Dr. Oz did actually differentiate the quinoa in the meatballs during his taste test for the secret ingredient in the spaghetti dish. Quinoa is a whole grain which is high in protein and the addition to the meatball mixture is a good idea.

However, the secret ingredient of quinoa with it’s protein and other nutrients is diminished if you use that recipe that Dr. Oz has on his website. You need to leave out the canola oil and the parmesan cheese…please!

Use olive oil or grapeseed oil instead of canola oil and if you need more of a binder than just the egg with your ground beef or turkey; then by all means you can use another secret ingredient which is oatmeal. We use oatmeal in meatloaf for a binder with the eggs and it works the same way in smaller round meatballs perfectly.

Another secret to getting more nutrients and better flavor in those meatballs and in the marinara sauce is to add a few additional spices and herbs. Oregano, thyme, and garlic will never disappoint you with a pasta dish.

In Dr. Oz’s Linguine recipe, the carrot will sweeten the sauce and the red pepper flakes will give it some spicy heat. If you want to really jazz up the sauce, use an Infused Olive Oil which has truffles or other spices in it which will perk up the flavor two or three notches toward spectacular and delicious.

One compliment that I want to give about that recipe is another often secret ingredient that Americans are still relatively unaware of…and that’s the ‘balsamic vinegar’. Once you begin to use organic balsamic vinegar, you will find more ways to build that flavor into sauces, salad dressings, dips, and even drizzled over strawberries – the Italian way!

There is one more secret that is of the utmost importance for you whenever you use this or any other recipe with ground beef in it. The secret is to use grass-fed free-range beef, because it tastes better and it is healthier for you. You can also secretly toy with other exotic meats like ostrich and buffalo for lean and healthy alternatives.

People are afraid to mention the risks of Mad Cow Disease, but I want you to know that it remains a monumental issue that puts you in the danger zone when you consume meat that is not raised in a sustainable manner. You simply must make the change to healthy meat sources. We have two for you.

They even make it easy and offer a variety of cuts and groupings for your convenience. Ground Beef that is grass-fed and allowed to traverse the ranges in virtual freedom are rarely found to have the prions that alter the human body’s brain tissue. Be safe and certain and your secret weapon for a healthy brain will be kept when you follow this recipe for success!

Quinoa is a great dish on its own. We often add the same trinity of carrots, celery, and onion to our whole grain quinoa, just like the marinara sauce for any pasta dish. This is a common blend in Europe which is even enhanced with a little purple cabbage, some cilantro, parsley, and occasionally delicate pieces of asparagus. Quinoa is excellent with sesame seeds sprinkled over it and a splash of balsamic vinegar never hurts and always perks up the flavor to lip-smacking levels of delight.

You can also substitute linguine with other types of pasta, including one of our favorite pastas made from rice. There are also delicious pasta being made from artichoke flour and other gluten-free ingredients like corn. Experiment with a variety of whole grain pastas and find your own favorites. While you are enjoying your pasta and spicy meatballs, drink a toast with Red Wine to the wonderful Life you have created with natural organic healthy whole foods!

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 28th, 2010 at 6:18 pm and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.