Ask Chef Phyllis: My husband is a hunter—mostly large game like deer, elk, and moose, which comprise much of our winter menus. I have a few large roasts and many packages of steaks, chopped meat, and stewing meat in the freezer. On weekends, I like to make a roast, but sometimes it’s dry. I need […]
09
Sep
Sep
It’s my birthday this week, and I tend to treat the day the way most people treat January 1st. This is the time when I reflect on what’s going exactly the way I want and what could use a little adjusting. I’ve always approached it from a whole mind-body-spirit angle since I truly believe that […]
03
Sep
Sep
As summer winds down, I invariably notice my appetite will start adapting to the shift in weather almost immediately. In that brief span of time in early fall, before the nights cool down and the leaves change color, I’ll find myself craving a crisp, refreshing salad one night and a much heartier meal the next. […]
02
Sep
Sep
Who doesn’t enjoy a sweet treat every once in awhile? I know my family does. While I don’t have baked goods around continuously, a really good chocolate chip cookie is one of my all-time favorite indulgences. And now that I know about various choices for healthy sweeteners, I feel better about indulging just a little […]
27
Aug
Aug
Ask Chef Phyllis: My Mom used to make chicken breast or veal cutlets with fresh sage leaves and prosciutto as a special dinner. She called it “saltimbocca,” which she said meant “jump in your mouth.” I don’t know about that, but I do know it’s an old Italian specialty from the Rome region where my […]
26
Aug
Aug
Around our house, ketchup is the king of condiments. My husband got hooked when he was in the Navy. Forced to eat the bland food they served on the aircraft carrier, he disguised the powdered eggs with ketchup. My boys adore the sweet, tomato-y flavor it adds to most anything. But for me, it’s just […]
22
Aug
Aug
Growing up, I remember my mother—an avid gardener—going out early on Saturday mornings to snatch up some of her gorgeous burgundy colored beets for Sunday dinner. She always picked them on Saturday as they were considered a hard vegetable that needed to be cooked the day before. My mother insisted on boiling the whole beets […]
20
Aug
Aug
With its dense texture and mild flavor, swordfish is a surefire hit on many a summer table. Even people who think they don’t like fish might be persuaded by its distinctly un-fish-like characteristics. Because of these traits, swordfish is perfectly suited for bold flavors that other, more fragile kinds of fish could simply not stand […]
19
Aug
Aug
Don Studinski works the bees for customer Jamie Ngo. This colony is called Sugarloaf 13. Jamie pays an annual pollination fee which helps keep the beekeeper alive. (Photo by Jamie Ngo) I love my fellow beekeepers. Of course we disagree on small, unimportant details, but overall this is a wonderful bunch of people whose hearts […]
19
Aug
Aug
Plants are amazing things. Not only can they provide us with delicious food, they’re pretty to look at too. I dare you to gaze at a patch of wildflowers and feel angry. Basic biology class filled us in on the life-serving purpose of plants. We exhale carbon dioxide, which they turn back into oxygen for […]
15
Aug
Aug
Don’t you love getting a great night’s sleep? Everyone does! So here are a few tips—and a beautiful laminated infographic—to help you sleep like a baby. There are numerous reasons we experience sleep issues. Melatonin, a neurotransmitter your brain makes, helps a lot of people. If you’re one of them, the problem may actually be […]
13
Aug
Aug
Ask Chef Phyllis: We recently celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. A surprise gift from our children was a class at the famous Santa Fe cooking school, since I love to cook Southwestern foods. At the class, which was wonderful, we donned aprons and pitched in after our instructor made some regional appetizers and entrees. Guacamole, […]
12
Aug
Aug
Around these parts, a new school year is about to begin, and with it comes the discussion of what to do about lunches. I can count on both hands the number of times our boys have gone through the lunch line for their midday sustenance, but that doesn’t stop them from being completely fascinated by […]
11
Aug
Aug
Good things come in fours, and this is especially true when it comes to Dr. Lowell Keppel! He’ll be hosting four separate classes with an intense focus on specific areas for nutritional evaluation: Vital Signs and Vitamins Organs and Immune System Digestive and Mineral Endocrine System Got your attention yet? Each of these intensive 4-hour […]
06
Aug
Aug
Few things scream summer like sweet, juicy fruit. And to me, nothing tastes better than a perfectly ripe nectarine—all the flavor of a peach without the fuzzy package. While most days I simply choose to eat my summer fruit in hand, I also love presenting the bounty in more creative and elaborate ways. After all, […]
05
Aug
Aug
I’ve always been a snacker by nature. I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t need a little something by 4:00 in the afternoon. It’s just not right. My boys are much the same way, only they’re constantly in search of a bite to eat. When it comes to snacks, they’re bottomless pits. What goes into those […]
01
Aug
Aug
Dr. Royal Lee and Dr. Weston A. Price My main interest—and for the most part the subject matter of my musings and writings—is nutrient dense foods. Yet I realized at one point while running my small practice that if I was going to help my clients learn to heal using food and diet, I would […]
30
Jul
Jul
Ask Chef Phyllis: I’m a friend of your niece Michelle, who lives in Brooklyn. I was so glad to hear that you have a Q&A blog about food. So here goes…two other ladies and I are going to host a neighborhood bridal shower soon. We want to do a Greek theme since the bride will […]
29
Jul
Jul
I’m willing to bet you’ve never heard someone say, “Beets are okay.” If you mention beets to someone, you’ll either get a cringe of loathing or a spontaneous smile with an audible “Mmmmmm.” For some reason they’re just one of those vegetables people either love or hate. I’m lucky enough to be of the Mmmmmm […]
23
Jul
Jul
At the start of adolescence I began my first job in a hip, made-from-scratch bakery. It was an experience that propelled me into my adoration for all things food, and made me truly appreciate the love, patience, and dedication that goes into preparing artisanal breads and pastries. I didn’t realize at the time, though, how […]