REPLACING NUTS WITH SEEDS Nuts are such an important and nutritious component of the Mediterranean diet, and, of course, of the way people eat and snack in the Blue Zones. Yes, so many people are now allergic to nuts that consuming them can be problematic. Nuts aren’t just nutrition powerhouses; they also provide great texture, […]
Cukes for Health: Cucumbers are so often an after thought in salads, mild in flavor, and in almost all water. But they’re also surprisingly nutritious, from skin to seed. They’re a great source of Vitamin K and a pretty good source of Vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. This recipe is a kind of “poor […]
Why Avocado? Avocados, especially when ripe, provide a buttery mouthfeel thanks to their high (and healthy) fat content. They make a great substitute for all those really fatty and caloric salad dressings that so many of us may have grown up with. This is a great dressing for green salads but it’s also surprisingly delicious […]
ABOUT LETTUCE WRAPS: Lettuce wraps are a great alternative to sandwiches between the bread, so to speak. While they’re traditional throughout Southeast Asian cuisine, they’ve actually been around a while in the West, too, as early as the late 19th century in the U.S. and UK.
WILD RICE NUTRITION Contrary to what many people think, wild rice isn’t a rice at all, but the seed of a semi-aquatic grass that is native to North America. Wild rice is low on the glycemic index and, while not a great source of vitamins, it is rich in several minerals, including phosphorous and magnesium. […]
HOW TO PICK A GOOD WATERMELONI:t’s hard to know what’s inside a watermelon before cutting it open and tasting it! But there are a few things to look for, regardless of the shape of the fruit – there are many varieties, oblong, round, etc. – all fine, so long as their shape is even and […]
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FETA: Feta is a traditional Greek brine cheese always made with either sheep’s milk or sheep and goat’s milk. It is also a PDP cheese, which stands for Protected Designation of Origin, meaning that real feta can only be made in specific places within Greece. These places are recognized for their […]
HOW TO CHOOSE A GREAT TOMATO: Tomatoes are one of the most vital and versatile vegetables (OK, fruits) to have in the kitchen, but they can also be hard to check for quality. Just because they're are available year-round doesn't mean they're going to be good year-round — anyone who's ever had a fresh one […]
THE BEST ONIONS FOR CARAMELIZATION: All onions can be caramelized, but some do the job better. The sweeter the onion, the easier it will caramelize because it’s actually the sugars in the onion that turn brown. The best varieties are Vidalia, Walla Walla, Sweet Imperial, and Texas Sweet.
