While walking on a chilly afternoon, I found myself craving warm, spicy soup. I wanted it fast, and wanted to use ingredients that were already at home. This is what my kitchen allowed me to do on such short notice. Applauded by one of Playa Del Rey's finest taste-testers, this soup is a sure thing, devoid of all ambivalence.
8-10 cups water
1 T. olive oil
dash salt
2-3 tsp. chicken bouillon powder
2-3 tsp. cumin
1 red onion, diced
12 green onions, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, chopped, discard most stems
1 T. fresh minced garlic
3 extra large plum tomatoes (about 6 cups chopped)
3 T. lemon juice
1/4 cup Trader Joe's Roasted Garlic Salsa (more if you like spicy)
1-16 oz. can Rosarita's No Fat Traditional Refried Beans
In a large pot, combine first nine ingredients, using more water if you like a brothy soup. Bring to a boil. Boil for 10-15 minutes, uncovered, until onions become soft. Add tomatoes and lemon juice. Boil 5 more minutes, uncovered. Add salsa and beans. Mix until beans blend with soup. Simmer 10 minutes and serve. Enjoy!
Motherhood. Food. Love. Health. Heartache. That shaky pendulum of ambivalence.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Starbucks Iced Lemon Pound Cake Contains more Saturated Fat than Big Mac
Many of us have grown accustomed to the latest reports about high-calorie, high-fat coffee drinks. But what about the food for sale in those pretty glass cases at our favorite cafes? Do you know anyone who opts for a Starbucks pastry every now and then, while adamantly swearing off fat-laden fast food joints? If so, you might want to encourage them to look at the facts.
Someone very near and dear to me does just that: enjoys a slice of Starbucks Iced Lemon Pound Cake and a zucchini muffin several times a week for lunch. This person has not visited a McDonald’s or Burger King in over a decade, and feels confident that Starbucks is a better choice. Being the Google aficionado that I am, and concerned about my friend’s health, I decided to research the subject. Even though I rarely eat away from home, my findings still frightened me.
Are you ready for the sordid details? Here they are:
A Big Mac contains 540 calories, compared to 490 in one slice of Iced Lemon Pound Cake. Not too bad for a “meal,” if we can call it that. But, if we break that down, the Big Mac contains 29 grams of fat, ten of which are saturated fat grams. The pound cake, on the other hand, contains 23 grams of fat, thirteen of which are saturated fat grams. That’s easy math: three more grams of saturated fat than the Big Mac. Further, the pound cake has 130 milligrams of cholesterol and 370 milligrams of sodium. This is three times the amount of cholesterol and sodium (salt) in an average serving of potato chips, and we’re talking pound cake—that’s a lot of salt for cake (I bake for pleasure, so I know a thing or two about cake). By comparison, the Big Mac has only 75 milligrams of cholesterol, but 1,040 milligrams of sodium. The pound cake topples the Big Mac with both its saturated fat and cholesterol. It looks like the only thing worse so far about the Big Mac versus the Iced Lemon Pound Cake is its salt content.
Many medical sources will agree that the two ingredients that most negatively affect heart health are fat and sugar. Fat clogs the arteries, while sugar hardens the artery walls, making it possible for pieces of plaque to break off and become lodged in an artery (this can cause the type of blockage that may lead to a heart attack or stroke). In terms of fat content, we already established that neither the Big Mac nor Starbucks pound cake is what cardiologists would call a healthy choice. And while high amounts of sodium in the diet can elevate blood pressure, sugar is what ultimately destroys arteries. How much sugar is in the Iced Lemon Pound Cake? I’m glad you asked. The answer is 46 grams. That equals 11-1/2 teaspoons, or a half teaspoon short of a quarter cup of table sugar.
Let’s not forget to mention protein, my favorite source of calories. The Big Mac contains 25 grams, which arguably may not be the best quality protein, but compared to the pound cake’s five grams, the Big Mac will at least give you a feeling of satiety, whereas the pound cake’s sugar will likely leave you feeling dissatisfied and hungry, soon after you’ve swallowed your last sweet bite.
So, who’s coming to my place for a hearty bowl of lentil soup? Bon appétit, mis amigos.
If you like this blog post and would like to see more comparisons of popular food items, please leave your comments here or share us on Facebook.
Someone very near and dear to me does just that: enjoys a slice of Starbucks Iced Lemon Pound Cake and a zucchini muffin several times a week for lunch. This person has not visited a McDonald’s or Burger King in over a decade, and feels confident that Starbucks is a better choice. Being the Google aficionado that I am, and concerned about my friend’s health, I decided to research the subject. Even though I rarely eat away from home, my findings still frightened me.
Are you ready for the sordid details? Here they are:
A Big Mac contains 540 calories, compared to 490 in one slice of Iced Lemon Pound Cake. Not too bad for a “meal,” if we can call it that. But, if we break that down, the Big Mac contains 29 grams of fat, ten of which are saturated fat grams. The pound cake, on the other hand, contains 23 grams of fat, thirteen of which are saturated fat grams. That’s easy math: three more grams of saturated fat than the Big Mac. Further, the pound cake has 130 milligrams of cholesterol and 370 milligrams of sodium. This is three times the amount of cholesterol and sodium (salt) in an average serving of potato chips, and we’re talking pound cake—that’s a lot of salt for cake (I bake for pleasure, so I know a thing or two about cake). By comparison, the Big Mac has only 75 milligrams of cholesterol, but 1,040 milligrams of sodium. The pound cake topples the Big Mac with both its saturated fat and cholesterol. It looks like the only thing worse so far about the Big Mac versus the Iced Lemon Pound Cake is its salt content.
Many medical sources will agree that the two ingredients that most negatively affect heart health are fat and sugar. Fat clogs the arteries, while sugar hardens the artery walls, making it possible for pieces of plaque to break off and become lodged in an artery (this can cause the type of blockage that may lead to a heart attack or stroke). In terms of fat content, we already established that neither the Big Mac nor Starbucks pound cake is what cardiologists would call a healthy choice. And while high amounts of sodium in the diet can elevate blood pressure, sugar is what ultimately destroys arteries. How much sugar is in the Iced Lemon Pound Cake? I’m glad you asked. The answer is 46 grams. That equals 11-1/2 teaspoons, or a half teaspoon short of a quarter cup of table sugar.
Let’s not forget to mention protein, my favorite source of calories. The Big Mac contains 25 grams, which arguably may not be the best quality protein, but compared to the pound cake’s five grams, the Big Mac will at least give you a feeling of satiety, whereas the pound cake’s sugar will likely leave you feeling dissatisfied and hungry, soon after you’ve swallowed your last sweet bite.
So, who’s coming to my place for a hearty bowl of lentil soup? Bon appétit, mis amigos.
If you like this blog post and would like to see more comparisons of popular food items, please leave your comments here or share us on Facebook.
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