Showers

January 31, 2013

Chia Cranberry Pudding Cups

Figgy, it’s time you hung up your figgy hat and called it a day. Because chia seeds are in town and they are taking over pudding. For those of you who haven’t met chia seeds yet, let’s just say that they are the new wonder ingredient. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids (which is a good thing); they’ll help you look young forever (fingers crossed); they are actually the seed used in Chia Pets (not kidding); and apparently, they also make preparing an elegant, low-sodium dessert ridiculously simple (get a spoon ready). The inspiration for this sweet adventure? Well, first, […]

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 […]

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 […]

July 25, 2012

Baked Grapes, An Olive Alternative

I read books. As long as you count Fifty Shades of Grey. But my preference for literature lies strongly in culinary novels. Of every kind. Cookbooks, blogs, and most definitely magazines. And yesterday, I splurged. I bought four food glossies and spent an afternoon poring over every word. Every recipe. Every picture. And then I found this: Baked grapes. I thought my pickled cherries were a snazzy party trick. But man, Sunset magazine really raised the bar for olive substitutions. And when you pull these out at your next cocktail night or brunch with friends, you too will set a […]

June 27, 2012

Kidneys, Cooking Classes, Scones

Pass it forward. Most of the time when I say this, I’m talking about shuffling that plate of spicy green beans in my direction. But today, I’m talking about experiences. And scones. But mostly experiences. Our lives are filled with them — good and bad; some worthy of pictures, some better left to a gossip session over tea; many part of our everyday routines and many others that are life changing. But all of them, moments in time. Our time. Many people keep their experiences to themselves. But over the years, I’ve learned that if you take these little time […]

June 12, 2012

Low-Sodium Asian Slaw & Spareribs

I know it’s Father’s day this weekend. But I want to talk about grandparents. My grandparents. Nana and Papa. Yeah, they were as adorable as they sound. Their house was filled with knick knacks and chachkis from around the world. Shoots and Ladders. Tons of crossword puzzles. Books by Shell Silverstein. PBS programming. Origami paper and party hats for crafting. And re-crafting. And then fashion shows for everyone after dinner. The kitchen was filled with Hansen’s soda (because it was natural). The smell of toasted wheat bread. And a rotating schedule of cornflake crusted chicken parmesan and some other chicken dish […]

May 25, 2012

Low-Sodium Labor (slash, Memorial) Day & Baked Garbanzos

(Before you read, be warned: this post mentions Labor Day many times which, as you may have noticed, should actually be Memorial Day. But because I believe in embracing mistakes, I’m leaving it. So please, enjoy. Even if it’s a few months early) Do you know why we celebrate Labor Day? Neither do I. But I do know that I love three day weekends, especially those filled with picnics, potlucks, and BBQs. So here’s a recipe for a crispy snacketizer — salt-free’d from Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Everyday vegetarian food bible –which will keep you and your friends satisfied between […]

May 10, 2012

Spring Polenta Tart For Mom

You know what mom loves more than hugs? Spending time with her children. And tasting the amazing low-sodium tarts they learned how to make. So when you spend time with mom this weekend, really impress her with this snappy spring onion polenta tart. It’s creamy. It’s savory. It’s crispy. It’s perfect for a mom-centric brunch. And it doesn’t involve making a flour crust from scratch — which to me, is the most awesome part of all. Caramelized onions serve as the salt-free flavor powerhouse in this dish. And when mixed with the creamy, quick cooking polenta, you create a tart […]

May 3, 2012

Thank You Krispies

Sometimes you want to say thank you but words just don’t seem to cover it. And for those times when you can’t muster up the right verbs and nouns and adjectives and conjunctions to show your gratitude, all you need is sodium-free marshmallows, wheat cornflakes, dried blueberries, and coconut oil. A baking sheet and parchment paper will also prove quite helpful. A few moments of melting followed by thirty minutes or so of setting and you have an edible gesture of appreciation (a.k.a. low-sodium krispy treats). With all the gooey decadence of the original recipe, without any of the sodium, […]

April 10, 2012

SAVEUR This

Have you heard about all the crazy things you can do with salt? According to the book, Solve it With Salt, you can put that salt shaker to work to: remove water stains from your porcelain tub (if you have one); make grease, red wine, and ketchup disappear from your rug; shine up your favorite brass candleholders; clean up oven spills (in place of smelly, toxic cleaners); razzle dazzle art projects with home-made salt glitter; keep ants out of your house; and soak up that smelly odor from your shoes. But are you also aware of the number of crave-worthy […]

Previous Entries

Next Entries