Practice is “the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it.” What can you put into practice? If you are of Italian, French, or Greek ancestry, perhaps you were raised as I was, with your conversations revolving around food—good food, fresh from the garden, and the […]
Category Archives: Self-Health Survival Guides
19
May
May
Whether we like it or not, most of us have been spending more time indoors lately. So it seems like the perfect occasion to consider the air inside your home—is it healthy, or could it use a little help? Indoor air quality can be impacted by a variety of dangers. Some of these we bring […]
15
May
May
A long time ago—more than 20 years—I gave up wheat and gluten for health reasons. A few years later, I discovered the work of Weston A. Price and how using traditional cooking techniques such as lacto-fermentation can make food more easily digested by the body. My next level of learning was how I could use […]
14
May
May
Ask Chef Phyllis What can you tell me about whipping cream that I’ve already opened and has been in my fridge a little past its “best use” date? In this time of stay at home, I do not wish to waste anything. It smells fine, but it’s thicker than when I opened it. Can I […]
06
May
May
According to Chinese medicine, every season corresponds to both an organ and an organ meridian. In the spring, this is the liver. Traditionally, spring is the season when we clear out. We spring clean our closets, our drawers, the garage, the flower and garden beds. But it can also be a time to spring clean […]
05
May
May
With Mother’s Day being this Sunday, I’ve been thinking a ton about my own mom. Kind is the first word that comes to mind when I describe her to someone, always in some variation of “my mom is the kindest person on this planet.” And I mean it. Every. Single. Time. I would challenge you […]
01
May
May
Want to stay well—now and always? Eat your sauerkraut! Whether it is just another day in your neighborhood or you are in the middle of a health crisis, fermented cabbage is “health food extraordinaire.” Yep, the humble cabbage. If you know this already, I would hope that you eat sauerkraut (or some other fermented vegetable) […]
29
Apr
Apr
I woke up Wednesday morning with the notion that all was well. But then in a New York minute, I remembered that I’m living through a pandemic—never before known by my generation or, for that matter, anyone I know. (My dad talked of the Great Depression, and to this day my memory of him hoarding […]
22
Apr
Apr
This year of 2020 is a particularly difficult time in the world. Indeed, it’s a time of crisis. Just a few months ago, this hysterical news would have sounded like Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” did back in 1938. My friends, not knowing what the future holds touches all of us. We all need […]
21
Apr
Apr
The other day a good friend reached out to say she wished we could spend some time together. She said that she’d been feeling down, which at first took me by surprise (she’d never expressed feelings of sadness to me before). But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. She’s a […]
14
Apr
Apr
Stating that these are challenging times isn’t exactly a news flash, right? Because of COVID-19, so many people are worried about every aspect of their daily lives—jobs, finances, their own health and the health of the people they love. While it would be foolish to tell you there’s nothing to worry about, posing the right […]
01
Apr
Apr
In a post from about six years ago, I wrote about feasting (and I do mean feasting) on paella at a restaurant called Trader Vic’s in Puerto Rico. It was a truly memorable and romantic evening in February. Back in early 1960s, many in-the-know New Yorkers would jet off to sunny Puerto Rico to escape […]
20
Mar
Mar
Louis Pasteur is credited with developing “the germ theory of disease” (which I loosely translate as “germs jump into bodies”). Yet many other researchers and scientists of the time, including Claude Bernard, focused their research on internal regulation and the importance of nutrition, among other things. These scientists expanded their focus beyond germs to consider the state […]
12
Mar
Mar
This post is about a treasured recipe: the best pomodoro sauce ever! Pomodoro translates to “golden apple,” although we know it is the Italian word for tomato. This sauce, which is everywhere, really is the golden apple of Italy. (Word origins do fascinate me.) My family has enjoyed this recipe for generations on traditionally lazy […]
What’s Cooking at SRP?
Hawaiian Oxtail Soup:
Welcome the Shift to Spring with a Light, Nourishing Dish
11
Mar
Mar
I have yet to visit Hawaii, though I’d love to someday. Between the volcanic landscapes, lush rainforests, and magnificent waterfalls—not to mention the truly unique culture and food—the islands have piqued my interest for many years. Traditional Hawaiian cuisine is a compelling fusion of tropical Polynesian and Asian flavors with a signature flair that entices […]
10
Mar
Mar
In light of everything we’re hearing on the news lately, it’s important to remember that the little things we do throughout the day can have a big impact on how we feel in the days that follow. Besides the usual diet and exercise recommendations, one of the most essential daily habits you can adopt for […]
06
Mar
Mar
In this day and age of instant gratification, the art of truly nourishing our bodies has been lost. Rather than looking to food for its honest purpose—providing the fuel our bodies need to accomplish everything it must do each day—food is now just the stuff we consume to fill the void in our bellies. We […]
04
Mar
Mar
When it comes to food, I’m a fusion nut. I love pairings of unusual yet strangely harmonious flavors as much as I love marrying the tastes and techniques of different cultures. I credit much of this to my early obsession with sweet-salty pairings. (My favorite being cheese and honey sandwiches—a true delight that, to this […]
27
Feb
Feb
Ask Chef Phyllis It seems like just yesterday it was New Year’s Day, but as I glance at the calendar, I see that we’re already at the end of February! Any time now, these slow, bitterly cold, never-enough-sunlight days will be coming to an end. However, though spring is just around the corner, winter is […]
What’s Cooking at SRP?
Winter Citrus, Olive, and Red Onion Salad:
Brighten Up a Winter’s Day the Sun-Kissed, Seasonal Way
26
Feb
Feb
It’s always around mid-February that I start getting antsy for spring. Colorado is well-known for our interesting weather: hot and sunny one day and a winter storm the next. Just a few weeks back I spent a lovely afternoon in a tank top, soaking up the sun’s glowing warmth. I even put my feet in […]