Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

I use Imagine organic chicken stock, which has no artificial ingredients. Check the label on your spices to make sure they don’t contain colour or anti-caking agents. Use all-natural yogurt and fresh lemon juice.

Cube the squash and slice the onions

Add peppers and garlic

After adding the broth and simmering the chicken, add kale and corn

Cook until the kale wilts

Chicken and Kale Stew with Chili Yogurt

Ingredients:

Chicken and Kale Stew

1 tsp (5 ml) olive oil

2-½ cups (625 ml) cubed seeded peeled butternut squash

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, finely grated or pressed

1 small finger chili pepper, (red or yellow), halved lengthwise and seeded

1 tbsp (15 ml) minced peeled fresh ginger

1 pkg (900 ml) sodium-reduced chicken broth

½ tsp (2 ml) each dried sage and dried thyme

½ tsp (2 ml) pepper

¼ tsp (1 ml) salt

450 g boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed

4 cups (1 L) chopped stemmed kale

½ cup (125 ml) frozen corn kernels

1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice

2 tbsp (30 ml) cornstarch

Chili Yogurt

1/3 cup (75 ml) 2% plain Greek yogurt

1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped fresh chives

½ tsp (2 ml) lemon juice

2 tbsp (30 ml) sunflower seeds, toasted

Preparation:

Chicken and Kale Stew: In Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat; cook squash and onion, stirring occasionally, until onion is beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili pepper and ginger; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Stir in broth, sage, thyme, pepper and salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add chicken; simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

Using slotted spoon, remove chili pepper to cutting board; mince chili pepper. Reserve for Chili Yogurt.

Add kale and corn to Dutch oven; cook, stirring occasionally, until kale is wilted and chicken is no longer pink inside, about 2 minutes. Stir in lemon juice.

Whisk cornstarch with 2 tbsp (30 ml) water; stir into Dutch oven. Bring to boil; cook, stirring, until thickened, about 1 minute. Ladle stew into serving bowls.

Chili Yogurt: In small bowl, stir together yogurt, chives, lemon juice and reserved chili pepper; dollop over stew. Sprinkle with sunflower seeds.

Serves 6.

From Canadian Living

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

The olives and Feta may contain artificial ingredients. I use Pilaros brand black olives from Costco and Tre Stelle Feta.

Place all the ingredients but the Feta on large sheets of parchment paper

Fold the edges together to form a packet; you can staple it

The fish and other ingredients will steam inside the packets

Tomato, onion, black olive and Feta fish packet

Ingredients:

4 6-ounce (175 g) pieces boneless, skinless cod, salmon, or bass

2 cups (500 ml) halved cherry tomatoes

¼ small red onion, thinly sliced

1/3 cup (75 ml) halved pitted black olives

¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil

Kosher salt and black pepper

1 ½ ounces (45 g) Feta, crumbled (about 1/3 cup/75 g)

Preparation:

Heat oven to 425° F (210°C. Place the fish, tomatoes, onion, olives, oil, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt, and ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) pepper on 4 11-by-15-inch (28 x 38 cm) pieces of parchment, dividing evenly. Fold the parchment over the fish, then seal each packet by folding the edges over twice.

Transfer the packets to a baking sheet. Bake until the fish is opaque throughout, 12 to 14 minutes.

Transfer the packets to plates and use scissors to make a small X in the top of each packet.

Tear open carefully (they will probably release steam) and top with the Feta. Serves 4.

From the October 2014 issue of Real Simple