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, […]
Category Archives: Self-Health Survival Guides
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 […]
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 […]
22
Jul
Jul
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 […]
16
Jul
Jul
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 […]
15
Jul
Jul
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, […]
09
Jul
Jul
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 […]
08
Jul
Jul
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, […]
02
Jul
Jul
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 […]
01
Jul
Jul
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 […]
25
Jun
Jun
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. […]
24
Jun
Jun
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 […]
18
Jun
Jun
Ask Chef Phyllis: I was at a backyard BBQ and the big news was a “beer can” chicken. Well, a few of them. They were cooked on something that looked like my mom’s angel food cake pan, but it was really just a cookie sheet and an empty tall beer can. The chicken looked ridiculous […]
17
Jun
Jun
The summer solstice arrives this weekend. Let the fun begin! But while the beginning of summer brings an abundance of lively outdoor activities, it also brings more bugs. Luckily for me, those pesky biting ones (I’m talking about you, mosquitoes) only find me moderately tasty, but they adore my hubby and two of our boys. […]
11
Jun
Jun
It’s time to say hello to barbeque season, in all its splendid, fire-charred glory! This is my favorite time of year as a cook. Nothing pleases me more than firing up the grill to prepare an entire meal without the stovetop or oven (especially in my little non-air-conditioned house). But it’s not just the relief […]
10
Jun
Jun
I grew up in a traditional home, which meant my mom was the chief cook and nutrition expert. When I look back, though, I see that I learned plenty from my dad too. Not that he ever started conversations with, “Here’s what you need to know.” Rather, he taught by example. Actions speak louder than […]
04
Jun
Jun
Ask Chef Phyllis: My Sicilian mother was a great cook, but she served a lot of meals cold that Americans would serve hot—like meatloaf. On summer evenings, she served her meatloaf with hard-boiled eggs in the middle, along with a kale and bean salad. I’ve figured out how to duplicate the meatloaf. Can you help […]
03
Jun
Jun
When I was growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, “America’s Dairyland,” June was always a month I looked forward to. After all, it’s Dairy Month! A national holiday since 1937, various other states pay tribute to Dairy Month with their own events—but I’ve never seen it celebrated with such vigor and enthusiasm as […]