a few sliced of soy bacon. Add as many tomato slices as you like and the egg whites. Add the fresh Boston lettuce and enjoy.

Preparation time 10 minutes

Variation: Soy sausage patties.

Makes 4 servings

• 1 pound fresh green beans, rinsed, drained and trimmed if necessary

• 8 ounces cherry tomatoes, rinsed and cut in half

• Juice of one lime

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Aunt Jane's Crazy salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

• 4-6 oz. fillets of fresh salmon

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat the grill or broiler of your oven.

Lightly rub each fillet with some of the oil and season well with salt and freshly ground pepper. Grill or broil on each side for up to 6 minutes or until desired doneness. Start preparing the ratatouille while the fillets are cooking.

Ratatouille

• 1 ½ cups eggplant, diced

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1 cup zucchini, diced

• 1 cup yellow or zucchini squash, diced

• ½ cup yellow onion, diced

• ½ cup red pepper, diced

• 3 tablespoons garlic, sliced

• 12 basil leaves, torn gently into chunks

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano or (1/2 teaspoon fresh, chopped)

• Pinch dried chili flakes

• ¼ cup dry white wine

• 1 cup canned tomatoes, diced and in juice   

• 1/4 fresh lemon wedge                                                                  

• Salt and pepper

Salt the eggplant with about 1-2 tablespoons of salt and let drip for 20-30 minutes in a colander lined with a paper towel. Gently press to remove excess bitter juices.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat for several minutes until you can see the oil rippling slightly and smell an olive aroma.

Lightly brown the eggplant. Add the zucchini, squash, onion, red pepper, garlic, basil, oregano, and chili flakes.

Sauté until all vegetables begin to color and are just cooked through.

Add the wine, lemon juice and tomato and cook until liquids have evaporated.

Place ratatouille in a large bowl. Season and serve with the grilled salmon fillets.

Preparation time 20 minutes

Makes 4 servings

Q & A

Can you tell me about Splenda?

Sandra Kelp, Phoenix, Az.

Chef Virginia: Splenda Brand Sweetener is the brand name for the ingredient sucralose, is made through a patented, multi-step process that starts with sugar and converts it to a no calorie, non-carbohydrate sweetener. The result is an exceptionally stable sweetener that tastes like sugar, but without sugar's calories. After consumption, sucralose passes through the body without being broken down for energy, so it has no calories, and the body does not recognize it as a carbohydrate. Season your dishes to your liking.

 DIET FOR A PAIN-FREE LIFE, McIlwain, HH & Bruce, DF, Available at Barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com,

*The purpose of this page and linked pages is to answer common questions for health problems as well as to present unique ideas towards taking care of your health.   The ideas, procedures and suggestions are not intended as a substitute from the medical advice of a trained health professional.  All matters regarding our health require medical supervision.  Consult your physician before adopting the suggestions in this book, as well as about any condition that may require diagnosis or medical attention. The authors disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of techniques described here.