As part of my continuing quest to find more flavorful (and healthier) alternatives to white sugar–especially when I want to bake something tasty for breakfast–I decided to try my hand at maple syrup creations. (See Sweeteners for more information on natural sweeteners.) The result? A lightly-sweetened bread with the warm undertones of maple, the smooth [...]
What a handy kitchen tool! Although it’s sold as a coffee/spice grinder, I bought this to grind my own flour. Thanks to its fast-spinning blade and its relatively-small size (trying to grind a puny cup of grain in a Cuisinart is like trying to roll a bowling ball down the length of a strip mall), [...]
April 16, 2009, 2:00 p.m., Berkley Senior Center During this talk, we focused on learning how to read and understand food labels. (The latter isn’t always so easy!) We also touched on the importance of choosing high-quality, nutrient-dense foods at any age. If you’d like more information on the Senior Center, please visit the City [...]
April 15, 2009, bright & early Since optimists are perpetually alert and cheery–even at (or before) the crack of dawn!–I emphasized the good fats in our modern foodscape. From farmer’s markets to natural food stores, from the benefits of grass-fed beef to why pastured eggs are better than what’s in the battery-hen-produced cartons, we broadened [...]
Velvety, creamy, mashable (yet slice-and-diceable)…and a color that would make the Grinch envious. Who can resist avocadoes? Not me! I make guacamole with them, I serve strips of avocado in wraps and atop salads, alongside fish and strewn atop chili. You just can’t beat ripe avocadoes for the warmth and richness they bring to almost [...]
A note to my faithful readers in the blogosphere: today is a special day. Not because it’s snowing in April–which, while odd, is not entirely unexpected for Michigan–but because this is my 200th post! While we can’t share celebratory libations over the Internet, I thought I’d give you a bit of the tropics to re-create [...]
Here’s a twist on taco salads: Ethiopian lamb salads! Simple, satisfying, and significantly lighter than its North American cousin, this salad was a happy meeting of leftovers and inspiration. (I had cooked ground lamb with berbere spice mix, chopped onions, minced garlic and diced tomatoes the day before.) When I saw the lettuce and Greek [...]
In the mood for something smooth and fruity? While organic unsweetened applesauce is one of the tastiest snacks out there–try stirring in a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg for a real treat!–most fruit sauces/puddings consist of sugars, artificial colors, artificial flavors, and not much fruit. The good news is that it’s very easy to whip [...]
