Butter Beans!

Butter Beans
Finely chopped red bell pepper, green bell pepper, white onion, garlic, celery, pitted Kalmata olives, green olives add juice of fresh lemon, salt, cracked black pepper, olive oil and a tablespoon of wine vinegar.

Drain and add two cans butter beans and one can black beans or beans of your choice. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit 1 hour in fridge. So good!
15 minutes tops

Rabini

Rabini:

Cut stems, trim and clean one bunch rabini (rabe). Steam 4-6 minutes until bright green. Set aside hot & dry.

In frying pan add olive oil, saute 4-6 large sliced cloves of garlic. When golden add 1/2 lemon juice and rabe. Be careful of splatter. Toss in pan with coarse Kosher salt / sea salt. Slide everything in platter and serve with crusty bread.
15 minutes, tops

Europeans Ban Fluoridated Water

The European Court of Justice recently ruled that fluoridated water is a medicine and is may not be used for food preparation (Doug Cross, "Europeans Ban Fluoridated Water," Well Being Journal vol. 18 No. 6 (2009): 23). Food products made with fluoridated water can't be exported between EU states without a medicinal license, even if legal in the country of origin (ibid). Further, processed foods from outside the EU cannot be market if they contain fluoridated water (ibid).... The decision effectively bans all processed food products coming from countries such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand unless they can be proven to have prepared using only water that is not fluoridated (ibid).

According to the New York State Department of Health website, fluoridated water has been proven to help in tooth decay. The website sates that "community water fluoridation benefits everyone in the community" (New York State, " Fluoridation in New York State: Benefits," n.d., http://www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/dental/fluoridation/benefits.htm).

Interestingly, studies show that excess fluoride has been linked to hormone disruption, thyroid problem, weakened bones, reproductive and developmental system damage, neurotoxicity hormonal distription and bone cancer. 2/3 of Americans and their pets drink water that has been artificially fluoridated on the grounds that it improves dental health. Fluoride is also found in foods that have been ground in high-fluoridated soils. Once ingested with food or water, fluoride accumulates in the bones (ibid).

8 out of 10 national dog food brands contain fluoride in the amounts up to 2.5 x higher than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows for human drinking water standards (Environmental Working Group, "Fluoride in Dog Food," n.d., http://www.ewg.org/pethealth/report/fluoride-in-dog-food). This website recommends avoiding dog food brands that include any chicken by-product, poultry by-product meal, chicken meal and beef and bone meal...this "meal" typically is made from ground bones, cooked with steam, dried and mashed to make inexpensive dog food filler and is typically a a source of excess fluoride.

If you notice, water brands like poland springs sell water that promotes added fluoride to help teeth. New York City fluorinates its water as do most other cities.

Correlation btw Breast Cancer and Flaxseed

According to Jade Beutler, flaxseed is one of the most powerful phytonutrients (phytonutrient: a fruit, vegetable or grain that possesses potent cancer fighting and protective compounds). Flaxseed contains a phytonutrient called lignan which once ingested is converted to compounds that compete with estrogen for binding sites on estrogen receptors. A flushing results of excess estrogen (excess estrogen is linked to high incidence of color and breast cancer) from the body. Lignans have anti-tumor and estrogen-mimicking capabilities and have also been found to be powerful antioxidants and to possess anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal components.

Notes on buying flaxseed: you should buy flaxseed oil in the refrigerated section and look for 'lignan rich' oil. Check for BOTH the "pressing date" and the "best before" date and make sure that the time span between the two does not exceed 4 months. (Jade Beutler, "The Role of Flaxseed Oil in Preventing Breast Cancer," Well Being Journal Vol. 18, No. 6 (2009): 27.

The Goal of the Pure Natural Kitchen is to bring healthy, wholesome food to people who either are unable to cook for themselves or who do not have time.

Studying at a small culinary school in New York City, I was taught the importance of healthy, wholesome eating and how it affects how one feels in their everyday life.

I know firsthand that sometimes your lifestyle and commitments do not allow you to eat the way that you would hope to. While in Law School I noticed that my eating habits plummeted and my exercise schedule was anything but on target. There was a clear correlation between when I did have time to cook & exercise and feeling good and when I didn't have time to feeling sleeping and overwhelemed.

My goal is to bring healthy food to people in order to make them healthier and feel stronger.