Month: February 2013

Making Delicious Mexican Food

February 28, 2013

Things We Love

February 18, 2013

Gluten Free Products

February 17, 2013

Many people ask me about gluten free baking products.  Bob's Red Mill gluten free products seem to be the most available.  I have heard that King Arthur Flour has gluten free products, but I haven't been able to find them at any of the grocery stores that I frequent and believe me I frequent a lot food stores & markets. 

Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu Ideas

February 14, 2013

Valentine’s Day Dinner

Talk about date night pressure! Avoid the restaurant hassle, stay in and make a delicious Valentine’s Day Dinner for your sweetheart.  As an added bonus you get the table the entire night as well as save some money.  After dinner snuggle up on the sofa and watch a romantic movie. Here are a few Valentine’s Day Dinner menu ideas. 

Baked Ziti

Dry Aged Steak With Potato Gratin

Pork Rib Roast With Winter Vegetables

Seafood Chowder

Farfalle With Vodka Sauce

Mussels

Swedish Meatballs

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Lemon Meringue Pie

Chocolate Truffles

Carrot Cake

Why Buy Organic?

February 11, 2013

“Food, one assumes, provides nourishment; but Americans eat it fully aware that small amounts of poison have been added to improve its appearance and delay its putrefaction.” – John Cage

There has been quite a bit of controversy these days about eating organic.  Recent studies state that it really doesn’t matter if you eat organic foods or not.  When something is labeled organic, it usually means that a farm has not used pesticides and has taken considerable care to avoid any cross-contamination.  Producing organic food undoubtedly costs more money which is passed on to the consumer.  Buying organic tends to be quite a bit more expensive than buying non-organic. 

Honestly, I don’t care what the studies are saying about eating organic versus eating non-organic.  I would rather not put pesticides into my body as well as wanting to support farmers and food companies that are not using pesticides. I love going to farmers’ markets during the spring, summer and fall and when I am shopping in the grocery store I am willing to pay a bit more for organic food.

If you have decided not to buy organic here is a list of foods that have found to be the most and least contaminated.

Most Contaminated

Apples

Bell Peppers

Celery

Cherries

Grapes

Lettuce

Nectarines

Peaches

Pears

Potatoes

Spinach

Strawberries

 

Least Contaminated

Asparagus

Avocados

Bananas

Broccoli

Cabbage

Corn

Kiwis

Mangos

Onions

Papayas

Peas

Pineapples

Happy Chinese New Year 2013

February 10, 2013

Latest Recipes

Roasted Cod Tacos

Roasted Cod Tacos

Black Eyed Pea Salad

Black Eyed Pea Salad

Eggnog Lattes

Eggnog Lattes

Christmas Wreath Pavlova

Christmas Wreath Pavlova

Spicy Mussels

Spicy Mussels