Paleo Diet: Should You Eat Like a Caveman?
The Paleo diet fascinates me because of its origins. “Eat like a caveman” is the mantra of the proponents. What does this entail? I don’t know; I wasn’t there, but if I were, I would be healthier according to Paleo diet enthusiasts. The Paleolithic Era Stone...
How To Dine Italian and Still Be Gluten-Free
Throughout my life, I am sure I ate more gluten than is healthy. The words "gluten-free" were not in my vocabulary. I remember those peanut butter and Fluff sandwiches every day of my college years. Some Marshmallow Fluff is probably still sticking to my ribs. I had...
3 Simple Escarole Dishes that Make You Want More
Escarole meals were frequent in Dot’s kitchen. Mom took advantage of its versatility to create a variety of recipes. Personally, I love escarole. I cannot understand the often-utilized description of this green vegetable as “bitter”. I remember eating it many times in...
7 Best Appetizers That Will Make You a Superstar
Appetizers, antipasti in Italian, are appetizingly fun!! According to Webster's Dictionary, an appetizer is a small portion of food or drink to stimulate the appetite before a meal. This chef oftentimes serves for her guests only drinks and lots of tidbits to satisfy...
Refrigerate? 18 Foods You Should Not
Do you know there are certain foods that you should not refrigerate? I did not, so I stuck my nose in a book or two and found out some interesting information I want to share with you. Melon Do not refrigerate whole cantaloupes, watermelon and honey dew. I would not...
Wine: A Gift from the Gods to Sicily
When I introduce a bottle of wine to a party, my guests immediately begin to smile. It has an instant effect on the mood of the gathering. It also pairs well with food to enhance the enjoyment of the meal. As George Carlin once said, “What wine goes with Captain...
Garlic: Why Do We Love You?
Sicilians love garlic; I love garlic; the world loves it but WHY? You make our breath questionable. Sometimes you give us indigestion, but we simply adore you. And we should. The magic cloves add a distinct flavor to Sicilian cooking, but it also has medical uses. It...
Condiments: What Are They Doing To Us?
Condiments, what are they, how do we use them, and are they good for us? There are so many condiments and we use them carelessly, without thinking about the health consequences. I have been wondering about these topping for a long time, so I decided to do some...
Avocado Benefits: Love the Avocado
Avocado benefits have come to the dietary forefront lately. For all the days I have lived on this earth, I have not met an avocado until lately. Now that we have been introduced, I have not met an avocado I did not like. It is an amazing fruit low in carbohydrate,...
Lactose Free versus Dairy free
Dairy-free versus lactose-free, I never knew there was a difference, but there is. People allergic to lactose are lactose intolerant. Those allergic to the proteins in milk (casein and whey) are allergic to dairy. It is essential to understand how lactose and dairy...
Intermittent Fasting: Goodbye Fat – Hello Healthy
Intermittent fasting is a recent unique diet strategy. Dieters have had much success with this method. According to professionals, this lifestyle can cause weight loss, improved metabolic health, and even expanded life. I bet you heard the word “fast” and your eyes...
Zucchini: 4 Creative Ways to Make It
Sicilians have never met a zucchini they did not like. It is a magical vegetable. As a matter of fact, growing it is the best way to get children excited about gardening because this veggie grows so quickly. Before you know it, the flowers pop out and, here comes a...
Best Coffee Maker for a Single Person for the Money
I thought since I was on the subject of coffee, I would write a review about the best coffee makers for single people. I now have a Keurig single cup coffee system and have used it for a couple of weeks now. If you need a coffee maker or if you would like to upgrade,...
Healing Foods : Eat Your Way to a Happy Body
I have fond memories of my nana working in her garden and chewing on herbs, mostly mint and parsley. I never understood why, but as an adult, I am pretty sure that she was trying to aid digestion. Herbs are healing foods. She always doctored herself, never visited a...
Favorite Coffees for Every Palette
In this era of savory coffee, chances are you are not an instant coffee (God forbid) drinker. If you are, I apologize, but you will not be getting the best flavor in your morning java. Serious coffee drinkers select their favorite coffees conscientiously. Did you know...
3 Best Kitchen Knives for the Money
I love knives, in a good way. This chef is very picky about what cuts, chops, and dices in my kitchen. I have always been curious about what the professionals consider the best kitchen knives for the money. In this post, I am focusing on individual knives. Frankly, I...
A Mother’s Day Brunch: Make Your Mom Proud
A healthy brunch is my favorite way to spend Mother's Day. Actually, a day at Fenway Park with my daughter ranks higher, but I’m sure brunch is more relevant to you. (I miss my Red Sox.) This post includes a brief background of Mother's Day. It also includes the...
Food and Mood: Does Food Affect Emotions?
Food affects mood and your mood affects the food you choose. Have you ever been “down in the dumps” after splurging on cake and ice cream? Do you feel depressed after drinking too much alcohol? Are you suddenly elated after you eat chocolate? Worry not!!! Most likely...
Organic versus Natural: That Is the Question
I often wonder whether organic and natural are synonymous. With Mother’s Day approaching, my mind drifts to Dot cooking her famed baked rice. That recipe called for chicken broth and that took time to make because she made everything from scratch. Back then, I really...
Have an Apple: Fun and Easy Snacks and Desserts
I love an apple. So many years ago, I taught 5th graders, and the cliché " an apple for the teacher" was actually valid. Every now and then a student would leave one on my desk. Nostalgia aside, apples are my favorite fruit. Those who enjoy a tart flavor would love a...
Chocolate: 5 Reasons To Love It
I love chocolate but thin is in. Unfortunately, chocolate is my favorite food group. Like many of us, I must watch my weight. How can I possibly carry on my love affair with Godiva and Ghirardelli and not destroy my good diet intentions? This site contains affiliate...
Butter: Should We Love It or Leave It?
I remember the days when toast tasted sweet and buttery. Then butter substitutes like margarine arrived on the scene. I had to believe margarine was the answer to my butter health woes. After all, butter has saturated fats which is bad for heart health. What happened...
Is Sugar Bad for You? You Might Be Surprised
I smile when I think of the days of M & M's, Coca Cola, and other sweet treats I enjoyed as a child. One of my fondest memories was Mom making tea and serving Hostess Twinkies with it. That was a long time ago. Since then, the medical field has made strides in...
Cooking with Lemon for an Inspired Date Night Meal
In Sicily when spring is in the air, the fragrant lemon blossoms coax the Sicilians to prepare for cooking with lemon. Lemon season inspires not only yummy, but very healthy meals. This citrus brings out the flavor of many foods, for example, fish, lobster, chicken...
How To Add Flax to your Daily Routine
Once upon a time, I read somewhere that ingesting flax every day is a healthy habit. This one I needed to research. If I am going to put something into my body, I need to know the facts. This is what I discovered about this very important food. Flax is a plant-based...
10 Unexpected Sources of Protein
s Protein is such an important element of our daily intake; I worry that I am not getting enough protein because I am not crazy about meat. I decided to do some research on just which foods can supply me with the sources of protein I need each day. I found that women...
Schedule a Diet Cheat Day, No Regrets
Should dieters schedule a diet cheat day? Everyone seems to be on one sort of diet or another. It is so difficult to choose the correct diet and to remain faithful to it. As we try to slip into a new and healthier lifestyle, we feel deprived of the foods we love....
Like Soup? Introducing the Best “Comfort” Soups
Everyone loves soup, right? Many years ago, I would host Thanksgiving. It was my favorite tradition; and everyone was invited. I loved this annual feast and treasured the days of cooking that lead up to it. As you all know, the Sicilian in me went into gear, and I...