Food Shopping

December 18, 2009

Pot Roasted Pappardelle

To avoid holiday hostess stress, I’ve come to realize that it is best to prepare dishes that can cook uninterrupted and unattended for long periods of time. Whether in a crock pot or an oven safe casserole dish, your one pot pièce de résistance will simmer, thicken, and marinate on its own while you mingle with guests (and charm them with your wit and wile). And when it’s time to sit down (or stand as is often the case in our San Fran apartment), your meal is ready to be plated and served with little hassle. Another tip and host/hostess […]

December 15, 2009

The Wish List

It’s holiday time and it’s getting down to the wire for finishing your list and checking it twice. For those of you who are last minute shoppers, much like myself, I thought I would impart some gifting advice and help you navigate the world of food related presents that are easy on the wallet and require very little time to procure. Thoughtful and useful, these knick knacks and do dads are perfect for those seeking to become more comfortable in their kitchen and more adventurous in their cooking. And if none of these suggestions strike a chord with your inner […]

December 14, 2009

The Joy of (other people) Cooking

This weekend I attended 3 tree trimmings, two Chanukah parties, a birthday dinner, and an engagement lunch. It was a whole lot of season’s eatings. And throughout this whirlwind of celebrations, I not only enjoyed the company of my loved ones, but I was treated to some very special no sodium cooking as well. First, the cupcakes. Sprinkles cupcakes have slowly crept up the coast from LA to the mouths of hungry, sweet toothed San Franciscans. I’ve had nibbles of the haute muffins before, but due to the sodium content, I have never fully partaken in the decadent enjoyment of […]

December 3, 2009

Stone Fruit Supper

I venture beyond the city for three main reasons: 1) to swim at the BAC, 2) to eat Shabu Shabu, and 3) to take cooking classes at Whole Foods in San Mateo. check out how good Becky looks behind that beautiful counter For those of you who are just venturing into no-sodium cooking, or let’s face it, cooking in general, these classes are a real deal and a steal. Most cooking classes in San Francisco are twice the price or higher. At $35 a pop, you end up: Eating a ton of fresh food. The classes are in the store, […]

November 24, 2009

On the Road Again

Off again on another whirlwind adventure! I decided to make the most out of my Thanksgiving holiday on the east coast and head out a week early to visit my ladies who left the warmth of sunny California for the fall chill of Boston, DC, NYC and beyond. And I have to admit, although I am a Californian to the core, the holiday spirit combined with the comfort of bundling up has my heart singing show tunes. Three plane rides, a train, and endless house visits along the way, I knew I needed to prepare a slightly larger-than-usual snack pack […]

November 12, 2009

This Spud's for You

I think potatoes are (a) utterly delicious and (b) really confusing to spell. I like them fried, baked, sliced, in soups and stews … but mostly, I like them fried. At first, I thought it would be impossible to find low sodium or sodium free versions of these beloved potato products and I took to making my own sweet potato fries at home (which, if I say so myself, was not a bad substitute…recipe below). But I had completely underestimated the possibilities of no sodium/low sodium snacking and in almost 6 years of searching for a salt free French fry […]

September 20, 2009

Project Bacon

I just bought $15 worth of pork belly from the amazing butchers at Prather Ranch Meat Co. housed in the SF Ferry Building. While it might be easier to braise large chunks of the monster or dice and fry the fatty parcels – I’m going whole hog on this project and spending the next five days curing my very own, sodium-free bacon. With little bit of time, creativity, and advice from meat professionals, it is possible to open culinary doors that seemed permanently closed. After a brief chat with my bacon Sensei, we devised a salt-free curing plan as follows: […]

August 3, 2009

Happy Trails

I’ve been a bit behind on my blogging due to some recent travels (WEDDING SEASON!) and am off again early this week for more fun on trains, planes, and automobiles. However, the time I have spent on the road reminded me that it is high time to write on one of the more challenging low sodium subjects: eating well while on the go When traveling, everyone must forgo their fresh, healthy food options for fast(er) food. And for those of us trying to maintain a strict diet (health required or otherwise), it seems almost impossible to stay within our limits. […]

July 20, 2009

Grocery Store Detective

I’ve been hitting the street and doing some undercover shopping (all in the name of sodium safety) to discover the latest no-sodium, time-saving products. For a long time, no-sodium sauces and breads were only available on the world wide web or by making them by hand, at home. Now, they are showing up on the grocery store shelves in droves and are making no-sodium cooking and snacking even easier. So here is the beat on my latest discoveries that will be sure to become shopping list staples. FOUND Multiple brands of no salt tomato sauces (0-15mg per serving) LOCATION Consistently […]

April 20, 2009

Blog Love and Bready Goods

Before I launch into a much-belated and long-awaited blog post, I wanted to give a quick shout out to Marcia (sounds like “Garcia”) Gagliardi, San Francisco’s very own Tablehopper. This online maven and frisco foodie always has the skinny on the best bites and dining deals in town. Her e-column is a weekly crash course on the hottest restaurant news in our corner of the world and by regularly perusing her witty and informative musings, you will impress your friends and become the go-to for recommendations. Why the accoclades? Marcia is not only a great food reporter but an awesome […]

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