Tag Archives: recipes

A Souper Tasty Treat

Everyone knows that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and for our guests, my soup is one of their faves. To address the, “I wish I could take some home” requests, this time I’m making two pots of the recipe below – one for the holiday and the other for doggy bags (or doggy bowls, in this case).

Although I prefer not to be a short-order cook, I enjoy catering to my customers when possible. My kids like their soup as smooth as silk, calling for a professional…my Vitamix machine. Known for creating superior smoothies, the Vitamix produces rich and creamy soups that you can either eat with a spoon or sip from a mug. My 9-year old mom, on the other hand, would like to eat her soup with a fork. She prefers to “taste every ingredient,” so her bowl is barely blended. For the rest of the crowd, I quickly pass an immersion blender through the pot to create a hearty mixture.

What originally started out as a classic split pea recipe evolved to welcome the sweet flavors of butternut squash, carrots, and apple cider. Not only does it taste great, this steamy bowl of goodness is an excellent source of hunger-squashing protein and heart-healthy fiber that acts like a speed bump to a big meal by taking the edge off of your appetite. Studies show that soup and other watery foods can assist in weight control…a concept you may want to keep in mind after the holiday!

Here’s wishing you a souper holiday filled with warmth inside and out! Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged beans, calories, cooking, dinner parties, holidays, recipes, Soup, Thanksgiving, weight loss | Leave a comment

Delicious Mother’s Day Memories

Last Mother’s Day I woke to the aroma of something yummy baking in the oven. My walk down the stairs to the kitchen led me to an array of magnificent scones baked by my three sons, accompanied by flowers, cards, and kisses. At that moment I flashed back to all of those years when I would sneak down in the morning and whip up some home-baked goodies before everyone woke up. Even the typical late sleepers came to the breakfast table early to start the day together.

As a mom, setting a good example about making smart food choices was always my goal, but that never guaranteed that my lead would be followed. Since my kids were big enough to be propped up in a shopping cart, they came to the supermarket with me. Food shopping was combined with food games, facts, and fun. If they requested unhealthy picks, it may have required a healthy negotiation. For example, if a cartoon character on a box of sugary cereal was beckoning, that box may have made it to our pantry, but its contents got combined along with a different type that only contained a gram or two of sugar. This combo tamed the temptation for the taste for sweets and it also displayed a lesson in compromise.

My kitchen has always been the heart of my home and food is the fabric we all wear each day. Cooking with my kids was a way for them to get hands-on experience and feel pride and enjoyment from the dishes they created.

Now that my boys are grown, I see how those childhood games lead to adult choices. Providing food for your family is not just about fueling healthy bodies — it’s also about creating healthy relationships. Studies have shown that families who eat together share more than a favorite dish. You don’t have to be a chef to bring your family to the table; even a snack together could come with a side dish of conversation and memories that could last a lifetime.

I can’t wait till this Mother’s Day and I wish you a wonderful experience with those you love.

Posted in General, Media, Web Media | Tagged baking, breakfast, family, memories, Mother's Day, recipes, role model, scones | Leave a comment

Paula Diabetes Deen

Paula ‘Diabetes’ Deen: In a few short days, it’s almost as if the disease became her middle name. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, web sites or tabloids, you won’t find a story today without seeing her name and diabetes used in the same sentence.

The first time I saw Paula Deen she was making a frosting for a cake. “And now just add a box of confectioner’s sugar,” she said. These words rolled off her tongue as easily as butter melts in a hot pan. She is known for her sugar-filled, fat-laden style of cooking, and for portraying these meals as everyday foods instead of decadent “sometimes” treats. Her approach to food preparation could exacerbate diabetes rather than control it.

So now that her hidden 3-year-old medical issue has become public knowledge, where will she go from here?

Will Paula Deen continue to be afflicted with “Cleopatra Syndrome,” as a patient of mine calls it, and live in de-Nile? Or will she take advantage of the incredible power she now has to change what goes on the forks of her loyal fans? As Spiderman said, “With great power comes responsibility.”Paula is not just a celebrity chef — she is a role model. She can inspire millions of people who have diabetes to learn that all foods can fit, if you learn to balance what you eat with how you move. She could rely on a dietitian instead of a drug company to help slash blood sugar numbers so that she could perhaps not even need any medication.

Imagine her on the Food Network promoting food for her friends that will please their palates and their doctors. She could talk about proper portions. And perhaps most of all, she could show how she could tweak her own recipes to create a safer state of wellbeing without deprivation.

It is predicted that by 2050, 1 of 3 U.S. adults will have diabetes, and I predict that many of those people will be sitting on the couch watching TV. Paula, I’d be happy to help you demonstrate how the words “delicious” and “healthful” can coexist.

Posted in General | Tagged celebrity chef, cooking, cuisine, delicious, diabetes, facebook, Food Network, healthy, Paula Deen, recipes, Twitter | Leave a comment