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 […]
Category Archives: Self-Health Survival Guides
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 […]
29
Sep
Sep
Have you noticed some shifting going on at your local farmers’ market? Not only are we starting to add more oomph to our top layers, but the vegetables are getting heftier too. Take for example the difference between those thin-skinned summer squash that have been so easy to come by and the ever more present […]
23
Sep
Sep
Kohlrabi. It’s one of those “weird” vegetables. It’s ugly. Well, maybe I needn’t go so far as to call it ugly, but in The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, Johnny Bowden describes kohlrabi as a cross between an octopus and a space capsule. I think that about sums it up, and I’m guessing its likeness […]
22
Sep
Sep
There are certain news stories that tend to catch my eye, and one of the topics I can’t seem to look away from is our food supply. Watching the news is a brilliant way to convince yourself how important it is to know where your food comes from. Look at these three recent headlines to […]
16
Sep
Sep
Ask Chef Phyllis: Fall is coming, and I love pears. Truth be told, I know very little about this fruit. Sometimes I have a pear and think it’s the best thing I ever ate. Sometimes they’re grainy and lack flavor. I’ve had pears poached in wine and they were so good, but I think they […]
15
Sep
Sep
If your idea of giving your teeth what they need stops at brushing, flossing, and drinking your milk, you’re being a tad shortsighted. And since the health of your teeth says a lot about your overall health, you certainly don’t want to appear like you don’t know what you’re doing. Right? Right. Self-health education to […]