February is American Heart Month! It was so great to be back in studio on the set of KOIN AM Extra with Emily Burris and Travis Teich.

While heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, It should be noted, that in most cases, heart disease is preventable. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, engaging in moderately-intense physical activity each week, regular checkups, and of course, a healthy diet, you can put yourself ONE step ahead when it comes to your heart health!

Embracing simplicity in the kitchen is effortless when you are working with whole food ingredients. I shared 3 simple, delicious, and hearty healthy recipes filled with flavor, color, nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber! The Curry Spiced Quinoa topped with Pistachios, Sumac Roasted Sweet Potatoes, and a homemade Pomegranate Molasses pair so wonderfully together!

Curry Spiced Quinoa  

This recipe for Curry Spiced Quinoa is heart healthy, antioxidant rich, big on flavor, and has tons of color and nutrients. Pistachios, the perfect topping for this delicious dish, are also a heart healthy snack, as well as a complete protein, and a good source of fiber.  Plus, about 90% of the fats found in pistachios are monounsaturated- these are the healthy fats.  

INGREDIENTS: 

  • 4 cups cooked quinoa, season with curry spice one it is cooled to room temperature. Taste and season as desired. 
  • 1 cup fresh chives, chopped 
  • 1 cup yellow peppers, chopped 
  • 1 cup carrots, shredded 
  • 1 cup pickled turnips, chopped
  • 1 cup Wonderful Pistachios, Lightly Salted

INSTRUCTIONS:

Top the quinoa with as many vegetables as you like as well as well as 1 tbsp. of the Wonderful Pistachio.

Sumac Roasted Sweet Potatoes 

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups sweet potatoes, chopped to desired size 
  • 2 tbsp. of sumac spice 
  • 2 tbsp. avocado oil

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 450º. On a large baking sheet, toss sweet potatoes with avocado oil and season with sumac. 
  2. Roast until tender, tossing halfway through, 25 to 30 minutes. 

Pomegranate Molasses 

If you haven’t tried pomegranate molasses, you are definitely missing out! With a delicate sweet and tangy flavor profile, pomegranate molasses pairs really nicely with the sumac spice in this recipe. Because it is so concentrated, a little goes a long way! The main ingredient is pomegranate juice which is rich in antioxidants which play a powerful role in maintaining healthy cells. In fact, POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice has 4 times the amount of antioxidants as green tea. It is also a healthy fridge staple that is perfect for use in smoothies, as a marinade for chicken wings, and in a homemade vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS: 

  • 3 cups POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice 
  • ‍2 tablespoons lemon juice 
  • 1/3 cup agave syrup 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine the POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice, lemon juice, and agave. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium to maintain a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until syrup has reduced by two thirds, to just under 1 cup, 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, then transfer to a lidded jar. 
  2. Molasses can be stored in the fridge for up to two months.