I never questioned our St. Patrick’s day meal choice as a kid. Corned beef, cabbage – makes sense, right? Today I’m no longer a kid, though, and the history of corned beef and its association with St. Patrick’s day is fascinating to me. In this post, I’ll distill what I’ve learned about the dish, its history, …
History of Corned Beef: From Irish Export to St. Patrick’s Favorite Read More »
Here’s something about me: I usually like drinking green tea plain. Sometimes I’ll take it with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of honey – hot or iced depending on the season. Despite green tea’s caffeine content, I never considered it a replacement for my morning coffee – but sometimes nowadays it serves that …
Health Effects of Green Tea: From Catechins to EGCG Read More »
Every holiday seems to have its emblematic superstar treat or meal. Valentine’s Day is marked by chocolate, and those chalky little hearts that announce loving messages across their faces. Year after year, candy conversation hearts are exchanged, used in decorations, and bought almost habitually as if Cupid himself endorsed them. As I perused the aisle full of …
In the process of changing your diet for the better, you tend to learn about incredible new foods that are not yet in the mainstream. As I’ve mentioned my – let’s call it – affinity for chocolate in the past, it wasn’t long before I ran across carob. Carob, in the tradition of chocolate, is a plant-based …
Health Effects of Carob – a Potentially Healthier Alternative to Chocolate Read More »
Almost everybody’s got a sweet tooth. For me, it sometimes reveals itself in my chocolate habit. Fortunately for me – and probably you, dear reader – the health effects of chocolate mostly lean to the positive side. Maybe we don’t have to feel so guilty about a little indulgence? Enjoy the piece and make your …
Health Effects of Chocolate – More than an Indulgence Read More »
As a daily coffee drinker – okay, thrice-daily – I can’t get enough of that familiar boost I get from a cup. Yet coffee and its principal active ingredient caffeine are so controversial it’s natural to wonder just how healthy they are. Naturally, I decided to do a deep dive into my daily caffeine habit. Let’s take a look …
Health Effects of Coffee: More than Just a Caffeinated Drink Read More »
If you ask me, “what makes for a quality kitchen knife?” ignoring the specific type, my thoughts drift towards Damascus Steel blades. These blades – through reputation and (well, sure) marketing – have a well-deserved reputation as durable, sharp, and attractive blades… and the all-stars in your kitchen. Today, let’s dive headfirst into Damascus steel. We’ll discuss the …
Damascus Steel: A Legendary Process – and Its Modern Attempts Read More »
Gingerbread has become a big part of our Christmas tradition. Every year, my daughters can’t wait to build and decorate (their own, as it turns out) gingerbread houses. It feels like gingerbread, as a winter tradition, has been around forever. Of course, that isn’t the case – but it does turn out ginger has an extremely …
History of Gingerbread: From Expensive Fair Bounty to Holiday Centerpiece Read More »
December is usually the cheeriest month of the year. There’s no snow here, but we have colorful lights, presents, special music –and eggnog. Yes, eggnog! It’s a funny drink after all – who had the idea to combine all those spices with sugar and a raw egg? (And often something more alcoholic, to boot). Those …
History of Eggnog: From Rare Toasting Treat to Dominant Holiday Drink Read More »
Let’s face it: candy is a hit at any time of year. But when December 1st rolls around each year, our family’s thoughts quite naturally turn to that stalwart of the Christmas season: candy canes. In some ways, candy canes require no introduction. Is there anyone around today who doesn’t recognize the tell-tale sight of this …
The History of Candy Canes: From Sugar Sticks to Striped Hooks Read More »
It’s not by chance that coconut oil has emerged as a widespread phenomenon. As you might expect, there are some powerful and compelling reasons for its notable rise in popularity. Incredibly versatile, coconut oil is equally at home for cooking and baking – and even in the production of creams and ointments for topical use. …
Health Effects of Coconut Oil: More than the MCTs Read More »
Do you ever stop and wonder about the mysteries of honey when you add it to your tea or incorporate it into a dish? (No? Just me?) Honey is a fascinating substance. Sticky, sweet, and possibly even good for you. It was enough to send me into a beehive of research to try to shine a …
Health Effects of Honey: From Ancient Medicine to Modern Marvel Read More »
Picture this: it’s time to fix dinner, and your family is craving a crispy batch of homemade French fries. You fill your pot with whatever oil you grab first from the pantry. Then, you fry your way through the first batch of potatoes – and your house fills with smoke. I don’t know about you, …
There’s nothing like matching a nice glass of red wine with a beautiful steak or a Pinot Grigio with a creamy pasta dish. It’s the simple things in life; wine seems – at times – the perfect drink. Alas, wine also sometimes seems like your worst enemy. Wine can cause some wicked headaches and stomachaches the following …
Histamines in Wine: The Likely Cause of Your Nasty Wine Headache Read More »
Sometimes after a long day at work, I look forward to washing dinner down with a fine glass of wine. (Yes, even when I have work again the next day…) Wouldn’t it be nice if wine actually was beneficial to your health? Luckily for both of us, that’s actually the case – for moderate quantities, anyway. That’s …
Health Effects of Red Wine – How Moderate Drinking Can be Good For You Read More »
It’s usually around 5:30 AM when my kids burst into our bedroom. (I’m not fun to interact with at 5:30 AM.) Stumble to the kitchen. Grind the beans. Pour the water. 5-10 minutes later, giant coffee cup in hand, I’m a much more fun loving father. But – what if that immediate cup of coffee …
I really enjoy my cast iron cookware. My pans are great for cooking everything outside of… well… eggs. Of course – the secret to all of this is in the seasoning. In this post I’ll talk about seasoning a cast iron pan. This process works whether you’ve just bought an unseasoned pan, you’re re-seasoning a …
I have a 12″ and 9″ cast iron pan I use to make everything from steak to stir fries. I’ve always loved the taste of food I made on the pans, but I used to dread cast iron cleaning and maintenance. Today I’ll talk about how best to clean and store a cast iron pan …
If you poke around a kitchen store or your friend’s well-stocked kitchen, you’ll see that there are many styles and types of kitchen knives. Knives are extremely interesting. I personally couldn’t get a handle on the types until I had been cooking seriously for a few years. Today I’ll share some of that knowledge with …
Types of Kitchen Knives Illustrated: Basic, Common, and Specialty Read More »
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