We’re advised by health experts to choose red wine for its potential cardioprotective benefits provided by the antioxidant resveratrol. With the holidays fast approaching, here are my suggestions for three delicious California reds for under $14 (you’ll get an even better deal if you can find them on sale).
Dancing Bull Merlot 2006: Flavors of dark cherry, plum, blackberry, with hits of vanilla. The label describes it as: “The perfect paring for pizza.” So, I followed their advice. It worked with pizza (we ordered a vegetarian pizza from our local pizza place, Vace). I would also suggest serving it with your turkey for Thanksgiving.
Beringer Founder’s Estate B Pinot Noir 2007: Black cherry, plum, and hints of toasted oak and spice. “Delicious with wild salmon and creamy risotto.” I paired it with grilled wild salmon, spinach-basil linguini, and baby romaine lettuce with feta cheese and roasted walnuts. Yes…it was indeed a lovely match!
Fetzer Vineyards Shiraz 2005: Described as “deep purple color with aromas of white pepper, plum, blackberry and licorice…It’s a wine well worth exploring.” I paired it with marinated grilled buffalo flank steak from Whole Foods (less cholesterol and fat than beef and tons of flavor), salsa verde, baked potatoes, asparagus, and a peach-blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Yum! (Note: I used the steak marinade, salsa verde, and cobbler recipes from my book, Eating for Pregnancy: The Essential Nutrition Guide and Cookbook for Today’s Mothers-to-Be.)
More about Heart Health, Red Wine, Resveratrol
My favorite way to serve large globe artichokes is steamed or boiled, cooled to room temperature, gently pried open to look like a blooming lotus flower, then drizzled with homemade vinaigrette that reaches right down to the heart. Or, I sometimes put the vinaigrette in a tiny dish and I dip the wider base of the leaves, one by one, into the sauce before scraping the nub of pulp with my teeth.
With so many fancy and pricey salts on the market, the question arises: What’s the difference between boutique salts and good ‘ol Morton iodized salt? Here’s the skinny. The two main sources for salt are: 1) rock salt mined from mineral deposits and 2) sea salt from evaporated ocean water. Iodized salt has been fortified with iodine, a practice that began in 1922 to combat goiter and boost brain development. It is advisable to consume iodized salt as part of your regular diet; however you can also get iodine from seafood, dairy products, and multi-vitamin/mineral supplements. Needless to say, consume salt and all products containing sodium in moderation. Healthy individuals should not exceed 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.
It’s hard to imagine our world without plastic. It seems as if everything, from baby bottles to clothing, contains some form of plastic. And, it’s important to know that some plastics are safer than others. BPA (bisphenol-A), a chemical used in certain plastics, has been associated with disrupting the estrogen hormone. In 2006, Europe banned all products with BPA made for children under the age of three, including bottles and sippy cups. Here are some tips for buying safe plastic. Read more 
It’s all about smoothies these days…and the choices are endless. I mean, just look in the grocery store and you’ll find shelves of smoothies that deliver extra protein, vitamins, antioxidants, calcium, and so on. Wish they’d invent one to get rid of wrinkles! You can give your own smoothies, either homemade or store-bought, a boost of calcium by whisking 1/3 cup pasteurized instant nonfat dry milk into 1-1/2 to 2-cups of liquid. This will add about 14 grams of protein and 500 milligrams of calcium (1/2 the recommended daily intake!) to your power drink. Moms with kids who need more calcium, take note.
