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