Grilled Nectarine Salad with Feta and Arugula

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, […]

Just Need a Little Somethin’

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 […]

Yes, It Takes Two to Tango

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 […]

Greek-Style Buffet: Moussaka, Spanakopita, and Greek Salad with Feta and Olives

Moussaka

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 […]

We Got the Beets!

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 […]

Whole-Grain Sourdough Pancakes

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 […]

A Whole New Kind of Wild Rice

As an avid self-healther and an information junkie, I’m always interested in reading about different philosophies and pioneers of real-food nutrition and alternative health. That’s why I was excited to see that one of the July specials at SRP is Wild Rice: The Biography of Vivian Lillie Rice by David Blot and Libby Demmon. Sure […]

In Defense of Wheat

“After a while the young man sat up and looked at the heavens, at the twinkling white stars, and then away across the shadows of round hills in the dusk. …The dreaming hills with their precious rustling wheat meant more than even a spirit could tell. Where had the wheat come from that had seeded […]

The Tremendous Health Benefits of Lacto-Fermented Foods

So very much is now written about lacto-fermented foods that I honestly hesitate to bring the subject up yet one more time! Nevertheless, there are some basic facts that I hope will be new to many of you—and in turn propel you to take a long, hard look at the tremendous health benefits of these […]

Chef’s Special Thai Style Chicken, Appetizer, and Coconut Drink

Ask Chef Phyllis: About two years ago, my company sent me to Bangkok, Thailand. Instead of the European style food that was available, I chose to enjoy local Thai foods from street vendors. Sad to say in all the specialties I tried, I only recognized the flavors of garlic and ginger in the dishes I […]

What Does Your Water Bottle Bring to the Party?

It’s summer. It’s hot. Staying hydrated is important, and no matter the occasion, water is the best choice you can make. But beware—with some water bottles, you may end up downing more than just water. My personal water “bottle” of choice isn’t a bottle at all. There’s nothing better than a wide-mouthed, quart-size canning jar, […]

Your Backyard Garden Is Killing Honeybees!

DDT advertisement circa 1947 from Pennsalt Chemicals. In a recent article for the American Bee Journal, Ron Phipps writes: […] it is becoming increasingly clear that the widespread use of neonicotinoids on agricultural crops is a major factor [for annual honeybee losses.] The manufacturers of these pesticides, like the manufacturers of tobacco products in an […]

Kid-Friendly, Healthy Chicken Strips with Mango Mustard Sauce

I’m always on the lookout for new foods to feed my 3-year-old. Thankfully, she has somewhat of an eclectic palate for a child her age—and loves vegetables, phew! But she still has that picky toddler thing going on. Being a chef and food-lover myself, I try to introduce her to unusual, exciting flavors so that […]

Keep Up With the 3 Rs: Cook With Your Kids

Every teacher I talk to stresses the importance of kids keeping up with the school basics over the summer. When kids take a total break from learning for more than two months, they often lose ground by the time the new school year starts. Students need several weeks of refreshers before moving on to new, […]

Introducing Dr. Ron Carsten’s Veterinary Clinical Reference Guide

This is big. The Veterinary Clinical Reference Guide by Dr. Ron Carsten is destined to become a new industry bible—and it’s available now at Selene River Press. With this invaluable tool at your fingertips, you’ll have comprehensive, up-to-date information that will help you lead pet owners to a deeper understanding of how their animals can […]

Authentic Veal Piccata from the 1939 World’s Fair

Ask Chef Phyllis: My parents attended the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It might have been part of a honeymoon trip that they never forgot. They both lived into their 80s and talked about the event as though it were yesterday. Their favorite memory was one of eating veal piccata with a bottle of […]

Beat the Summer Heat with Frozen Treats from Your Youth

The Fourth of July arrives this week and with it comes the glorious summer heat. Growing up on the farm meant summers were filled with all sorts of outdoor activities that left us basking under the hot sun—things like fixing fences and unloading hay bales. Though there weren’t a whole lot of lazy days, we […]

Spicy Cilantro-Lime Roasted Garnet Yams

Though orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are often referred to as yams in North America, they’re two botanically distinct species. It’s a little-known fact that true yams—a unique tuber rarely, if ever, available on this side of the pond—only grow in Asia and Africa, while sweet potatoes are native to the Americas and thrive in warm climates. […]

5 Dinnertime Survival Tips for Your Busy Family

I find summer to be a really relaxing time with the kids at home—nowhere in particular to be for the majority of the day until…dinnertime. This can cause some real problems and complaints from hungry kids in the backseat on the way home from a ball game (or whatever the activity was that night). The […]