REAL Lunch: Gemelli Pasta w. Garlic Marinara

4 c. Gemelli Pasta
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp basil, shredded fresh or dry
3 c. of fresh Marinara
1 TBsp Olive Oil
1/4 tsp salt
Mozzarella Cheese *optional

Set a pot of salted water to boil on high heat.

Meanwhile, in a medium sauce pan, quickly saute (1 min) the minced garlic and basil in Olive Oil over medium-low heat – taking care not to burn or brown the garlic, that will make it bitter. Add the Marinara to the garlic, oil and basil and lower the heat to low.  Stir well and cook for 12 – 15 minutes.

Check your salted water — when you have a rolling boil, add the Gemelli, stir to prevent sticking and cook until al dente (about 15 mins).

Drain the cooked pasta,

For packing to-go, scoop about 1 c. of pasta per container and top with 3-4 TBsp of Marinara, a few shreds of cheese or fresh herbs.

For dining-in, plate pasta and sauce — serve with crusty Italian Bread, that you can make ahead of time (like, the Sunday before) and a quick Romaine, Carrot and Tomato salad.

Delicious,

AND p.s. – you just got 4 servings of Vegetables in one meal!

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Jarabe. All-Natural Immune Boosting, Cold Fighting Super Syrup!

As a mom, I know there that during this time of year there is always someone running around the house with a cold or the beginnings of a cold. Little does the cold know – I have a super secret weapon in my arsenal.

This recipe was passed down from my great-grandmother to my grandmother to my mom (and probably goes farther back than that). Those members of the Hispanic community all have a variation of this I think. Home remedies, such as traditional herbals and massages, account for the most popular modalities. They are administered as syrup mixtures. The most commonly used ingredients are whale oil, cod liver oil, honey/royal jelly, aloe vera juice, oregano, onion/garlic, lemon, and castor and almond oil. A commercial syrup known as Siete Jarabes is often used by Puerto Ricans to treat cough, particularly in asthmatic patients. Siete Jarabes is a honey syrup that contains a mixture of sweet almond oil, castor oil, honey, wild cherry, licorice, and cocillana.

This is my version. Jarabe (Sounds like Ha-Ra-Beh) and in Spanish, literally means syrup.

INGREDIENTS:
6 Large Lemons

1 Head of garlic

1 Cup of Honey

DIRECTIONS:

Peel the lemons (Hint: you can save the peels and use them to make tea)

Place the peeled lemons in a food processor

Separate the cloves of garlic from the head, peel all of the cloves of garlic and add them to the food processor

Process on HIGH until smooth

Add the honey to the food processor

Pulse a few times to combine

Store in an air-tight container and KEEP REFRIGERATED. USE OR FREEZE WITHIN 7 DAYS.

The garlic is fantastic for breaking up mucus and shortening the duration of the common cold: “A well-designed study of nearly 150 people found that garlic helps prevent and treat the common cold. In this study, people received either garlic supplements or placebo for 12 weeks during “cold season” (between the months of November and February). Those who received garlic had significantly fewer colds than those who received placebo. Plus, when faced with a cold, the symptoms dissipated more quickly among those receiving garlic compared to those receiving placebo.” – University of Maryland Medical Center. Honey; purportedly ‘Nature’s Original Antibiotic’ fights infection with tremendous success, and Lemon with it’s super dose of Vitamin C has long been known to aid cold sufferers and bring relief.

Take 1- 2 Tablespoons of Jarabe as needed.

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