Introducing Antioxidants By: Lily Schmitz When people make an effort to eat a healthier diet, they often make decisions on what to consume based on what the food doesn’t have, such as fat, sugar or carbs. I would like to propose an alternative: choosing foods for the good things that they do have such as vitamins, minerals, proteins and my favorite: the highly beneficial yet still underrated antioxidants. Antioxidants are a molecule that break down toxins called free radicals inside your body. Free radicals are waste products produced by your cells, and in small amounts, these toxins are natural and harmless. If too many free radicals build up in your body, however, they can become dangerous and damage macromolecules necessary for proper cell function. Consuming high levels of antioxidants helps neutralize free radicals in your body, promoting clean, efficient, and high-functioning cells.
To name just a few, • Turmeric • Dark chocolate • Asparagus • Espresso • Green tea • Berries • Beans • Pecans, almonds, and other tree nuts • Pomegranates • Kale • Spinach Incorporating antioxidant-rich foods into more exciting recipes won’t take away their health benefits for you. After all, you get more or less the same benefit of antioxidants from eating raw kale as you do in dark chocolate or your favorite cup of coffee! In other words, you don’t just have to eat plain fruits and vegetables to enjoy antioxidants! Here are some exciting ways to try introducing antioxidants into your diet.
Tiramisu with Dark Chocolate Ganache Ingredients
4 large egg yolks ½ c. sugar 1 ¾ c. heavy cream 1 c. mascarpone cheese 1 t. Vanilla extract 1 ¾ c. espresso, freshly brewed 2 T. rum or chocolate liqueur (optional) 2 T. cocoa powder About 24 ladyfingers (depending on the size of your pan) 100 grams of dark chocolate; coarsely chopped
Tips
If you can’t find ladyfingers at the store, my favorite substitution is to cut angel food cake into 2-in. Long rectangles and dry them in the oven at a low heat for 10-15 mins. This makes for an even lighter, airier, and sweeter tiramisu!
Preparation
1. For the mascarpone filling: Whip egg yolks with ¼ c. sugar until pale yellow and tripled in volume (slight ribbons should fall from the beaters). In a separate bowl, whip ¾ c. of cream with the remaining sugar until stiff peaks form. Add in the mascarpone and continue to whip until a soft, spreadable texture is achieved. Fold the sweetened egg yolks and chill. 2. For the chocolate ganache: Place chopped chocolate and 1 cup of cream into a heat proof bowl. Set bowl on top of a simmering saucepan of water on the stovetop; stirring occasionally until melted. Set aside to cool. 3. For the ladyfingers: Place room temperature espresso in a shallow dish (Add in rum or liqueur if using). Dust an 8x8 baking dish (or other similar dish that you have around) with a little cocoa powder. One at a time, dip each lady finger into the espresso bowl (not too long; don’t let it break apart!) and arrange in the bottom of the baking dish. Spread an even layer of your mascarpone filling on top, then a thinner layer of the chocolate ganache. Repeat until you are out of filling and ganache. You should be able to get two, maybe three layers depending on the height of your dish. It should finish with a layer of mascarpone filling. 4. Dust the top layer with cocoa powder (optional: sprinkle on some dark chocolate shavings too!) 5. Refrigerate the dessert from 4-24 hours before serving to let all the flavors be fully melded and absorbed.
