Baked Goods

February 8, 2012

Answering CDC’s Sodium Call

Yesterday, the CDC (and NPR) released one of the most comprehensive reports on the origins of America’s high sodium intake. Turns out it can be boiled down to ten popular foods. What comes as a surprise to most is that sodium doesn’t just exist in that shaker. Or that bottle of soy sauce. Or on top of French fries. But that high sodium counts can be found in soups, cheeses, and pizza and even more surprisingly, in less obvious culprits like bread, milk, and that seemingly healthy whole wheat sandwich with oven-roasted deli meat. That “healthy choice” lunch alone, even […]

February 7, 2012

Low-Sodium Winter Comforts

Here are the things I learned this week: 1) Although I love being barefoot or in sandals, rain boots are definitely the right choice when it’s raining. 2) Madonna still totally rocks. Like, seriously. 3) Steaks can be made out of cauliflower (see: Thursday’s post). 4) Curling up on the couch with something warm (i.e. a blanket, freshly baked bread, breakfast for dinner, and soup) is the perfect way to ward off chilly weather. So below, find some of my favorite cozy, low-sodium recipes for when the temperature drops. Make one, two, or all three this week. And save your […]

December 13, 2011

No Buttermilk, Yes Sweet Potato Biscuits

I’m a planner. When I start my day, I usually know how I want to spend every single second of it. I overstuff and jigsaw errands, work, and various activities, until everything I want to accomplish snuggly fits within the hours of daylight (and many in the dark) that I have to play with. But I’m also human. Which means my perfectly stacked agendas easily crumble to pieces when a last minute doctor’s appointment, broken lock, minor kitchen fire, or two hour wait at the social security office completely throws off the schedule. Of course, at this point in my […]

December 6, 2011

Salt-Free Mochi Muffins

Sometimes you don’t want to haul the mixer out from the bottom cupboard, up to the counter, only to spill flour and sugar on the floor, to then clean up the mess, and the mixer bowl, to finally lug the whole shebang back into that bottom cupboard. Which is now filled with sheet pans and tupperware that fell when you took that ginormous thing out in the first place. (Welcome to my kitchen) Sometimes all that work is worth a moist muffin or a fluffy cupcake or a fresh loaf of chocolate zucchini bread. But for me, I’d usually rather […]

November 28, 2011

Small Bites for Big Feasts

I am happily stuffed from Thanksgiving. But I’m far from being done with my holiday eatings. And I hope you aren’t giving up on the feasting any time soon either. Because this holiday season, I want to hit everything on your wish-list. I want to make sure all your wildest culinary dreams come, whether it is salt-free caviar or the perfect low-sodium BBQ spice blend. Or the personal butler to make you french fries any time of day or night. And while I can’t actually help you with the butler thing (sorry, backordered on Amazon), I can most definitely help […]

September 16, 2011

Salt-Free Savory Doughnuts

It’s our final day of mini doughnut pan fun and I think–in my humble opinion–that we’ve saved the best for last. As soon as I bought the doughnut pan, I’ll admit that I did not think about sprinkles. Or sugar. Or frosting. Or apple fritters. Actually, I may have thought about apple fritters, but that had nothing to do with the mini doughnut pan. What did cross my mind, however, was chili pepper flakes, fresh herbs, and other aromatics like leeks, onions, and toasted garlic. Because a good low-sodium doughnut is possible. But a great one is made with a […]

September 12, 2011

Carrot and Coconut Doughnuts

Please direct your attention to these salt-free carrot and coconut mini doughnuts that are fresh out of the oven…a week ago…just for you. Inspired by both the mini doughnut pan and my newfound love of carrot cake batter, I thought this would make a perfect bite. And luckily, the recipe on the packaging didn’t need too many low-sodium adjustments. I swapped the salt and the sodium-heavy buttermilk with lemon zest and coconut milk. I spiced up the mix with some clove, cinnamon, and ginger. And I topped the little sodium free lifesavers with a basic powdered sugar glaze and a […]

September 9, 2011

Low-Sodium Bagel Bites and Tid Bits

It’s been a long week since we last chatted and I miss you. Almost as much as I have missed bagel bites. And this is meant to be a compliment. You know, bagel bites. Those small nuggets of processed dough and cheese, topped with hard chunks of sausage-ness. I loved bagel bites. And in my childhood, they were a symbol of one thing: studying for final exams. My mother tried to keep a somewhat healthy household. But dear old dad would always sneak in KFC on a Sunday or take-out any other day. And I quickly learned that if you […]

August 16, 2011

Salt-Free Cake Pops

I’ve decided to give up sugar. Just kidding. Have we met? I love my sugar. And to celebrate the fact that I adore sweets of pretty much any flavor and variety, I made cake pops. Salt-free cake pops, to be specific. Now you may have seen these little sticks of dough and frosting on Starbucks counters or on bookshelves (Chronicle has published some pretty rad guides on how to DIY the little suckers). But please excuse me as I toot my horn for a moment and say this: I have been popping cake long before it was popular. Or at […]

July 5, 2011

Magic Mini Cornbread Madeleines

Rule number one: you eat with your eyes. In a sensory-overload kind of way. Not in actual chewing and digesting. Which brings us to rule number two: do not try to stick a forkful of food near those pretty little lids of yours. It will only lead to disaster. But back to the first lesson…presentation is perhaps one of the most important tools for a low-sodium cook, other than an immersion blender. It can be just as flavor-enhancing as a good shake of cayenne and salt. And if you play around with the look, feel, or structure of a traditional recipe, the […]

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