Deep frying occurs when the fat in a pot or pan completely envelops the food. You may have read tips on deep frying that advise against cooking with extra virgin olive oil. The advice is that the smoke point is too low. But that’s not so, says California Olive Ranch, producers of fine EVOO in […]

Diet Tips

[1] Nepalese potato salad uses a yogurt binder and a number of South Asian spices (photo © Idaho Potato Commission). [2] Fingerling potatoes (photo © The Roasted Root, which used them to make these delicious Rosemary Roasted Fingerlings).   Nepalese potato salad? What’s that? Potatoes, like chicken, provide a neutral canvas that can showcase the […]

Diet Tips

Mary’s Gone Crackers is a brilliantly-crafted line. Wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, non-GMO, with no hydrogenated oils or trans-fats: These delicious crackers are the poster food for everything that is trending in specialty food today. Yet, the brand dates to 1994, when Mary Waldner discovered that she and her son were allergic to gluten, a protein […]

Diet Tips

[1] Canned baked beans can’t compare to the homemade version (recipe and photo © DeLallo). [2] In New England and elsewhere in the U.S., beans were baked in a dedicated beanpot (photo © Five Rings | Wikipedia).   Sorry, Bush’s, but commercial baked beans are a sorry lot. They should be called “candied beans” for […]

Diet Tips

If you’re going to kick back this weekend with friends and some lovely libations, or have a group over for brunch, you may need a snack idea. Here it is: DIY Crostini. The crunchy little toasts are great with wine or beer, and a fun food when people add their own toppings. Set out all […]

Diet Tips

[1] Green goddess: a crudité plate of green lettuces (photo © Empellon | NYC [2] California-grown Castelfranco chicory (photo © Good Eggs). [3] Variegated radicchio, radicchio variegato di castelfranco IGP. IGP is an acronym for indicazione geografica protetta, meaning it can only be grown in a specified region—In this case, the Castelfranco Veneto region of […]

Diet Tips

[1] A bowl of rambutans, with some pieces peeled to reveal the white fruit inside (photo © HLB Specialties). [2] Rambutans ripening on the tree. The “haze” around the red fruits are green “hairs,” which have not yet ripened to red (photo © Bonayon). [3] A cluster of rambutans cut from the tree. They grow […]

Diet Tips