Desert Health News - January-February 2025

Directions: 1. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add cashews and let soak. 2. In a large pot over medium heat, add 1 tbsp of the vegan butter and 4 oz of oyster mushrooms, stirring about 8 minutes until brown and crispy. Add ¼ tsp salt and stir. Remove mushrooms from pot and set aside. 3. Add remaining 2 tbsp of vegan butter to pot. Add remaining 8 oz of mushrooms and sliced leeks. Stir about 5 min until leeks soften and mushrooms start browning. 4. Add carrot, minced garlic, thyme and ½ tsp salt. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes Add miso paste and stir in. 5. Add dry white wine to deglaze. Use spatula to scrape up browned bits from the bottom. Cook out the alcohol, about 2 minutes. 6. Add flour and stir through. Cook 1 minute until mixture thickens. 7. Add water 1 cup at a time, stirring between each. 8. Add bay leaves, potatoes and ½ tsp salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes until potatoes are cooked. 9. Drain cashews and transfer to a high-speed blender along with non-dairy milk. Blend on high until smooth and set aside. 10. When potatoes are cooked, remove bay leaves and add the cashew cream and lemon juice. Season, and top with chopped parsley and the reserved oyster mushrooms. This recipe was adapted from Sweet Simple Vegan at www.sweetsimplevegan.com . Wendy Fink is lead editor of Desert Health. At the height of winter, it’s always nice to have a few go-to soup recipes. An especially hearty one with a healthier twist is this vegan clam chowder, inspired by the classic New England Clam Chowder. It’s sure to warm you up! Serving Size: 6 Ingredients: orchid-grown olive oils. I tried their other homemade breads, only in moderation as they made me feel fuller. They also make a GF tagliatelle (flat noodle pasta) which was so good I had it every other night. Besides the type of grains, wheat sensitivity may also have to do with the way grains are commercially processed. In the United States, the herbicide glyphosate is sprayed on genetically modified crops 3 and while the FDA states the chemical is not harmful to humans, it is harmful to bacteria. This is bad news for our gut microbiome which is made up of a lot of bacteria. Some countries including Germany and France have banned the use of glyphosate, and a European Union (EU) ban is set to begin in 2033. Meanwhile, Italy's restrictions on the chemical are among the most significant in the world.› Many regions in Italy pride themselves on preserving and using traditional farming methods. Strict labeling systems such as “DOP,” which translates to "Protected Designation of Origin,” certify that food products are produced, processed and packaged in a specific region using only traditional methods and ingredients. I was most impressed to learn that if a product contains any of the 14 main allergens — from gluten and eggs to mustard and sulfites — as an ingredient or processing aid, the EU requires that information be included on the label or menu.¥ The Italian countryside was everything we hoped: relaxing, welcoming, beautiful and bountiful. If you have the opportunity to visit and you’re looking for conscious cuisine made the way mama used to make it, skip the big cities and head to the countryside. Lauren Del Sarto is founder and publisher of Desert Health and can be reached at Lauren@deserthealthnews.com . References: 1) https://deserthealthnews.com/story/gluten-free-globally/ ; 2) https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/diet-nutrition/gluten-eu - rope-vs-united-states; 3) https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/toxic-herbicides-map-showing-high-use-state-rcna50052 ; 4) https:// www.pan-europe.info/press-releases/2016/08/italy-places-important-restrictions-use-glyphosate#; 5) https://www.food.gov.uk/business- guidance/allergen-guidance-for-food-businesses www.clarksnutrition.com www.freshjuicebar.com www.DesertHealthNews.com January/February 2025 Le Mandrie’s exceptional gluten-free tagliatelle Fresh Cuisine The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 23 DETOX AND ENERGIZE WITH OUR ORGANIC 1, 3 OR 5DAY CLEANSE FreshJuiceBar.co m PALM SPRINGS: 760.883.5888 PALM DESERT: 760.837.9777 LA QUINTA: 760.777.4666 INDIO: 442.324.0046 CALL TO ORDER FROM YOUR PREFERRED LOCATION 1 DAY IN ADVANCE 20% OFF FOR A 3 DAY CLEANSE Expires 2.28.25 Call ahead to order New Year, Fresh Start Refresh Your Body with our Organic Cleanses! A restaurant menu lists the 14 allergens required by the European Union. Gluten-free in Italy Continued from page 22 Vegan Clam Chowder By Wendy Fink • 1 cup roasted cashews • 1½ cups non-dairy milk • 3 tablespoons vegan butter • 12 oz oyster mushrooms divided • 1 medium sliced leek and 1 medium sliced carrot • 1 pound potatoes cubed • 5 cloves minced garlic • 1 teaspoon dried thyme • 1 tablespoon miso paste • 2 bay leaves • ½ cup dry white wine (or sub vegetable broth) • ¼ cup flour (sub gluten-free all purpose flour) • 4 cups water • 1 lemon to juice • 1 teaspoon salt • Fresh parsley for garnish • Optional: Sourdough bread bowl (or sub gluten-free bread bowl)