Using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut bacon into small pieces. Slice sausage into ½” rounds. Cook bacon and sausage in a skillet over medium heat until the sausage is brown and bacon is crispy, 20-25 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from pan, leaving drippings, and set aside.
Slice peppers and onion. Add to pan and cook until peppers are tender and onions are translucent 10-12 minutes. Stir in garlic, cajun seasoning and black pepper.
Coarsely chop cabbage into 1” squares. Add to the pan with peppers and onions. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. If cabbage does not fit in the pan, cover the pan and allow the cabbage to cook down before adding more cabbage.
Add sausage and bacon. Cover and cook until cabbage is tender.
6 Foods That Were The Spawn Of Satan…Until They Weren’t
When was the last time you heard that a particular food was bad for you? Maybe it was today. Maybe it was yesterday. Maybe you can’t open your computer or turn on your TV without hearing about the latest culinary evil that’s out to ruin your health.
Now ask yourself when was the last time you were told that a favorite nosh was certain death only to find out they were wrong? How many times can you remember that happening?
For your entertainment, I’d like to share with you a few foods that were considered the spawn of satan…until they weren’t…
The Skinny On Fats
The Skinny On Fats
It seems that nothing has gotten a worse rap than fat and cholesterol. Way back in the 1970s, the consensus began to take hold that eating fat caused fat to build up in the body and eating foods with cholesterol caused cholesterol to build up in the arteries. This was followed by a push to eat more sugar as a way to promote weight loss and energy.
This theory was eventually (and thankfully) disproved before the following 3 foods were forced to take a permanent dirt nap.
Eggs: Canadian researchers did a study of 1,231 patients to measure the linear increase in arterial plaque for people over 40. The study focused on which was worse: smoking (measured in pack-years) or consuming egg yolk (measured in yolk-years). It was concluded that eating one egg yolk per day was as risky as smoking 5 cigarettes
It turns out that it’s saturated fat not the cholesterol in eggs that raises “bad” cholesterol (I’m looking at you, breakfast sausage). Eggs are a healthy source of high-quality protein, healthy fats as well as necessary vitamins and minerals.
Butter: The popularity of butter took a plummet back in the 1980s due to claims that cholesterol and saturated fat lead to coronary heart disease. Turns out the manmade trans fats found in margarine were worse.
While manufacturers have moved away from using trans fats in margarines, butter has come surging back as the underdog of the dinner table. The argument now rages as to whether we should be using synthetically produced margarine or butter, a natural food that (unquestionably) tastes better. The scientific community now agrees that both can be part of a healthy diet if used sparingly.
Welcome home butter. I’ve missed you.
Nuts were once considered to be unhealthy due to their high-fat content. It’s now accepted that nuts are a nutrient-dense food that actually lowers the risk of disease by decreasing cholesterol, insulin resistance and blood vessel dysfunction.
Stop The Ride, I Want To Get Off
Stop The Ride, I Want To Get Off
They were good…they were bad…they were good again…occasionally all at the same time!
Cranberries were first cultivated for commercial sale in 1816 in New England. Because of their growing season, which extends into November, these tart little berries became a favored Thanksgiving treat and enjoyed brisk sales until November 1959 when it was discovered that some cranberry samples tested positive for an herbicide that was thought to cause cancer.
Despite the fact that cranberries were quickly cleared of any health hazards, sales struggled for the next several years. This was devastating for an industry that made the vast bulk of its profit over the winter holiday season. The answer to their prayers came in the early 1960s when Ocean Spray’s new CEO came up with a plan: Mix cranberry juice with sugar water and sell it year-round as “Cranberry Juice Cocktail”. It was an instant hit and now both the juice and the cranberry itself are back in the good graces of John Q. Public. And, while we’re on the subject, check out my recipe for Fresh Whole Cranberry Sauce!
Bananas have a rollercoaster history worthy of a soap opera. They may have been cultivated as early as 1000 B.C. and became a popular treat shipped to different parts of the world beginning in the 7th century. By the 1700s, boats were reluctant to ship bananas due to superstitions that they caused the boats to sink and jinxed fish hauls.
Somewhere towards the end of World War One, United Fruit (who imported bananas) began to tote the delightful yellow fruit as a cure for childhood celiac disease while, at virtually the same time, others referred to them as “a cause of indigestion and a treacherous dietary component”. Researchers immediately came to the banana’s defense, calling them “a wholesome, palatable and nutritious article of food”.
For years, doctors warned that drinking coffee led to a plethora of health risks: It could increase the risk of heart disease, stunt growth, cause stomach ulcers and heartburn, among other things. The problem? They didn’t factor in other risks like smoking, alcohol consumption, height, weight, diet, gender, ethnicity and blood pressure. A new study, done in 2019, did not endorse drinking coffee but it did debunk the previous studies.
The bad news? Caffeine is still addictive and withdrawal symptoms may cause headaches. It can interrupt sleep patterns and momentarily raise blood pressure. Considering my two-cups-a-day-habit, I say it’s worth the trade-off!
Maybe The Problem With Food Is Food Itself
Maybe The Problem With Food Is Food Itself
Nutraceuticals and fortified foods walk a thin line between food and medicine. Ever since we got it into our heads that certain foods are “good” for us, society has been on a mission to consume more of these foods, whether it be by eating copious amounts of a single food or taking it in pill form.
This article from 1896 gleefully predicts a future where it’s not necessary to eat food at all, instead a person would simply take a pill to fulfill their daily nutritional needs.
The author admits these pills won’t taste as good as real food but seems excited at the prospect of being able to give up dinner parties and the accompanying “symposia” that goes with it. No, you’re right…conversation is overrated. And let’s not forget that “the pleasures of the table have ages on end been absorbing too much of the time and inclination of man and woman.”
Thankfully, this dire prediction hasn’t come to pass yet…and let’s hope it never does! For more of my thoughts on nutraceuticals, check out this article.
Just One Word: Ugh
Just One Word: Ugh
What are we supposed to eat now? Who are we supposed to believe? What’s the deal?!?
How about this word: Context.
Many studies are undertaken to prove or disprove a particular theory and are often laser-focused to the point of silliness. At least one of those coffee studies includes people who drink up to 25 cups of coffee daily. And one discussion of how bananas rot our teeth included a baby whose parents allowed him to suck on bananas in lieu of a pacifier. Most of us don’t do either of those things so, really, do those studies even apply to us?
Here’s another word: Variety.
The most reasonable and healthy thing to do is eat a variety of different foods. How many cranberries do you really need? And eating an entire jar of almonds will only ensure you don’t have any room to consume the other nutrients that are necessary for our bodies to function. While healthy, one cannot live on almonds alone.
Here’s my idea: Look at all those studies with a critical eye and decide if they really apply to you. Then go ahead and eat a variety of healthy foods to ensure that you have the right fuel mix to keep your engine running.
What’s your take on the subject? Let me know in the comments below!
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Yield: 2 cups
Serving size: ¼ cup, 175 calories per serving
Hack: Pesto can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or frozen for 12 months. I recommend freezing in ice cube trays and then removing portions to a freezer-safe container so you can thaw just the amount you need.
Hack: Pine nuts can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 months or in the freezer for 6 months.
Hack: Chop leftover green onions and freeze in a sealable freezer bag or container for future use.
Cut cherry tomatoes into bite-sized pieces (halves or quarters depending on size). Chop basil.
Combine tomatoes, basil, garlic, balsamic reduction, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
6 servings, 10 calories per serving
Hack: Although bruschetta is known as an appetizer served on toasted bread, it’s also tasty when tossed with pasta (including this Bruschetta Chicken Pasta), over mashed or baked potatoes, with rice or served with eggs!
Hack: Bruschetta can be frozen for up to 8 months. While the thawed product will differ in texture from the fresh product, it will retain its flavor and is best used in cooked dishes.
Cover chickpeas with 2 cups of water and allow to soak for 6 – 12 hours. Drain and rinse.
Add 2 cups of water and chickpeas to a saucepan. Turn heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 90 minutes or until tender, checking occasionally to ensure there is enough water to keep chickpeas from scorching.
Drain any excess water and set chickpeas aside to cool.
While the chickpeas are cooking, preheat the oven to 400℉.
Cut greens off beet, leaving 1” of the stem. Wash thoroughly, brush with olive oil and wrap in aluminum foil. Roast until tender, 50-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Peel the beet and cut it into cubes.
Combine chickpeas, beets, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. Pulse until smooth, adding additional olive oil as needed to achieve desired consistency. This step can also be done in batches using a blender.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 4 months.
8 servings, 125 calories per serving
Hack: Freeze in serving-sized portions for a great and easy snack. Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before eating.
Hack: If thawed hummus is grainy or lumpy after thawing, give it a quick spin in the blender or mini processor to smooth things out.
1¼ lb live soft shell Maine lobster (½ cup cooked lobster meat)
2 tbsp cup mayonnaise
½ tsp lemon juice
½ tsp dried chives
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup shredded lettuce
1 ciabatta roll
Bring 3 quarts of water to a full boil on the stovetop. Add lobster headfirst into pot and boil, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the lobster from the pot and allow it to cool.
Remove lobster meat from the shell (Need help? Click here. I only remove meat from the claws and tail, stopping at step 8.) Chop meat into small pieces and place in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice, chives, salt and pepper. Add to lobster meat and stir to combine.
Slice ciabatta roll and add lettuce. Top lettuce with lobster meat and serve immediately.
1 serving, 375 calories
Hack: Lobster can be cooked in advance and refrigerated in its shell for up to 2 days or tightly wrapped and frozen for 3 months.
Hack: Shelled lobster meat can be refrigerated for up to 4 days (remember to subtract any days it was refrigerated in its shell!) or tightly wrapped and frozen for up to 3 months.
Wash potato and peel (if desired). Cut into ½” strips. Set aside.
Place butter in a microwave-safe bowl big enough to accommodate potato strips. Melt butter in the microwave. Mix in onion powder, garlic powder and salt.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place potato strips in a bowl and toss with butter. Lay in a single layer on the baking sheet.
Bake in the oven to desired crispness, 20-30 minutes, turning once.
Serve immediately.
2 servings, 250 calories per serving
Hack: To cook in an air fryer, preheat to 380℉. Spread fries out in a single layer and air fry for 12-15 minutes or until brown, flipping once.
If your air fryer is equipped with a rotisserie basket, cook at 325℉ for 10 minutes. Turn temp up to 400℉ and rotate basket for 18-20 minutes or until browned.
Heat butter and sesame oil in a pan. Add onion and carrot and saute for 3 minutes. Add rice and pine nuts. Continue to saute for 3-5 minutes until onions and carrots are softened.
Add garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, parsley, thyme and salt. Saute for one minute.
Place rice mixture, chicken broth and bay leaf in a 2-quart casserole. Cover and bake for 18 minutes or until no liquid remains in the bottom of the dish.
Allow to stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove bay leaf and fluff rice before serving.
4 servings, 234 calories per serving
Hack: Place serving size portioned leftovers into freezer bags. Roll to squeeze the air out of the freezer bag, freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and microwave or heat on the stove.
Hack: Pine nuts can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 months or in the freezer for 6 months.
Remove the outer skins of garlic, leaving only the skin that covers the cloves.
Cut ¼“ off the top of the garlic bulb so that all the cloves are exposed. Set upright on aluminum foil. Drizzle oil over the bulb, making sure that the tops of all the cloves have been covered. Seal tin foil over the bulb.
Bake for 40-60 minutes, until the bulb is soft. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Remove the bulb from the foil, turn it upside down and gently squeeze garlic from the skins into a small bowl.
Mix in cream cheese, salt, pepper and spices.
Allow to rest for at least one hour while flavors blend. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Serving size: 2 tbsp, 105 calories per serving
Hack: For a more dip-like texture, substitute ½ of the cream cheese for sour cream
