Clean Eating June 2013

CLEAN EATING Fans Have Spoken How do you keep your burgers exciting? Ground turkey and quinoa burger with Greek spices and feta, and tzatziki sauce, red onion and cucumber on the bun. – Tamara Clayton A splash of vinegar in the ground turkey or chicken mix does something wonderful to the meat that I just can't explain. – Tara Gaede Half shredded zucchini and half ground turkey, seasoning of choice and some chipotle pepper. – Nancy Horn I eat them in the nude…– Jennifer Darpinian Dowden SCAN ME! Download an app to scan this QR code and see all the bonus recipes from this issue! No smartphone? Check out cleaneating.com/june-2013 CONFUSED? Get details at cleaneating.com/QRcode What is Clean Eating? The soul of clean eating is consuming food in its most natural state, or as close to it as possible. It…

Like many of you, I love carbs (who doesn't?); but sadly, carbs and I can never be monogamous. Despite its willingness to commit and unmistakable availabilty, I keep carbs in the friend zone. We get together a few times a week for a sandwich, a side of quinoa or a bowl of whole-wheat pasta, but absence makes the heart grow fonder and irrefutably keeps my pant size in check. While working on this issue, there was some debate among the CE staff over the true meaning of a burger. Half of the staff is from the school of thought that burgers have evolved beyond the bun at a number of up-and-coming hot spots and upscale restaurants, in food blogs and magazines. Gourmet bun alternatives include portobello mushroom "buns," crisp lettuce leaves,…

Q: What’s the best way to tenderize a tough cut of meat? – Alana Struthers, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI A: While it’s technically true that marinating tenderizes meat, a marinade doesn’t penetrate very deeply, so your meat will only be tender on the surface. For tenderness throughout, there are only two options. One method is to slowly cook meat in liquid (such as water, stock, broth, wine or a combination) on low heat. Cooking meat slow and low in a moist environment – as in a slow cooker, stew or braise – will break down the connective tissues that make meat tough. Aging, a process where the meat’s natural enzymes break down the connective tissues, is the other way to go. However, aging (basically controlled spoilage) is probably best left to professionals.…

Write us at letters@cleaneatingmag.com for a chance to win a copy of The Best of Clean Eating 3! This issue, Elaine McEachern wins a copy with her letter. Thank you so much for making clean eating DELICIOUS! - ELAINE MCEACHERN LETTER OF THE MONTH CLEAN BIRTHDAY CAKE My husband and I both turned 39 back in January. Our New Year's resolution is to see our abs (for the first time ever) before we turn 40. Once our birthdays rolled around, neither one of us wanted to deviate from the plan and “celebrate” with sugary cakes. We surprised our families by making the Carrot Cake with Crystallized Ginger (p. 314, The Eat-Clean Diet For Men) and CE’s dreamy Boston Cream Pie (p. 98, January/February 2013). Thank you so much for making clean eating DELICIOUS! – Elaine…

And if that wasn’t enough, another study found a powerful correlation between how much chocolate was eaten per capita and the number of Nobel laureates in various countries. Experts believe that the compounds in chocolate, called flavanols, may slow and even reverse mental decline. How good is that? Just remember that flavanols are only found in dark chocolate, so look for one with 60% or more cocoa content and limit a serving to a square or two at a time. Smart Fix For maximum brain power, choose chocolate with at least 60% cocoa solids. chew on this no. 46 Be wary of multigrain products – these foods are not always 100% whole grain, as they often contain a blend of whole-grain and white flour. Check the ingredients to make sure everything you put in…

CURRIED APPLE CHICKEN & SWEET POTATOES SERVES 4. In a 4- to 6-qt slow cooker, layer 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks, ½ cup chopped yellow onion, 16 oz boneless, skinless chicken thighs, ½ tsp kosher salt and ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper. In a small bowl, combine 2 cloves garlic, minced, 1 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 tbsp raw honey, 2 tsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp curry powder and ½ tsp ground ginger. Spoon over chicken, cover and cook on low until chicken is tender and cooked through, 6 to 7 hours. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with steamed vegetables. BENEFIT: Your grandma was wise to prescribe a tablespoon of honey for colds, as the natural sweetener has been shown to suppress coughs. Be sure to…