Delicious Dishes for Heart Health :

OK, let’s all admit we love fast food. It’s cheap, it’s convenient, and for those of us with unsophisticated palettes (that is, the vast majority of us) it tastes good to boot. But it’s also bad for the old ticker, crammed with saturated fat and trans fat .

So why not do yourself a favor and phase a few heart-healthy meals into your diet? Here are a few suggestions for some easy-to-prepare dishes that taste good and are good for you. Bon appetit!

Minestrone Soup

2 cloves of minced garlic
4 cans of low-sodium beef broth
1 cup of celery
1 large onion
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 16 ounce can of plum tomatoes
1 diced carrot
1 can of white kidney beans (drain the water)
9 ounces of frozen Italian green beans
½ cup of uncooked macaroni
1 ½ teaspoon of oregano
1 ½ teaspoons of basilSpray Dutch oven using olive oil. Add a tablespoon of oil and sauté garlic, celery and onions. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer covered for 45 minutes. Add a little low-fat Parmesan if you like when you’re ready to serve.

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2 cups of whole-wheat pastry flour
½ cup of cinnamon
2 tablespoons of flaxseeds
1 teaspoon of baking soda
2 teaspoons of baking powder
½ cup of raisins
½ cup of water
1 cup of applesauce
¼ cup of maple syrup
¼ cup of canola oil
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

Lightly oil 12 muffin cups, and preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix the flour, baking powder, raisins, cinnamon and baking soda in a large bowl. Stir until the mixture is thoroughly blended.

Powder the flaxseeds in a blender. Add water and blend into a gummy consistency.

Now add the remaining ingredients and process until the mixture is thoroughly blended. Pour the result into the mixture of flour and stir. You’ll end up with a thick batter.Spoon the batter into the muffin tins. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Remove and cool for 30 minutes.

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