Citrus Roast Chicken

Citrus Roast Chicken

INGREDIENTS:

2 limes, cut into quarters
4-6 whole garlic cloves
Thyme leaves
1 (4 1/2 lb) whole chickens
Juice of 1 Lemon
salt & freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Set the oven to 400°F Push the lime quarters, whole garlic cloves and thyme into the cavity of the chicken.

2. Place the chicken into a roasting pan and drizzle the lemon juice over. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and roast for 2 hours.

Southern Baked Chicken

Southern Baked Chicken

I couldn’t resist posting this recipe.  I’ll be making this over the weekend, but I will use chicken thighs since they are cheaper. I love Tony Chachere’s so I just know this is going to be wonderful!

6 Servings

INGREDIENTS:

6 Chicken breasts
2 tablespoons Oregano
2 tablespoons Crushed Red Pepper
2 tablespoons Rosemary
2 tablespoons Tony Chachere’s
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 cup Water
2 tablespoons Black pepper
2 tablespoons Salt

DIRECTIONS:

Pre-heat oven to 350

Place chicken in deep baking pan

Sprinkle dry ingredients over the top of chicken

Pour Worcestershire sauce over the top of chicken

Add water to the bottom of the pan

Cover top of pan with aluminum foil

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes

Ultimate Flank Steak

The Ultimate Flank Steak

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2-2 lbs flank steaks
1/4 cup Madeira wine
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon pepper
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt or coarse kosher salt
1/8 cup soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
1 tablespoon butter

DIRECTIONS:

1. This steak is best served with the center red/pink, it is at it’s most tender state at that point.

2. Place steak in sealable plastic bag.

3. Add remaining ingredients, except butter, and place in refrigerator for 6 to 12 hours to marinate.

4. Turn bag over at least four times during marination.

5. Grill over hot hardwood coals, basting frequently with marinade, for about 8-10 minutes a side.

6. Check for doneness.

7. When done cut steak on diagonal across the grain.

8. Serve with remaining marinade that has been heated to a boil with butter added.

9. The flavors can be intensified by using your favorite smoking chips on the cooking coals (I use sassafras, hickory, or apple).

10. Leftovers make excellent sandwiches (using your favorite low carb bread) when topped with bacon, tomato and melted cheese (Swiss, Cheddar, Smoked Gouda or Blue) and remaining marinade drizzled on top.

11. You can store the leftovers in the marinade to keep the steak moist and flavorful.

Cheesy Crackers

I have not tried this recipe but I think if you substitute the Flour with Carbalose Flour it should be a rather tasty snack.

Cheesy Crackers

4 Servings

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 c Ricotta Cheese
1/4 c Parmesan (grated)
3 tbs Butter (softened)
1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce
1/2 c Flour (Substitute with Carabalose Flour)
1/2 tsp Seasoning Salt (I use Lawry’s)
1/4 tsp Paprika
Salt (optional)
Black pepper (optional)
Sesame seeds (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Blend cheeses with butter and Tobasco.

Stir in flour, salt and paprika. Mix well.

Take a scant teaspoon of dough, roll into a ball and press flat.

Lay on baking sheets lined with Silpat or other non-sitck surface.

Bake for 10 minutes, flip over and bake 5 minutes longer (until lightly browned on both sides).

Move to a plate or rack to cool.

Tastes better cooled.

Store left-overs in fridge 

Options: before baking sprinkle crackers with salt, black pepper or sesame seeds.

Crispy Cheese Cauliflower

Crispy Cheese Cauliflower

INGREDIENTS:

Olive oil spray
2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper, or to taste
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 large head cauliflower,broken into pieces
2 eggs, beaten, or egg substitute
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
1 lemon, cut in wedges

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 450 F. Spray a cookie sheet with olive oil.

In a shallow dish, combine cheese, cumin, cayenne, salt and pepper. Dredge cauliflower in egg, then in cheese mix. Put on cookie sheet; spray with oil. Bake 15 minutes.

Remove to plate; sprinkle with parsley. Serve with lemon.

Serves 4
Per serving: 124 calories, 11g protein, 7g carbohydrates, 7g fat (3g saturated), 118mg cholesterol, 3g fiber, 275mg sodium

Roasted Quartered Chicken and Shallots

I saw this recipe over at marthastewart.com and it just looks delicious. I was going to type it all out but it was just so pretty the way it was I took screen shots.

Here’s the link to the original recipe.

 

Pork Curry over Cauliflower Couscous

Pork Curry over Cauliflower Couscous

Yield: Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons mild curry powder
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1-1/2 pounds pork (boneless shoulder, loin or chops), cubed
1 red or green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
1 large head cauliflower

Preparation:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat in large saucepan. Add curry powder and garlic; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes until garlic is golden.

2. Add pork; stir to coat completely with curry and garlic. Cook and stir 5 to 7 minutes or until pork cubes are barely pink in center. Add bell pepper and vinegar; cook and stir 3 minutes or until bell pepper is soft. Sprinkle with salt.

3. Add water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced and pork is tender, adding additional water as needed.

4. Meanwhile, trim and core cauliflower; cut into equal pieces. Place in food processor fitted with metal blade. Process using on/off pulsing action until cauliflower is in small uniform pieces about the size of cooked couscous. Do not purée.

5. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat in 12-inch nonstick skillet. Add cauliflower; cook and stir 5 minutes or until cooked crisp-tender. Do not overcook. Serve pork curry over cauliflower.

Nutritional Information:

Sodium 308 mg
Protein 28 g
Fiber 5 g
Carbohydrate 7 g
Cholesterol 69 mg
Saturated Fat 10 g
Total Fat 15 g
Calories from Fat 51 %
Calories 267

Avandia May Increase Cardiovascular Death

Rosiglitazone Increases MI and CV Death in Meta-Analysis

Sue Hughes

Medscape Medical News 2007. © 2007 Medscape

May 21, 2007 (Cleveland, OH) - A new meta-analysis has suggested that the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline) may increase the risk of MI and cardiovascular death [1].

The analysis, published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows a significant increase in the risk of MI and an increase in cardiovascular death of borderline significance with rosiglitazone.

The authors, led by Dr Steven Nissen (Cleveland Clinic, OH), say these new findings are “worrisome” because of the high incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes. “Because exposure of such patients to rosiglitazone is widespread, the public-health impact of an increase in cardiovascular risk could be substantial if our data are borne out by further analysis and the results of larger controlled trials,” they write.

Nissen commented to heartwire: “The FDA must now evaluate all the data they have, and they have more data than we had access to. I was working with one arm tied behind my back, as we did not have original source data. In my view, the risks we saw are correct, but the FDA will have to make a decision on this. In the meantime, individual physicians should look at our data and make up their own minds about whether to continue using this drug.”

Editorial: “Rationale for rosiglitazone now unclear”

In an accompanying editorial, Drs Bruce Psaty (University of Washington, Seattle) and Curt Furberg (Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC) share Nissen’s concerns [2]. “In view of the potential cardiovascular risks and in the absence of evidence of other health advantages, except for laboratory measures of glycemic control, the rationale for prescribing rosiglitazone at this time is unclear. Unless new data provide a different picture of the risk/benefit profile, regulatory action by the FDA is now warranted,” they say.

Nissen and his coauthor, Kathy Wolski, note that rosiglitazone was approved based on its ability to lower blood glucose levels, and studies so far conducted have not been large enough to assess its impact on long-term events. Noting that the effect of any diabetes therapy on cardiovascular outcomes is particularly important given that 65% of deaths in diabetic patients are from cardiovascular causes, they performed a meta-analysis of trials comparing rosiglitazone with placebo or an active comparator to assess its effect on cardiovascular outcomes.

The source material for this analysis consisted of publicly available data submitted to the FDA as part of the approval package, another series of trials performed by the sponsor after approval, and two large prospective randomized trials designed to study additional indications for the drug (DREAM and ADOPT). In all, 42 trials met the inclusion criteria of a follow-up period of at least 24 weeks, the use of a randomized control group, and the availability of outcome data on MI and cardiovascular death. In these trials, 15 560 patients were assigned to rosiglitazone and 12 283 received placebo or an active comparator.

Results showed that rosiglitazone-treated patients had an odds ratio of 1.43 for MI and 1.64 for cardiovascular death compared with the control group.

Nissen and Wolski note that the increased risk associated with rosiglitazone is the same when compared with placebo or with an active comparator, suggesting that this observation was not due to a protective effect of comparator drugs.

They point out that this meta-analysis is limited by a lack of access to original source data, which would have enabled time-to-event analysis, and on a relatively small number of events (there were 86 MIs and 39 cardiovascular deaths in the rosiglitazone patients vs 72 MIs and 22 cardiovascular deaths in control patients). But they say that despite these limitations, patients and providers should consider the potential for serious adverse cardiac effects of treatment with rosiglitazone.

Nissen explained to heartwire that he requested the original data from these trials from the manufacturer but they were unable to reach agreement over the terms.

Nissen and Wolski say the mechanism for the increased risk remains uncertain and could be due to several factors, including an adverse effect on lipid levels, precipitation of heart failure, and a reduction in hemoglobin levels.

What about other drugs in this class?

Rosiglitazone belongs to a class of drugs known as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists. Nissen and Wolski point out that it is not the first of this drug class to be associated with cardiovascular events, as the investigational agent muraglitazar was dropped from late-stage development because of adverse cardiovascular events, and development of many other PPAR agonists has also been stopped after early evidence of toxicity.

To heartwire, Nissen commented: “These drugs are very complex, and every one is different in that they all turn on or off different genes, so you can’t really talk about a class effect. They all have to be evaluated separately.” He noted that the other major drug in this class–pioglitazone–has shown a reassuring effect on cardiovascular outcomes in a large-scale trial (PROACTIVE). “The PROACTIVE data went in the right direction, so I would say pioglitazone was probably safe,” he said.

Nissen noted that such a large-scale trial has not been conducted with rosiglitazone, but that one is under way–the RECORD study. ‘However, the RECORD results are not due out until 2009, and even then this trial may not be adequately powered,” he added.

Another failure of the regulatory process?

In their paper, Nissen and Wolski call for more stringent evaluation of diabetes drugs preapproval. “The FDA considers demonstration of a sustained reduction in blood glucose levels with an acceptable safety profile adequate for approval of antidiabetic agents. However, the ultimate value of antidiabetic therapy is the reduction of the complications of diabetes, not improvement in a laboratory measure of glycemic control. . . . After the failure of muraglitazar and the apparent increase in adverse cardiovascular outcomes with rosiglitazone, the use of blood glucose measurements as a surrogate end point in regulatory approval must be carefully reexamined,” they write.

This view is shared by Psaty and Furberg, who write: “Ongoing trials using rosiglitazone may provide important new data, but for a drug approved in 1999, the delay in obtaining information about health outcomes has already been considerable.” They add that tens of millions of prescriptions for rosiglitazone have been written, and if the current findings represent a valid estimate of the risk of cardiovascular events, rosiglitazone represents a “major failure of the drug-use and drug-approval process in the United States.”

FDA: No action recommended at this time

In a statement released at the same time as this paper, the US FDA notes that it is aware of this meta-analysis but that other published and unpublished data from long-term clinical trials of rosiglitazone, including an interim analysis of data from the RECORD trial and unpublished reanalyses of data from DREAM, provide contradictory evidence about the risks in patients treated with Avandia. 

The agency advises patients taking rosiglitazone, especially those who are known to have underlying heart disease or who are at high risk of heart attack, to talk to their doctor about this new information.

The FDA says its analyses of all available data are ongoing, and it has not confirmed the clinical significance of the reported increased risk in the context of other studies. Noting that there is inherent risk associated with switching patients with diabetes from one treatment to another, the agency says it is not asking GlaxoSmithKline to take any specific action at this time.

“FDA is carefully weighing several complex sources of data, some of which show conflicting results, related to the risk of heart attack and heart-related deaths in patients treated with Avandia,” said Steven Galson, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We will complete our analyses and make the results available as soon as possible. FDA will take the issue of cardiovascular risk associated with Avandia and other drugs in this class to an advisory committee as soon as one can be convened,” he added.

The statement notes that since rosiglitazone was approved, the FDA has been monitoring several heart-related adverse events (fluid retention, edema, and congestive heart failure) based on signals seen in previous controlled clinical trials and from postmarketing reports. The most recent labeling change for Avandia also included a new warning about a potential increase in heart attacks and heart-related chest pain in some individuals using Avandia, which was based on the result of a controlled clinical trial in patients with existing congestive heart failure.

GSK disagrees with Nissen’s conclusions

GlaxoSmithKline also issued a statement strongly disagreeing with the conclusions reached in the article, which it says are based on “incomplete evidence and a methodology that the author admits has significant limitations.”

The company notes that the totality of its data show that Avandia has a comparable cardiovascular profile to other oral antidiabetic medicines, adding that “GSK stands firmly behind the safety of Avandia when used appropriately, and we believe its significant benefits continue to outweigh any treatment risks.”

1. Nissen SE and Wolski K. Effect of rosiglitazone on the risk of myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular causes. N Engl J Med 2007;DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa072761. Available at: http://www.nejm.org.
2. Psaty B and Furberg C. Rosiglitazone and cardiovascular risk. N Engl J Med 2007;DOI 10.1056/NEJMe078099. Available at: http://www.nejm.org.

The complete contents of Heartwire, a professional news service of WebMD, can be found at www.theheart.org, a Web site for cardiovascular healthcare professionals.

Decadent Brie Snack

Decadent Brie Snack

1 serving

INGREDIENTS:

* Decadent Brie Snack 1 ounce of brie
* 1 T chopped pecans
* 1 T chopped dried apricots
* 1 T sugar free vanilla syrup

DIRECTIONS:

Trim the rind off the brie (it can be bitter), and chop it into a rough dice.

Put the cheese, pecans, and apricots in a small microwave-safe dish; drizzle the sugar free syrup over all.

Microwave on high for 30 seconds, or until the cheese is just starting to melt. This doesn’t take too long, as brie is very soft to begin with.

Stir and enjoy!

APPROXIMATE NUTRITION INFORMATION:
142 calories, 12 g fat, 4 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 7 g protein

Olive Oil Table Spread

Olive Oil Table Spread

This makes a lovely spread that uses less butter and incorporates the health benefits of olive oil.

500g (2 cups) of butter
1.5 cups of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. (Make sure it is fairly light-flavored oil, otherwise the oil will overwhelm the butter taste)

Beat the butter in a food processor or Mixmaster until softened, then gradually add the olive oil.
When it is all completely blended, it will be quite pourable.

I pour it into individual containers and put lids on, then store them in the fridge.

When cold it is quite hard.

Variations: You can add some milk to make it go a bit further – up to 1/4 cup for this quantity. We make winter and summer blends too. The recipe above is for winter. In summer I use only 1 cup of olive oil, because the spread becomes too soft when it is left out in warm weather.”

Margaret Chidgey, editor of the journal of the Australian Olive Association

Here’s a link for another variation I found at RecipeZaar.