Blog

August 2016

Your Essential Pantry

Submitted by Christina on August 23, 2016 - 12:12pm

I must get asked these questions ten times a day: How do I set up a pantry to create health and wellness? What should I include, besides the basics to enhance the nutritive value of the foods I cook?

 

Each time I hear these or the million other variations on the topic of setting up a pantry, I think there’s a lot of work to do in order to help people make better choices…and to have access to the kinds of ingredients that will make their food delicious and nutrient-dense.

 

Love the Skin You're In, Baby!

Submitted by Christina on August 23, 2016 - 10:02am

Women spend a staggering $426 billion on beauty products each year:  shampoo, conditioner, body wash, dry shampoo, face wash, facial scrubs, tea tree oil, shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, whitening toothpastes, serums, body lotion, face lotion, primers and toners.

 

When it comes to beauty and appearance maintenance, it can feel like there’s no limit to how much we will spend. There’s always a new miracle product that promises us clear skin and eternal youth.

 

This Old Yankee Had a Cutting Board

Submitted by Christina on August 22, 2016 - 9:17am

It was a blazing hot summer day and I was about to do a cooking demo for the Newport Mansions Food and Wine Festival.

 

A man with sparkling eyes and a baseball cap walked slowly toward me. Slowly because he was seriously encumbered by the weight of an enormous cutting board on his hip that threw his balance completely off.

 

Actually, This Is the Sharpest Knife in the Drawer!

Submitted by Christina on August 22, 2016 - 8:21am

I love my knife. There; I said it in my outside voice. I love my knife the way women love their shoes…with all my heart.

 

The affair began about 20 years ago when Robert gave me a Kyocera KyoTop ceraminc knife for Christmas. At first, I was skeptical. This knife was light as a feather. Surely, it couldn’t be serious. By the end of Christmas Day’s cooking, you had to pry it from my hand so I would stop slicing and dicing.

 

There's a New Kid in Town

Submitted by Christina on August 9, 2016 - 9:40am

Camelina oil was brought to my attention a couple of years ago when I was traveling around Italy. It seems some of my best ideas, luck, products, people, experiences, food and loves come when I am traveling around Italy.

 

But I digress.

 

We were minding our own business in Tuscany when I received an email from a producer of camelina oil asking me if I had ever heard of it.

 

“Cam-e-who oil?” I know you’re likely thinking the same thing.

 

The Power of Sublime Porcini

Submitted by Christina on August 2, 2016 - 12:08pm

There are some things that you just can’t live without…great

Eating with the Seasons: Summer

Submitted by Christina on August 1, 2016 - 10:00am

Just to take us back to the dreamy, leisurely days of summer...yum!

Summer

Eating with the Seasons: Spring

Submitted by Christina on August 1, 2016 - 9:57am

I know it's not always spring (we can only wish...), but it's important to discover seasonal foods so you know what to eat as the seasons change.

Spring

My Dolce Vita

Submitted by Christina on August 1, 2016 - 7:48am

A month at both work and play in Italy is pretty sweet.

 

Now I’m back at home, looking out my kitchen window over my little city garden, my fig tree, heavy with fruit, dreaming of my weeks in Italy and missing that slower, more natural (for me) lifestyle.

 

So I have decided to share memories of my little adventure with friends and loved ones and post pics and recipes from our month living the sweet life.