The Start of Lent

Today marks Ash Wednesday , the beginning of Lent for Catholics and some Protestants the world over. It means meatless Wednesdays and Fridays for most of us observing. It also means giving up a favorite food until Easter Sunday. The Lenten season could also mean more thoughtful eating as well.
Many people give up meat along with butter and milk as the Greek Orthodox do for their Lent (which falls on different dates than the Catholic and Protestant).This is a chance to have a diet more enriched in fish and the benefits it brings. Eat more salmon and you’re going to be healthily infused with Omega 3s. Fish is also low in calories especially if it’s grilled and just served with a spritz of lemon. You can give up meat all together and stick with vegetables and pasta. Again this is heart healthy and low in nitrates and sodium. There’s nothing like steamed veggies over rice, flavored by all natural ginger and other spices.
Of course Lent is a time to give up favorite foods. Most people usually forgo cake , cookies or chocolates. Some hardier sorts do last until Easter . However many do fall prey to temptation. This is the period to switch over to healthier sweets such as cranberries and bananas, along with grapefruit and oranges. This is also the time to think about giving up savory snacks, such as potato chips nuts or any other salty, oily treat. Some even abstain from alcohol. Whatever you give up doesn’t matter, What matters is giving up something you love and fasting from its‘ temptation.
Lent is a time for introspection and abstinence. It’s a time for giving up what’s bad for you and discovering healthier alternatives to meat , sweets and snacks. These next few weeks will be good for both your soul and body.

Dishpan Foodie

Unfortunately with the cold weather and cooking comes dishpan hands. Even we can't escape dry rough skin and reddened knuckles. What to do? Eat out more often? Just make sandwiches ? Devour more instant , less mess foods. No, prepare ourselves with some helpful aids that deter any cracked m scaly skin. Good bye lizard claws, hello nice looking hands.

The most obvious answer is to use gloves. I don;t because for some reason I enjoy dipping my hand s into overly hot water and getting food bits under my nails. Unfortunately my fingers, cuticles and manicure suffer mightily. Rubber gloves do protect and they 're great if you have to use any scouring agent on especially messy pots or pans. Using a mild, aloe infused dish soap is another must. Dawn dish detergent is about the best. Besides being gentle it's also pleasant smelling and comes in a variety of fruity and floral scents. (some soaps smell too medicinal)I also like Dawn because it vows to protect the environment as well and it's used on wildlife that have had a run in with oil spills. Another bonus - it leaves everything sparkling clean with out any filmy residue.

Lotion is another must have for the kitchen active foodie. I recently discovered Skin MD Natural an all natural paraben free lotion. It's quickly and easily absorbed into the skin and practically melted into my hands. There's no greasy film afterwards and I don't have to wipe off any leftover lotion the way I normally do with most kinds. This is a great one to have on hand especially if you do a lot of general kitchen cleaning. Let's face it most of th e stuff we use to scrub our burners and ovens are harsh and are chock full of nasty irritants.These might be good in getting rid of that bake d on coffee stain however they're sheer havoc on skin. Skin MD helps to alleviate any side effects that comes with those products.

Keep your hands looking just as nice as your kitchen. Nothing is worst than having dry, rough dishpanned hands. Treat them as you would an elaborate meal. Use tenderness and care especially during these cold , rough days

CVS and A&P stores sell both Dawn and Skin MD

Year of The Tiger

This is the start of the Chinese New Year. It is a festive time full of fun and family. Of course food figure prominently in it as it does in other New years around th world. It’s not the usual Chinese that Americans are used to be it is the Chinese food of tradition that stretches across generations and centuries.
We may be used to egg rolls and General Tso’s Chicken along with fortune cookies. However traditional Chinese food especially holiday food is entirely different. It’s like the difference between Italian American and real Italian foods. Almost every new year’s dish is made with the ingredients that sound like the words, fortune, happiness, longevity and prosperity. The dish hoe see fat choy which is hair seaweed sounds close to the phrase ‘wealth and good business.” Lotus roots are eaten because their Chinese name lin ngao sound s like abundance year after year. Oranges and tangerines are given put to symbolize hope for gold or wealth in the upcoming year.
Another interesting facet of the holiday is that New Year’s Day is always started off with an vegetarian meal such as bamboo shoots , bean sprouts and mushrooms. This is to basically “shake off the excesses of the partying and heavy eating of New Year’s Eve.. On the second day which is also important, called Commencement Day meat and fish ball are served to symbolize the together of the family, an important feature in Chinese life. There are also several other day for the holiday goes on for two weeks. All are full of meaningful foods as well as preparations. Food cannot be cut , diced or minced because it symbolizes separatism and fighting. Also knives are not used during this period as well .
This Year of the Tiger is an important one for all the Chinese living here an d in China. It should be celebrated with the appropriate and traditional foods. It’s also a continuation of traditions that went on long before any other new year’s,

Good Deeds For Valentine;s Day

Yesterday I devoted the entry to spoiling yourself for valentine;s Day. This is nice , especially if you want to indulge yourself. However a better gift would be indulging others and not just ,sweet hearts. It's a day to be good to anyone and to show love for them.

If yo have nothing to do all day tomorrow, then volunteer at your local homeless shelter. There are people who would appreciate a friendly face and the kitchen could use th e help as well. If you want buy some cupcakes or cake at your local bakery for them. Another spot is a senior or rehab center. See if you can volunteer there and bring some treats (if they can have them ) with you. Also volunteer at any dance too because they always need help serving or with clean up afterwards.

You can also show love and appreciation for family and friends. Invite your parents over for a brunch/ Add some nice touches such as red rose son the table and mimosas and bloody Mary's for everyone. Whip up some yummy brunch foods such as frittatas or French toast croissants. For galpals have a nice dinner set with some snacks and sweets afterwards. Crack open a bottle of champagne and celebrate the good times and the broken hearts you've suffered through.

Tomorrow is the day for love but you can spread yours around. help others nurture friends and family with kind words and good food. It may be your best Valentine's Day ever!

Love Thyself With Food

If you have no one to treat this St Valentine's Day then treat yourself. Go out and buy yourself that box of chocolates or bottle of champagne. It's an indulgence that's meant just for you and only you. Splurge one something you haven't had or would like to try. Go made for your favorite whether from the gourmet store or the grocery store.

Even if you;re on a diet you can treat yourself to a little something. There's nothing wrong with gobbling strawberries if you love them . If you're a citrus nut buy some grapefruit and oranges for yourself to feat on. A little more decadence? Then dip bananas or cherries in chocolate syrup or apples in caramel . If you really want to indulge pick up a box of your favorite chocolates. I love Butlers and wouldn't mind either either a box of their creamy chocolates or buttery toffees for Valentine's Day. Stop by your local bakery and get either a big heart cookie or a couple of the themed cupcakes. Nothing beats these along with a hot cup of tea and a good book or magazine to read.

If you really want to treat yourself go for a dinner out. Most restaurants may be booked and you may have to make last minute reservations. If not treat yourself to a past love such as burgers and fries or an ice cream soda at your favorite diner or drive in. You could also cook for yourself, splurging on lamb chops or steaks or a rich pasta dish with shrimp or lobster. After all you're gifting yourself. make it special and fun. Add a bottle of champagne or fine wine and really turn it into a luxurious meal.

This Valentine's Day give yourself a favorite food or snack. Don't think of it as a guilty pleasure . Just think of it as an "I love me. I want to do something special for myself day". You'll enjoy it even more.

Mood Food

Yesterday's New York Times Dining section featured an article about aphrodisiacs. There are certain foods and aromas that we associate with love and romance . There are some obvious answers and some surprises as well in the article written by Sarah Kershaw,



Aphrodisiacs as the article explains, have been around since ancient times. The early Greeks and Romans as well as those living during the Medieval period relied on certain dishes to rev up the libido. They believed that honey, saffron olives grapes basil and pine nuts were the key to a successful night of lust and love. Nowadays we tend to gravitate towards aparagus, avocados along with figs and cucumbers.Garlic is surprisingly considered an aphrodisiac/ Keep that in mind when your'e ordering either Italian or Chinese this Sunday night. Chocolate is also powerful aphrodisiac Both it's taste and its' smell can drive people wild.



Food aromas are also big as Ms. Kershaw explains . There is a restaurant, the Fat Duck, in Bray England where the chef fills the air with steamed hay. Yes, hay, because its' aroma is reminiscent of romantic autumn hay rides.according tot he chef, Heston Blumenthal It gets his diners in the mood for some of the restaurants more romantic offerings. However men andwomen also love the smell of licorice. The aroma of the popular licorice candy Good N Plenty drives both sexes wild as doe s the aroma of doughnuts for men and cucumbers for women (I'll let the Freudians dissect that one)



If you want to make Valentine's Day exciting go the aphrodisiac route. There's all sorts of foods and scents out there that'll take the romance a step further. All you need is love and a few Good and Plentys

Sweets For Your Sweet

This is the week for chocolate buying. The conundrum is what to buy for your sweetie? You can go the splurge way and buy the most decadent gourmet candy around or be a cheapskate and head over to your local chain drugstore. The thing is even the less expensive brands are pretty good these days so there is a big variety to choose from.

If you’re going to go high end there are a few good chocolatiers to choose from. If you’re in or near the Garden State Plaza in New Jersey, drop into Butler’s This is my favorite hoplite shop and they offer a rich array of chocolates You can have the sweet salty sea salt caramel s or their luscious Irish creams fill candies. I just love anything they offer , even their buttery toffees. Another top quality one s Godiva’s found in almost every mall. Here you can buy a ballotin of truffles for your love. Their caramels and cremes are quite good too.

For those of you watching your wallet there’s Russell Stover and Walt Whitman sampler boxes. don’t turn your nose up at these Both brands have just as good an assortment as the high end brands. In fact I think they have more variety and stick to more traditional bonbons such as the coconut cups and nut clusters. M&Ms is also having a special valentines; Day box as is Reeses; The last is featuring a heart filled with peanut butter cups This is perfect for any candy aficionado and fun too.

This Valentine‘s Day you can either splurge or scrimp on your beloved. it’s up to you. Either way you’ll still wind up with a wonderful box of candy that hopefully will be shared.