Cleansing Foods

Once you do a cleanse it's important to maintain that "cleanliness" in your body. That means strict dietary changes however they're for the best. What should you eat? What should you avoid?

Tomorrow I do my gallbladder cleanse. It may take more than one to thoroughly flush out my liver and gallbladder (most gallstones actually begin in the liver and should be called liver stones). It would be so easy to go back to old habits and favorite  but bad for me foods. Maybe occasionally I can have butter and white breads like when I order from Panera. Possibly I could have cold cuts now and then along with sandwich cookies. Yet I cannot make a diet of them as I've done in the past. Luckily I have gone off French fries  which are just super bad for any digestive organ. It's now cutting out the Popeye's any of the fried chicken along with tuna in olive oil. To soothe my gall bladder along with the rest of my digestive tract, I have to give up sugary foods and drinks. Again luckily I have a Soda Stream where I can make organic sodas with water and freshly squeezed fruit juices (I'm looking at a homemade cherry one). Snack candies like Tootsie Rolls and Milk Duds will be replaced with cherries and blueberries. Even avocados are off the table too, They contain too much fat.

There will be a new diet once my gallbladder and liver are thoroughly cleaned.  White flour products are definitely banned. Home bakers should take heed with this and consider rye or barley flour to bake your breads. The great flour and baking supply company ,King Arthur has these and they can even be used for cakes and cupcakes. This also applies to rice, where I'll be cooking more with brown rice and whole grains like quinoa along with veggie and bean based pastas. As for meats, cold cuts will be eliminated and a sandwich with freshly cooked meat will be subbed in. Subway can make up heroes with fresh chicken mixed with sliced veggies.I live in a semi vegetarian household so there is no dairy. I can have oat milk ice cream but with fresh cut fruit like strawberries or peaches. Tofu is also good for gall problems so I can still have Gardein products from their hamburgers to meatballs. Dining out will be tricky but it can be maneuvered. There's always grilled chicken salad with a simple vinaigrette or a variety of veggie sides sauteed in olive oil and garlic.



Any cleanse is exciting but also a chance to start anew. It's then just cutting out the bad foods while embracing the good. It's the best way to live for you and your digestive tract.

Travel Through Your Kitchen

Since we can't physically travel this summer, we can do it another way -  through our kitchens. We can easily make dishes form different parts of the US and the world. It's a fun way to expand our palates and our repertoires.

Luckily there are cookbooks that can help us on our culinary journey.Try Priya Krishna's Indian-ish Recipes and Antics From  A Modern American Family. You can sip spicy chai drinks while enjoying dal or pulao.  The great Marcella Hazan left a phenomenal legacy in her Essentials Of Italian Cooking : A Cookbook.  You'll feel like you're at Lago Maggiore as you recreate her polenta and squab. Finish with a homemade Italian ice or granita as you play bocce in the backyard. If you're yearning  for bouillabaisse, there are several excellent Provencal cookbooks that you can upload to your Kindle.Enjoy the dishes of romantic Provence under backyard fairy lights. Want a week in Mexico, then buy Oaxaca: Home Cooking From The Heart Of Mexico by Bricia Lopez. This has hearty dishes of the home kitchen sort that can easily be recreated in yours. Author Kelly Kwok has The Asian Slow Cooker; Exotic Favorites For Your Crockpot. where you can make classic Chinese dishes while you sunbathe or garden.

If you had planned on an American road trip, not to worry. You can still make the same fried chicken you'd have in the South. It can even be made healthier by using your air fryer. You can fry okra and green tomatoes too. Wash down with sweet tea or mint juleps. Finish with a peach pie and homemade pralines. There are some excellent cookbooks such as Sweetie Pie's Cookbook Soulful Southern Recipes from My Family To Yours. So many head to New England for the beaches and seafood. You can easily get already steamed seafood at any local seafood restaurant or do the steaming yourself. Serve with cups of melted butter and lemon wedges.Of course there is the Jersey shore, and the famed boardwalks that dot many a coastal town. The Jersey  shore is known for its pizza and you can easily recreate it with dough already made and a good homemade sauce. Of course there's sausage and peppers. This is an easy saute piled on Italian bread. Mix it up with some red and yellow peppers. Finish with cotton candy  which you can buy the machine at Five Below and the sugars off of Amazon.

Turn your kitchen into a road trip. There's so many different cuisines you can try and pretend you're at the place where they originated. It's a fun staycation.

Gifts For The Gourmet Dad

Father's Day is a week away and it's time to start seriously thinking about gifts for his special day. If he's into serious cooking then think about some interesting cooking and baking gadgets and ingredients your gourmet dad may like. It's be a true surprise and a real treat to receive something unusual.

Men love gadgets. That's a given. A gourmet father may enjoy the various ones designed to make cooking  easier. A sous vide or a water oven is the perfect present, especially for the fussy cook. It's basically a water oven that cooks food perfectly. The food is put into a vacuum sealed pouch and then cooked for a period of time. The end result is juicy. flavorful cuts of meat and tender vegetables.  It can even bake a cake ! Everything comes out restaurant perfect every time.  It is pricey at five hundred dollars but dad will get a lot of use out of it. A bit cheaper but still fun is an air fryer. Whatever is cooked in it also comes out perfect. A big plus is that you can cook fried food in the air fryer without all the grease and calories. Price wise they come as low as $39,99 at Target or Wal-Mart. It will get a lot of use. If your father loves the smokiness of a good barbecued rib or chicken, then think about getting him a smoker. These can be pricing with the most expensive starting at $1,200 however you can buy a simple charcoal one for $170 to $180. It can smoke everything from beef to fish  along with chicken and pork.

For dads who love flavor think about exotic spices. Berber spice is big right now, since it can be used in the Moroccan egg dish shakshuka. It can also be used in Ethiopian dishes along with being a tangy rub for chicken and beef cuts.For a more Asian vibe consider a large shaker full of Chinese five spices. One of the pluses is that this can be made at home.It's a mix of star anise, cloves,Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan pepper and fennel seeds. You can also add anise seed, ginger root, nutmeg and turmeric.It's great for rubs but also adds to stews and batters for fried foods. For the baker dads,  think about bottles of Neilsen Massey extracts. The company has such interesting and classic flavors as vanilla, peppermint, coffee and lemon.It also sells vanilla paste and sugars which produces a more vibrant vanilla flavor. You can also buy whole vanilla beans that come from such exotic islands as Madagascar and Tahiti along with Mexico. The company also  sells rose and orange blossom water for Greek and Middle Eastern dessert recipes. A box of Ghiradelli baking chocolate is perfect for those dads who love to bake brownies and cakes.

There's plenty to buy for the gourmet dad.  It can be a fun gadget or an interesting spice. Whatever it will be he will love it, that's a guarantee.

Cleanses For A Cleaner You

Maybe it's time for a cleanse or a detox. It;s been a rough comfort of months  thanks to eating all those comfort foods along with junk, alcohol and soda. Yet what works? What's the best and the right one for you? There are so many different ones, whether they're cleanses and detoxes.

First is there a difference? More or less, yes. Often a cleanse involves supplements or pills to eliminate substances along with focuses solely on the digestive tract. Detox strive to support your body's natural elimination process. Cleanses can aid in losing weight, since they flush out water carbohydrate stores and stool. Some doctors and nutritionists pooh-pooh them. However you will read glowing reviews all over the Internet from people who have tried them. If you're still a bit leery about them, then go gentle. Start with a detox water  cleanse instead. Water already flushes out toxins and free radicals. Drinking it also reduces the fat around a fatty liver and can help in losing weight.Add lemon and cucumber for both flavor and getting rid of the bad stuff. Want to get rid of that bacteria floating around you? Then mix water with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. Sweeten with a tiny bit of maple syrup. If you're braver you can work your way up to a juice cleanse. This is where different juices, from both veggies and fruits are blended together for a power drink. Spices such as ginger and turmeric are added , not only for flavor but for their antioxidant properties and immune boosting systems.

I am going to go through a gallbladder cleanse myself. After a few months of gobbling down cookies  and soda along with sneaking fries every now and then, my gallbladder is suffering. I do not want to get it yanked out in the middle of a pandemic. I also don't want to wind up with colon cancer sometime down the road, because that is one of the detrimental side effects of gallbladder removal. It is a six day prep and a heavy duty two day flush. For those who are considering it, read  the how to's. The best I've discovered come from The Cultured Palate site. This is a site devoted to natural cooking and baking and has a lot of keto recipes. I'll explore those later in the summer. The flush from there comes from Dina Marie Oswald who was a registered nurse. It starts with drinking apple juice or eating apples for six days . Doing this softens the gallstones  with the apple's malic acid.  On the seventh day it's then guzzling down three cups of Epsom salts to open the bile duct and to promote stool production. It;s then chugging a mix of olive oil and lemon or grapefruit juice.Rest overnight and then there's another cup of Epsom salts in the morning. Gallstones are promised to come out and with them no pain. Am I anxious? Yes, but I have nothing to lose but those pesky stones.

If you feel like you're bloated or not well, then go for a detox or a cleanse. You'll probably feel better. Just pick the one that's right for you. You'll feel comfortable do it then.

The Gurdwara And Help

The Sikhs have been coming to the rescue for centuries with their practice of feeding those in needs. It has never been more so with the pandemic and protesting.It's part of their religion. It's also part of their great contribution to this time.

Regular contributor Priya Krishna, author of the Indian cookbook, Indian-ish, wrote about this peace loving religion in yesterday's New York Times Food section. The Sikhs follow the teachings of Guru Nanek, a Fifteenth Century teacher who believed in a practical life of truthfulness, fidelity, self control and purity.An essential part of Sikhism is langar, the practice of preparing and serving a free meal to promote the Sikh tenet of seva or selfless service.Anyone, can visit the gurdwara and participate in langar. You don''t need to follow the religion. Their doors are open to everyone. The biggest one, in Amritsar, India serves more than 100,000 people a day. Since Covid 19's arrival, all religious ceremonies have stopped yet the gurdwara has been open non-stop. The Sikh Center in Queens Village, New York, right outside Manhattan, is now feeding protesters . Last week volunteers served five hundred portions of matar paneer, a creamy coconut milk and tomato stew along with rice and rajima, another creamy comforting dish of red beans stewed with tomatoes. There was also dessert, kheer, a sweetened rice pudding.

There are eighty gurdwaras  all over the US.  They too have been stepping up , feeding those who need it. The Gurdwara Sahib of Fremont, California set up a grocery delivery service just after suspending religious services in March. There's also a meal drive through pick up service too. Cooks wear gloves and masks and the kitchen is big enough for workers to stand six feet apart from each other. As with other gurdwaras, the menus change daily and are always vegetarian, in respect to the Sikhs being vegetarian. The sect is also heading to the protests to feed the protesters, although they, themselves, have been the targets of prejudice and suspicion. In Los Angeles, they handed out seven hundred containers of pasta with a garlic and onion laden tomato sauce and five hundred bottles of water. They even set up a tent in Pan Pacific Park,in the western part of the city. In Norwich, Connecticut , two hundred bottles were handed out to protesters along with rajima. According to Gurjiv Kaur of the LA temple and a graduating senior at the University of California "Langar ,at its' core is a revolution - against inequality and the caste system". She and Kirin Singh asked volunteers to prepare meals to take to the protesters. The Sikhs stand peacefully with all who protest for a fairer world and better treatment from authorities.

The Sikhs have become  heroes of what's going on. They provide food and support to those who need it.  It is their langar which is now a part of our lives.

A Different Kind Of Juneteenth

Juneteenth has always been a special day for the African-American community. It is a day full  of celebration and thought, in a way like the Fourth of July.Now with the pandemic and the George Floyd protests, it takes on a deeper, more profound meaning. The good food and cheer is still around but there are new layers there to add to the day's history.

Nicole Taylor, author of The Up South Cookbook: Chasing Dixie In A Brooklyn Kitchen wrote this interesting article in today's New York Times Food section. The holiday started on June 19th 1865 when enslaved workers in Galveston, Texas learned from Union soldiers that they were free. This was two years after Abraham Lincoln signed The Emancipation Proclamation. The day is full of good memories and good food. People shared ruby hued  drinks to symbolize the kola nuts and hibiscus which made their way to  America from Africa. For years kids made red Kool-Aid or served red Hawaiian Punch along with red hued foods such as fiery sausages, watermelon scented shaved ice, stone fruit cobblers and barbecue. Covid-19 has put a huge damper on the festivities along with the uprisings and protests. Yet people are and should lean into the holiday. Juneteenth is about resistance and that's obvious in the growing number of black chefs becoming known and successful.It also allows celebrants some happiness, and as Ms. Taylor states , that's the best resistance.

There are recipes from different African-American chefs and restaurants along with the chef's various stories. Families can make Juneteenth Red Punch, a recipe from Chef Edouardo Jordan, a James beard award winning cook . It's a mix if a homemade strawberry syrup added to a mix of Cognac,pineapple, pomegranate and lime juices. Ginger beer is added for fizz along with sparkling wine, Fresh cut fruit or crystallized ginger decorates the glasses.  Then there is  sweet potato pikliz from Chef Greg Collier of Leah & Louise. This is pickled sweet potato mixed with red onions, hakurei turnips and radishes. The pickling juice is a combination of garlic, Serrano chilies, cider and lime juice. There's honey added for sweetness and kosher salt for the pickling process. It's then chilled for a day before serving. The main course is the ribs and the recipe again comes from Chef Collier. These are Memphis style kind with sweet and fiery rub made from dark brown sugar and hot paprika. There is also onion and garlic powders mixed in along with ground black pepper, cumin seed and dried mustard. The meat should be bone in country pork rib rack. Chef Collier adds crushed peanuts as a garnish. You can also sub in black oyster mushrooms for a vegan spin.

This year Juneteenth takes on a deeper meaning. Yet it's also a time to celebrate and enjoy good food with family and friends. That's the best kind of protest - to thoroughly enjoy life.

Your Own Ice Cream Parlor

Your house is now the main place for staycation. There's probably a pool set up along with a badminton ser or shuffleboard court. Add to the fun by creating your own ice cream parlor. There's so many good frozen products out there , the kids can have a field day.

Ice cream parlors were known for their elaborate sundaes and sodas. Make sure you have a variety of different fixings to begin. Start with the ice cream. There's always chocolate or vanilla but coffee works as does strawberry and chocolate chip mint. If you're worried about having two much dairy , then go for soy, almond or cashew milk ice creams. Oat milk ice cream is big right now and with good reason. Planet Oat's oat milk one tastes just like the dairy kind, creamy and rich. They not only have the usual chocolate and vanilla but also blueberry oat crumble,cookies and cream , chocolate peanut butter swirl and coffee fudge swirl. These work in any sundae or soda. As for the toppings, there are homemade and store bought. Hot fudge sauce is easy to make. Start with cocoa powder and cook with sugar , heavy cream and butter over a stove top. You can serve it freshly made or store it in a glass container. It can be reheated in the microwave or stove top for a second use. Caramel is another great topping, especially over vanilla ice cream. Smuckers has a sea salt caramel that's phenomenal. Of course there's whipped cream but now you can get non dairy  coconut  or almond nut milk Reddi-Whip, Toss a handful of nuts, M&M's or sprinkles for extra fun.Sliced fruit also is a nice topping too.

Ice cream sodas are  cool, refreshing treats. Many just plop a scoop or two into a glass filled with Coke or Pepsi. This is good but a real ice cream soda does have a bit more flair. Start with a root bear float. Put two scoops in a mug of well chilled root beer. It's the perfect marriage of flavors topped off with a good head of froth. As far as a true ice cream soda, start off with a seltzer. You can used a flavored one like cherry or raspberry for added taste. As for the ice cream, try a chocolate or vanilla one. Add one or two  tablespoons of chocolate syrup like U-Bet or Hershey's. Top with a fancy swirl of whipped cream. Add multi- colored sprinkles for extra fun. If you're not into ice cream then try an egg cream. This is the perfect summer treat. This deli special is just a mouthwatering mix of cold milk, chocolate syrup, namely U-Bet and seltzer. It's then just vigorous beating with a fork until a foam forms on top.Sip and enjoy.For coffee lovers there is the coffee float. It's just taking cold coffee, whether caffeinated or decaf, adding ice cream - try chocolate for a mocchacino vibe to it. Top with a generous squiggle of whipped cream. You can add a drizzle of chocolate or caramel too.

An at-home ice parlor is just one of the great aspects for a stay at home summer. Go wild with sundaes and sodas. Enjoy them as you catch sun and fun in your back yard.