Those of you who’ve been reading my posts for some time probably know that I’m an avid gardener, and I have been since I was a child. I’ve had a sense of food appreciation for as far back as I can remember, and from an early age I was able to discern the difference between […]
19
Jun
Jun
Thursday is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and my favorite time to check in with myself. Why? For me the solstice brings more than just some bonus daylight; it brings energy and optimism. (I’m kind of an optimism junkie, seeking and finding it wherever possible.) It’s the perfect time to think […]
15
Jun
Jun
Ask Chef Phyllis So many stories are told of the dish prepared for Napoleon in celebration of his victory against the Austrians at the Battle at Marengo in June 1800. Legend or food history? Here’s the real lowdown! Though the French were victorious in the battle, as luck would have it, their food carts had […]
14
Jun
Jun
Our skin is a natural barometer of our overall health. The healthier we are on the inside, the more we shine from the outside—and who doesn’t want glowing, clear skin with no blemishes? However, our skin is important in other ways as well. It acts as an armor to guard our organs from physical harm. […]
13
Jun
Jun
We’re all told we should be eating a diet rich in green, leafy vegetables. These foods, abundant in vitamins and minerals and low on the glycemic index scale, are tops when it comes to nutrition. And, fortunately, much of the population is finally understanding this, with many people now incorporating a host of additional “dark […]
12
Jun
Jun
My brother was visiting last weekend, and I noticed he had slimmed down quite a bit. He’s never been a large person, but the change was obvious. When it came up in conversation, he mentioned he’d had some nagging health issues he wanted to get the upper hand on. So he made some changes and […]
08
Jun
Jun
Ask Chef Phyllis I know from your book, Udderly Cultured, that caprese salad and pizza are your first choices for fresh mozzarella. Can I put the fresh cheese I make in a casserole? Are there other uses for fresh mozzarella, which melts so well? Summer is coming, and life should be easier. To me, that […]
07
Jun
Jun
In recent months I’ve had the privilege of spending three to four hours every Tuesday morning with a very bright, helpful lady. It seems that at times providence is just plain serendipitous! This was certainly the case one Sunday after church when a member of our small parish politely asked if she might come visit […]
06
Jun
Jun
I’ve always loved horseradish, and the pungent kick it gives, as an accompaniment to something like a juicy prime rib or side of salmon. But it wasn’t until the last few years that I began thinking of it as anything more than just a condiment, with a limited scope of use. The more I’ve experimented […]
05
Jun
Jun
Makeup isn’t really my thing. I’m more likely to throw away a tube of mascara because I’ve forgotten when I bought it than because it’s empty. But the other day, as I looked in the mirror, I was thrown back some years to a cosmetics party a friend had convinced me to attend. The woman […]
31
May
May
Ask Chef Phyllis I haven’t made stuffed cabbage in a long time, even though my family has been asking for it lately. It takes more than 2½ hours in the oven, plus maybe another hour preparing the cabbage leaves. Besides that, I only remember making it with canned tomato soup, which gave it an almost […]
What’s Cooking at SRP?
Strawberry Shortcakes with Crème Fraiche and Lilac-Infused Honey: Culinary Inspiration from the Backyard
30
May
May
We are deep in lilac season here in Northern Colorado, and to me there are few times better. Heavy blooms brighten every block, and their intoxicating scent wafts through my windows day and night. When the flowers start blooming, the sights and smells evoke a deep childhood nostalgia, and the event is a sure sign […]
29
May
May
When my kids were in grade school, I used to love coming up with a memorable gift to give their teachers at the end of the school year. Sometimes I would recruit help from the rest of the parents, and sometimes I went solo. It all depended on the teacher’s taste. But how in the […]
25
May
May
Ask Chef Phyllis: I recently watched celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck stop by Late Night with Stephen Colbert. He presented a very expensive gift to the host—a tiny truffle that was worth $300! Colbert smelled it and took a bite, but he didn’t seem to enjoy the taste (although he did like the aroma). Even for […]
24
May
May
The simple answer to this question is yes. In my clinic, I’ve seen time and again that people who regularly skip breakfast are more likely to become overweight or obese. And they’re surprised to learn that not eating, or eating less, can lead to weight gain! Contrary to the belief that skipping breakfast means you […]
23
May
May
Being a mother to a small child comes with endless opportunities to learn, grow, play, and experience a love that is incredibly unconditional. Over the years, I’ve noticed it also comes with a whole lot of germs. Of course, germs are everywhere, and regular exposure to them actually has the power to strengthen our immune […]
22
May
May
When you think about addiction, there are probably certain words that come to mind, and I’ll guess there isn’t one that has a positive connotation to it. Maybe you think of words like weak, sick, unstable, and so on. But based on the current reality of drug addiction, I think something has to give. Something […]
18
May
May
I was sitting in my kitchen, eating my post workout snack (Greek yogurt with organic blueberries and strawberries), when a funny question popped in my head. Should I add almonds, even though they’re not my favorite, because food is the fuel for our bodies. Thinking of this instantly brought back a memory from high school. […]
Tips from the Traditional Cook
Healthy, Gluten-Free Grains, Seeds, and Grasses (And No, Almond Flour Isn’t One of Them!)
17
May
May
In July of 2014 I wrote an article titled “To Gluten or Not to Gluten,” which was published in the Summer 2014 issue of Wise Traditions in Food, Farming, and the Healing Arts, the quarterly journal of the Weston A. Price Foundation. To say that it received a huge response, both positive and negative, is an […]
16
May
May
I love this time of year—the depth of color and light; the sweet air wafting with the scent of freshly mown grass; the cacophony of chirping birds, the hum of insects, and the sounds of baby critters exploring their new world. It’s nature in all her glory. In a strange way, I even relish the […]