Here in Northern Colorado, we’ve been experiencing some unseasonal warm, sunny weather, so it’s somewhat challenging to remember the imminent threat of winter is on our heels. Sure, we’ve had a small dose of frosts, and I can smell the chill in the evening, but when I’m wearing flip flops for Halloween, it’s easy to […]
Category Archives: Self-Health Survival Guides
01
Dec
Dec
Well, folks. Whether you can believe it or not, here we are at December 1st. That means the holidays are rapidly approaching, and if you haven’t started thinking about the people on your gift list this year, there’s no time like the present. Did you catch what I just did there? “Present” meaning right now—and […]
25
Nov
Nov
Ask Chef Phyllis For years, our parents roasted a 25-plus pound turkey that my mom started to cook at 2 A.M. That very large bird was more often than not dry and tough. The side dishes saved the day. Momma made a delicious sausage and Italian chestnut dressing that was bread stuffing. Now with new […]
24
Nov
Nov
There are a good number of people out there who live by the creed of gratitude. While I live my life as an optimist—always seeing the best in people, places, and situations—what I’m talking about here goes way beyond that. It’s more than the power of positive thinking. On a daily basis, these folks count […]
17
Nov
Nov
Much like the tale of your tongue, your fingernails have a lot to say about you—and your health. I’m not talking about gardeners with perpetual dirt under their nails or nibblers with the nervous habit of chewing them right down to nothing (though if you’re looking, both of those things also tell a story). No, […]
11
Nov
Nov
Ask Chef Phyllis: A few weeks back at a neighbor’s party, a friend who had been to Brazil mentioned that tapioca pudding was on almost every menu. I know I am dating myself, but the only time I ever ate and really enjoyed tapioca pudding was at the Automat in Philadelphia—and that was many years […]
10
Nov
Nov
It’s not exactly breaking news that a sedentary lifestyle is bad for your health. We’ve been hearing about it for years. But until recently, our jobs have been left out of the equation. Now that’s all changed. The frequency in the number of stories about the detriments of sitting for too long—at work or otherwise—has […]
04
Nov
Nov
I’m writing this post during a small window of blissful respite at the tail end of a long weekend. It’s been a whirlwind of activity—I spent the past few days away from home, watching my nieces while my sister and brother-in-law celebrated their anniversary out of town. Not to say we haven’t been enjoying ourselves […]
03
Nov
Nov
With the arrival of November, it’s time to exchange your pleasing glass pitchers of iced tea for your favorite mug of the hot stuff. That mug of yours has been waiting patiently in the cupboard for you to grab hold of its handle, carefully place a tea bag inside, and fill ’er up with boiling […]
28
Oct
Oct
Ask Chef Phyllis: My mother never told me of this season in a marriage—I call it “late-summer boring squash season.” My husband (my “can’t waste anything” backyard gardener) brings me ripe zucchinis, some plump as bowling pins and others as skinny as broomsticks, and stacks these and other late summer veggies such as small peppers, […]
27
Oct
Oct
If you prepared for this weekend’s Halloween festivities by carving a pumpkin, I certainly hope you didn’t wantonly throw away the bounty of seeds it had to offer. You may have hurt your jack-o-lantern’s feelings if you did. Feel free to go apologize before any mysterious goings on befall you. I’ll be right here waiting. […]
21
Oct
Oct
I’ve been desperately clinging to the notion that summer isn’t over, unwilling to let go of the long, warm evenings, 5 A.M. sunrises, and lazy days spent near the water. This week it came to my attention that it was time to finally address my state of denial/ignorant bliss. I’ve turned my heat on consecutively […]
20
Oct
Oct
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that every human being walking around on this planet has at least one good habit they’ve been meaning to bring into their lives. Whether it’s cooking with a new super food or developing a new skill, we can all benefit from adding a new, […]
14
Oct
Oct
Ask Chef Phyllis: What do I do with the four tablespoons of pureed pumpkin not needed in my recipe? I confess, I usually toss it in the trash after a week. When I make a recipe that leaves little bits of this and that, it makes me feel guilty about not putting leftover ingredients in […]
13
Oct
Oct
Remember the days when your athletic coach would encourage you to “carb load” before some big matchup? Heck, the matchup didn’t even have to be big. My high school track coach used to encourage us to eat a big plate of pasta the night before any old Tuesday afternoon meet. Knowing what we know now, […]
08
Oct
Oct
Let’s face it. Whether we’re racing through the airport or driving for hours down a long and lonely road, for some of us, the downside of traveling is the series of increasingly questionable food choices we make on the go. A pit stop at Panda Express before security? Check. Grab some “trail mix” (M&Ms and […]
07
Oct
Oct
I first stumbled upon the inspiration for this recipe by accident. I wasn’t even looking for anything chocolate, or even grain-free for that matter. But ever since that day, these brownies have become one of my go-to recipes when I want to make a fairly simple yet seriously indulgent dessert for myself or my clients. […]
06
Oct
Oct
While there isn’t a sound more glorious than a baby giggling, laughter from people of all ages can totally make my day. Especially when I overhear one of those contagious kinds of laughs that make me bust up myself—completely involuntarily. I don’t have to know the person laughing or even be with them to feel […]
01
Oct
Oct
What part of the “gut” leaks? And leaks what into where? “Gut” is a catchall term for just about any part of the digestive tract beyond the esophagus. For our purposes, the term refers to the duodenum of the small intestine. This is the first part of the small intestine into which the high acid […]
30
Sep
Sep
Ask Chef Phyllis: My dear mother was Portuguese, and my father was French. They worked in the textile mill town of Fall River. We were 5 children; I am the oldest and cooked for a family of 7 from about age 11. Time was always a factor in our lives, and my job was to […]