Showers

March 20, 2012

Low-Sodium Red Lentil Soup

I’ve got a case of the stressies today. The kind where the to-do list just never seems to get to-done. Where the laundry piles up as soon as I fold the last load. The papers I meant to file in 2011 are now buried under the ones I mean to file in 2012. I’m still answering emails from last November. And let’s not even talk about the ones that have come in since then. It seems like the only thing I’ve been able to finish in a timely fashion is the first book of the Hunger Games. (So good) And […]

February 23, 2012

Hearts for Hearts

Turns out, taking care of your teeth is mighty important. I was reminded of this during my hour and a half dentist appointment this morning. (Don’t worry–I get to keep all of my teeth. And they even told me I am a super brusher. Not gonna lie. I may have blushed a little. And I’m considering putting it on my resume) But there is another part of your body that needs love. Maybe even more so than your teeth. And that’s your heart. This rubber band knows what I’m talking about. Even if you don’t have any health problems, […]

November 23, 2011

Honey Five Spice Candy Apples

Before I sign off for a few days of feasting, I wanted to leave you with a sweet thought. Honey. Chinese five spice. Mini apples. They are a perfect final bite for any holiday meal. Or if you wrap them up real nice in some parchment paper, you can give them away as party favors for everyone to take home. The recipe does require some caution (hot caramel) and a candy thermometer. But other than those two warnings, it is extremely simple. And the results are extremely worth it. The original hails from natural cooking guru, Heidi Swanson, and her […]

October 27, 2011

Low-Sodium Cabbage Spring Rolls

What do you crave? Burgers? Enchiladas? Pate? If your answer was spring rolls, well then you’re in for a real treat today. But before we dive into the low-sodium wrapping and rolling, let’s back up and take a look at why the traditional spring roll may pose a sodium problem. Spring rolls can come in both fried (golden brown, nice and crispy, and often called egg rolls) or non-fried versions (transparent in color and served cold). Either way, they tend to be filled with combinations of noodles, shrimp or crab, shredded carrot, mushrooms, bean sprouts, fresh cilantro, and even bean […]

October 14, 2011

Low-Sodium Collard Sandwich Wrap

It usually starts with a big flappy sheet of lavash or a soft tortilla. Those flat, towel-like breads that so easily twist and snuggle around your sandwich fillings. And while I’ve bought salt-free lavash and no-sodium corn tortillas before, they are either special grocery store items that only show up once in a while (lavash) or they tend to crack and break apart when you roll them (tortilla). Which means a sturdy, low-sodium sandwich wrap is difficult to make for a simple Wednesday lunch. Le sigh. But you didn’t think I was going to give up that easily, did you? […]

October 4, 2011

Salt-Free Radish Sushi

Before I say anything else, let me tell you that I just ate some rice doused in Dave’s Total Insanity Hot Sauce (0mg of sodium). And they seriously aren’t lying in their marketing. This is total insanity. I overdoused. And now I think I’ve permanently scarred my mouth. Or, less melodramatically, I’ve definitely started sweating profusely in public. But moving on. Speaking of insanity, I experienced another form of this emotion (less burning) a few weeks ago at Bar Agricole here in the good old Bay Area. And while I can hardly remember the meal they so carefully crafted for me […]

September 2, 2011

Kohlrabi Chicken Salad

Here we are on our last day of the kohlrabi adventure. Most of our kohlrabi has been enjoyed in the raw. Or as art. But it’s time we enjoy this green veggie in a sandwich. With some curry and paprika. Some Greek yogurt. A pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Some quinoa (for texture). And of course, juicy chicken thigh. Cooked. I just popped these suckers in the oven at 375 dg F for 45 minutes, until the inside was no longer pink, and mixed it in with the kohlrabi cubes and other ingredients. And in less time than it […]

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 8, 2011

Crispy Rice and Green Tea Pops

A few things happened this past month. I rediscovered root beer (hello, Hansens) which led me to rediscover ice cream (thank you, So Delicious). Which ultimately brought me to today’s post. And these crispy rice and green tea pops. You see, when foods – that you thought were permanently off your safe-eating list – make a grand re-entrance, the possibilities suddenly feel endless. And when one salty-barrier is broken down, I generally experience a flooding of new ideas. Edamame pate. “Shrimp” and grits. Dolmas. There have been so many new projects filling my brain that it was hard to focus. […]

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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