Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health by Nina Simonds

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  • Fresh green soybeans (Edamame) (page 26)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Appetizers / starters; Snacks; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: edamame beans
    show

  • Spiced almonds (page 27)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Snacks; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: almonds; five-spice powder; store-cupboard ingredients; egg whites
    show

  • Bite-size vegetables with two dips (page 28)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Dips, spreads & salsas; Snacks; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: red peppers; garlic; fresh ginger; Chinese sesame paste; peanut butter; soy sauce; sesame oil; baby carrots; Chinese black vinegar; dried red pepper flakes
    show

  • Toasted sesame dip (page 29)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Dips, spreads & salsas; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: garlic; fresh ginger; Chinese sesame paste; peanut butter; sesame oil; soy sauce; Chinese black vinegar
    show

  • Spicy peanut dip (page 29)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Dips, spreads & salsas; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: garlic; fresh ginger; peanut butter; sesame oil; soy sauce; dried red pepper flakes; Chinese black vinegar
    show

  • Sweet and sour baby carrots (page 30)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Chutneys, pickles & relishes; Snacks; Asian; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: fresh ginger; rice vinegar; baby carrots; sugar
    show

  • Glazed baby onions (page 31)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Snacks; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: baby onions; fresh ginger; Chinese black vinegar
    show

  • Spicy shrimp cocktail (page 32)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Snacks
    • Ingredients: fresh ginger; scallions; shrimp; tomato ketchup; horseradish; rice wine; chile paste
    show

  • Roasted asparagus with a garlic dressing (page 33)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Snacks; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: asparagus; soy sauce; garlic
    show

  • Crisp scallion pancakes (page 34)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Pancakes, waffles & crêpes; Snacks; Asian; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: cake flour; scallions; sesame oil; all-purpose flour
    show

  • Herbal pestos on grilled flatbread (page 36)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Sauces, general; Snacks; Italian; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: pita bread; garlic; basil; pine nuts; balsamic vinegar; red chiles; mint; sesame oil; rice vinegar; tofu
    show
  • Jesse's favorite crispy-baked potato pancakes

    Jesse's favorite crispy-baked potato pancakes (page 39)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Pancakes, waffles & crêpes; Snacks; Jewish; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: potatoes; scallions; sour cream; store-cupboard ingredients
    show

  • Gingery scallops with a maple syrup glaze (page 40)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Snacks
    • Ingredients: scallops; maple syrup; fresh ginger; rice wine
    show

  • Mom's barbecued chicken wings (page 41)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Main course; Snacks
    • Ingredients: tomato ketchup; soy sauce; chicken wings; Italian dressing; garlic
    show

  • Hoisin-glazed spareribs (page 42)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Appetizers / starters; Main course; Snacks
    • Ingredients: hoisin sauce; soy sauce; tomato ketchup; baby back pork ribs; rice wine; garlic
    show
  • Teriyaki beef

    Teriyaki beef (page 43)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Snacks
    • Ingredients: soy sauce; sesame oil; fresh ginger; beef sirloin steaks; scallions; rice wine; garlic
    show

  • Grilled shrimp rolls with spicy Vietnamese dressing (page 50)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Appetizers / starters; Main course; Vietnamese
    • Ingredients: fish sauce; shrimp; fresh ginger; sesame oil; limes; dried red pepper flakes; rice wine; Boston lettuce; Thai sweet basil; garlic
    show

  • Turkey saté with spicy peanut sauce (page 51)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Appetizers / starters; Main course; Indonesian
    • Ingredients: fish sauce; carrots; peanut butter; coconut milk; fresh ginger; soy sauce; dried red pepper flakes; turkey cutlets; garlic; Boston lettuce
    show
  • Fragrant vegetarian dumplings

    Fragrant vegetarian dumplings (page 52)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Appetizers / starters; Main course; Asian; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: tofu; black mushrooms; canned water chestnuts; carrots; fresh ginger; scallions; soy sauce; sesame oil; dumpling skins; egg yolks; chile paste
    show

  • Flaky spinach pie (page 54)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Pies, tarts & pastries; Appetizers / starters; Main course; Greek; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: filo pastry; scallions; spinach; dill; feta cheese; eggs
    show

  • Crusty pot stickers (page 56)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Appetizers / starters; Main course; Asian
    • Ingredients: Chinese cabbage; ground pork; soy sauce; sesame oil; fresh ginger; dumpling skins; Chinese chives; rice wine; chile paste
    show

  • Man-size vegetarian samosas (page 58)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Appetizers / starters; Main course; Indian; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: carrots; potatoes; fresh ginger; green chiles; ground cumin; ground coriander; ground cinnamon; turmeric; cilantro; yogurt; mint; all-purpose flour; butter; onions; garlic; frozen peas
    • Accompaniments: Suresh's fresh cilantro chutney
    show

  • Spinach salad with sun-dried tomatoes (page 61)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Salads; Appetizers / starters; Main course; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: spinach; feta cheese; balsamic vinegar; sun-dried tomatoes; roasted red peppers; canned chickpeas; garlic
    show

  • Roasted onion and mushroom frittata (page 62)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Egg dishes; Appetizers / starters; Main course; Italian; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: eggs; shiitake mushrooms; balsamic vinegar; chives; onions
    show

  • Simple smoked salmon sushi (page 64)

    from Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health Spices of Life by Nina Simonds

    • Categories: Appetizers / starters; Main course
    • Ingredients: Arborio rice; rice vinegar; smoked salmon; capers; soy sauce; lemons; red onions
    show

Notes about this book

  • Eat Your Books

    2006 James Beard Award Winner, International Association of Culinary Professionals Award Winner

Notes about Recipes in this book

  • Flaky spinach pie

    • Cheri on March 06, 2011

      This is very good. A labor of love, as prep takes about an hour, with each layer of fillo. Made 1/2 recipe. Yummy.

    • Cheri on March 06, 2011

      Served with glazed carrots and chicken paillards with capers and lemon. Good combination.

  • Gingery peach-a-berry cobbler

    • beetlebug on October 09, 2015

      Huge hit for bbq. Loved the addition of the blueberries to go with the peaches.

  • Soothing miso soup with shiitake mushrooms

    • PennyG on October 11, 2013

      I am feeling a bit under the weather and had all the ingredients to make this. It was very tasty and soothing. A bowl full of tasty healthfulness!

  • Roasted cherry tomatoes

    • PennyG on January 02, 2015

      Hmmmm ... no, this had nice flavor, but not for me. The texture was too soft and one dimensional. Perhaps would be good along with other roasted vegetables for a contrast in texture. I will mash the leftovers into some sort of pasta topping.

    • PennyG on January 03, 2015

      This is an update to my previous note (yesterday) - I mushed these up and added a bit of EVOO, red wine vinegar, Italian herb seasoning & salt and used as a pasta topping. It was really tasty. So much so that I might roast these tomatoes again just to use on pasta!

  • Fluffy lemon quinoa

    • PennyG on January 02, 2015

      This was a great side dish! The lemon really made it pop.

  • Pumpkin-applesauce muffins

    • dinnermints on December 13, 2015

      Big bodacious muffins with lots of flavor - would definitely make again. I made some changes: substituted half of the white flour for whole wheat pastry flour, used 3/4 cup currants + 3/4 cup toasted walnuts instead of raisins, used 1/4 cup of butter (browned it first) and 1/4 cup of canola oil. I had orange juice on hand and used that instead of apple juice. Also, in order to use all of the batter, I filled the muffin tins VERY full, not the 2/3 recommended in the recipe.

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Reviews about this book

  • Huffington Post

    But Simonds is a cook above all, and a good one... If you choose, you can bypass the tonics and testimonials and dive into more than 175 vivid recipes.

    Full review
  • ISBN 10 0375411607
  • ISBN 13 9780375411601
  • Linked ISBNs
  • Published Feb 01 2005
  • Format Hardcover
  • Language English
  • Countries United States
  • Publisher Knopf
  • Imprint Knopf Publishing Group

Publishers Text

2006 James Beard Award Winner! Healthy Focus Category!


2006 IACP Award Winner: Health & Special Diet Category!

Includes an author-autographed and calligraphed bookplate with each purchase of this title. (While supplies last.)

In this groundbreaking cookbook, Nina Simonds offers us more than 175 luscious recipes, along with practical tips for a sensible lifestyle, that demonstrate that health-giving foods not only provide pleasure but can make a huge difference in our lives.

With her emphasis on the tonic properties of a wide variety of foods, herbs, and spices, this book also brings us up to date on the latest scientific research. In every recipe--gathered from cultures around the world in which good eating is a way of life--Simonds gives us dishes that are both irresistible and have a positive effect on one's well-being. For example:

  • Cardamom, a key digestive, subtly seasons her Steamed Asparagus with Cardamom Butter.

  • Cinnamon, which strengthens the heart and alleviates nervous tension, adds spice to her Fragrant Cinnamon Pork with Sweet Potatoes.

  • Basil has long been used as a healing salve and in teas. So who wouldn't feel rejuvenated by a delicious bowlful of Sun-Dried Tomato Soup with Fresh Basil

  • Peanuts, which fortify the immune system and lower cholesterol, provide a tasty, crunchy accent in Sichuan Kung Pao Chicken.

  • Mint, which has many healing properties, from taming muscle spasms to dissolving gallstones, can be relished in Minty Snap Peas accompanying Pan-Roasted Salmon or in a Pineapple Salsa served with Jerk Pork Cutlets.

  • And peaches give us vitamin C, beta carotene, and fiber. So enjoy them in a wonderful Gingery Peach-a-Berry Cobbler.

To help us understand what part these health-restoring foods can play in our lives, Simonds peppers Spices of Life with lively interviews with a variety of experts, including Dr. Jim Duke, who offers anti-aging advice from his Herbal Farmacy; Dr. Andrew Weil, who discusses his latest nutritional findings; and Dr. U. K. Krishna, who explains basic Ayurvedic practices for healthy living. And more.

With its delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes and concise health information, this delightful book opens up a whole new world of tastes for us to enjoy every day and to share with family and friends.

Nina Simonds has lived, studied, and traveled throughout Southeast Asia. For the past thirty years she has taught cooking classes across the United States and in mainland China. An Asian correspondent for Gourmet and a frequent contributor to The New York Times Sunday Travel section, she is also the author of numerous award-winning cookbooks, including A Spoonful of Ginger, which won both a James Beard Foundation Award and an IACP Cookbook Award. She lives in Salem, Massachusetts.

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