Those little jars of prepared garlic and ginger are so completely convenient! No fussing with paper-thin garlic peels, no paring gnarly knobs of ginger or endangering fingers on the ginger grater and no garlic-smelling hands for the rest of the night. But is it OK to use these conveniences? I get this question a lot, … Read more
Know how many pounds of eggplant are grown in China each year? A lot. That’s why Chinese cuisine is a good source of inspiration when facing a surfeit of eggplant.
Do you remember the movie Pleasantville? The beginning, set in the 50s, was filmed in black and white and everything was, well, pleasant. Mom and Dad and the the two perfect teens, living good, pleasant lives. Then the teens got blasted into the future (in a way that only happens in movieland), and life suddenly … Read more
Nibble while you cook. Dieting gurus might not approve of this recommendation, but it’s the only way to root out potential meal time spoilers. Here’s a case in point: I was making a simple green salad tonight with green leaf lettuce and shredded red cabbage. Casting about for a quick accent, I came upon several … Read more
It’s an understandable question that anyone might ask. But do I answer it or step back and ask where that question comes from in the first place?
“Browning” rice is not like “browning chicken breasts until golden,” or “toasting nuts until brown and fragrant.” No, it means forgetting about the rice simmering on the stove until a thick brown, hard crust forms on the bottom. But now there’s a new use for it–so don’t pitch it in the composter.
Do you remember when you could buy a pear, wash it, then eat it? Not anymore. Mad scientists have successfully hybridized every last produce species. Shortly after harvest, fruits and vegetables now develop a brightly colored, impossibly sticky scab on the outer skin. Being highly toxic, the scab must be removed before eating, presenting consumers … Read more
Smaller plates are supposed to be good for keeping our eating impulses under control. But are there times when big plates and bowls are best?
I guess I’ve got peanut butter on my face! I just finished my last post, about feeling safer eating low-on-the-food-chain, freshly ground peanut butter. Then I took a break, read the paper and discovered that even freshly ground peanut butter has been implicated in the peanut scare! Before lashing my wrists with a wet noodle, … Read more
With yet another food scare, maybe it’s time to start relying on our own wits to ensure the safety of what goes in our mouths. Here are some quick guidelines to begin regaining a sense of control and comfort when it comes to eating.