Ginger and garlic crushed into a fine paste are used liberally in main dishes of China, Thailand and India. Garlic contains high levels of vitamin C and is great for boosting the immune system. Fresh ginger has beneficial anti-inflammatory properties and is often recommended for nausea. Spicy peppers like cayenne, habanero and serrano chilies are…
As summer draws to a close and we approach the holiest week of the year, it’s time again to reflect on the blessings we have received. Our summer included settling in to a new home, outdoor concerts, major league baseball games, Fourth of July fireworks and toasting s’mores. My husband and I logged countless miles…
Finding a new home for our family is always a challenge. We need a home large enough to accommodate our two home offices and with a spacious and efficient kitchen for me, sufficient outdoor space for our dog and a storage room for a teenager with too many hobbies and toys to count. After months…
On a recent trip to the Oregon coast, my husband and I decided to explore a bit of the Oregon wine country along the way. We were surprised to discover that the once sleepy towns of McMinnville and Dundee have metamorphosed into a wine lover’s paradise. It seemed as though there were signs pointing to…
Foods that are restricted during Passover are well known to most observant Jews. Chametz includes anything made with wheat, oats, rye and barley; additionally, Ashkenazi tradition forbids kitniyot, which rules out beans, corn and rice. For the carbohydrate addict, that means no bread, cereal, pizza, pasta or pilaf for eight days. Feeling satisfied becomes a…
I am obsessed with a great burger. The classic hamburger remains a standard and beloved menu item served everywhere from backyard barbeques to some of the country’s finest restaurants. Deceptively simple ingredients including the patty (medium rare please…), lettuce, pickle, sauce, and maybe a thick slice of ripe tomato and sweet onion are sandwiched on…
I am not a morning person. There, I’ve said it. Weekdays call for me to rise and shine just before 6 am to prepare for the day. Breakfast needs to be made, lunch needs to be packed and school drop-off looms at 7:20. Left to my own devices, I would happily linger through the first…
As women we undergo changes throughout our lives that require moderation in how and what we choose to eat. While weight management and overall health remain ideal goals, diet and nutrition during the childbearing years differs greatly from the needs of women approaching menopause and beyond. With that in mind, I believe food should remain…
It has often been said that we eat first with our eyes. Whether we actively think about it or not, our senses play an important role in the food we choose to eat, even before we take our first bite. A simple breast of chicken served poached and pale becomes far more appealing when presented…
As summer begins, the familiar aroma of the BBQ grill begins to waft in the air around 5 pm in neighborhoods every- where as the evening meal shifts from the kitchen table to the back patio. Summer weather can be unpredictable here in the Pacific Northwest, so it is not unusual to see someone grilling…
