| As the leaves start to turn to fall colors and in the | | | | vegetables and liquids. Mashed potatoes are a perfect |
| evenings we are tempted to sit by a warm fire, hearty | | | | accompaniment. This is a serving for four and requires |
| food comes to mind. The fall and winter bring a host | | | | about an hour to prepare. |
| of root vegetables, squashes greens and fruit from | | | | 1 (3 ½ lb.) chicken, cut into 8 serving pieces |
| which hearty meals can be easily made. The challenge | | | | ½ cup flour for dredging |
| is to keep these dishes healthy - that means keeping | | | | Olive oil |
| them as alkaline as possible. | | | | 2 medium sweet onions roughly chopped |
| When attempting to reverse the symptoms of acid | | | | 4 medium turnips peeled and sliced into ½" pieces |
| reflux, diet is probably the most important consideration. | | | | * |
| That old cliché, "You are what you eat", has | | | | 3 cloves of garlic, finely minced |
| never been more true. If you eat food and drink | | | | 2 cups chicken stock |
| beverages which are acidic in nature, then it follows, | | | | 2 cups white wine or dry vermouth |
| that you will be acidic in nature, as well. If you eat a diet | | | | 2 sprigs of thyme or ½ tsp. dried |
| which mainly consists of so called "convenience food", | | | | 1 tbsp. parsley, chopped |
| you don't stand a chance of being alkaline. | | | | Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. |
| In order to defeat the acid reflux condition, one must | | | | Dredge in flour and set aside. |
| strive to correct the pH factor of the body. 7.5 pH is | | | | Heat a heavy skillet to medium high and add enough |
| the ideal alkaline body level. You can test the pH level | | | | olive oil to coat well |
| of your saliva with pH paper, which can be purchased | | | | Brown chicken pieces skin side down and turn over in |
| at any pharmacy. Some medical authorities claim that | | | | about 7 minutes (This can be done in two batches, if |
| all illness, including cancer, cannot exist in an alkaline | | | | necessary) |
| environment. If that is true, it is certainly food for | | | | Transfer browned chicken to a plate and cover to |
| thought! | | | | keep warm |
| It is important to remember that the acid reflux | | | | Pour off all but 2 tbsp. of the fat and lower heat to |
| condition could not perpetuate itself without a | | | | medium low |
| damaged esophagus. In order to heal this affliction, the | | | | Add onions and cook covered, stirring occasionally until |
| esophagus must be allowed to repair. This can be | | | | soft and lightly golden |
| accomplished by eliminating food and drink that are | | | | Add turnips and garlic and cook uncovered for five |
| irritants and, or acidic. Avoiding anything which relaxes | | | | minutes stirring occasionally to keep onions from |
| the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) is another | | | | burning |
| important consideration. The LES is the muscular valve | | | | Return browned chicken to skillet and mix with |
| which separates the esophagus and the stomach. It is | | | | vegetables to coat both sides, arranging chicken skin |
| when this valve relaxes, that acid and pepsin splash up | | | | side up |
| from the stomach into the esophagus and throat, | | | | Pour stock and wine over chicken mixture |
| causing acid reflux. | | | | Sprinkle with thyme |
| The hydrochloric acid in the stomach has been | | | | Cover and lower heat to gently simmer until chicken is |
| compared in strength, to the acid in a car battery. With | | | | cooked through and turnips are tender, about 30 to 40 |
| acid reflux, the constant assault of acid causes little | | | | minutes |
| lacerations to develop on the lining of the esophagus. | | | | Transfer chicken and vegetables onto a serving dish |
| Until these lacerations have had a chance to heal, | | | | Reduce sauce over high heat, if needed, to thicken |
| spicy foods, such as acidic tomato products, hot | | | | Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste and pour |
| peppers, raw garlic and raw onions should also be | | | | over chicken and vegetables |
| eliminated from the diet. They just further irritate the | | | | Sprinkle with parsley |
| condition. Smoking, drinking alcohol and eating chocolate | | | | *Parsnips may be substituted for the turnips, or a |
| also relax the LES, thus impeding the healing process. | | | | mixture of the two. |
| The key to acid reflux recovery is to eat alkaline, easy | | | | CREAMY NEW ENGLAND STYLE OYSTER STEW |
| to digest nourishing food until the esophagus has | | | | I have heard rumors that oysters are a bit acidic; |
| healed. Eating early, allowing at least three hours | | | | however, they have never given me indigestion. I |
| before lying down is an essential habit to develop. | | | | confess that this is a rather rich dish, but a small |
| Eating slowly and chewing food completely in a | | | | serving will give you more pleasure than pain. One has |
| relaxed, pleasant and stress free environment is of | | | | to spoil themselves occasionally. |
| paramount importance, as well. | | | | 1 ½ tbsps. unsalted butter |
| I have listed a few of my favorite hearty fall and | | | | I dozen freshly opened oysters (or the freshest you |
| winter recipes that I enjoyed during my own recovery | | | | can find) with liquid |
| period. Cooking meat, vegetables, fruit and shellfish in | | | | 1/8 tsp. celery salt |
| liquids produce delicious dishes which can be made | | | | 1 ½ ounces sherry |
| quickly and easily. I have employed a technique called | | | | Splash of Worcestershire sauce to taste |
| "braising" for the main dish below. It is one of my | | | | Cayenne pepper |
| favorite cooking methods, because it concentrates | | | | 1 ½ cups whole milk with a little cream added |
| flavor in a one pot dinner. I have also included a | | | | Chives, chopped |
| seasonal soup starter and a special desert to | | | | Oyster crackers |
| complete the perfect cold weather dinner. | | | | Into a double boiler place butter, oysters with liquid, |
| Try doubling the main dish and desert recipes so that | | | | celery salt, sherry and Worcestershire sauce (water in |
| you can have them later in the week.....less time in the | | | | the bottom pan should not touch the top pan) |
| kitchen. Remember, that cooking from scratch instead | | | | With a wooden spoon, stir until the oysters are just |
| of relying on convenience foods is a better approach | | | | curling on the edges (do not overcook), about a minute |
| to good health, in general. It's also nice to know what | | | | Pour in milk mixture and continue stirring |
| you're really eating. | | | | Remove from heat just before the boil and serve |
| I hope that you enjoy the following seasonal recipes. | | | | immediately |
| Even though I have cured myself of acid reflux, I still | | | | Sprinkle each serving with a little cayenne pepper |
| serve these wonderful hearty dishes on a regular | | | | Garnish with chives |
| basis. The entire family should enjoy these, too. Well, | | | | Offer oyster crackers on the side |
| the children might not like the oysters, but you certainly | | | | POACHED ANJOU PEARS IN RED WINE |
| will. This menu is great for entertaining, as the main and | | | | You have to plan a little ahead for this dish. The pears |
| last courses are made in advance and the first course | | | | should be ripe, but still springy to the touch. Buy them a |
| is a breeze. For those of you who live in warmer | | | | week ahead and place in a paper bag with a banana. |
| climes, remember that winter is a state of mind. | | | | Don't ask me why, but this works. Choose pears with |
| Bon appetite! | | | | the stem in tact. |
| BRAISED CHICKEN WITH TURNIPS AND ONIONS | | | | 8 smallish red Anjou pears |
| This is a rustic country-style dinner dish which truly | | | | Juice of one lemon |
| embodies the concept of "Comfort Food". Unlike thick | | | | 1 cup extra fine granulated sugar |
| cuts of meat, braising chicken takes a fraction of the | | | | 2 cups red wine |
| time and the chicken absorbs all the flavors of the | | | | ¼ tsp. |