You can ferment that!

Fermenting your own foods to make sauerkraut, pickles, yogurt, or kimchi probably sounds kind of crazy. The type of thing that only a person living in the middle of nowhere or someone who is unemployed would even consider attempting.  I can assure you that nothing is easier.  It will take you less time to make a jar of your own pickles then it would to select a jar from the wall 'o pickles probably available at your supermarket.

From left to right:  Red cabbage sauerkraut, bok choy kimchi, sauerkraut with jalapeno, sauerkraut.

Embrace Summer with Pasta Salads

I have been craving pasta salad for the last couple of weeks.  A summery, crisp, and bright pasta salad of some kind. At the same time I read an NPR blog post that basically read my mine (http://www.npr.org/2013/06/26/195311156/helping-pasta-salad-dress-for-success).

Think differently about your pasta salad - ditch your jar of mayonnaise and think of it as a salad or a complete meal (whole grains [e.g,, pasta], vegetables, protein [e.g. nuts, beans, tofu, shrimp], and fat [e.g., olive oil]) not just a starchy/fatty side dish.  Look around you at all of the fresh summer tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, chards, asparagus, and leafy greens for inspiration.

Holiday Food Traditions

There is no other time of the year where our cultural traditions are more entwined with food.  You just say the word “holidays” and you’ll get strong responses from people, a far off glance and twinkle in their eye thinking of cookies and egg nog, a groan and a belt loosening from last night’s Christmas party, or mouthwatering and talk of roasts, stuffing or pumpkin pie.

Christmas Cookies (from Wikipedia)

The holiday season is the one season where we all still hold strong to our food traditions, the baked goods your grandmother prepared, the eggnog and tree decorating tradition in your family, or hosting of a great feast (or series of feasts!) throughout the season.  I can bet that right now you are all thinking of homemade cookies and not frozen, boxed or canned dinners. It seems that this is the one season that our busy schedules, love of fast and easy food, and lack of cooking desire or skill just can’t penetrate.  In this holiday season, cooking, baking and eating survive as a celebration and as a gesture of love and friendship.  I bet that at the very least, most of you will break out an apron and make cookies this month.

Squash Everywhere!

This time of year the grocery stores and markets are literally overflowing with all kinds of winter squash and pumpkins.  This is a perfect time to adapt what you buy and what you eat to what is in season.  Those crazy looking pumpkins and squash are actually edible (even delicious!) so don't be afraid to buy something and try it!