Ease Into Fall Cooking

The temps may not be as hot as they once were. The days are starting to get shorter. Autumn is coming and it's time to ease into cooler weather cooking. What does that mean? Adding different ingredients and thinking about more complex cooking.

One thing to do is take advantage of the harvests out now. Tomatoes plants are still yielding an amazing amount.It's a great time to make sauce and freeze it. You can also use herbs from the garden, such as oregano and rosemary as well. Tomatoes can also be turned into salsas and chili too and these can be frozen for later.If you want to be more adventurous try making ketchup. Many are put off by the idea of making  a condiment in their kitchens but it's pretty easy. It can be done in a slow cooker and you could easily have a bowl of ketchup for dinner that same day. Also take advantage of other harvests such as eggplants and onions. Again late summer and early fall is the perfect time for ratatouille, the mix of those veggies plus tomatoes. It has a fresh summery taste yet warming on nippy nights when the temps drop. Have it with warmed, sliced French bread and olive oil. Eggplant is also good sliced , breaded and air fried . You could slice it into sticks for a different and fun lunch or dinner.

Cooler days mean more elaborate yet still fun meals. Think tacos with different fillings. You can still have barbecued beef but shred it and use it as the main filling. The same with barbecued chicken. You can also grill salmon or tilapia for a different variation.A vegetarian option would be mashed kidney beans topped with  shredded cabbage instead of lettuce or even broken cauliflower or broccoli florets. This is nice way of using up the first of the fall harvests.Hamburgers can still be made but why not turn them into Salisbury steaks with gravy? They can be served on toast or with a side of homemade mashed potatoes.Ground beef or even vegan beef crumbles can also be turned into the Szechuan classic Ants Climbing A Tree. This is an exciting combo of cellophane noodles cooked with beef and soy sauce, zinged up with scallions. Kids will love this variation of hamburger and a fresh take on takeout food. It's also a time to start those sheet pan dinners. You can follow recipes or make up some combo of meat and veggies or just veggies for dinner. Try chicken with potatoes and sliced Brussels sprouts or  salmon with bok choy and green beans.

Ease into fall cooking with fun dishes that are warming and delicious. You can use the last of the summer harvest for ingredient as well as the first of the autumn ones. It's time for some serious cooking!

Inclusion Dinners

One of the best aspects about kids starting school, is that their world opens up, They get to meet classmates from all sorts pf backgrounds. Even better is when the classmates expand not just your little one's world but yours as well. What better way to do this than throwing an inclusion dinner , featuring the best of of everyone's backgrounds.

Kids will always want their best friends over for lunch or dinner, especially the last.What better way to show your family recipes and traditions. It gives the younger ones as well as their older siblings an open dialog about differences and why our country is proudly called the melting pot.They can discuss their heritage and the different dishes their families make.An excellent idea is expanding the invite to the friend's parents and extended families.Keep in mind dietary restrictions and customs. If the family wants to bring one of their dishes ,let them.It's also a good time for a recipe swap, especially if what you'v served is a hit. Be open to the friend's mother asking questions about cooking and the ingredients. The family may not be familiar with some dishes and curious on how to flavor them. Bring out the spice bottles and let them try the spices you've used. A nice gesture is gifting them with  the spices used in cooking or baking.The friend's family will probably reciprocate with a thank you dinner .

What can you serve? Whatever represents your family's heritage.Keep in mind  that most foods considered US born and created actually came from other places.Also keep in mind if all their family have different beliefs. The kid may want to try a Sloppy Joe or chicken nuggets, however his or her folks may be vegetarian. If that's the case then try Gardein or Morningstar Farms meat free products. Both companies have a large variety of veggie burgers, soy hot dogs, meat crumbles and chicken nuggets.Another idea is incorporating some of the ingredients from their dishes into yours. For example bok choy can be used in salads Garam masala , a staple in Indian cooking can be used in fried chicken batter for a fun and spicy twist.Caribbean spices are not just for jerky or callaloo. Add a teaspoon of it in meat loaf or hamburgers. The idea of incorporating flavors also extends to dessert. Add rose water , usually used in Indian , Greek and Middle Eastern desserts to vanilla pudding or vanilla ice cream.

Tolerance of others begins at home.A meal with a classmate can teach you and your children about inclusion and acceptance. That's the best lesson ever..

The Humidity Diet

The humidity this time of year can be debilitating.It can leave you weak and loggy, ready to take a day long  nap instead of enjoying a summery day. Changing your diet can help tremendously .Doing such can help get you through these tropical times.

Ice cream would naturally be considered a treat when the temps reach the nineties.Yet it's one of the worst foods to have. Any sugar or cow's milk should be avoided.If you want something cold and refreshing think Italian ice,preferably the sugar free ones. If not , then just ice  cold bottled water with a squeeze of lemon or lime can do the trick to refresh. Oily and fried foods are another taboo. It may be easy to just order out burgers and fries along with a Coke but there's a price to pay afterwards.Also you may be tempted just to grill a steak or lamb chop too. Don't. Rich meats also affect your body. Try poached fish or steamed tofu in place or ribs or chicken wings. Any wheat product is also bad too so lay off those cookies and doughnuts.. One of the worst offenders is salt. As we all know it makes us retain water and bloating is the last thing anyone needs. Sea salt isn't as bad a culprit as regular table salt, but it is still salt. Go very easy with it. A tiny tiny pinch is all you need to flavor a dish.

What should you eat?Foods that keep the  moisture out of your body.Summer vegetables are here for a reason. Some of the best to eat are asparagus and cucumber along with summer squash and zucchini. Asparagus is great steamed  and cut into pieces  for a salad. Zucchini can be used in a ratatouille with tomatoes  for a tasty dinner. Cruciferous veggies such as arugula bok choy, cauliflower are also good to eat as are mustard greens, napa cabbage , radish and watercress. Think about a arugula salad graced with watercress and raw cauliflower. Napa cabbage can be made into a tangy Asian slaw with a light dressing of olive oil and ginger. Watercress salad is a nice alternative to regular Cobb lettuce.Try it with feta (a recommended dairy product OK to eat during these hot muggy days) and beets.If you're craving some kind of snack then think goat cheese on rice crackers or a fruity yogurt parfait layered with almonds . Berries also make a good treat because like other suggested fruits such as lemons and grapefruit.If the grapefruit is too tart then sprinkle stevia or the lesser sweet brown sugar on top.

Fight humidity with eating the right foods. You'll feel fresher and definitely more alive. Enjoy every summer day  without feeling draggy and tired.

A Leafy Green Cookbook

Eating greens isn't always an easy proposition. Most times they're prepared in dishes that can be quite bland or boring. Not anymore. There's a great new cookbook out there that turns greens into gold thanks to some tasty recipes. Kathryn Anible The Leafy Greens Cookbook shows us how with a variety of recipes, from pizza to smoothies.

The Leafy Greens Cookbook (Ulysses Press) is the perfect cookbook for those who want to incorporate more of them into their diet. Ms. Anible varies the recipes from creamy smoothies to crunchy wontons and cabbage rolls. Yes, there are salads  but they're mixed with  such ingredients as peanuts and eggs to give a multi layered dish. There as also the usual vegetarian fare however it has a kick to it.There's a frittata of baby greens that blends baby kale and spinach with eggs, chive and onion. Arugula pizza makes an appearance, too , the perfect dish for any vegetarian get together.

Another plus is that Ms.Anible uses lesser known greens like Swiss chard and broccoli raab. Many  cookbooks rarely mention these but she has plenty of good dishes with them. She also uses fennel and watercress too, again these are almost never given a thought. For those who are not well versed in the types of greens out there. there is a very handy and extensive guide on them in the beginning of the cookbook. She describes both in taste and texture and offers recommendations with how to cook each one.

Yes, it is hard to eat greens. However with a cookbook of easy recipes focusing on them, kale, bok choy and dandelions greens, to name a few never looked so good. The Leafy Greens Cookbook will not only having you waiting healthy but eating good and delicious too.