Holidays

July 2, 2011

Gazoontite, America

First thought of the day: when I hear someone say God Bless America, it sounds to me like America is sneezing. And since it has been a pretty rough year for allergies, I think my point here makes even more sense. Second thought of the day (or more of a confession): to celebrate this weekend of freedom (and sneezes), I may or may not have purchased a red, white, and blue one-piece pant suit. True story. But really what we’re here to talk about is not my Claritin or my closet. It’s my kitchen, which is getting a particularly festive […]

June 17, 2011

Pork for Pops

Let me tell you something about Dads – they love pork. Even if they say, “Jess, I don’t like pork,” the thing is, they do. And this brings me to the second point that I want to make about the big guy – they also don’t know what they like. And sometimes, you just have to tell them. Take my dad for example. No really, take him. Just kidding, I want him back. My dad says he doesn’t like a lot of things. Like eggplants, curry, curried eggplant, and pretty much anything that you can’t find in (a) a snack […]

May 6, 2011

Love Letter to Smoosh

Some people collect stamps. Coins. Spoons. Automobiles. Things that are orange. Even small, porcelain cat figurines. I collect moms. Always have. It isn’t something that I consciously decided to do. It was just something that happened. I’d make a friend and in a matter of time, I had also bonded with his or her mother. And their mother’s friends. And so on. I guess I am just a sucker for a squishy, marshmallow hug from a mom. Or the way they know how to fix the bow on your dress or clean the dried ketchup from your face with a […]

May 4, 2011

Cinco Ways To Celebrate

I don’t really like holidays. I love holidays. And if I can find any reason to celebrate, I will. I relish all opportunities to be with friends, covered in streamers, holding sparklers, and drinking champagne. I’m even considering going full tilt for Boxing Day this year. With lots of decorated boxes. And if you’re questioning my enthusiasm at all, let me tell you this: I’ve been known for creating my own holidays when there are none to be found on the calendar. Like Funuary. My super rad replacement for the less enticing sounding month of “January,” during which every day […]

December 23, 2010

Hot Holiday Tamales – Part Dos

Right in time for Christmas Eve (and in advance for New Year’s Day), here is the second part of the low sodium tamale making process – the corn husk wrapping. Get ready to rock and roll up these meaty poppers, and because you’re on the low sodium “good list,” I’ll throw in a few extra dips and sides to give your taste buds something to sing (on high) about. Happy holidays to you and yours, and remember, be merry, by thankful, and be full. Chow on. PINEAPPLE and CHILI SALSA Ingredients: 1 whole pineapple, cut into 1/4 inch cubes […]

December 17, 2010

Hot Holiday Tamales – Part Uno

As I cleaned out my camera this morning – apparently a year’s worth of food photos had eaten up all the space on my memory card, fancy that – I was transported to the Christmas tamale feast I shared with my family a year ago. Smells of roasted tomatoes and memories of creamy masa made my heart pump and my stomach grumble. Since I am not able to partake in the festivities this year, I thought it only appropriate to revisit this wonderful two-part adventure of corn husking and rolling. So please, feast with your eyes and if you are […]

December 14, 2010

Green Bundles of Joy

For those of you who have read this blog for a while, you know about my tumultuous relationship with bacon. I live for the stuff and as a child, weekends and Sunday mornings (before going to temple – isn’t that ironic) were synonymous with the smell of bacon. Even though I had to give the salty-stuff up, I still find myself craving the crisp bite and smoky flavors that define this breakfast treat and for the past few years, I have been determined to find a low sodium substitute. I even went so far as to try and cure it […]

November 24, 2010

Low-Sodium Thanksgiving Stuffing

As you probably can tell, I’ve been busy in the kitchen getting ready for tomorrow’s feast. And I can promise, between this family of twelve, the word feast will not be an exaggeration. But before I sign off for the holiday, I wanted to be sure to give one final tip. So let’s talk stuffing. Just because there is broth and bread involved – both ingredients which tend to be commercially produced with loads of sodium – there is no need not to make it. And you also don’t have to spend all day baking your own bread and broth […]

November 22, 2010

Low-Sodium Mash

What you see above is not ground mustard or white pepper gone bad. Or gold. It is nutritional yeast. But we will have to come back to that in a moment. First, let’s talk about Thanksgiving and specifically about an important side dish: mashed potatoes. This one’s for you, Michelle. My mother is quite famous for her creamy, parmesan mashed potatoes. I remember eating them as a kid, scooping seconds and thirds onto my plate, and the only thing I can compare them to is a puppy with a mean streak – they are sweet and fluffy looking with a […]

November 19, 2010

The Bird and the B

With Thanksgiving creeping (ok, barreling) around the corner, it is time to talk about turkey (the bird) and that other b word – brine. Here’s the deal: a lot of poultry, especially around the holidays, is already plumped and brined. So when buying your bird, to make sure it is absolutely as low in sodium as possible, you have to do a little research. The best option is to shop at a butcher or at stores like Whole Foods, which can provide in-depth information about their meat products and the farms on which they are raised. You can explain your […]

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