Winter: Saffron and Pears
The winter months inspire us to curl up with warm stews and sweet, spiced fruits. This week Tonic Food Club had saffron soups and cooked pears to keep us warm. Both will ward off parasites and support the immune system. If you’re feeling the effects of the seasonal cold you’ll benefit from moving mucus (pears) and sweating it all out (saffron). Try a few of our ideas below for some new and creative ways to use these two incredible ingredients!
Menu:
Wilted Arugula Salad: fresh pears, walnuts, blue cheese
Feta, Beet, Pear Flatbread: whole wheat crust, garlic herb crust, garlic, scallion, Italian dressing, pepper, sardines….yum!
Leek and Pear Soup: potato, yellow onion, butter, organic chicken broth, cream, saffron
The Left Ventricle (Stew): garlic, onion, parsnip, smoked eggplant, pears, sour cherries, cauliflower, saffron
Bouillabaisse with Saffron Rice Cake:saute: onion, garlic, fennel, celery, red pepper, thyme, clove, bay leaf, tomato, olive oil.
Add: white wine, white fish, shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams, muscles, crab, fish stock, lemon, water, salt
Rice Cakes: cook white rice in organic chicken broth and saffron. mix cooked, cooled rice with an egg and form little cakes. roll in flour and sear till golden brown. serve one rice cake in each bowl of seafood stew!
Stuffed Poached Pears: hollow halved Anjou pears, stilton blue cheese, walnuts, dried cranberries.
Poaching Liquid: apple cider, olive oil, red wine
Tonic:
Ginger Pear-tinis: ginger syrup, pear vodka, shaken and served with fresh pear and a sugar rim!
Medicinal/Nutritional Benefits:
Pears help to create mucus….brings moisture when one is too dry or aids in moving mucus out. Soothing to the stomach and great for the gallbladder, treating gallstones.
Saffron is an aphrodisiac as well as anti-parasitic. In a recent 6 week trial saffron was given to patients with mild to moderate depression and had the same beneficial results as Prozac. Wow!
Be sure to add saffron to your diet….it’s good for health and happiness!
