Aubergoatses

An aubergine appetizer or snack called Aubergoatses.

What you need

One aubergine (click the link to see health benefits)

Goat cheese

2-3 garlic cloves

Olive oil, salt, and black pepper

Mushrooms (optional)

How to do it

Always start with the garlic;

press the garlic into a glass or jar filled with olive oil

Slice the aubergines on the long side rather thin, then place them on an oven tray covered with baking paper and prick them with a fork

Add black pepper and salt to the olive oil-garlic mix and spread over the aubergine slices

Bake in a 200C oven for 20-25 minutes

Slice the goat cheese and put on top of the aubergines. Place back in the oven, increase heat to 250C (or if you have an grill-option, turn it on) -now you must watch the food closely.

It is entertaining as the goat cheese will start to pop, and it will take no more than 3-4 minutes.

Serve as they come out

Or with mini tomatoes, parsley and black pepper

  

Or with fried mushrooms (recommended)

Romano Ramiro avocado dish

This is the perfect starter as it can be prepared 1-2 days in advance and it is served cold. 

It's also a fantastic lunch-box meal; packed with fabulous flavonoids and vibrant vitamines.

What you need

1-2 Avocados

1 Lime

1-2 Ramiro peppers (or chili pepper for the brave)

3-4 Garlic cloves

Fresh basil and parsley

Himalayan salt

Black pepper

Turmeric powder

Rice noodles

2-3 table spoons of (extra virgin) olive oil

Romaine lettuce

Italian sheep milk cheese (such as "Pecorino Romano")

How to do it

Mash the avocado(s) and sprinkle generously with lime juice (this prevents the brown colouring of avocado exposed to the oxygen in the air). Cut the ramiro pepper, garlic, basil and parsley and mix. Add salt, pepper, turmeric and mix. 

Cook the rice noodles according to instructions, in salted water. Cool the noodles in cold water prior to adding the virgin olive oil, virgins don't like it hot.

Serve on Romaine lettuce leaves with grated pecorino cheese.

Health benefits of turmeric (curcuma)

You have seen and will see that I add turmeric powder into nearly all my dishes. Ever wondered why?

Well, it's because it tastes good and has a nice colour!

and...

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) contains curcumin, which is a strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.

It is believed to protect against cancer and heart disease. 

Curcumin is a brain booster, improving cognitive 

performance.

Curcumin is also a neuroprotective agent, so it may help prevent some brain diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and even stroke.

It may preserve our precious mitochondria (the little energy factories in our cells), hence prevent aging.

Curcumin has been used for a long time as a herbal 

medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, digestive

problems (such as stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating), 

diabetic ulcers, allergies, cough, fever and colds.

It is currently being tested in an enormous variety of different diseases, such as:

• Several types of cancers
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Irritable bowel disease
• Peptic ulcers
• Crohn’s disease
• Reflux disease
• Renal fibrosis
• Liver damage, fatty liver
• Testicular damage
• Lung infections
• Fibromyalgia
• Eye infections

Curcumin has been shown to increase sperm motility -yes, that's the speed of sperm! (at low to moderate doses, so take it easy -because high doses decrease the speed...). And strictly speaking sperm motility is describing how well the spermatoza move.

Must reflect over this a little more -imagine one and the same compound to work both as a male fertility enhancing agent AND a male contraceptive; all depending on the dose.
All women between the fist and the stove; make sure you stash up on this spice!

Curcumin is better absorbed by the body when taken together with black pepper and it is fat soluble so a source of fat is helping, too. A great source of good fat is of course avocado, as are also nuts, olive- or coconut oil.

If something works, it may also cause some unwanted effects. Overall curcumin is considered very safe and when using it as turmeric the spice, it is even more harmless.

Should you inspired by these benefits decide to start supplementing with purified curcumin, do first some research and talk to your doctor.

Turmeric has very few side effects; but it can cause stomach upset or dizziness in sensitive people or worsen gallbladder problems

Curcumin might slow blood clotting. Do not use curcumin supplements prior to surgery, if you have a blood clotting disorder, or if you use anticoagulants. 

If you take low dose Aspirin, you should talk to your doctor prior to supplementing with curcumin. 

...and it's a very beautiful plant. Wonder if one can grow it in a pot at home? 

Update: A study published in June 2015; "Curcumin inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in human osteoclastoma cell through MMP-9, NF-κB and JNK signaling pathways" adds to the anti-cancer evidence of turmeric. 

The apoptosis promotion (=programmed cell death) is especially encouraging!