The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 27

Wednesday, February 14, 2007 27 examiner.com XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Your daily health, diet and fitness news BOIL MEETS GRILL HEALTHY TIP PREVENTION 'Silent killer' is a common threat When blood exerts excessive pressure on the arteries, a patient's life may be at risk. "I've seen several patients who think their blood pressure was fine, but that was not the case," said Maura Iacaboni, registered nurse at the Wellness Center in Tinionium. High blood pressure, or hypertension, can damage the heart and constrict blood flow, causing heart attacks and strokes, Iacaboni said. However, high blood pressure is a "silent killer" because its symptoms do not surface until the condition has progressed. To prevent and treat high blood pressure, Iacaboni suggests: Jogging, biking or taking a brisk walk two to five times a week for at least 30 minutes Skipping the salt at mealtime Eating a diet high in fiber, potassium, magnesium and calcium Pi If you're boiling vegetables, you're losing key nutrients.

There is a better way. Turn'up the oven to 425 degrees and roast 'em. High heat seals in the veggies' juices and the nutrients, which leech out in boiling water, The flavor is remarkably better, too roasting caramelizes veggies' natural sugars, and you won't need a pat of butter or a cheese sauce to dress them up. When roasting, cut the vegetable into evenly sized pieces to ensure even cooking. Spray a baking -jiff--- "i'SA Examiner file plmf w.

m. mm sheet with heart-healthy canola or olive oil. Spread the veg-. gies evenly out on the sheet, and spray with the oil. Add your seasoning and roast until the veggies are tender on the inside.

Miavita Practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga and tai chi poses Jessica Novak E-mail Healthy Life editor Sara Schwartz: sschwartzdcexaminer.com PRACTICAL THiNKING DO I BURN CALORIES EVEN WHEN I'M JUST SITTING AROUND? You burn calories all the time, even when you're asleep. Your basal metabolic rate is the amount of energy (calories) your body uses for basic chores such as breathing, circulat-. ing blood, powering the nervous system and maintaining body temperature. A normal BMR for the average healthy male is around 1 calorie per kilogram (2.2 lbs) of body weight per hour; for women it is slightly lower, at around .9 caloriekghr. But BMRs are very personal.

Miarita Be kissable this Valentines Day ATMOSPHERE CREATE THE FULL EFFECT A cognac-sauced steak and dessert for two Most people think bad breath comes from the stomach, but this isn't true. At least 90 percent of bad breath is caused by millions of bacteria that naturally exist in the mouth. This Valentine's Day, be kissable by getting rid of bad breath. AP Time: 2 12 hours, 15 minutes active. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk to a boil.

While the milk heats, in a blender on low, combine the egg, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt, chocolate chips and liqueur. In a slow, steady stream, pour the boiling milk into the blender while it is turning. The hot milk will cook the egg and melt the chocolate. Blend for 1 minute, or until smooth. Spoon the chocolate mixture into demitasse cups and chill.

After dinner, use an electric mixer to beat the cream in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Add the remaining sugar and beat to combine. Top the chocolate cups with a dollop of cream and garnish each with an edible flower. To serve, place the cups on saucers and serve with demi-tasse spoons. Choose a souffle theme for Valentines Day dinner at home Brush.

It's important to knock out that morning breath as soon as you wake up. Crest's Pro-Health toothpaste is the only toothpaste in the market that protects against all seven areas dentists check most cavities, gingivitis, plaque, sensitivity, tartar, whitening and breath. blespoons of olive oil. Add the steaks, peppered side down, and cook for 4 minutes. Turn and cook an additional 3 minutes for medium-rare.

Go a minute longer on each side for medium to medium-well. Transfer the steaks from the skillet to a plate and cover them loosely with a piece of foil to keep then warm while they rest. Return the skillet to the heat and add a drizzle of oil. Add the onion, garlic and a pinch of salt. Saute, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes.

Remove the skillet from the heat, add the cognac, then carefully return it to the burner and let it flame up. He sure to stand back. You might need to tip the pan toward the flame to get it to ignite. Once the flame dies down add the' beef stock and the cream. Increase heat to high and cook until it is lightly thickened.

Add the parsley to the sauce, then pour it over the steaks. Makes two servings. CHOCOLATE CUPS WITH WHIPPED CREAM 23 cup whole milk legg 4 tbls. sugar, divided Pinch salt 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 to 2 tablespoons Frangelico 1 cup whipping cream Edible flowers For a romantic Valentine's Day dinner, celebrity chef Ra-chael Ray suggests a simple pepper steak with cognac sauce accompanied by demitasse cups of chocolate pudding. To pull this together on the big day, make the dessert first to allow it several hours to chill.

Make the salad next, but hold off on tossing the onions with the greens until just before serving. The chocolate can be served in demitasse cups (espresso-sized cups) or small bowls. Some gourmet food shops also sell small cups made out of chocolate. COGNAC-SAUCED PEPPER STEAKS Two 10- to 12-ounce shell steaks, 1 12 inches thick Salt 1 tbls. ground black pepper Extra-virgin olive oil 12 small onion, chopped 1 large garlic clove, chopped 1 nip of cognac 34 cup beef or chicken stock 14 cup heavy cream 2 tbls.

chopped flat-leaf parsley Time: 20 minutes Season the steaks with salt, then sprinkle one side of each with the pepper and press it in with your fingers. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 ta Makes four cups. Ar Rinse. Mouthwashes kill germs, eliminate odor and prevent had breath.

Scope's Original Mint flavor is a The Parmesan souffle is seasoned with 12 teaspoon of cayenne, which some people might find too potent. Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes active. PARMESAN CHEESE SOUFFLE 1 tbls. unsatted butter 3 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese 2 cups low-fat sour cream 12 cup all-purpose flour 5 large egg yolks 7 large egg whites 1 teaspoon salt 12 teaspoon cayenne 2 tablespoons choppeoMresh chives Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter a 2-quart souffle dish.

Add 1 cup dish to evenly coat the bottom and sides. Shake out any excess. Set aside in the refrigerator. Place the sour cream in a large mixing bowl. Sift the flour into sour cream, then whisk until well combined.

Add the egg yolks, one at a time, whisk great option to choose for getting the job done right. ft Floss. Glide's new Deep Clean To-Go floss comes in packaged single-use portions, making it easy to just tuck a few of little sachets in your wallet or purse A valentine to the lovelorn ing after each addition, bur in salt, cayenne, chives and remaining 2 cups cheese. In a clean, large bowl (copper is ideal), vigorously whisk the egg whites until stiff to keep a fresh, healthy mouth. New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell' Medical Center in New York City.

She suggests that singles not pressure themselves too much to jump back into the dating game, especially if a break-up or other trauma is still fresh. -HeallhDay Left out of the gifts and flowers of another Valentine's Day, millions of lonely-hearted Americans wonder: What can I do to turn this situation around? "You can tell when someone is open to meeting people or not," said Dr. Catherine Birndorf, a women's health 'specialist at peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into the sour cream mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared souffle dish and bake until souffle has risen 2 to 3 inches above the rim and top is golden brown, 1 to 1 V2 hours.

Serve immediately. Makes four servings. -AP.