August 6, 2021
Published by Grace O

Take a Dip into These Aiolis from Around the World

An aioli is a French dipping sauce, a garlicky mayonnaise, that works wonderfully well whether you’re dipping French fries, steamed artichoke leaves, or shrimp. It can be spread on sandwiches or used as a thick salad dressing. It’s also quite versatile, able to take on a wide variety of spices to create an array of global dips and spreads. Here is my basic aioli recipe and quite a few global variations on the French theme. Basic French Aioli I use mayonnaise as my aioli base because it’s faster and easier than emulsifying the egg yolks with oil myself. Hellmann’s (a.k.a. […]
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May 10, 2021
Published by Grace O

Get Cultured! Fermented Foods for Aging Well

Fermented foods are the new “it” food today, even though fermentation is a centuries-old process that was around long before refrigeration. Over time, with all of the modern convenience foods available to us, home-made fermented foods lost their appeal.  But today’s rebirth of fermented foods makes good sense – they are powerfully good for us. In addition to the benefits of the food itself– for example, milk, soy beans or cabbage—the fermentation process creates lactobacillus that feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut, which in turn creates a natural balance of intestinal flora improving digestion, immune function, and absorption of […]
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April 12, 2021
Published by Grace O

The Great Warm Up: Fight Aging with Coffee and Tea

Cool weather has finally come to Southern California. The nights and early mornings can be quite chilly so what could be better than a warm drink? There’s something very comforting about settling in with a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea when it’s cool (or cold) outside. Did you know that both beverages offer a number of age-defying benefits? Plus the warm, steamy liquid is soothing if you have a cold because it can help open up nasal passages. Coffee and tea drinks are one of those indulgences that are good for you in so many ways! Let’s count […]
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March 29, 2021
Published by Grace O

Enjoy the Benefits and Pleasure of Pork with a World of Recipes

Pork has had to overcome a bit of a bad reputation. Remember the insult, ‘fat as a pig’? The fact is today’s pork has been bred to have 16 percent less fat and 27 percent less saturated fat than 30 years ago. Many cuts of pork, such as tenderloin, have less fat and calories than skinless chicken breasts. Pork is a source of high-quality lean protein and is an excellent source of important nutrients including thiamin, selenium, niacin, vitamin B-6 and phosphorus. It’s also a good source of zinc, riboflavin and potassium. Unprocessed pork is naturally low in sodium and […]
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March 1, 2021
Published by Grace O

Spices Are an Integral Part of Lebanese Cuisine

I met chef Mike Elmachtoub when someone recommended his catering company to me. I called Urban Crunch Meal Prep & Catering and ordered some pistachio-crusted salmon and filet mignon for my staff. The food was well received, so I began to order more and more from Urban Crunch. Chef and owner Mike and I got to talking about his upbringing in Lebanon and how his father owned multiple restaurants all over the world. Mike knew he wanted to be in the restaurant business himself, so he studied culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena. (He’s lived in the U.S. […]
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