Nigella Lawson on Self-Indulgence

Just say yes.  (Image via The Sydney Morning Herald)
Nigella Lawson argues for thoughtful self-indulgence on NPR (audio track).
Per the domestic goddess: “If you can wallow in the pleasure of every single mouthful, then you’re doing something good…”

Read Full Post »

Term of the Day: “Food Desert”

Image credit: theworld.org
That’s desert, not dessert.  Click here (audio) to find out what a “food desert” is. Full transcript here.
Food deserts are something you definitely notice in certain neighborhoods in Washington, DC.  In the past few years, gentrification in Columbia Heights has radically changed the selection in grocery stores and even takeout food.

Read Full Post »

Feed the Dog that Bit Ya…Bacon

You could chase away a hangover (temporarily) with the “hair of the dog that bit ya,” but some scientists (apparently not cardiologists) suggest another remedy.  The Daily Telegraph reports that a bacon sandwich is just the right elixer to boost amino acids, speed up metabolism, and whet your queasy appetite. 

Read Full Post »

Shortcut Pasta alle Vongole (with Clams)

Credit: Jean Allsop
I’ve been trolling the internet for low-cholesterol recipes and recently discovered that clams are heart-healthy, especially if you’re not restricting your sodium.  The following is a quick recipe that hits the spot when you don’t have $20 to drop on a restaurant dish.  It could be improved with a splash of white wine and fresh [...]

Read Full Post »

Saving Money on Groceries

If you’ve noticed your grocery bill creeping, nay, bounding up, it’s probably time to re-strategize your next trip to the market.  Last year, I watched in horror as weekly groceries for our household of two jumped from $70 to $100+ a week.  This was back when gas was hovering near $4.00/gallon, and everyone blamed rising fuel prices.  [...]

Read Full Post »

Can You Guess the Product?

What it’s made of:

combined with water, sugar, carbon dioxide, natural caramel flavor, and caffeine from coffee beans.
Answer after the jump.

Read Full Post »

Is Food The New Sex?

Wherever pleasure is concerned, the lines often tend to blur.  Check out this interesting article by Mary Ebertstat, “Is Food the New Sex?”  She asks, “What happens when, for the first time in history, adult human beings are free to have all the sex and food they want?”
An excerpt:
“In just over 50 years, in other words [...]

Read Full Post »

Low Carb Pyramid

You can read mountains of nutritional advice, but sometimes, a picture really is worth much more.  This helps me to visualize what a healthier diet might look like:

Credit: about.com

Read Full Post »

Tainted Tilapia?

If you’re trying to incorporate more fish and seafood into your diet, beware of the source. Much of the seafood sold in the average American grocery store comes from China (especially bagged frozen seafood, such as those inexpensive tilapia filets home cooks love). The Los Angeles Times recently reported that melamine—the same contiminant that caused [...]

Read Full Post »

High Fructose Corn Syrup Linked to Mercury Contamination

Scary.  This stuff seems to be in everything, from the obvious offenders, bottled drinks and ketchup, to the more innocuous-seeming bread and yogurt.
The Washington Post’s Kim O’Donnel reports:
“Two studies released this week suggest that caustic soda, when produced the old-fashioned mercury way, becomes contaminated with mercury, which then contaminates the HFCS and ultimately, the food. Mercury is a toxic [...]

Read Full Post »