Why do you drink your fruit?

            Very few things taste as good as a ripe piece of fruit.  Think about a ripe peach that is so juicy you have to eat it over the sink while the juice runs down your arm.  Can’t you just imagine the taste of a ripe pear or a piece of sweet, red, cool watermelon?  How about an intensely flavored, luscious Clementine---it’s easy to peel, and perfect for a lunchbox or as a snack.  When ripe and fresh very few things come close to the flavor of fruit.

             I have never understood why so many people drink fruit juice instead of eating the fruit.  Mother Nature gave fruit natural sugar and a lot of fiber.  Juice by creation is a processed food.  Most if not all of the fiber is gone and the taste is not as intense as the real fruit.  Even if you squeeze your own juice or put your fruit in a juice machine, you are going to lose fiber and nutrition.  Why go to the trouble of having to wash a glass and the juicer?  Just eat the fruit out of hand.  The chewing sensation will tell your body you have eaten and the fiber will make you feel full.  It will help your colon too. 

              Eating for health and flavor is easy.  Always go for the real food first.  The one that doesn’t come with a label.  Anything with a label has been processed in some way.  If it has been processed than some or all of its nutrition and fiber is gone.  Eat real foods as close to their natural state as possible.  Eating should not be hard to do.  Just think and let your common sense guide you. 

 

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: The more colorful your plate the more nutritionally balanced it is. 

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Adding whole wheat to your cake doesn’t make it a health food, it's still cake.

            I was looking at the picture on a box of whole grain cereal bars.  The box had a fork in a road with an arrow pointing to the left labeled yesterday along with a picture of a donut.  The second arrow, pointing to the right, was labeled today and had a picture of the cereal bar along with water, a bowl of salad, an apple and a figure doing exercise.  The assumption was clear.  When you make the good decision to eat something better than a donut you will also make other better lifestyle decisions.  

           I wanted to see if eating the nutrition bar really was a better decision than eating a jelly donut.  I compared the nutrition information of the cereal bar to the nutrition information in a jelly donut.  The nutrition bar came in with half the number of calories and significantly less fat---3 grams versus 11 grams.  The nutrition bar also had 1 more gram of fiber.  Where the nutrition bar lost was in sugar.  The bar had double the amount of sugar.  The manufacturers replaced fat with sugar to give the nutrition bar taste.   

 

           I’m not for or against a jelly donut or a nutrition bar.  The problem is that by advertising that it is made with whole grain we get the impression that this bar is better for us than a jelly donut even though it has double the amount of sugar.  Put jelly donuts and nutrition bars in their proper place.  They contain enough sugar to be considered desserts.  Both are processed foods meant to be enjoyed as treats in reasonable amounts occasionally.  Taking out some fat and adding a bit of whole wheat to your cake doesn’t make it a health food, it's still cake.   

           Make the majority of your diet real foods that do no come with a label.  Cook those foods simply and dress them lightly.  Keep salt and fat in your diet for satiety and flavor.  Enjoy the foods that contain a lot of added sugar as desserts in reasonable amount occasionally.  Eat them slowly and savor every bite.  

  

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: When setting the table, the knife is placed to the right of the plate and the blade faces the plate.

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Pork 101

            At the risk of dating myself I must say that pork doesn’t taste as good as it used to taste.  The public asked for leaner pork and that is what the industry has produced.  When the fat was lost so was the taste.  Unfortunately, another side effect of lean pork meat is a product that dries out quickly when it is cooked and often becomes tough like shoe leather.

           There are cuts of the pig that still contain some fat and when they are cooked slowly, they can be moist and tender.  However, I write for people who don’t like to cook and who have no time to cook.  For the most part, they aren’t willing to use the slower cooking recipes.  They want to be in and out in the kitchen quickly.  Because of this, the pork I usually cook with is boneless pork loin.  Boneless pork loin is very lean so in order for it to stay moist and taste good you must cook it quickly and with a sauce to give the meat flavor. 

           You can purchase boneless pork loin in a large piece when it is on sale.  It’s less expensive than buying precut chops—and because it’s boneless, it’s easy to cut.  Cut the loin into three-quarter-inch thick slices and place each slice into individual sandwich baggies. Put those baggies into a gallon plastic bag, squeeze out all the air, close it tight, attach a label with the name and date, and store it in the freezer. At any time, you’ll be able to pull out exactly the number of chops you need. Defrost them in the refrigerator when you’re ready to cook them. Either use the slices as pork chops or cut the slices into one-inch cubes to use in the recipes that require pieces of pork.

           When pork is cook quickly in a flavorful source it can make a good nutritious dinner.  When you pair it with a flavorful fresh vegetable pork loin makes an easy fast meal. 

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: To peel garlic, crush the clove with the flat side of your knife.  The peel will come off easily.

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

When You Plan Time to Cook, Time Magically Appears

            People tell me all the time that they don’t have the time to cook.  I agree with them.  Their lives are too busy and trying to cook a good, nutritious meal after they have worked all day is a feat even a saint could not perform.  The problem is not being too busy the problem is waiting until the last minute to figure out what’s for dinner.    

          You plan many things in your life---you plan your work projects, you plan when you are going to visit your in laws; you even plan a birthday lunch for a friend.  You are able to put those events into your life because you plan them in.  

          Imagine what might happen if you spent an hour once a week, when you were not tired, stressed, or hungry and just thought about your week.  There are days when you can get home a bit earlier.  There are evenings when your entire family is in for the night.  The key is to set an appointment in your date book to cook those nights.  Put it on the family calendar.  Make that appointment to cook and eat together as important as not allowing your children to miss a ball practice.    

 

         Planning to cook will give you the time you need to cook, just like planning the lunch date with your friend ensures that you get together.  Yes, cooking does take time, but it does not have to be an all day affair.  Many of the best home-cooked meals are fast, fresh and delicious.  I realize that you will not be able to cook everyday, but cooking twice a week would make a significant difference in ingesting better nutrients, fewer chemicals, and saving your family money. 

 

        You will never find the time to cook, instead the solution lies in making time by planning your cooking in advance. 

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Never place your knives in the bottom of the sink.  You may forget they are there and cut yourself when you reach into the soapy water. 

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Garlic 101

            I consider garlic a staple because I use it all the time. Garlic adds wonderful gourmet flavor to your dishes.  Don’t buy the elephant variety and don’t buy garlic that’s chopped or peeled; it’s not as fresh and it’s more expensive. Never substitute garlic powder or garlic salt for the real thing.  You can store garlic with your onions at room temperature. The easiest way to peel it is to place a clove on the cutting board and gently bang it with the flat side of your knife. The skin will separate easily from the clove.

           Never leave garlic cooking in oil unattended, and never turn your back on it even for a moment because it burns quickly. If your garlic does burn, throw it away with all the oil, wash your pot, and start again. Burnt garlic is bitter, and if you continue with the recipe, I promise you the unpalatable bitter flavor will permeate the entire dish and ruin it. The taste of bitter, burnt garlic can’t be masked. It’s much better to throw out a few pennies worth of garlic and a few tablespoons of oil then ruin your entire dish.

           Once the garlic has cooked a few minutes, you will add other ingredients such as onion, vegetables, or a liquid.  These additional ingredients will immediately lower the temperature in the pan and you will no longer have to worry about the garlic burning.

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Never wash your knives in the dishwasher.  The dishwasher dulls the blade.

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Which diet can you love and afford for the rest of your life?

            One of these days, we are going to get smart and realize that dieting doesn’t work.  If diets worked, new ones would never have to be created.  All diets have a fundamental flaw.  Some food or taste is severely restricted and with time we give in and want what we aren’t supposed to eat.  You will lose weight on any diet because calories are always restricted.  If you eat fewer calories, you will lose weight.  What makes diets so appealing is they eliminate the need for you to think and make decisions.  The diet tells you what to eat and when.  

  

            There are two main reasons diets fail.  The first is boredom.  There comes a time or an  occasion when you just want to eat what you have been avoiding.  The second is expense.  Some diets require you to buy supplements or special foods and over time it becomes very costly. 

            You will lose weight on diets, but the real question is will the lost weight find your body again?  Before you start a diet, ask yourself this question.  Once I’ve reached my goal weight, will I love eating this way for the rest of my life and can I afford to eat this way for the rest of my life?  If you can honestly say yes then you’re on to something.  If the answer is no then you’re back on the roller coaster again.  

             I've had an “issue” with food for as long as I can remember.  The only diet that has worked for me is eating real food, the kind that doesn’t come with a label, and has all of its fiber and nutrients in tact.  I keep fat and salt in my diet for flavor and satiety and I allow myself reasonable amounts of sweet and salty foods on occasion.  This is a diet I love and can afford for the rest of my life.       

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking substitution: A one ounce square of unsweetened baking chocolate = 3 tablespoons baking cocoa + 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

American Cheese 101

            The original American cheese was a mixture of Colby and Cheddar. Now, almost any processed cheese is labeled American cheese. Don’t buy the American cheese that’s labeled a “cheese product,” the individually wrapped slices, or any cheese that doesn’t need refrigeration.  Likewise, I don’t suggest the “cheese” found in a can.  It isn’t real cheese.  All of those are highly processed, have added ingredients, and don’t have the best flavor.

            Buy the American cheese you find in the deli, either a name brand or a store brand, and be certain to taste a piece to make sure you like it. Buy either yellow or white and ask for a chunk when you need to grate it. American cheese from the deli counter freezes well, so buy it on sale and cut it into useable pieces of about four ounces. Put each piece into individual sandwich baggies, put those baggies into a gallon plastic bag, squeeze out all the air, close it tight, attach a label with the name and date, then store the bag in the freezer. At any time, you’ll be able to pull out four ounces of cheese and not have to thaw the entire pound. Defrost it in the refrigerator when you’re ready to use it.

           The American cheese you buy from the deli is a dream to cook with because it melts easily.  It makes delicious macaroni and cheese and it makes an easy cheese sauce to put on top of cooked vegetables or to use as a warm dip for chips.  It also is great for grilled cheese sandwiches.   

  

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: When measuring a liquid put it on a level surface and bend down to view it at eye level.

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Stop Putting Your Favorite Foods on a Diet.

            I was reading an article on strawberry shortcake in a cook magazine.  The author’s goal was to eliminate as much fat and calories from the traditional recipe as possible.  He did, and in a clever way.  Although I didn’t make the recipe I’m sure it probably even tasted good, but why was it necessary?  Why can’t we eat full fat, full calorie, and incredibly delicious, strawberry shortcake in a reasonable amount occasionally?

           The new recipe resulted in a savings of 260 calories, but the dessert was still a high calorie food with 420 calories---very different from the mere 56 calories contained in 2 cups of fresh strawberries.  So what did the new recipe do for us?  It gave us a false sense of security that now we could eat it without guilt because it was better for us.  I’m sorry to burst your bubble but even the lower calorie count does not make strawberry shortcake a health food and does not make it as healthy as 2 cups of fresh strawberries.   

            I love desserts, candy bars, and salty snacks.  I’m not a member of the food police and I don’t want to see any of our favorite “junk” foods go away.  However, giving them the look of healthy because they have less fat and calories doesn’t make them healthy.  Stop putting your favorite foods on a diet.  Make the majority of your foods real foods that still have their fiber, vitamins and minerals in tact.  Then enjoy every bite of your rich strawberry shortcake slowly, deliberately, and in reasonably amount occasionally.

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Do not add salt to your dried beans until they have finished cooking. Salt slows down the cooking process.

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Why Don’t You Just Eat Fruit?

             I saw a magazine advertisement for a fiber supplement that claims to taste as good as gummy bears.  I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry.  Gummy bears are a great candy but they are a candy and not a paragon of health and nutrition.  Making them with fiber isn’t a good thing because it gives them an illusion of health.  Then it’s easy to justify eating more even though you aren’t getting any other nutrition.  The foods that contain naturally occurring fiber, on the other hand, also have vitamins and minerals.  Additionally, the color and flavor contained in fruits and vegetables isn’t artificial. 

           Very few things, gummy bears included, taste as good as a ripe peach, juicy pineapple, a crisp cool apple, sweet grapes or a juicy sweet orange.  Why don’t you just eat fruits to get your fiber?  I’m not anti gummy bears I just think they should be seen as candy, as a sweet treat to be enjoyed as such.  To complicate matters further this fiber gummy candy is sugar free.  Your first thought might be, “oh good, that means no calories.”  However, are you forgetting that they have to get the sweet taste from somewhere?  That means artificial sweeteners.  Why ingest anything artificial when it isn’t necessary?

           I appreciate manufacturers for wanting to help us get more fiber, but none of these artificial products would be necessary if you would just eat real food.  You’ll get all the fiber you need along with vitamins, minerals and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.  Eating really isn’t hard to do.  Eat real foods every day and enjoy the real, fiber less, sugary, gummy bears occasionally.      

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Do not leave cooked pasta in the hot water.  It will continue to cook and turn to mush.  Drain it, put it back in the hot pot, and cover it.  It will all stick together, but the sauce will loosen the pieces.

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Chicken 101

            When you order a steak at a restaurant, you probably don't ask the chef to remove all of the fat and bone.  You know the fat and bone add flavor to the meat.  The same is true with chicken.  Chicken cooked with its skin on and attached to the bone has more flavor, the sauce is richer and the meat stays moist.  The additional flavor and taste satisfaction the skin and bone add to the finished dish are incomparable.  Discard the skin, as you do the fat from your steak, before you eat it.  If you compromise taste and satisfaction for fat and calories, you end up feeling cheated.  Yes, you saved calories with skinless chicken, but if you eat double the amount, or reach for something else because the original food did not satisfy, than you defeated the purpose.    

            

              Boneless, skinless chicken breast is the most expensive chicken in the market; bone-in, skin-on chicken is always less expensive.  Chicken freezes very well.  Buy it when it's on sale and put each piece into individual sandwich baggies, put those baggies into a gallon plastic bag, squeeze out all of the air, close it tight, attach a label with the name and date, and then put it into in the freezer.  At any time, you will be able to pull out exactly the number of chicken pieces you need.  Defrost it in the refrigerator when you are ready to use it.

               There are two schools of thought on whether or not you should wash chicken.  Some believe you should wash the chicken thoroughly and then be certain to clean everything the chicken came in contact with using hot soapy water.  Others believe you do not have to wash your chicken because the high cooking temperature will kill any bacteria the chicken has on it and by not washing it, you do not have to worry about contaminating any other surface or piece of equipment.  Do as you feel is best and use your common sense; do not put raw chicken near your salad greens or any cooked foods. 

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Salt your vegetables when you start to cook them.  The salt will draw out the water and they will cook quicker.  

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s Talk About Butter

            I use extra virgin olive oil to cook with almost exclusively.  It’s healthful qualities have been touted a lot in recent years.  I use it for health and for taste.  On occasion, however, nothing beats the taste of butter.  Different brands vary widely in the amount of salt that has been added  to the butter.  For that reason when I cook I always use unsalted butter.  With unsalted butter I have control over the amount of salt in the finished dish.  However, you probably will prefer salted butter on your bread and toast.   

           Butter burns quickly so either make sure your heat is low or watch it when you use it.  Butter gives a rich creamy flavor to dishes and because it is a fat, it allows you to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.  Fat gives satiety and flavor to food so unless you are on a strict diet don‘t eliminate fats from your foods.

           European butters do have a different taste, but they carry a hefty price tag.  If you treat yourself, use it on toast so you can really enjoy the richer flavor.  I always buy the store brand of butter and I wait for it to go on sale.  Stock up when it’s on sale and store it in the freezer.  Frozen unsalted butter lasts 5-6 months. 

           Do not use margarine.  The taste is not the same and margarine is not a real food it is a manufactured food.        

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Store any unused wine in a covered glass jar in the refrigerator.  

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Is it Dessert or Breakfast?

            I was looking at a box of toaster pastries and I noticed that the manufacturer advertised prominently on the front of the box that is was made with real fruit. That made me suspicious.  I couldn’t help but wonder if they didn't use real fruit what kind of fruit did they use?

           Then I read the ingredients.  I’m pleased to say I eventually found dried fruit, but it was the eleventh ingredient after four types of sugar.  That got me wondering again.  If I eat this, do I consider it a breakfast food, a candy bar, or a dessert?  I believe that something with that much sugar must fall into the dessert category.  

           The label also stated that this product was a good source of seven vitamins and minerals.  Were the vitamins and minerals added to justify all of the sugar?  Then there is the problem of the missing fiber.  This product made with “real fruit’ has less than 1 gram of fiber.  That made me suspicious again because most real fruit has quite a bit of fiber when eaten as Mother Nature intended.

          There is nothing wrong or bad with ready-made sweets snacks and goodies and I’m sure this product was even quite tasty.  The problem arises when we eat it all of the time in lieu of real food with real fiber and naturally occurring vitamins and minerals.  Instead, eat real food as close to its natural state as possible and save the sweet, fiber less goodies for occasional treats.         

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Browning meat adds incredible flavor to the finished dish.  Don’t use a non-stick pan because the meat will not brown. 

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Take the Time to Talk and Reconnect

            We are all very busy.  We fill our lives with many obligations and pleasures.  This is a good thing.  We want our lives to be full and rich with experiences.  Part of the pleasure is sharing the details and stories with the people we love.  The experience is so much more gratifying when we recount it to someone that listens intently and cares.  Sometimes the retelling of the event is even more satisfying then the actual event. 

            This is what dinnertime was made for.  Dinnertime is an opportunity to share a nutritious delicious meal and talk about your day, the good the bad, the wins the challenges.  It’s a time to stop the busyness of our lives in order to give and receive physical and emotional nourishment.  I love coming home to my husband to recount all that I did during the day.  It’s fun just to talk and often enlightening to receive his perspective. 

            The Let’s Cook Tonight™ Movement is all about cooking a meal together and sharing it with your family in an atmosphere of love.  When you make the food from scratch and serve it on china plates, everyone knows this is different.  This is a meal and you have to stop and eat, to listen and share, not grab and go.  If you make it a point to do this consistently a few times every week your family will come to look forward to it and count on it.  This time together gives meaning to all of our activities and is the reason we work so hard.   

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Always cook chicken attached to its bone.  The flavor the bone adds is incomparable.

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

But My Son Only Eat Nine Foods

            I was talking to a mom the other day and she mentioned that her 10-year-old son only eats nine foods.  I stared at her in disbelief.  My mother would never have let me get away with that.  I had to eat whatever she prepared or go to bed hungry.  Believe me I never went to bed hungry and even if I had, once or twice, I did not grow up malnourished.  I couldn’t help wondering who the mom was and who the child was in this family.  I wanted to ask her why she caters to his wishes, desires, whims, and tantrums.    

            I never had children and no mother should ever take my advice on how to raise children, but in this instance I can’t help but wonder if this mom just gives in to her son because it’s easier.  I read an article about a family---mom, dad and three picky children---who were in China.  Due to circumstances beyond their control, this family had to be quarantined for a week.  The children had no choice, they ate the Chinese food offered or they were hungry.  There wasn’t a pantry of snacks, the mother had no access to the kitchen, and they weren’t allowed to leave to find fast food elsewhere.  To this mom’s amazement, the kids ate and enjoyed everything they took.  Without a choice, a hungry human will eat whatever is in front of him. 

            I’m not suggesting that your kids are not allowed to have their preferences, but only eating nine foods is extreme.  Make dinner with a wide variety of real, colorful foods.  Make them with salt, fat and herbs to enhance their flavor.  Serve them in an atmosphere of love and eat heartily to set a good example. Insist that your children taste and eat what is in front of them.  Without a choice, they will eventually catch on. 

  

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: If your shrimp are frozen, put them in a clean sink and run cool water on them until they are soft enough to peel.

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Why Must Everything we Eat be Eaten Fast?

            Cereal manufacturers puzzle me.  They take whole grains—rice, wheat, oats---that have vitamins, minerals, fiber and taste and completely remake them into a new food.  They strip them by removing the germ and bran, they add a lot of sugar and salt to provide taste, and then they fortify the product with vitamins.  Why didn’t they save themselves a lot of trouble and just keep the bran and germ, the source of all of the nutrition and taste, in the grain in the first place?   

            Because real grains still have their fiber they do take longer to cook and chew, but why must everything we eat be eaten fast?  We were given teeth for a reason.  It’s fun to chew and extract every bit of taste from our food.  Fiber makes you feel full so you don’t eat too much; it reduces your cholesterol levels; and it takes impurities out of your intestines quickly. That means fiber is necessary for proper elimination of waste and colon health. Processed cereals can be chewed fast and digested fast because they have been stripped of their fiber. 

           The manufacturers often put vitamins into their cereals that normally aren’t found in grains.  For example, they fortify cereals with vitamin D and calcium, often 100% of the minimum daily requirement.  Why do you need to get 100% with just one meal and from a food that didn’t have that vitamin to begin with?

          Cooking and eating should not be this hard.  I’m not against processed cereal, in fact I enjoy a few of them as dessert because they are sweet and crunchy.  On occasion they can stand in for breakfast, but to eat processed grains every morning just doesn’t make sense.   

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Use filtered water for your coffee.  Tap water can make it taste bitter.

Copyright ©2010 by Gigi Centaro. All Rights Reserved.

Can a Brownie Become Broccoli?

            I read a recipe that gave brownies a serious makeover.  It substituted cane juice for the white sugar and quinoa flour for white flour.  I didn’t try the recipe, but I’m not doubting it was good.  If you’re allergic to wheat this recipe is a great way for you to still enjoy brownies and I salute the author for giving this option to gluten sensitive people.

           However, here is my problem.  Brownies are a delicious, rich dessert.  They are a high calorie goodie meant to be enjoyed in reasonable amounts occasionally.  When we start to take a treat and give it healthier ingredients we are fooling ourselves into believing it is now good for us.  Giving brownies a healthy makeover doesn’t turn them into broccoli.  If you think the healthier ingredients make them less bad and, therefore, you can eat more then you are fooling yourself.   

          Cooking and eating for health and enjoyment is simple.  Eat real foods, the ones that do not come with a label, cook them simply and dress them lightly.  Keep salt and fat in your diet for satiety, flavor and nutrition.  Make your plate as colorful as possible.  Enjoy all sweet and salty snack foods and desserts in their true from in reasonable amounts occasionally.  Treat soda and juices as dessert and make your beverage of choice water.  You don’t need to re a registered dietician to eat well, you just have to use your common sense.     

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Use one side of your wooden cutting board for savory ingredients and use the other side for fruit.  That way your apples will never taste like garlic. 

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Use Your Head and be a Savvy Shopper

            I read an article about how the government subsidizes the meat and dairy industry.  The argument it put forth was that the government subsidy of these industries makes it possible for fast food to be cheap.  I’m not here to argue with the accuracy of the article’s assumptions.  I’m here to make the statement that Americans still have a choice in what they eat.  No one puts a gun to your heard and requires you to eat only fast food.

           I was in a grocery store just yesterday and I saw plenty of fruits and vegetables.  I agree that fast food can be amazingly cheap and when people are hurting financially, fast food is less of a strain on the budget.  But if you want to eat well you will make the extra effort to look at the grocery store flyers and learn what is on sale.  Then you will shop for those items.

           For example, one store had a 10-pound bag of potatoes for $2.97, a bag of pre-washed salad greens was $2.50, a pound of carrots was 88 cents and oranges were $1.00 a pound. On the other hand, asparagus was $2.97 a pound because it is no longer in season.  In March, I bought asparagus for 97 cents a pound.  I won’t buy asparagus again until next March.  Just use your head and be a savvy shopper. 

           It does take a bit of planning in the beginning, but you can learn to shop using the grocery store flyers and buy only the real foods that are on sale.  It’s all a question of priorities.  I’d bet you’d drive across town for a shoe sale.  If you want to feed your family real food then you’ll take the bit of extra time needed and do your homework.  Consumers still have a choice and they can still exert incredible influence. 

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Use a fork to break ground meat up into small pieces.  A wooden spoon doesn't do it effectively.

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

            I had company over for dinner on Saturday night.  Nothing brings me more pleasure than enjoying the company of friends, good food and spirited conversation.  I love to cook so I go out of my way to make everything fresh and homemade.  Good food always puts people in a good mood because it is so comforting.  Home-cooked food makes people feel special.  It makes them feel important, cared for, and loved.  People stop and savor a home-cooked meal if for no other reason then to appreciate the fact that someone went to the trouble of cooking for them. 

            You don’t have to be a gourmet cook to have a nice dinner.  In fact, it is very easy to impress your friends today because so few people actually cook.  Even a simple meal of roast chicken, baked potatoes and a fresh vegetable will go a long way to please your friends.  Home-cooked food creates the mood to sit, talk and share.  Deli food, fast food, pizza, can be tasty but they just don’t invite long leisurely conversations.  I guess because their very nature means grab and go.

            Eating is necessary for life, eating with family and friends adds to the pleasure of the meal.  Making sure the food is nutritious and home-cooked is like the icing on the cake.  It guarantees a very enjoyable evening. 

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: Taste your pasta to determine when it is done.  Don’t throw it against the wall!

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Dinner Really Can Be this Easy

            I’m not sure why people think dinner is difficult and time consuming to fix.  I made a simple, delicious, nutritious, dinner last night that even an eight year old could have made.  I washed and cut potatoes into medium pieces.  I tossed them with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and some fresh rosemary.  I put the seasoned potatoes in the bottom of a baking dish. 

           I put a baking rack crosswise over the potatoes so it leaned on the sides of the baking dish, but not on the potatoes.  Next, I washed a whole chicken, coated it with a bit of extra virgin olive oil, sprinkled it with salt and pepper and put it on the baking rack.  I put the potatoes and chicken in a preheated 400-degree oven and set the timer for 75 minutes.  (My chicken weighed only 3 ¼ pounds.) 

           I washed 24 ounces of arugula (a dark green, slightly bitter, leafy vegetable, but any dark green leafy vegetable such as Swiss chard, escarole, or collard greens would have been fine).  Then I put 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a pan and heated it on high.  I put in the greens, added ¾ teaspoon of salt, and stirred as they wilted down.  I covered it and let it cook until it was tender.  Then I turned off the heat and let it sit while the chicken cooked.  I cleaned up after myself and went back to work on the computer.  When the timer rang, I tested my chicken and potatoes, both were done. 

           For about 20 minutes of actual work, including initial clean up, I had a delicious nutritious dinner on the table.  What was difficult about that?   

Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes. 

Simple cooking idea: To reheat leftover pasta put it in a colander and pour boiling water over it and drain.  Don't let it sit in the boiling water.

Copyright ©2010 by Let’s Cook Tonight, LLC. All Rights Reserved.