If you have never heard of posole, you are in for a seriously delicious treat. Posole is the same as hominy, kernels of corn that have been soaked in limewater, then hulled and dried. These are whole, not like the ones that are crushed for making grits. You can get some extraordinarily good posole from Rancho Gordo in Napa, or from a Mexican grocery, or from most anywhere that beans, nuts, seeds and grains are sold in bulk. Americans eat loads of grain, including corn, but not like this. Posole is the real deal. Continue reading
Category Archives: Grains
Variety is the Spice of Life
How many times have you asked yourself or someone else: “I wonder which nut is the BEST?” “Is it really true that the BEST oil is olive oil?” “I heard that bananas are the BEST for potassium.” Is it true? Continue reading
Breakfast Candy
Let’s talk about breakfast cereals, shall we? Developed by a couple of enterprising health spa owners from Battle Creek, Michigan, they originally provided an economical use for the crumbs that fell to the bottom of the bread ovens. The word “cereal,” which simply means grain, comes from Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture. Breakfast cereal? That’s a marketing term. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Apple-Walnut Oatmeal
In view of the fact that I’ve been asked yet again to repost this recipe, and since it’s autumn (the most glorious autumn I can remember in at least a few years) I am reposting this recipe for Apple-Walnut Oatmeal. You will be pleased to note that I adjusted the proportions so you can make enough for two. Continue reading
Winner by a Mile
Last year, an article entitled “Can We Say What Diet is Best for Health?” was published in the scientific literature, and James Hamblin wrote a story about it for the Atlantic. He called it “Science Compared Every Diet, and the Winner is Real Food.” You know, I would have edited out the word “Real” and then called it, simply, “Food.” The original article was written by David Katz and Stephanie Meller, of Yale School of Public Health. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Dr. Sukol’s Simply Saucy Spicy Peanut Sauce
A couple of weeks ago, I pulled a mostly empty jar of creamy peanut butter (organic and natural) out of the refrigerator. I looked at it upside down and sideways. I could almost hear it begging me to turn it into something snazzy. In a very lucky moment of inspiration, here’s what the doctor (me) ordered: Continue reading
Breakfasts for Kids and Their Loving Parents
I was talking with a dear friend who teaches in the younger grades at a small school north of Detroit. “The kids are bouncing off the walls by 9:30,” my friend says, and I think to myself that maybe their blood sugars are starting to fall. Nine-thirty in the morning is pretty early. He says that a snack often helps. Yup — it very well may be their blood sugars. Continue reading
Bob 1 vs. the General 0
Do you eat food? Are you sure? Did you eat “breakfast cereal” this morning? Most “breakfast cereals” aren’t food, which puts them in the “entertainment” category. There are lots of ways to tell, but if the ingredient list alone doesn’t convince, you can just take a look at the highly-designed box. A big part of the experience of eating a bowl of cereal is having your face glued so closely to the captivating box that you have barely any awareness of the stuff you’re shoveling into your mouth. This, as I’ve said on many occasions, is not a good sign. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Spring Greens & Grains
This is one of those recipes that gives you a chance to feature whatever grain you feel like eating today, whatever greens are in season, and whatever other vegetables you are in the mood to sautè. Take a deep breath, saunter through the kitchen to see what’s there, and then gather your goodies and start to chop. If you get everything ready early in the day, you can throw this together pretty quickly. And if you make the grains ahead of time, you’ll feel like a real pro when everything comes together in just minutes! Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Deep-Dish Greens with a Millet-Amaranth Crust
Looking for something to do with those collards?! Still trying to figure out what to do with that millet you bought in a weak moment a few months ago already? This is what you’ve been waiting for! What I love most about this beautiful recipe is the unusual and complementary pairing of greens and grains to highlight their different tastes and textures. Once you get the hang of it, you may even want to try it with other grains, like polenta (corn) or brown rice. Don’t skimp on the stock — water just doesn’t give it as much flavor. Continue reading