When nutrition experts talk about eliminating processed foods, do you feel squeamishly overwhelmed? “How in the world could I do that?” you wonder. Actually, it might be easier (and tastier) than you think. Case in point: I arrived home late last Friday night, feeling certain I couldn’t pull together a no-processed food meal before starving … Read more
Are all processed foods on the no-no list? Or are there times when it’s OK to break the processed food prohibition?
If there’s a reliable dietary culprit, “processed food” would be it. In fact, “processed foods” has become practically synonymous with bad-for-you food. However, most of the foods we eat are “processed,” subjected to some kind of “process” from simple cooking, grinding and fermenting to complex hydrogenating, modifying and refining. So in a practical sense, how do we implement the experts’ advice to eliminate processed foods? Instead of an either/or definition, I use the far more helpful “Tree to Test Tube Continuum” to sort out good from bad and when it’s OK to break the rules.
Kitchen Timers to the Rescue Ever lose track of time when getting a meal on the table? I mean time in the sense of how long it takes pasta to cook, a vegetable to steam or a casserole to brown lightly in the oven. This can be tricky when cooking more than one dish at … Read more
A perfect salad to accommodate autumn’s in-between weather and use up the last of summer’s goodies with some of the cooler weather crops now coming in. Find out about mizuna, stir-frying monster cucumbers and how to wilt a salad.
I’ve discovered a long-dormant instinct that derives immense satisfaction from even the smallest autumn harvest activity. Why not indulge your harvest instinct? It’s cheap and can even save money. Find lots of ideas for tapping into this kind of completely illogical joy.
Think brown rice doesn’t taste as good as white? Try these flavor-boosting tricks and you’ll be loving your whole grains.
Did you know there’s a connection between what’s in your pantry and what’s on your thighs? It’s true, so pay attention to this often overlooked part of the kitchen–not only to what’s there, but also to what’s not there–like high-quality canned chicken that can stave off a hunger attack in a hurry.
When a dish comes out well, I like to think it’s due to my brilliance as a cook. But more often than not, good, carefully selected ingredients are the true stars. This recipe is a perfect example of one that’s all about the ingredients. No cooking skill required.
It’s understandable that we want something to blame for the disappointing way meals often unfold, but is Cooking really the problem?