Dear friends,
Tuscaloosa, where I live, has experienced a devastating tornado. Please help support our town by donating to Give Tuscaloosa, a 501(c)3 nonprofit fund created by our local Chamber of Commerce to aid in Tuscaloosa’s recovery.
LAURANAV
14
Feb 11
LOVE MUFFINS
Nothing says I love you like homemade muffins. Warm, perfectly-sized, and a little sweet, they are a great way to surprise someone in the morning (or heck, the afternoon). Happy Valentine’s Day!
07
Feb 11
REVIEW: INSTANT-READ DIGITAL THERMOMETER
For under twenty bucks, this instant-read thermometer promised to solve all of my problems. You see, my husband cares about whether his food is cooked through. He cares a lot. (I mean, I do, too—I don’t eat raw chicken or anything.) But too many times, his cute face was two inches from his plate, asking, “Is this done?” How could I prove to him that we wouldn’t die of E. coli or salmonella?
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02
Feb 11
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
I had Brussels sprouts for the first time at a restaurant a couple of weeks ago. They were dark and caramelized, sweet and surprisingly delicious. I must have listed to everyone out there who said that Brussels sprouts tasted like socks. My mom never made them when I was a kid, so I simply had no experience with them. (Also, they kind of looked like brains.) And since I am not big on cabbage, either, I figured I would not like these mini-cabbages, either. Oh, how wrong I was.
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28
Jan 11
BERRY CAKE
We all know it’s important to eat fruits and vegetables. But sometimes, you just need a cake. This recipe is quick and easy, and even a little bit healthier than usual—half whole-wheat flour, reduced sugar, and canola oil instead of butter—but the taste isn’t sacrificed. It is also a great way to get some fruit into your breakfast, if you like eating cake for breakfast, that is.
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24
Jan 11
ZUCCHINI AND PEPPER STIR-FRY
A quick stir-fry is a great way to have a fast, filling, vegetarian meal. Even if you eat meat regularly, you can benefit from eating less meat a few meals a week. According to a 2009 study, “Fewer than 1 in 10 Americans meet their calorie-specific MyPyramid fruit or vegetable recommendations,” and potatoes account for the bulk of people’s vegetable intake. Yikes!
21
Jan 11
PAPPA AL POMODORO (TUSCAN BREAD-AND-TOMATO SOUP)
The first time I ate pappa al pomodoro, tomato and bread soup, I was in Tuscany. A friend who was studying abroad in Florence crumbled stale bread into a pot of crushed tomatoes in a small, Italian kitchen. Meanwhile, some of her neighbors taught me how to cook pasta the authentic Italian way. When we scooped our thick soup into mismatched bowls and I tasted it, I swear I swooned. The beauty of this soup is in its simplicity—bread, tomatoes, water or broth.
17
Jan 11
ALBONDIGAS SOUP
When my mom sent me this recipe, I was excited to try it. I love Mexican flavors and tortilla soup, and though Mom couldn’t remember where the recipe came from, she highly recommended it for something new. Considering that it is a bit more work than opening a can of tortilla soup, I hoped it would be good.
20
Dec 10
BLACK BEAN CHILI
Combine a cold day with a pot of chili, and you have the perfect meal. Even though it is a vegetarian recipe, this black bean chili is filling, warm, and spicy enough to warm up the coldest kitchen. Double it and you can have leftovers for a couple of days. It is a snap to put together, and all of the ingredients are easy to keep on hand.