Meat

November 8, 2013

Weekend Obsessions 11.08.13

This week’s theme: try it. We are three weeks out until my favorite day of the year, aka Thanksgiving. Usually, on this holy of holy food days, by the time dinner is finally served I’m so stuffed with stuffing and soup and tastes of turkey drippings (don’t judge) that I can barely finish my plate. But somehow I usually manage to finish two. Because did you hear what I said? Favorite. Day. Of. The. Year. Just wait a minute, though. Could things get better? By golly they could. Because on top of gravy and mashed potatoes and yes, turkey drippings, […]

October 9, 2013

Chinese Five Spice Quinoa Meatballs

When’s the last time you had an Chinese Quinoa Meatball? TRICK QUESTION! Because the answer is probably never, because I totally just made them up. (Please note: no official research was done to confirm this statement). So I guess the better question then is WHEN will you eat a Chinese Quinoa Meatball? Let’s just make that a resounding, SOON! Because these meatballs are the perfect metaphor for satisfying low-sodium living. They’re all about not just losing the salt and sodium, but replacing them with interesting, intriguing, and attractive tastes. Taking salty ducks and turning them into gorgeous low-sodium swans. Or […]

July 25, 2013

Salt-Free DIY Dumplings

You better believe that a little soy sauce wouldn’t stop me from DIYing one of the most enviable bites around town: dumplings. Because if you’re like me, your relatives LOVE dim sum and as a result, you’ve spent a lot of time soaking in the sights and smells of these savory Asian bites. Dreaming of having a pile of salt-free dumplings to call your own. I’ve spent years now waiting, watching, and researching all in the name of recreating these tastes at home. And recently, thanks to one of my favorite food site, theKitchn.com (if you don’t go there regularly, […]

June 14, 2013

Strawberries for Papa

Last week, I got a sweet treat: two days of frolicking in the strawberry fields of Carmel Valley care of California Strawberries. I called it my summer straw-cation. And I know. Is this real life? Turns out, it is. And yes, I wore strawberry pink pants. Obviously. From the fields to the bar to the dinner table, this “work” trip was all about strawberries all day long. We met multi-generational farmers, toured strawberry chilling facilities, stood inside huge strawberry trucks, and even had a strawberry “Iron-chef-like” smack down (which my team won, salt-free, NBD). And while I learned some really […]

June 8, 2013

Pork and Pinto Chilaquiles

I eat a lot of beans. Is that weird? And until recently, I have been known to eat them pretty much the same way, every time, as chili. It’s my go-to, I-don’t-have-time-to-cook-a-real-meal meal. It’s easy and delicious and terribly filling. And that’s where my bean (slash, chili) obsession came from. So there’s that. But then I stumbled upon an issue of Eating Well magazine and I realized that beans could be so much more than slowly cooked legumes. They could swim with tortillas and even a bean poached egg. They could get topped with cool Greek yogurt and bright green […]

April 24, 2013

Quinoa Crusted Chicken

Let’s just get this out of the way. Wiener Schnitzel. (God bless you). It’s a silly name for a pretty simple dish: veal cutlets, pounded until they are Kate Moss skinny, dipped in egg and seasoned bread crumbs, and fried until golden brown. Because the meat is so thin, they cook up real quick. And because the outer layer is so crispy, they disappear real fast too. Which in my book equals a recipe for happy hosts and happier guests. And explains why this fried meat treat is the national dish of Austria — well done, Austria. But how do we […]

February 11, 2013

Pigs In Salt-Free Blankets

I’m not going to waste much time here, because we have some little piggies who are cold and need to be wrapped in blankets. STAT. But I will take a moment to explain why I decided to makeover this little party treat. Between the piggy (mini hot dogs) and the blankets (prepared croissant rolls), one serving can equal over 1,760mg of sodium, more than the 1,500mg daily recommended intake for most Americans. And you haven’t even added in ketchup and other dipping sauces. Not to mention that these are appetizers, which means there is a whole sodium-filled meal waiting to be consumed […]

January 24, 2013

Cook Lightly, Make Chili

I failed my juice cleanse. Me, the queen of restrictions, failed miserably at my juice cleanse. A cleanse that I started yesterday morning at 9am, following my morning cup of coffee (the first offense). Ending shortly after 6pm, just hours after my second cup of coffee and thirty minutes before a bowl of quinoa and vegetables. Let’s just say it was all down hill from there. I even snuck in some chocolate before bed. It just wasn’t for me. Because while I love of shots of green and blended beets, I totally overestimated my ability to love an all liquid diet. Turns […]

January 2, 2013

Love and Bok Choy

Most people talk about the five essential tastes: sweet, savory, salty, sour, and umami. But there is a sixth taste that makes even a simple chicken dinner something memorable: love. Love is the most powerful ingredient in your kitchen. Love pairs with everything from fish to waffles to tomato soup. Love is more precious than black truffles and lobster. Not to mention way less expensive. Love is always in season and always sustainable. Love is something that everyone can afford, that everyone can share, and that everyone can eat. There are no restrictions on love. And you can never use too […]

November 19, 2012

Brine-Free Bird

One of my favorite ways to get around a salty brined Thanksgiving turkey is to skip the turkey all together and get a guinea hen instead. Whether you’re hosting this year’s holiday feast or attending someone else’s buffet table, it’s nice to let all the guests get their fill of a high-sodium juicy bird while you can pig out on your own fun-sized, low-sodium poultry. And to make sure that your meat stays just as moist and succulent as everyone else’s, I like to use three tricks. The first is a can of soda or beer. The second is a […]

Previous Entries

Next Entries