Have you ever given any thought to the water you drink? If you’re like me, you probably didn’t think much about it for the first half of your life. It was always there, and you assumed all was well as you drank the recommended amount. But we might be wrong in our assumption that water […]
Category Archives: Self-Health Survival Guides
08
Jan
Jan
As much as I enjoy all the happiness and cheer of the holiday season, I, like many, am often quite exhausted after the hubbub is over. I have come to accept the fact that my chosen career path is one that requires working additional long and strenuous hours during most of the exciting occasions throughout […]
07
Jan
Jan
There’s an easy way to avoid the toxic chemicals that lurk in commercial cleaning products—make your own! I’ve been doing it the DIY way for quite some time, making my own laundry and dishwasher soap, among other products for around the house. For much of your sanitizing and cleaning needs, the switch can be as […]
01
Jan
Jan
In the past few years, I have noticed a massive resurgence of interest in nose-to-tail eating—that is, the revival of using all parts of the animal, with somewhat of an emphasis on those frequently overlooked pieces that are, more often than not, reserved for things like pet food. Due in part to increased awareness of […]
31
Dec
Dec
If my boys had a nickel for every time I tried to convince them they really did like a particular food, despite their claims to the contrary—well, let’s just say they’d have a lot of nickels. Why do parents do this? Sure, it’s our job to expose our kids to new foods—“eating the rainbow” and […]
25
Dec
Dec
Cod is inarguably the most familiar, wild-caught fish gracing the dinner tables in this country. Unfortunately, that familiarity has caused somewhat of a snub to the species, as if its quality depreciates with its popularity. Mild, with a medium-firm flesh, cod produces large, snow white flakes when cooked, and adapts to almost any cooking method […]
24
Dec
Dec
Scalloped, sautéed, baked, roasted, French-fried, cottage-fried; in a hash, in a stew, in a gratin, as a soup, with a roast—the potato can do all this and more. And now this versatile root vegetable —once all but eliminated from our regular menu rotation—is making a comeback. Why did we start avoiding potatoes in the first […]
18
Dec
Dec
Crisp, frigid days customarily inspire foods that are cooked long and slow and served piping hot to warm our bones and nourish our souls during the cold winter months. For me, the same usually applies to my vegetable side dishes (besides the cooked long and slow detail, for the most part). There is no question […]
17
Dec
Dec
Quick! What are you making for dinner tonight? And do you have what you need to make it? If you answered, “I’m not sure,” then you’re just like I used to be—before I discovered the beauty of the weekly meal plan. It simplified my life in a way that I can only describe as glorious. […]
11
Dec
Dec
For the past five years or so, I’ve been catering a holiday party for a local dentist and his staff. These folks love to have fun and are always extremely creative in each year’s theme, going all out with games, food, and drinks to suit the occasion. The most recent theme was the Winter Olympics, […]
10
Dec
Dec
The gift giving season is here! Every year, I try to dream up the perfect idea for everyone on my list. There’s always the latest and greatest toy that my nephew might enjoy. And for my dad, there’s this year’s newest time saver for gardening that everyone’s been raving about. But many times, these things […]
04
Dec
Dec
I’m a soup girl. Honestly, if I didn’t have to think about pleasing the other members of my household, I would surely eat soup a few times a week. Maybe more. To me, it is the ultimate comfort food. And between the nourishing, mineral-rich broth and soup’s adaptability to the addition of any vegetable in […]
03
Dec
Dec
Okay, folks. It’s time for a quiz. What common household product has been used for medicinal purposes since the time of Hippocrates, “The Father of Medicine,” in 400 BC? What comes in a bottle and soothes sunburns and insect bites? What can be poured in your bath water to relieve sore muscles and achy joints? […]
27
Nov
Nov
Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and many of us are looking forward to a long, relaxing weekend, spent with family, friends, and of course, the traditional turkey. And while I do love the actual holiday feast, I honestly prefer the leftovers even more. More specifically, I love not having to think much about what to eat for […]
26
Nov
Nov
I just learned something that blew my mind! But perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself…Show of hands: how many of you are familiar with the old wives’ tale about making your loved ones chicken soup when they get sick? Everyone’s hand is up, right? Well, what if I told you this isn’t just an old […]
20
Nov
Nov
Winter squash are in abundance right now, and with the multitude of shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors, the possibilities to add them to our weekly meal rotations are endless. Two of my personal favorites are delicata and sweet dumpling, each similar in taste and texture. Besides their flesh being sweet and creamy, they are also […]
Thanksgiving is almost here—and so is the first wave of invitations to holiday parties and gatherings with friends and family. It can be a rough time for those of us who want to stay away from certain foods or who favor a certain type of food preparation. Unless you’re planning to host all of these […]
13
Nov
Nov
Cool crisp days and chilly nights evoke a yearning for rib-sticking comfort foods. Few things are more satisfying than a succulent, rich dish of layered potatoes, cream, and cheese. This week, I was fortunate enough to get a hold of some freshly dug sunchokes, so I thought I would prepare a unique twist on a […]
12
Nov
Nov
The holidays are a busy time of year when our regular exercise routine can easily go by the wayside. How do you make sure your physical activity level doesn’t plummet during the season, even when you’re traveling? Our holiday travel always involves a visit with family, which means I can’t take advantage of a hotel […]
06
Nov
Nov
As the hours of daylight really start waning, I often find myself compelled to eat dinner much earlier than usual. I jokingly call it “senior-citizen time.” However, though home-life tends to slow right down each autumn, all other daily activities keep at a relatively steady pace. Essentially, this means that there is actually less time […]