It’s summertime, and some of us are still in self-quarantine. On a happy note, this is a wonderful opportunity to cook and nurture our bodies and our souls. Life is good, and staying well is good. I hope our lives return to a new normal that we can appreciate soon. The Italians are amused by […]
29
Jul
Jul
Fermentation and canning are both traditional methods of preserving food, but there are important differences to consider. It’s summertime, folks, and our gardens are producing a bounty of vegetables! But what to do with the surplus of tomatoes, zucchini, string beans, radishes, cabbage, and all the other gorgeous produce that remains after cooking, eating, baking, […]
24
Jul
Jul
We recently celebrated my third child’s first birthday and those who know me know I go all out on my kids’ birthdays. Well, the first is extra special, and the most important part to me is the cake. I’m an amateur baker and love making specialty cakes! My oldest had a penguin cake, my son […]
23
Jul
Jul
What is a weed anyway? A weed is defined as “a valueless plant growing wild.” (I am not sure that any plant is “valueless,” but that may be a conversation for another time.) Value aside, weeds are generally thought of as undesirable plants. That means they often happen to be in the wrong place, such […]
21
Jul
Jul
When I receive more than three emails from readers on the same subject—especially when they’re requesting recipes that go beyond mac and cheese or beans and rice and want more exotic fare—my interest is piqued. Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of interest in vegetarian casseroles. It crossed my mind recently that casseroles have lost […]
Tips from the Traditional Cook
The Colors in Your Life:
How Different Colors Affect Your Mood and Health
16
Jul
Jul
One the more interesting things about our humanness is our preference for this color or that color. In some cases this is such an absolute must that we won’t wear a gift if it’s not the right color. For some, buying a car is as big of a deal as buying a home because they […]
15
Jul
Jul
Although I’m a huge proponent of adopting dogs and cats from shelters or animal rescues, I still find that watching the birth of a litter of puppies is an amazing experience. When I was a little girl, my parents raised German shepherd puppies. I can still remember the smell of their puppy breath, the sounds […]
14
Jul
Jul
Most of us perform nearly all of our daily tasks with one particular hand, whether it’s eating, turning a doorknob, or brushing our teeth. This is called hand dominance, and it’s established when we’re quite young. As toddlers (2½–3 years old), we start showing a preference for what will become our dominant hand. By focusing […]
13
Jul
Jul
Many of us are angry and frustrated at the uncertainty, fear, and vulnerability we feel—not just from having a new virus introduced into our environment but from the sense that we are being “handled.” That we might be mistaken as weak and willing to give up our self-governance, our autonomy, and authority over our health […]
08
Jul
Jul
It’s been ages since I’ve even thought of making Christmas breads. But now, with our world turned upside down, many of us have been making our own bread—so I thought, why not? These aromatic and spicy loaves are simple to make. Although it’s a yeast dough, the process is still uncomplicated, and your dough hook […]
07
Jul
Jul
Confession time. I’m not much of a yogi. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve participated in a few yoga classes and felt great afterwards. I just haven’t made it a priority in my life. I’m more inclined to head outside for a walk or throw some punches at our kickboxing bag. However, there is one yoga pose […]
Tips from the Traditional Cook
Your Spine, Your Emotions:
Why Emotions Have Everything to Do with Your Spine
02
Jul
Jul
It is unfortunate that the average person knows very little about the intricate makeup of the spinal column and the vertebra. But if you incur a spinal injury, it can impact your health in many ways. Paralysis, numbness, and severe pain are just the tip of iceberg. Oh, and you can even die or be […]
01
Jul
Jul
Music has been known to have positive psychological effects. At German Neuroscience Center in Dubai, a leading neurology center, we make sure to implement different techniques and strategies that help our patients cope with mental health illnesses. A 2016 study found that music can boost your mood and well-being even as it reduces stress levels. […]
30
Jun
Jun
Let’s not sugarcoat things here, folks. The last three-plus months have put many of us on edge. The lockdown. Unemployment. Living in fear of a dry cough, fever, or shortness of breath. While little pieces of our routines are coming back into play, COVID-19 has changed the way we function on a daily basis. With […]
25
Jun
Jun
When it comes to leftovers, it often seems that the husbands rather than the children don’t want to eat yesterday’s meal. (But as I’m fond of saying, this is the meat and potatoes of another post.) My dear readers, perhaps you’re old enough to remember that ladies’ luncheons in the 1960s always served chicken divan. […]
24
Jun
Jun
I’m a firm believer in offering fresh foods to our pets, yet a number of things we humans eat can be harmful, toxic, or even deadly to our dogs and cats. Unfortunately, the modern American diet is full of unhealthy, processed, and refined foods. And it only makes sense that what is unhealthy for us […]
Tips from the Traditional Cook
Varicose Veins and Hemorrhoid Hassles:
How to Naturally End the Annoyance
18
Jun
Jun
As a semiretired health practitioner, I was recently able to give one of my close friends the name of a symptom-relieving supplement that could ease the discomfort of her annoying varicose veins—a condition that started after the birth of her third child and got worse with each consecutive pregnancy. (While my friend was grateful for […]
17
Jun
Jun
I will be the first to admit it. Before this pandemic, I hadn’t made a meatloaf in years. Perhaps I think of this dish now because I long for the comfort food of my youth and the memories that surround it. I used to love a good meatloaf for an evening dinner, along with mashed […]
12
Jun
Jun
This may not be the blog post you would expect. My journey, perhaps like yours, has been about more than refining the food and supplements I take to support my immune system. My journey has been one of discovery. I’ve come to see how out of balance I have been, how much I need a […]
09
Jun
Jun
When something comes up in my world, I rarely think, Okay, so this is happening now. Let’s see what happens next. Nope, I want to know more. I want to have an idea of what to expect and try to outsmart it, if only a little bit. Of course, many things in life cannot be […]