As a naturalist, I’m always looking for ways to stay away from Western medicine, even if that means I have to be my own guinea pig out of fear of allopathic drugs and their side effects, which, as basic research shows, can be devastating. Additionally, ongoing visits to medical doctors often involve high copays and […]
16
Oct
Oct
Halloween was always one of my favorite holidays growing up. From an early age, my mum, a trained artist, would make us unique and creative costumes, and this tradition stayed with me over the years. In my teens and twenties, I created my own distinctive outfits for Halloween, and these days I love channeling my […]
Adventures of A Self-Healther
Self-Health Habit #10:
Eliminate Refined Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners
15
Oct
Oct
It’s impossible to talk about healthy habits without talking about the destructive nature of refined sugar. And if you think you’re off the hook because you switched to artificial sweeteners, think again. Zero- and low-calorie sweeteners, such as aspartame or saccharin, cause a whole other set of problems. It’s not that sweet foods, in and […]
11
Oct
Oct
Ask Chef Phyllis No sooner had I finished my post on gluten-free pastry cream than I received a phone call about gluten-free dough…for cream puffs and eclairs. As you know, you can make both with the same dough (called pate a choux, or choux pastry). And since it has no sugar, you can make a […]
10
Oct
Oct
Oh, the days of joy have arrived—you’re back home with your little cutie pie. First of all, congrats! Now that you’ve heard yet another “congratulations,” it’s time to take a look at your wellness situation. And it’s probably safe to say that things have changed a bit, especially around your belly area. Don’t sweat it. […]
What’s Cooking at SRP?
Mediterranean Spaghetti Squash
with Blistered Tomato, Olives, and Feta:
A Fiber-Rich, Seasonal Vegetable to Satisfy Your Pasta Craving
09
Oct
Oct
One of my favorite things about autumn is the lovely array of squash that start making their appearance on the store shelves and market stalls. I love that they come in all shapes and colors, each with its own distinct flavor and texture. After the last of the summer harvest, the first of the winter […]
08
Oct
Oct
How many times have you thought to yourself: It would be so much easier to ditch this unhealthy habit if only I’d never started it in the first place. Because, let’s face it, changing our habits isn’t always easy to do. So, when is the best time to start up a healthy habit? The answer […]
04
Oct
Oct
Ask Chef Phyllis I need a recipe for a good, no-fail pastry cream for the Napoleons and creampuffs that, after many attempts, I’ve finally mastered with rice flour substituted for the wheat flour. But the pastry cream also has to be gluten free and fool proof. Is this too big an order? I have a […]
03
Oct
Oct
If you’re anything like me and wait till the last minute to give meaningful, but not so very expensive, holiday gifts, this blog post is for you! Looking back at my Christmas shopping last year, I was in a real dilemma when it came to finding special but relatively inexpensive gifts for the people I […]
What’s Cooking at SRP?
Seared Scallops with Green Tomato-Mango Salsa:
Maximize End-of-Season Produce—Use Those Green Tomatoes!
02
Oct
Oct
It’s usually around the beginning of October that I finish breaking down my summer garden. It’s a purifying process for me—shelling the last of the dried beans for next season, pulling and tying corn stalks for decoration, amending the kale to keep it flourishing through the winter. It’s also when my end-of-season tomato plants are […]
27
Sep
Sep
Once upon a time in New York City (which will always be my town), there was a little place in Queens called College Point—known by residents as the first town over the Whitestone Bridge. College Point is where I owned and ran a bar and grill with a name that may be a bit cutesy […]
26
Sep
Sep
Honey has been valued by humanity since ancient times, as cave paintings from as far back as 8,000 years ago show. Today, we still consume this byproduct of flower nectar and the aerodigestive tract of honey bees not only for its sweet taste but also its therapeutic properties—just as many ancient civilizations did before us, […]
What’s Cooking at SRP?
Lamb Shawarma with Spicy Buttermilk Sauce:
Levant Street-Food Flavor and Home Grill Convenience
25
Sep
Sep
After graduating from high school, I spent a few years in Calgary, Alberta—a melting pot of cultural diversity with a vast population of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern families. Living there, I was exposed to authentic flavors that until then had been mostly foreign to me. Such regular access to some of the most delicious food […]
24
Sep
Sep
On a daily basis, most of us take our food for granted. Maybe you like scrambled eggs with onions, peppers, and spinach for breakfast. And a crunchy chef salad with a tahini dressing is always nice at lunch. And, for dinner, maybe some grilled salmon and roasted veggies. Not too bad, right?! But do you […]
20
Sep
Sep
At the tail end of August 2009, a mysterious pain bloomed in my stomach—and changed my life forever. For over a year, I endured what seemed like endless tests, procedures, and surgeries, not to mention mind-numbing pain, and still found no relief. My surgeons and gastroenterologist had no idea what was causing the pain, so […]
19
Sep
Sep
During a sit with a sick friend, one of the first things she did was apologize, saying, “How awful I must look. My wrinkles are so obvious without my makeup!” It genuinely took me by surprise. No doubt we all look a little drawn when we’re ill, but it goes to prove that most of […]
What’s Cooking at SRP?
Heirloom Tomato-Ricotta Galette:
A Rustic Grain-Free Tart with Sophisticated Flavor
18
Sep
Sep
I rarely tire of finding uses for all the beautiful, vibrant heirloom tomatoes from my garden. Whether I’m making a sauce to put away for the winter, piling slices high on crusty toasted bread with thick-cut bacon and crisp lettuce, blending them into my favorite silken gazpacho, or eating them straight from the cutting board […]
17
Sep
Sep
After learning that a close friend of mine had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, several questions popped into my brain. Some philosophical, others physiological. I mean, of course I’d heard about the pancreas, but the specifics from high school biology class had long been tucked away. It was time for a crash refresher course on […]
13
Sep
Sep
As a healthcare provider in the United States, I’ve learned that weight is a serious issue for many of my patients. If a new client schedules an appointment with me, I know there’s a roughly 70 percent chance that they will be overweight. And they will likely be dealing with other health concerns, especially inflammatory […]
12
Sep
Sep
Well-behaved dogs make outings much more pleasurable. It’s extremely frustrating to walk a dog that continuously pulls on the leash, barks at other dogs or passersby, or has a tendency to run off. But our four-legged family members don’t instinctively know what we want them to do or how to behave, so it’s our job […]