Super Food Saturday- North African Shakshuka

North African Shakshuka

I gave my niece Courtney a set of cast iron frying pans for her birthday this year.  She loves to cook and it is something we often do together when I visit.  I have been cooking using cast iron for over 30 years, just like my mom did. Courtney tells me her cast iron pans are her favorite cookware. So I am always on the look out for recipes that use cast iron. This one is also good for anyone that has given up meat for lent.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 clove garlic minced

½ cup diced yellow onion

½ cup finely chopped carrot

½ cup finely chopped celery

8 ounces sliced mushrooms

1 tsp chili flakes

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

2 ( 14 oz) can diced tomatoes

4 cups fresh spinach

4 eggs

Heat oil in 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat.  Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the onion, carrot, celery and mushrooms. Cook for 2- 3 minutes.  Add the chili flakes and paprika. Add tomatoes. Add salt and pepper to season.  Cook stirring every few minutes, for 5 minutes.

Add spinach and stir until the leaves wilt into the sauce.  If the sauce starts to bubble, turn the heat to low.  Using a wooden spoon, make wells in the sauce for the eggs.

Crack each egg into well.  Cover the pan with a cover or foil and cook until the eggs are soft cooked or about 4-5 minutes.  Serve over Couscous or crusty bread.

* This recipe is based on a recipe from the Gourmet Garden website
http://na.gourmetgarden.com/us/recipes/Italian-shakshuka

Super foods: Tomatoes and spinach

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Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a two time participant of the Boston Marathon.  She was the 2012 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division. In 2013 she qualified as a member of the Team USA Duathlon Team. She will compete in 2014 at the Age Group World Duathlon Sprint Championship in Pontevedre Spain.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6

Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 143 members in 28 states. We also have members in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org

CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link

Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

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