As an Ohio transplant to the Carolinas who doesn't eat meat, I've never gotten into the debate about which state has the best barbecue sauce. North Carolinians love vinegar based barbecue sauce, whereas South Carolinians swear by a tangy mustard based sauce. I recently discovered a type of ...
Making Granola is easier (and cheaper) than you think
I recently learned that granola is a 3.7 billion commodity. If you buy grocery store granola and want to lower your food budget, granola is very easy to make and its ingredients cost a fraction of the cost of packaged granola. My recipe takes ten minutes of active work, thirty minutes in the oven, ...
Can Dry January Lead to Damp February?
I took the Dry January challenge and have found that eliminating all alcohol from my life has been far easier than cutting back or drinking moderately. I’ve also found so many unexpected benefits for my health – like deep restful sleep, improved digestion, and a clear mind – that I’m honestly ...
My Savory Dry Rub Adds Zing to Celebration Roast
Celebration Roast by Field Roast is a welcome addition to your holiday table . . . with a few simple tweaks that can take it from good to great! This year I spread my Savory Dry Rub on the oiled surface of the Roast before putting it in the oven - which dramatically improved its flavor. Just like ...
Chili Crisp Chick’n Scallopini
For the past two years, I’ve been obsessed with Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp. But last night was the first time I used Fly By Jing Chili Crisp Vin as a marinade for Gardein Lightly Seasoned Chick’n Scallopini. Not counting the marinating time (roughly two hours in the fridge, during which I also ...
Italian Restaurant Etiquette 101
I’d like to share some of the things I learned during a recent three week trip to Northern Italy. We visited two dozen restaurants in Milan, on the Ligurian coast, and in the Piedmont region. While some of these tips seem obvious in retrospect, I didn’t find any books or articles that clued me in ...
Vegetarian Travel in Northern Italy
Long time, no blog. The reason is our March trip to Milan (in the Lombardy region), Rapallo (in Liguria), The Laghne (Piedmont wine country), and the unbelievable amount of planning involved with making that trip happen. (Did I mention that I was also trying to learn at least a modicum of Italian ...
Quick Chick’n Piccata for Two with Fruity Brussels Sprouts
My slow cooker gets a lot of use during the winter months. But sometimes I don't have the time to prep early in the day and am scrambling to come up with a quick dinner that I can have on the table in 20-30 minutes. That's when an old standby like Gardein's Chick'n Scallopini comes out of my freezer ...