Heart Surgeon Serves Up Healthy Italian Food Tips

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“In the land of carb counting, a pasta advocate can be hard to find. Look no further than Dr. Alfredo Trento at the Smidt Heart Institute, who did Cedars-Sinai’s first heart transplant in 1988 and has loved Italian cooking a lot longer than that.

Dr. Trento grew up in Italy, and the love of his life, Robin, spent much of the first year of their marriage learning about one of his other great loves: his mother’s cooking. Versions of those recipes—now with Robin’s own flair—still form the staples of their meals today, drawing inspiration from what’s in season.

A great meal doesn’t necessarily require a trip to the farmers market. Chat with Dr. Trento for a few minutes, and he’ll have you scouring your kitchen cupboards for the makings of a mouth-watering meal that’s as kind to your heart as it is to your palate.”

Read more and find recipes, here.

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Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Candied Pecans, and Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

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If you need a healthy and kidney-friendly dish for any occasion, you can’t go wrong with this recipe for Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Candied Pecans, and Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Courtesy of Mike Hargett of Battle Ground, Washington, the recipe is high in folate, magnesium, vitamin C, and fiber.

When choosing beets for the recipe, Mike recommends using “Beets by Mike,” which he says are better than “Beats by Dre.” 

Find the recipe, here.

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Kidneys in the Kitchen: Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie

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This easy-to-make Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie is filling and kidney-friendly!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 c kefir

1/2 c blueberries

1/2 c dry oatmeal

1 TBSP chia seeds

1 TBSP flax seeds

DIRECTIONS

Add ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. If it’s too thick, add water a tablespoon at a time until drinkable.

See the full recipe and watch the how-to video, here.

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Recipe: Egg Roll in a Bowl

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Ingredients:

Meat

  • 1 lb. ground turkey or beef

Produce

  • 5 cups shredded cabbage
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 chopped green onion
  • 1 1/2 cup diced sweet onion

Canned Goods

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth

Baking & Spices

  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 sesame seeds, toasted

Oils & Vinegars

  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sesame oil, toasted
  • Nuts & seeds
  • 2 tbsp coconut aminos

Directions

  1. Sauté olive oil and ground turkey in a large sauté pan over medium heat.
  2. Cook for 5-6 minutes, or until turkey is almost cooked through.
  3. Push turkey to the side of the pan and add onion and the other tablespoon of oil.
  4. Sauté for 3-4 minutes.
  5. Add shredded carrots, garlic, and ginger and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir the vegetables and turkey together.
  6. Pour chicken broth in the pan and scrape the bottom of it to deglaze it.
  7. Add cabbage, coconut aminos or soy sauce, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir well and cover with a lid.
  8. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 12-15 minutes, or until cabbage is to your desired tenderness.
  9. Just before serving add toasted sesame oil and stir to combine.

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Recipe: Chicken Curry

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Sedalia, Colorado, can be prepared in 40 minutes. The people who eat it, however, will think you spent hours crafting it.

It is a low-calorie entree (362 calories per serving), and is also low in carbs, sodium, and cholesterol.

Andrea Ogg uses low-sodium chicken broth and says you can use low-sodium canned tomatoes—although she says fresh tomatoes are preferred.

Ingredients:

Spice blend

  • 1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, crushed in a small bag with a meat mallet
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp ground mustard
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Curry

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped (1 cup)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced (1 1/2 Tbsp)
  • 1 Tbsp peeled and minced fresh ginger
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3/4 cup drained canned low sodium diced tomatoes or peeled, seeded, diced fresh tomatoes (preferred)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Cayenne pepper, to taste
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1 1/4-inch cubes
  • 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tsp water (optional— I have not needed this)
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro

Directions:

  1. In a small mixing bowl whisk together all the spices in the spice blend, set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Add in onion and sauté until slightly golden brown, about 4 – 6 minutes.
  4. Add in garlic and ginger, sauté 30 seconds more then add in spice blend and sauté 30 seconds.
  5. Pour in chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 5 minutes.
  6. Pour mixture into a blender then cover with lid and remove lid insert, cover opening with a clean folded kitchen rag.
  7. Blend mixture until well pureed and smooth then return to skillet and heat skillet over medium-high heat.
  8. Season sauce with salt and cayenne pepper (start with about 1/2 tsp salt and a few dashes cayenne then add more to taste) then add in chicken.
  9. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat to medium-low, cover skillet with lid and simmer until chicken has cooked through, stirring occasionally, about 8 – 12 minutes.
  10. During the last minute of cooking stir in the cornstarch and water slurry if desired, to thicken sauce slightly (or if needed thin with a little chicken broth).
  11. Stir in cream then serve warm with fresh cilantro leaves as garnish.

The recipe recommends serving over rice, but we do not as rice is simply empty calories. If you need a carb with it, go with freshly toasted naan. Much tastier!

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Recipe: Stuffed Peppers with Rice and Beans

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Ingredients:

  • 2 cans low sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 medium onion –sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves –minced
  • 5 bell peppers- whole
  • 3 TBSP olive oil
  • 2-3 cans “no salt” 8 oz. tomato sauce … (3 cans will make it juicier)
  • 2 cups cooked brown or wild rice – (follow package directions- rinse first under cold water)
  • 1 TBSP dried Italian seasoning
  • 4 TBSP plus of grated cheese (I use Locatelli)
  • 8 oz. of shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. Cut the tops from 5 green peppers; discard the seeds and the membranes
  2. Dice the tops in pieces for the rice filling – set aside
  3. Cook the whole green peppers, uncovered in boiling water for about 6 minutes; invert to drain well
  4. Start to prepare the rice in either a steamer or stovetop
  5. In another saucepan over medium-low heat, add the olive oil
  6. Allow the oil to heat up for a few minutes and then add the diced peppers and onions, a pinch of salt, and cook for approx. 7 minutes stirring occasionally to soften
  7. Add the minced garlic to the peppers and onions and cook for 1 more minute
  8. Add the 2 cans of black beans, rinsed and drained – cook 1 minute
  9. Add the 2-3 cans of tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and 2 TBSP of grated cheese
  10. Allow this to cook on a lower temperature for 15-20 minutes with the cover ON until the sauce is done
  11. Add the cooked rice, mix well, and add the remaining grated cheese
  12. Stuff the peppers with this mixture and top with additional grated cheese and mozzarella cheese
  13. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes to melt the cheese then serve

https://caredx.com/patients-and-caregivers/our-transplant-journeys__trashed/avocado-dip-stuffed-peppers-with-rice-and-beans/

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Recipe: Butternut Squash Hash

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Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium Butternut Squash, washed, seeded, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
  • 1 each red pepper, medium diced
  • 1 each green pepper, medium diced
  • 1 each yellow pepper, medium diced
  • 1/2 Sweet onion, medium Diced
  • 4 oz. weight Baby Bella Mushrooms, Sliced
  • 8 oz. Applewood Thick-cut Bacon, chopped medium diced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • To taste Salt &Pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Toss squash with a little olive oil, then add to a baking pan, cook for 30-45 or until squash is fork tender.
  2. Meanwhile in a sauté pan add bacon and cook until crispy. Then add peppers, onion, garlic and mushrooms, sauté for 2-3 minutes on medium-high heat.
  3. Remove squash from the oven and add to bacon mixture, add sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Sauté for an additional 2 minutes to combine.
  4. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe By: Chef Chloe Gould

https://caredx.com/patients-and-caregivers/our-transplant-journeys__trashed/butternut-squash-hash/

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