Eating and Astrology!

Get 2012 off to the right start with healthy eating based on your sign of the Zodiac!!!! Chef to the stars/astrologer Sabra Ricci showed us some delicious dishes designed for your Astrological Sign!

Virgo
The Nervous System

Lavender. This fragrant herb should surround all Virgos, in their gardens, medicine cabinets, and in their pantries. It is of great benefit to the nervous system, easing stress headaches and depression, facilitating relaxation, and the overall communication among all nerves in the body. It's not unusual that lavender would be the Virgo herb, since "communication" is of such importance to Virgo and the sign rules the nervous system. A fragrant lavender eye pillow would be great help for a Virgo's good night's sleep to keep them alert for their daily on- the-job perfection everyone expects.

Frosted Lavender & Lemon Zest Shortbread
MAKES 3 DOZEN COOKIES
I live across the gulch from the most beautiful lavender farm. If you are ever on Maui, make sure to visit Alii Lavender Farm or visit them online: www.aliikulalavender.com.

Cookies
3 cups all-purpose flour
1⁄2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3⁄4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon unsprayed, dried lavender buds, crushed
1⁄4 teaspoon lemon zest

Icing
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1⁄2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1. Measure the flour into a bowl and set aside.

2. Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer on medium speed. Add the lavender buds and lemon zest and mix until blended. Add small amounts of the sifted flour, a little at a time, and mix until fully incorporated.

3. Shape the dough into a log and wrap in plastic wrap. Continue shaping the log into a long rectangle with even sides. Chill in the freezer for 2 hours.

4. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

5. Slice the chilled dough into 1⁄2- inch- thick cookies, and place on cookie sheets. Bake for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and transfer to a rack to cool.

6. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat all the icing ingredients, except the lemon zest, at medium speed until smooth, adding additional water if necessary. And lemon zest and mix to incorporate. Brush over cookies.

Libra
The Kidneys

Cranberries. Cranberries are very high in vitamin C, and beneficial in preventing urinary tract infections as they make urine more acidic. They contain hippuric acid, antibacterial, and other agents that eliminate E. coli bacteria. These red berries prevent kidney and bladder infections, making any Libra's urinary tract happy and well-balanced.

Cranberry & Pistachio Scones
MAKES 12 SCONES
These are my grandma Enola's favorites!
2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1⁄4 cup sugar 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 large egg, beaten 1⁄2 cup chopped pistachios 1⁄2 cup dried cranberries 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest 3⁄4 cup buttermilk

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. Combine the sifted dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter until it resembles small peas.

3. Add the egg, pistachios, cranberries, and lemon zest and mix well. Gradually add the buttermilk to form a thick dough.

4. Turn dough out onto a floured board and knead briefl y. Roll out the dough to 3⁄4- inch thickness and using a 2-inch cookie cutter, cut it into 12 rounds. Place the scones on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes, or until golden. Serve warm with butter and jam.

Aquarius
The Circulatory System

Blueberries. These great little berries have been deemed one of the superfruits of all time. They have powerful antioxidant properties that work miracles for the circulatory system, controlling the proper blood flow through the vessels and the amount of oxygen in the blood, and providing protection against disease. In ancient times blueberries were worn in pouches to ward off evil— better that Water Bearers eat them for protection against circulatory evils.

Blueberry Muffins with Lemon Curd
SERVES 12
Blueberries and lemon! Heaven!

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1⁄4 cup sour cream
1⁄4 cup milk
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1 1⁄2 cups blueberries
4 tablespoons lemon curd

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

2. In a bowl, mix together the sifted flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until incorporated. Add the vanilla, sour cream, milk, and lemon zest and mix well. Add the dry ingredients and stir until fully incorporated. Fold in the blueberries.

4. Line a standard 12-well muffin pan with paper liners. Fill each well half-full with batter. Put 1 teaspoon of lemon curd in the center and top with the remaining batter. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until golden.

Pisces
The Immune System

Maple Syrup. This natural sweetener is high in zinc, manganese, and antioxidants, which protect the immune system by supporting the white blood cells. It is perfect for Pisces and any of the other signs who may have compromised immunity. They should all switch to maple syrup for those times when sweetener is needed.

Buttermilk Cupcakes with Maple Butter Cream & Bacon
MAKES 12 CUPCAKES
My daughter worked at a fancy cupcake store in Los Angeles last summer and she asked me to create a version of one of her favorites.

Buttermilk Cupcakes
1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1⁄2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1⁄4 cup maple syrup
3 large eggs
1⁄4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1⁄2 cup buttermilk

Maple Butter Cream
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon maple extract
1 tablespoon whole milk 6 pieces crisp cooked bacon, crumbled

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

2. Line a standard 12-well muffin pan with paper liners. Sift all the dry ingredients together into a bowl. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together on high speed until light and fluff y. Reduce the speed to low, and add the maple syrup and the eggs one at a time. Scrape down the side of the bowl with a spatula and add the vegetable oil and vanilla and continue mixing until combined.

3. Add half of the dry mix, and then half of the buttermilk, and continue mixing on low speed. Then add remaining dry mix and buttermilk. Do not overmix.

4. Divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin wells. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of a cupcake. Remove from the oven and transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool.

5. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until fluff y. Gradually add the sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the maple extract and continue mixing. Add a little milk to thin the consistency. Frost each cupcake and garnish with the crumbled bacon.