Recipe: Spiced Apple Cider Soft Caramels
This recipe makes so many caramels that if you don’t have a way of gifting them, cut it in half! In making this recipe, I tried to cut some of the sugar and cream in traditional caramels, and still end up with a buttery, creamy texture. I arrived at this recipe by accident – I [...]
Travel Nationally, Eat locally
Resolving to travel and explore new places more frequently in the upcoming year is a popular resolution. As you might expect, I would suggest eating locally when doing so but let’s add another layer: eating the most commonly produced foods from a region. Local is local is local, so why bother, you ask? Simply not [...]
Myth: Eating asparagus after a night of drinking will cure your hangover
TRUTH: I think every news media outlet has publicized the supposed benefits of eating asparagus as a hangover remedy in the past couple weeks. Well, readers, it’s only a couple weeks old but I’m busting this one. If you haven’t heard or read the news lately, a team of researchers at a Korean University found [...]
Recipe: Rainbow Vegetable Terrine
Terrines are a traditionally French food, similar to a pate (but with coarsely chopped foods in loaf form), and they’re served cold or at room temperature. I love the idea, but they’re frequently unhealthy and fatty. This Rainbow terrine requires no special cooking equipment or ingredients and can be made with whatever you have in [...]
How local foodies can change local laws
Ever heard of Cottage Food Laws? These laws basically say that if you want to sell foods that you make in your home (and are for human consumption), you can do so without jumping through hoops. These laws enable the home cook to legally sell their items as long as the food is not a [...]
Recipe: Spicy Plum Salsa
This salsa is great because it’s sweet and very colorful if you choose a variety of colored plums. It’s can be served as a side salad, dip, or with grilled fish or chicken. Spicy Plum Salsa Serves 6 6 plums, diced – yellow, red and purple 1 small cucumber, seeded and diced 3-4 dried [...]
Foraging for Edible Flowers
Before I get into this, I want to highlight that I am not encouraging you to pick your neighbor’s tenderly cultivated flowers and eat them. But, if you can stop to smell the wild roses, you could eat one too. There are a lot of edible flowers that add extra color and flavor to food. [...]
Seasonal Jam Series: Gingered Rhubarb
For general jammin’ information, check out this post about water bath canning or this general guide to home canning. *Remember: you can always make jam and eat it right away (no canning necessary)! Gingered Rhubarb Jam Makes about 1 quart 8 cups chopped rhubarb, chopped 8 cups halved strawberries (you can use frozen if you [...]
Food, Farms, and Gross Overpayments to Those who don’t Need It
By now, Mark Bittman, Michael Pollan, and Eric Schlosser are becoming common household names. You’ve heard their (well-articulated) arguments against factory farming and you may even know that over the last 20 years, the number of farmers markets in this country has more than quadrupled. Great! We’re on a roll, so let’s go a layer [...]
Myth: Purchasing Certified Organic foods is the best, healthiest, or most ethical option
TRUTH: First of all – people used to associate the term ‘organic’ with small, environmentally conscious farmers. Now, organic brands are popping up everywhere – including in companies like General Mills and Kraft. Obviously, they’re not interested in sustainable agriculture so much as they are making a profit. They’re the major players in the mutli-billion [...]
