| As the leaves start to turn to fall colors and in | | | | the flavors of the vegetables and liquids. Mashed |
| the evenings we are tempted to sit by a warm | | | | potatoes are a perfect accompaniment. This is a |
| fire, hearty food comes to mind. The fall and | | | | serving for four and requires about an hour to |
| winter bring a host of root vegetables, squashes | | | | prepare. |
| greens and fruit from which hearty meals can be | | | | 1 (3 ½ lb.) chicken, cut into 8 serving pieces |
| easily made. The challenge is to keep these dishes | | | | ½ cup flour for dredging |
| healthy - that means keeping them as alkaline as | | | | Olive oil |
| possible. | | | | 2 medium sweet onions roughly chopped |
| When attempting to reverse the symptoms of | | | | 4 medium turnips peeled and sliced into ½" |
| acid reflux, diet is probably the most important | | | | pieces * |
| consideration. That old cliché, "You are what | | | | 3 cloves of garlic, finely minced |
| you eat", has never been more true. If you eat | | | | 2 cups chicken stock |
| food and drink beverages which are acidic in | | | | 2 cups white wine or dry vermouth |
| nature, then it follows, that you will be acidic in | | | | 2 sprigs of thyme or ½ tsp. dried |
| nature, as well. If you eat a diet which mainly | | | | 1 tbsp. parsley, chopped |
| consists of so called "convenience food", you don't | | | | Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. |
| stand a chance of being alkaline. | | | | Dredge in flour and set aside. |
| In order to defeat the acid reflux condition, one | | | | Heat a heavy skillet to medium high and add |
| must strive to correct the pH factor of the body. | | | | enough olive oil to coat well |
| 7.5 pH is the ideal alkaline body level. You can test | | | | Brown chicken pieces skin side down and turn |
| the pH level of your saliva with pH paper, which | | | | over in about 7 minutes (This can be done in two |
| can be purchased at any pharmacy. Some | | | | batches, if necessary) |
| medical authorities claim that all illness, including | | | | Transfer browned chicken to a plate and cover to |
| cancer, cannot exist in an alkaline environment. If | | | | keep warm |
| that is true, it is certainly food for thought! | | | | Pour off all but 2 tbsp. of the fat and lower heat |
| It is important to remember that the acid reflux | | | | to medium low |
| condition could not perpetuate itself without a | | | | Add onions and cook covered, stirring occasionally |
| damaged esophagus. In order to heal this | | | | until soft and lightly golden |
| affliction, the esophagus must be allowed to repair. | | | | Add turnips and garlic and cook uncovered for |
| This can be accomplished by eliminating food and | | | | five minutes stirring occasionally to keep onions |
| drink that are irritants and, or acidic. Avoiding | | | | from burning |
| anything which relaxes the LES (lower esophageal | | | | Return browned chicken to skillet and mix with |
| sphincter) is another important consideration. The | | | | vegetables to coat both sides, arranging chicken |
| LES is the muscular valve which separates the | | | | skin side up |
| esophagus and the stomach. It is when this valve | | | | Pour stock and wine over chicken mixture |
| relaxes, that acid and pepsin splash up from the | | | | Sprinkle with thyme |
| stomach into the esophagus and throat, causing | | | | Cover and lower heat to gently simmer until |
| acid reflux. | | | | chicken is cooked through and turnips are tender, |
| The hydrochloric acid in the stomach has been | | | | about 30 to 40 minutes |
| compared in strength, to the acid in a car battery. | | | | Transfer chicken and vegetables onto a serving |
| With acid reflux, the constant assault of acid | | | | dish |
| causes little lacerations to develop on the lining of | | | | Reduce sauce over high heat, if needed, to |
| the esophagus. Until these lacerations have had a | | | | thicken |
| chance to heal, spicy foods, such as acidic tomato | | | | Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste and |
| products, hot peppers, raw garlic and raw onions | | | | pour over chicken and vegetables |
| should also be eliminated from the diet. They just | | | | Sprinkle with parsley |
| further irritate the condition. Smoking, drinking | | | | *Parsnips may be substituted for the turnips, or a |
| alcohol and eating chocolate also relax the LES, | | | | mixture of the two. |
| thus impeding the healing process. | | | | CREAMY NEW ENGLAND STYLE OYSTER STEW |
| The key to acid reflux recovery is to eat alkaline, | | | | I have heard rumors that oysters are a bit acidic; |
| easy to digest nourishing food until the esophagus | | | | however, they have never given me indigestion. I |
| has healed. Eating early, allowing at least three | | | | confess that this is a rather rich dish, but a small |
| hours before lying down is an essential habit to | | | | serving will give you more pleasure than pain. One |
| develop. Eating slowly and chewing food | | | | has to spoil themselves occasionally. |
| completely in a relaxed, pleasant and stress free | | | | 1 ½ tbsps. unsalted butter |
| environment is of paramount importance, as well. | | | | I dozen freshly opened oysters (or the freshest |
| I have listed a few of my favorite hearty fall and | | | | you can find) with liquid |
| winter recipes that I enjoyed during my own | | | | 1/8 tsp. celery salt |
| recovery period. Cooking meat, vegetables, fruit | | | | 1 ½ ounces sherry |
| and shellfish in liquids produce delicious dishes which | | | | Splash of Worcestershire sauce to taste |
| can be made quickly and easily. I have employed | | | | Cayenne pepper |
| a technique called "braising" for the main dish | | | | 1 ½ cups whole milk with a little cream |
| below. It is one of my favorite cooking methods, | | | | added |
| because it concentrates flavor in a one pot dinner. | | | | Chives, chopped |
| I have also included a seasonal soup starter and a | | | | Oyster crackers |
| special desert to complete the perfect cold | | | | Into a double boiler place butter, oysters with |
| weather dinner. | | | | liquid, celery salt, sherry and Worcestershire sauce |
| Try doubling the main dish and desert recipes so | | | | (water in the bottom pan should not touch the |
| that you can have them later in the | | | | top pan) |
| week…..less time in the kitchen. | | | | With a wooden spoon, stir until the oysters are |
| Remember, that cooking from scratch instead of | | | | just curling on the edges (do not overcook), |
| relying on convenience foods is a better approach | | | | about a minute |
| to good health, in general. It's also nice to know | | | | Pour in milk mixture and continue stirring |
| what you're really eating. | | | | Remove from heat just before the boil and serve |
| I hope that you enjoy the following seasonal | | | | immediately |
| recipes. Even though I have cured myself of acid | | | | Sprinkle each serving with a little cayenne pepper |
| reflux, I still serve these wonderful hearty dishes | | | | Garnish with chives |
| on a regular basis. The entire family should enjoy | | | | Offer oyster crackers on the side |
| these, too. Well, the children might not like the | | | | POACHED ANJOU PEARS IN RED WINE |
| oysters, but you certainly will. This menu is great | | | | You have to plan a little ahead for this dish. The |
| for entertaining, as the main and last courses are | | | | pears should be ripe, but still springy to the touch. |
| made in advance and the first course is a breeze. | | | | Buy them a week ahead and place in a paper bag |
| For those of you who live in warmer climes, | | | | with a banana. Don't ask me why, but this works. |
| remember that winter is a state of mind. | | | | Choose pears with the stem in tact. |
| Bon appetite! | | | | 8 smallish red Anjou pears |
| BRAISED CHICKEN WITH TURNIPS AND ONIONS | | | | Juice of one lemon |
| This is a rustic country-style dinner dish which | | | | 1 cup extra fine granulated sugar |
| truly embodies the concept of "Comfort Food". | | | | 2 cups red wine |
| Unlike thick cuts of meat, braising chicken takes a | | | | ¼ tsp. |
| fraction of the time and the chicken absorbs all | | | | |