jessg23

November 21, 2012

Grateful for Lentil Gravy

There’s so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. No-salt added sweet potato chips. Low-sodium swiss cheese. Chocolate. The fact that kale and banana smoothies may look gross, but actually taste really good. And after today, you can add low-sodium lentil gravy to that list. Like the kale banana smoothie, you may be nervous to try this recipe. I can understand that. If you haven’t eaten lentils lately (or have had a bad experience with them in the past), you probably think these legumes are mushy and flavorless. But you’re only half right. Yes, they can be mushy…and that’s why […]

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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 […]

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November 14, 2012

Low-Sodium Thanksgiving: Sides

Here’s the quick and tasty: when losing the salt over the holidays, it doesn’t mean you’re burdened with bland meals. Instead, it means you have the opportunity (and duty!) to really stretch the classics and bring your favorite dishes to life with surprising flavors, exciting pairings, colorful twists. So over the next week, I’m going to do my best to stuff you full of low-sodium Thanksgiving tips. Keep an eye on Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook for my favorite bites from the past and my new tricks for this year. And check back here often for recipes that will keep your […]

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November 7, 2012

I’m Back Broccoli Dip

So I had a heart-to-heart with a bushel of broccoli the other day. And here’s the deal — it’s tired of artichoke and onions getting all the attention. Understandable. And with all the football games and family gatherings coming up I figured this was a good time to switch things up a bit and show those tiny little green trees some love. By whipping them into a dip, of course. Now since this is my first post since bringing home my baby eggplant (pictures coming soon), I am a little rusty and I’ll have to keep this quick. But isn’t […]

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September 20, 2012

Baby. Eggplant.

There are few things cuter than a baby eggplant. Except maybe puppies. And real babies, of course. Which is why I’m writing this post today. I’m having one. A baby. Not an eggplant. (And I think my heart just lept into my throat and my stomach as I wrote that sentence). You see, in some ways, I’ve been keeping this little miracle a secret. Not really on purpose. But because if you saw me on the street, you would have no way of knowing that I was having a baby (and again: not an eggplant). So let me explain… I won’t […]

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September 12, 2012

Joy Bauer and Low-Sodium Lo Mein

When it comes to healthy eating, do you know who’s the boss? Joy Bauer. This little package of high energy and healthy eating advice knows the ins and outs of the foods we love to eat. And in her new series, “What the Heck,” made in partnership with Everyday Health, she’s exposing the good, the bad, and the better choices. From fro yo to hot dogs. While her videos are not salt-intake specific, you’ll be surprised how often sodium makes an appearance. And how much of it ends up in processed foods. Plus, it never hurts to brush up on other […]

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August 29, 2012

Salt-Free Bloody Mary Soup

Let’s talk about backpacks for a moment. Before there were backpacks there were bags. A newfangled way to tote your stuff around, whether in a nifty sack that one would tie on a stick or sling over their shoulder. There were purses and murses, brief cases and satchels. But no matter the name or design, the point was the same: bags were the coolest. Then someone decided to do something different. Some dude or dudette looked at that bag and thought to give it a twist. And by twist, I mean straps. Two straps. That fit over both shoulders. Hanging […]

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August 22, 2012

Salt-Free Oyster Mushroom Calamari

No. There’s no greater word in the dictionary. See? I just used it twice. And before you can say no to that claim, let me explain. Remember when you were little and your parents told you, “no,” and then you answered, “why not?” to which they replied, yet again, “no” and then the “no” and “why not” rally began, finally ending with you tiring out your parents and eating that strawberry shortcake popsicle instead of a nap? Remember that? Well that was the beginning of falling in love with “no.” Because, you see, even from early on you understood that “no” […]

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August 9, 2012

Oh Fudge

I’ve always had a sweet tooth. Maybe several. And it seems that when I started cutting down the salt, I grew a few more. I love chocolate. I love sour candies. I even love those Necco Wafers which, no offense, taste like cardboard. But since they’re in the candy aisle, I’ll happily eat them if that’s all that is available. So that’s pretty much all I have to say about my affection for confections. In terms of fudge, though, I have a few more things I’d like to talk about. First, I’ve never made it before. Second, I don’t own a […]

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August 3, 2012

Eggs & Experts

Don’t laugh. But I don’t know how to boil eggs. I mean, I can boil eggs. But I forget how to do it every time I make them. Do you boil the water first? Or do you start with the egg in cold water? How do you know when they’re actually done? Do you add vinegar? Or is that just silly? And how in egg’s name do you peel them without losing a whole bunch of the egg white? If you struggle with hard-boiled eggs as I do, the good news is that there are plenty of people out there […]

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