tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58939571426978563022012-01-18T19:29:01.468-05:00the superfoods . . . and morejmnoreply@blogger.comBlogger831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-48371072600048988002012-01-17T21:17:00.001-05:002012-01-18T19:29:01.475-05:00

As detailed, where else?, in the UK Guardian, here: [T]rue extra virgin oil is peppery – it bites the back of the throat so fiercely it can make you cough. The flavours are vivid. "Peppery" is an official, positive attribute of "extra virgin" whereas smoothness will reliably indicate a low-quality oil. So why not just fake it and blend in some pepper?! [M]ost of what we eat today on the cheap is

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-13475818954694806252012-01-01T09:10:00.000-05:002012-01-01T09:10:46.025-05:00

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-44276283922156233612011-12-23T09:04:00.001-05:002011-12-23T09:07:22.861-05:00

"One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables." -- Romans 14:2

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-377262326561904742011-11-12T13:54:00.001-05:002011-11-12T14:14:49.485-05:00

"A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek." -- Samuel Johnson

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-63476762984581922942011-11-09T10:50:00.001-05:002011-11-09T11:07:33.292-05:00

The recent hurricane and tropical storm caused more fresh water than the oysters can tolerate into the upper region of the once oyster-rich waterway. Read about it here.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-43730183014783803492011-10-12T16:56:00.000-04:002011-10-12T16:56:38.123-04:00

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-87248148479828526992011-10-11T15:55:00.001-04:002011-10-12T09:49:50.236-04:00

7     cups unbleached flour3     cups water4     T melted unsalted butter1.5  T salt2     T sugar1.5  T yeast Whisk and dissolve salt, sugar and yeast in the water in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the flour, mixing constantly. Add the melted butter along the way. Grease a 3 quart cast iron dutch oven with Crisco. Pour in the dough and let rise, covered with a towel. Bake at 350 degrees F for

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-69460896134769248452011-10-08T07:12:00.001-04:002011-10-08T07:15:06.505-04:00

BudBud

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-48504349618790732692011-10-06T15:35:00.001-04:002011-10-06T15:49:51.420-04:00

Load the hopper and turn the crank. Run the pulp through three or more times to extract everything. The press gets out all the goodness, leaving skins and seeds behind.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-88184836522139765762011-10-03T09:36:00.000-04:002011-10-03T09:36:03.279-04:00

400 hives were lost, at a cost of $150,000. Story here.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-42343200624335382072011-10-02T21:14:00.001-04:002011-10-02T21:20:50.078-04:00

And just for that, I intend to eat more of it, not less: Denmark has introduced what’s believed to be the world’s first fat food tax, applying a surcharge to foods with more than 2.3 percent saturated fats, in an effort to combat obesity and heart disease. Danes hoarded food before the tax went into effect Saturday, emptying grocery store shelves. Some butter lovers may even resort to stocking

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-59241426155685884092011-10-02T09:47:00.000-04:002012-01-17T21:03:10.857-05:00

The tomatoes go whole into the pan, as do the unpeeled garlic cloves, drizzled with EVOO and get broiled until blackened and soft, about an hour. You can blacken quickly on broil really close to the heat if you wish and then bake on 450 degrees F or so after that until they're swimming. Here's how mine look in the pan when they come out of the oven: Then they go through this tomato

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-17580753755069093772011-10-02T07:07:00.003-04:002011-10-03T09:00:17.874-04:00

Lo, how the arable with barley grainStands thick, o'ershadow'd; these, as modern useOrdains, infus'd, an auburne drink compose, Wholesome, of deathless fame. -- Philips

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-72957641985966217482011-09-25T19:42:00.000-04:002011-09-25T19:42:27.574-04:00

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-30417529444274451992011-09-24T19:28:00.001-04:002011-09-24T21:34:17.655-04:00

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-63977752558675127302011-09-24T18:30:00.001-04:002011-09-24T18:51:34.679-04:00

First I wash the crop outside as needed, and sort the Romas into baskets after drying. They will not store well if left wet, so dry them! Ripe ones get processed first, of course, or get otherwise used. It is not necessary to skin or quarter any of these you intend for sauce making. Just leave them whole and dry them after a second rinsing in the kitchen. I cut out the blemishes, soft spots, and

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-80688789587899323942011-09-24T17:16:00.001-04:002011-09-24T17:43:56.815-04:00

We had a bumper crop of these Romas in Michigan this summer. I estimate I made in excess of 22 quarts of sauce, not counting what's still left to press, what's been consumed, and all the tomatoes adorning Nita's famous basil-pesto thin crust pizzas baked in cast iron skillets. I'll show more about the process in subsequent posts.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-49824033365403323632011-09-24T06:54:00.000-04:002011-09-24T06:57:05.919-04:00

(See below for an update.) The part of the country that still cooks and eats at home is up in arms because the dishes don't get clean in the dishwasher anymore, thanks to the phosphate Nazis from Washington state who spearheaded the drive to see it removed from such famous and beloved products as Cascade. (Remember, gentle reader, Jerry Seinfeld started it, with The Soup Nazi). Unfortunately,

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-52047239230783480202011-07-09T07:38:00.001-04:002011-07-09T07:53:15.119-04:00

They're perhaps even healthier for you and in plentiful supply. At less than $2 a tin for nice sardines packed in water, you can easily lunch on them three times a week for less than $6. The salmon and the tuna will thank you in the long run by bouncing back, and so will the oceans: The study by Villy Christensen of the University of British Columbia's Fisheries Centre confirmed some previous

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-9261744647942823712011-07-08T11:47:00.001-04:002011-07-08T12:37:00.103-04:00

Lots of irresponsible and loose talk about food tainted with radioactivity continues on the internet, which is where it belongs, I guess. These zealots frequently complain that the news media and the government are conspiring to cover up the health dangers posed by the Fukushima accident. So I was surprised to note this one at 'fair and balanced' Fox News here, from June 30th: According to the

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-10233833206311295002011-06-26T21:42:00.001-04:002011-06-26T21:47:49.033-04:00

And vegetables: Gin for the martini, not vodka - and three olives - not one. After all, that's your vegetable course. Seen here. The super food? Why Juniper berries, of course.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-62634526917553468842011-06-10T18:18:00.001-04:002011-06-10T18:26:08.457-04:00

Must be the first crop of their season, on special to kick it off for $1 each. The fruits are smaller than the grapefruit size which normally greet us. These pomegranates from Chile are about the size of a baseball, maybe a little bigger. But boy are the seeds ever red, sweet and juicy! Get some while they last! 

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-51603045282406873962011-06-07T12:02:00.001-04:002011-06-07T12:05:50.276-04:00

The Revenge of the Killer Hot Dogs (video here)

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-83347152241993610152011-06-07T09:48:00.000-04:002011-06-07T09:48:32.844-04:00

Uprising of Sausages and Hot Dogs, Sergey Tyukanov, 2006 (source)

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-59130683685111882962011-06-07T07:45:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:49:08.944-04:00

(source)

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-82681197646711388272011-06-03T20:45:00.001-04:002011-06-03T20:51:03.874-04:00

You will find the full story here: A swathe of Japan's tea making regions including parts of Tochigi, Chiba and Kanagawa prefecture as well as the whole of Ibaraki were included within the ban, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. ... The authorities discovered around 570 becquerels of caesium per kilogram in leaves grown in the city of Minamiashigara – compared to the legal

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-3849314044502997572011-05-08T17:58:00.001-04:002011-05-08T18:10:20.224-04:00

We've made it to early May, eating Texas Reds from Rio Star, but the last 8 pound sack from Sam's wasn't really very good at all. In fact, it was awful, so we're quitting! Considering that the crop is done by February 1, it's remarkable that cold storage techniques have kept the fruit so well, so long, all the way up here in Michigan. About double the time a fresh picked fruit can be kept in your

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-81514362150028872602011-04-10T17:05:00.001-04:002011-04-10T17:12:50.231-04:00

With Uncle Kracker, here and here.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-34498352590233224832011-04-09T22:32:00.001-04:002011-04-09T22:37:01.653-04:00

The story and video are here.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-18044686946209447222011-04-05T13:52:00.001-04:002011-04-05T14:09:03.500-04:00

Affecting 12 people in 10 states who bought the product from Sam's Club stores, according to CBS Los Angeles: The salmonella strain that prompted a recall of nearly 55,000 pounds of frozen raw turkey burgers last week is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ... The recall includes four-pound boxes of Jennie-O’s “All

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-17641280911253371032011-03-28T21:24:00.000-04:002011-03-28T21:24:20.129-04:00

The Vancouver Sun provides this discussion of the possible impact of the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster on Pacific Ocean salmon: Radioactive water leaking from a reactor at Japan’s damaged nuclear plants isn’t likely to harm [British Columbia] salmon because they don’t travel as far as the coast of Japan, said Nancy Davis, deputy director of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission. “They

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-89040052070380469072011-02-21T19:33:00.001-05:002011-02-21T19:45:56.497-05:00

I bought a 3 lb. tub of California grown kiwi fruit at Sam's Club on Saturday, and boy are they ever good! Sweet and tender, and big! A dozen in the box. A steal at $4.88, the brand is Ripe and Easy by Sun Pacific. Loaded with fiber, C, E and potassium, and just 50 calories each.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-32482451899458999732011-02-07T10:38:00.001-05:002011-02-08T15:10:55.756-05:00

Sometimes we have to do unhappy stories in this space. From The UK Sun: Ric O'Barry, 71, who trained TV dolphin Flipper and made The Cove, last night said: "The dolphins thrash in agony for minutes. It is beyond cruel. We knew it [the Japanese version of the story] was a lie, but couldn't prove it until now." More of the ugly truth here.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-63877121663685936812011-02-06T20:57:00.001-05:002011-10-03T09:35:41.030-04:00

Much of the world could be dead in four years, if too many more bees die. So Ambrose Evans-Pritchard for The UK Telegraph: Almost a third of global farm output depends on animal pollination, largely by honey bees. These foods provide 35pc of our calories, most of our minerals, vitamins, and anti-oxidants, and the foundations of gastronomy. Yet the bees are dying – or being killed – at a

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-6435721911785825992011-02-06T12:17:00.001-05:002011-02-06T12:39:36.471-05:00

In yet another variation on the theme for using canned wild sockeye salmon (that nutrition rich and economical form of fish protein and omega 3 fatty acids enriched by sea plankton but kind of gross to look at because of the skin and bones which must be eaten to get the full effect), here's another recipe which is quick and easy and is enjoyed even by the young. Lemon Pepper Salmon Cakes 1 egg,

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-45354796163050306052011-02-03T21:13:00.001-05:002011-02-03T21:17:11.126-05:00

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-52408745181602056952011-01-29T09:28:00.001-05:002011-01-29T09:53:48.744-05:00

When you feel like a heartier breakfast than usual, sage breakfast sausage patties fit the bill, served along with the customary Saturday morning griddle cakes and maple syrup. A delightful harmony of flavors! The following dry mix recipe seasons 1.25 pounds of ground turkey, preferably Jennie-O brand: Sage Breakfast Sausage Seasoning Mix 1 tsp. salt.75 tsp. pepper.5 tsp. dried ground sage.5 tsp

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-56440623168661232252011-01-29T07:44:00.001-05:002011-01-29T07:56:19.198-05:00

Yeah, that heirloom vegetable garden Moochelle Obama grows is just for show: On Thursday, the United States Department of Agriculture announced it would allow the unrestricted, nationwide planting of genetically engineered alfalfa, which is also known as GE, GMO, or Roundup Ready alfalfa. The decision to allow this genetically-manipulated crop into the environment—and ultimately onto our plates

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-90748256439368993572011-01-28T11:06:00.000-05:002011-01-28T11:06:04.420-05:00

Homemade Glass Cleaner 5 oz. distilled or filtered water5 oz. isopropyl alcohol (purity varies; I use 99 percent, but 70 percent works)2 oz. clear ammonia Mix in a sprayer bottle and use like "Windex." Comes in handy when the tomato sauce splatters the stove top. 

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-78985259092524481982011-01-02T21:38:00.001-05:002011-01-02T21:51:18.499-05:00

A new shipment of bings are in from Chile at Meijer, and they are surprisingly sweet and fruity! Better than the usual fare available even in season in the States. Get some this week! Just $1.99 per pound.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-11920494750436885242010-12-31T17:37:00.001-05:002010-12-31T17:56:30.223-05:00

I used a lead-free and cadmium-free clay pot, which was a very thoughtful gift from a kind soul of Christmas past, and made the basic boule dough recipe from Hertzberg and Francois: 1.5 T kosher salt1.5 T yeast3 cups lukewarm water6.5 cups unbleached all purpose flour, scooped and swept About one third of the dough was placed in the pot to rise to the top, and baked at 350 degrees F for one hour.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-85834873190046289662010-12-01T12:20:00.001-05:002010-12-09T13:20:31.668-05:00

Gender-bending perfluoroalkyls are in the news, here, stating how the chemical is showing up in human blood and warning about the possible health problems it may cause. These compounds are found in non-stick cookware, microwave popcorn bags, and fast food packaging, among other things. The story has a link to a list. Evidently the compounds show up in your blood because they leach into the food

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-14865680229064708432010-10-17T18:11:00.001-04:002010-12-09T13:12:28.421-05:00

Usually when I make the European Peasant Bread recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois, I make all the loaves right away, one in a greased non-stick loaf pan and two in greased Pyrex loaf pans, and freeze them after slicing. Why? Because I'm a lazy bum and those are the only pans I own, and I need bread to make lunches in a hurry most mornings. I like

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-84648341082911623022010-09-28T19:39:00.001-04:002010-12-09T13:12:46.503-05:00

Choose one from column A, and one from column B. The story is here.

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-25768954259850141422010-09-06T19:39:00.001-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.093-04:00

The Labor Day menu: Grilled, marinated New York Strip (a gift!)Steamed and buttered Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli CrownsBrown riceA cheap cabernetBlueberry Sour Cream Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream (same as the Blackberry version herein, except with    Michigan's  finest blueberries)Hot Green Tea My "Kitchen Sink" Steak Marinade For an 18 ounce steak: 3 T Extra Virgin olive oil1 T Maille, or Grey

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-9440488672898944172010-08-28T14:31:00.001-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.094-04:00

In summer when it's hot and you don't feel like cooking, or eating for that matter, a fast, easy and relatively light supper is what's called for, and fried fish cakes are just the thing, accompanied by a fresh green salad, or sauteed  garlic, tomatoes, and zucchini sprinkled with a little Romano cheese. Add a glass of wine and you're home free! Basil Pesto Salmon Cakes 1 egg, gently beaten1 can

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-83198024439914346482010-07-26T10:37:00.004-04:002010-12-09T13:13:45.315-05:00

Basil Downy Mildew is in the news, here. It turns leaves yellow and then brown and pretty much does you in right quick like. The fungus is transported by airborne spores, so there isn't much that can be done to stop it.Some say one answer is to space plants farther apart and locate them in sunnier, less humid spots. I thought everyone knew to plant basil in full sun, with the romas. We do and so

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-7618298935969924182010-07-02T09:57:00.000-04:002011-02-07T11:30:47.497-05:00

"A term used in the West Indies for dressing a hog whole."     -- Samuel Johnson's Dictionary  Oldfield, with more than harpy throat endued,Cries, Send me, gods, a whole hog barbecued.     -- Alexander Pope

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-66926881730157614442010-07-02T09:07:00.001-04:002010-12-09T13:14:02.492-05:00

Why pay for store-bought when you can make your own? This recipe, adapted from Lonnie Gandara's 365 Great Barbeque & Grilling Recipes (HarperPerennial, 1990), has been a "go-to" for me for years because it is simple, good and easy, with just four ingredients: ketchup, maple syrup or honey, garlic and cayenne pepper. And it is adjustable for heat: you start with 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-18175152629128510752010-05-20T15:57:00.001-04:002010-12-09T13:14:14.304-05:00

And it's organic! When The Bear went away I was so upset. I had no idea he only had gone into hibernation! Yesterday I discovered he was back, at my local Starbucks in Ada, Michigan.  Happiness in a cup!

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-26737401894144975942010-01-23T14:40:00.013-05:002010-12-09T13:51:50.687-05:00

For about two months, I've been avoiding wheat on most days. Saturday night pizza has been the only exception. Otherwise I'm relying on less grain in the diet overall, using oat bran and oats as before but in smaller quantities, substituting brown rice pasta and corn tostadas for wheat pastas and wheat flour tortillas.There's reason to believe that wheat is a major contributor to small LDL,

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-30682700921395175732010-01-01T16:32:00.011-05:002010-12-09T13:50:35.096-05:00

This recipe is adapted from "Florence Fabricant's Grilled Cumin Shrimp" in The New Basics Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins. That recipe uses, among other things, 1 t. ground turmeric, 3/4 t. ground cumin, and 1/2 t. ground coriander per pound of shrimp. I didn't have enough turmeric to use that combination, so I substituted a sweet curry powder from Penzeys Spices for all three to good

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-32613947941816482802009-12-10T09:48:00.006-05:002011-06-26T21:51:26.097-04:00

I'm forever making soup with lentils and barley because they are super for you, inexpensive, taste good, and cook quickly. And you can marry them to a variety of herb and vegetable combinations to make healthy eating more interesting from day to day.Sometimes it's sage and butternut squash, other times oregano and diced Italian tomatoes, or rosemary, bay leaf and parmesan rind with a pinch of

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-79845478623184239992009-12-10T07:36:00.007-05:002010-12-09T13:43:06.445-05:00

I had no intention of making this. The blackberries were on sale, half off, and they were enormous. So I bought three packages, just over a pound, for three bucks. And they sat there in the refrigerator, screaming at me, "Make something with us already!"So my first impulse was to reach for the Project Love Bethesda Cookbook, Volume III, courtesy of my cousin Ruth, in Iowa Falls, Iowa. And low and

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-86999655759730014052009-12-06T21:22:00.004-05:002010-12-09T13:15:16.719-05:00

A big bunch of rapini on sale means you've got left overs after you've made my Italian meatloaf. And leftovers means soup, which I consider fundamental to the menu everyday, despite the comments of a young French visitor to Michigan a few years ago who scoffed at me saying, "Soup is for old people!" Hot liquids have been shown in studies to satisfy and turn off the hunger impulse, which makes

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-17784570697182551392009-11-29T20:37:00.007-05:002011-06-26T21:51:26.092-04:00

Wow. What a revelation this was after preparing it for the first time this evening. So full of flavor, almost sweet even, which was surprising because the usual meatloaves made with ground turkey just don't have any zing, and for this one I also used bitter greens.The idea for it started to come to me when I saw the rapini on special today. I remembered how my sister-in-law in New Jersey at one

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-91954122534869576032009-11-20T20:42:00.007-05:002010-12-09T13:16:00.595-05:00

The darker the better, as in buckwheat honey, because the darkest honeys contain the most antioxidants.We like a brand called Some Honey, which markets raw, natural, unadulterated buckwheat honey in 5 lb. jugs from Wisconsin for about $13 at Fruitful Yield stores in Illinois. The aroma is distinctive, oddly reminiscent of a barn, which is why we jokingly refer to this stuff as Illinois cow shit

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-969473897220772822009-11-16T12:33:00.010-05:002011-06-26T21:51:26.087-04:00

Family from Provence visited and brought along some lentils du Puy, the world's finest, and Mr. Wenger kindly shared some of his hefty butternut squashes with us . . . time to make some soup with these memorable gifts! Baking squash is easy. Wash them in cool water. Slice them lengthwise and place them cut side down in a large oiled broiler pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for an hour and twenty

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-40873059502106340562009-10-28T10:12:00.010-04:002010-12-09T13:16:23.781-05:00

I love this recipe as much for its simplicity as for the fact that it comes from my mother-in-law. It's on an old, yellowing, 3 x 5 card in her delightfully unmistakeable script. The style of the list of ingredients and instructions is terse and to the point. It's all no fooling around, because she had places to go, and people to see. "This is your favorite mother-in-law calling" is how she

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-37592972964234817042009-10-27T20:42:00.004-04:002010-12-09T13:16:40.118-05:00

In stores this week in Grand Rapids, Michigan, pomegranates are a dollar a piece. The first of the season last week were a buck and a half. Time to stock up on this super food, full of potassium and vitamin C, among other things, not the least of which are the powerful phytochemicals inherent in the brightly garnet-colored arils.The white seed within is full of beneficial fiber which I find

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-21295806764041968262009-09-21T10:42:00.007-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.090-04:00

Think of the twenty-five forms of happiness as the Roman Numerals I, II, III . . . XXIII, XXIV, XXV. The sidekicks are the ABC's under these. Eat them as they are available seasonally and on sale. (The super foods are in all caps, the sidekicks in lower case). BEANS: PINTO, KIDNEY, NAVY, GREAT NORTHERN, LIMA, GARBANZO (CHICKPEA), LENTILS, STRING OR GREEN BEANS, SUGAR SNAP PEAS, GREEN PEAS. Two

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-18350890093332012582009-09-12T18:39:00.005-04:002010-12-09T13:17:09.380-05:00

As proof of its status as a super food, Steven Pratt cites evidence that yogurt plays a role in improving a wide range of problems from cancer, to lactose intolerance, allergies, high cholesterol, inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, vaginal and urinary tract infections, obesity, and helicobacter pylori infections, which are involved in gastritis, ulcers, and cancers. It's the bacteria in yogurt

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-4523053123219293442009-09-06T09:04:00.008-04:002010-12-09T13:17:23.411-05:00

Like all things "super food," I did not come to green tea naturally, nor did it become a habit "just like that" because I read about it somewhere and decided it was the smart thing to begin drinking. I worked up to it gradually, to the point now where it is a part of my routine which I actually enjoy. That's what all habits are, things which are routine which you do because you enjoy them. Good

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-5176964220581643812009-09-01T09:54:00.012-04:002010-12-09T13:44:46.772-05:00

When I was a boy I'd wake up on Saturday mornings to the smell of fresh white bread baking in the oven, just one of my mother's many talents on routine display. When I'd finally come downstairs I'd find her in the kitchen with the loaves on the breakfast table, smearing melted butter across their already golden brown tops. There they'd glisten in our cozy Wisconsin home on a cold January morning,

jmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-21491888143908540042009-08-28T08:57:00.004-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.086-04:00

The season's bounty of tomatoes can inundate you like a flood (especially when your sister-in-law has her own glut and passes some of her beauties on to you). If you don't act quickly you can loose many of the sun-kissed gifts to spoilage. Grandma reminds me to carmelize tomatoes for an intense flavor experience. So when I had tomatoes coming out of my ears this week, yellow ones, red ones, romas

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-66247000832539472732009-08-26T10:10:00.016-04:002011-10-03T08:57:40.634-04:00

Come, says Puss, without any more ado, 'tis time to go to breakfast; cats don't live upon dialogues. -L'Estrange Readers of this blog know that oats aren't just for breakfast anymore. We eat them twice a week at dinner in Basil Pesto Sockeye Pie, which is a super food grand slam all by itself. But let's face it, oatmeal for breakfast is probably the best opportunity we have on a daily basis to

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-30321952854477529732009-08-24T11:26:00.010-04:002010-12-09T13:18:33.293-05:00

Flaxseeds are the second person of the whole grains super food trinity which includes oats and wheat germ. Just a tablespoon or two each day goes a long way. Steven Pratt calls them "the best plant source of omega-3 fatty acids," in the form of ALA, the plant analogue to the wild salmon we so zealously value for its rich stores of the same acids in the form of EPA/DHA. Omega-3 fatty acids are

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-55042924123491050462009-08-22T12:07:00.012-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.080-04:00

I rarely get to make this anymore because we normally buy wild alaskan salmon in the big can, but when some kind soul sends a filet our way (thanks, Grandma and Grandpa), this is a fast, healthy, and easy way to prepare it. Filet of Salmon Teriyaki 1 12-16 oz. filet of Atlantic salmon (cook skin side up if not skinless)2 T frozen concentrate of orange juice3 T soy sauce (I prefer San-J brand

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-49019814336691175582009-08-21T10:59:00.008-04:002010-12-09T13:20:45.225-05:00

This article is very long but it is well worth your time. I read somewhere not long ago that the chief reason people give when they call in sick to work is diarrhea, which makes you wonder if they get that because of what went in at the other end. Research is making the case that our industrial farming practices are flooding our environment generally with more of the bacterial culprits than would

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-35181551970847823322009-08-19T14:17:00.003-04:002010-12-09T13:21:10.058-05:00

All superfoodies know that fresh whole fruits should be part of every meal. Oranges are a daily must, or one of their sidekicks, like Texas Reds, the famous Rio Star red grapefruits. So are apples, especially Fuji apples. As our mothers used to say, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." The phytochemicals responsible for the health effects are usually found in the skins of fruits and vegetables

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-66210285590728641102009-08-19T00:26:00.016-04:002010-12-09T13:46:40.129-05:00

Wednesdays and Saturdays at our house are Italian days, not because we're Italian, but because we like their food! My mother's maiden name is spelled just like a town in Tuscany, which was news to her. But her dad also looked more like a wiry Sicilian than a farmer from Germany. Hard to figure it out, after all these years. But this recipe for hot Italian sausage isn't hard, and you're going to

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-50478089399981645402009-08-18T09:48:00.005-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.085-04:00

Turkey breast meat, without the skin, is "the leanest source of meat protein on the planet," according to Steven Pratt in his SuperFoods HealthStyle. Its rich nutrient profile of selenium, B vitamins and zinc is thought to cut the risk for cancer while contributing to cardiovascular health. One of its other wonderful features is that it has 27 times less saturated fat than fresh ham, and 22 times

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-81483741660792807122009-08-15T11:04:00.011-04:002010-12-09T13:21:56.854-05:00

It's Saturday. We sleep in, and 'Nita makes us a lazy breakfast. Sometimes it's Dutch Babies, but usually it's griddle cakes. She likes a recipe she adapted from "Wheat Germ Griddle Cakes" by Selma Johnson in Doris Janzen Longacre's More-with-Less Cookbook. The recipe makes 16 cakes. Serve them with butter and pure maple syrup. Then go out and cut the grass to work it off. Or not.'Nita's Cakes on

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-78150518062653237032009-08-12T11:37:00.021-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.099-04:00

With all four elements of the burrito filling prepared as in the previous posts, you are ready to combine them. Once combined, you can set some aside in the fridge for reheating later and freeze the rest. In this post we'll combine everything and make some burritos right away.Monday Night "Super Foods" Burritoprepared pinto beans recipe1 cup reserved pinto beans cooking liquidprepared brown rice

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-13661186336082048132009-08-11T20:56:00.018-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.082-04:00

In previous posts we have described the preparation of the pinto beans and the dry seasoning mix for Monday night Mexican style burritos. In this post we turn to the other elements used in the filling: brown rice and ground turkey. Although raised in a "meat and potatoes" household in Wisconsin in the 60's and 70's, in our home today we rarely eat either. In place of potatoes, we eat brown rice,

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-14184779189034723542009-08-11T11:57:00.009-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.095-04:00

When it comes to beans for burrito filling, there are many choices available beyond the well known pinto bean. From the super foods perspective, the darker the bean's skin the more potent the phytochemicals, but the pinto is the most widely available economical choice. I've used black, pink, chili and red beans of all kinds in my recipe, but I usually end up with the old standby, the pinto bean,

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-87262469459933489032009-08-10T21:37:00.008-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.083-04:00

Our favorite Mexican style meal is a burrito fried in a cast iron skillet and served topped with a mild Taco sauce, chopped green onions, sliced black olives, sliced avocado, chopped tomato, and chopped romaine and spinach greens. Every Monday is Mexican night at our house, and this is what we eat. Producing it at home involves several steps, which involve much more time than many people will be

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-4032482352267550922009-08-08T07:28:00.018-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.089-04:00

There was a knock at the door the other day. It was Mr. Cliff Wenger, age 90, with a sack full of the finest looking wax beans you have ever seen. And another full of beautiful green beans. What a wonderful gift! Suddenly, I've got the makings for a summer time staple at my mother's house: three bean salad, which we often paired with a grilled bratwurst from Luedke's Market on a Sheboygan hard

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-17207143059308608072009-08-07T10:20:00.016-04:002010-12-09T13:31:02.413-05:00

Wild Alaskan Red Sockeye Salmon in the 14.75 oz. can is acknowledged to be one of the cleanest and most potent sources of omega 3 fatty acids, calcium and protein. But did you ever open up one of those things? Eek! Its price is often compelling compared to the putatively dirtier, farm-raised fresh salmons, but how do you serve this stuff, skin and bones and all? I came up with a solution, and you

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-17310761849219309102009-08-06T14:00:00.007-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.079-04:00

We've tried lots of canned tomato products and found them wanting, in one way or another, when compared to the Roma tomatoes we have grown in our own garden. But we ALWAYS run out of our own home grown, so what to do? In my humble opinion, the best can of tomatoes on the market is by Dei Fratelli: Chopped Italian Tomatoes, Herbs & Olive Oil in the 28 oz. can. And they know it, because the price

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-87647222001640446042009-08-06T12:51:00.007-04:002011-06-26T21:51:26.098-04:00

The principles of pesto are all the same: garlic and nuts, hard cheese and extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper, and the greens, traditionally basil, as in Basil Pesto. We grow our own basil because it's better, and cheaper, and after washing and drying the leaves, they are easily stored in freezer bags. But we inevitably run out, usually by Christmas, and then we have found that baby spinach

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-82637654254789314132009-08-06T11:42:00.009-04:002010-12-09T13:43:06.446-05:00

Let's face it, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. But who has time? And who has the time to make it healthy? The answer is, you do. Here's a simple, fast way to get some calcium, some good bacteria for your gastrointestinal tract, the rich antioxidants found in blueberries, plus the abundant sources of omega 3 fatty acids, minerals, and fiber found in ground flaxseed meal and raw

jmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893957142697856302.post-30171379809830550672009-08-06T10:46:00.005-04:002010-11-09T10:30:40.817-05:00

Welcome to this place where we talk about all things "super food," which is the subject of Steven G. Pratt's books SuperFoods Rx and SuperFoods HealthStyle. I discovered the books in mid 2007 while recovering from a surgery, and they inspired me. I've been cooking with these foods for myself and my family ever since. One happy result is that I've lost and kept off a lot of weight, without

jmnoreply@blogger.com0