SubscribeAugust 2010
Little Elijah & his lemonade stand (0)
8/17/10 •
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, of course. And that’s just what 7-year-old Elijah Brockington did this summer at an agency in Philadelphia that aids people with homelessness, addiction, health and other problems. I’m working there now (I’ll tell you about the job another time), because the purpose of this post is to tell you about [...]
Water with a taste (0)
8/11/10 •
Sherry Howard, who pens the Auction Finds blog, writes here about transforming water into a tasty drink. I come from a background where everything was fried in lard or pork fat. Years ago, I eliminated all of that from my diet. I eat no pork. I rarely eat beef and mostly eat turkey. I know [...]
A nod to chef Darrell Raymond & Asian fusion (0)
8/02/10 •
Sherry Howard, who pens the Auction Finds blog, writes here about her experience last weekend at the annual Food and Wine Festival in Atlantic City. Up front Ted Allen, the host of several Food Network TV shows, was mumbling into a microphone. I think he was urging us diners at Buddakan’s midday brunch in Atlantic City [...]
July 2010
Beating the heat with a cool fruity drink (0)
7/07/10 •
Citrus drinks are always worthy hot or cold, but on sweltering 100-degree days like we’ve been having for the past few weeks, they are essential.
June 2010
The Oprah factor (0)
6/29/10 •
When Sherry, the co-owner of the We Are Back Women blog site, asked me to compete in Oprah’s national search for a new TV show host, I leaped at the opportunity. I went on the website to find out more about the contest and immediately sat down to write a script. My plan was to do a cooking show, and my hook was to make a healthy version of Oprah’s favorite food – Mac ‘n cheese.
Summer works (0)
6/22/10 •
Despite the city and state’s financial woes, Philadelphia is looking much brighter than it did a year ago. Mayor Nutter is making sure that neighborhood pools open up on time. Just last summer he threatened to shut down more than half of the city’s 72 swimming pools and scale back library hours because of budget woes. Philadelphians were so outraged that he and Recreation Commissioner Sue Slawson launched the Splash and Summer Fund campaign, a corporate and community fund raising partnership designed to keep 69 of the city’s operable swimming pools opened this season.
The magic of pasta (0)
6/14/10 •
not only do my pickiest eaters love pasta but it’s also cheap and fills all of us up quickly. But while I appreciate that pasta is cheap and filling and does have some nutritional value, I always make sure that I also load up my pasta creations with fresh vegetables, garlic and olive oil.
Summer gladness in organic foods (0)
6/08/10 •
I love buying my meats and vegetables from a co-op or local farmer’s market because they are fresher and organic, and most importantly, are healthier for my family.
Refreshing lemonade on a hot summer day (0)
6/03/10 •
In the midst of a heat wave, a cold glass of natural lemonade is both soothing and refreshing. Just imagine how wonderful it tastes with both ginger and fresh peppermint.
May 2010
The ice man (0)
5/25/10 •
I had just spent about $300 on food for my daughter’s college graduation party and a lot of it required refrigeration. I’d been planning the menu for months and wanted to prepare most of the food the night before so that I could enjoy our guests and not be sequestered in the kitchen during the party. And just as I was about to begin prepping the food, my refrigerator decided to die.
Graduation parties (0)
5/18/10 •
My daughter wants an eclectic menu with a Southern/Mediterranean flair for her graduation party. My shish kabobs aren’t traditional, since I don’t have a grill and my oven is broken, so I cook the meat, onions, carrots, mushrooms and peppers and then spear them onto the stick and serve dipping sauces on the side.
Crudites in Bento Boxes (0)
5/13/10 •
Uncertain about what to pack those Bento Boxes I described in my last post? Then, start with crudités and allow your children to choose the food they pack in the boxes. Crudites are not only healthy for your kids but will also help you keep the pounds off.
The Bento Box-inspired lunch (0)
5/11/10 •
My 13-year-old daughter doesn’t particularly like the lunches I prepare for her to take to school, so I am looking for alternatives. I’m drawn to making my own version of Bento Boxes, those small Japanese lunches that are both healthy and enticing.
Walking in faith (0)
5/06/10 •
Whenever I live my life walking in faith, GOD shows me that I’m on the right path because things I need always come to me.
Red hot vegetables (0)
5/04/10 •
Szechuan sauce is heavy and can drown out traditional spring vegetables like peas or asparagus, especially if you use too much of it. It needs something meatier like eggplant.
April 2010
When life gives you lemons … (0)
4/29/10 •
Get used to squeezing fresh lemon juice into your glass of water. Of course, it will be sour at first, but you’ll get used to the taste and will be thrilled with the health benefits (which you’ll realize almost immediately). Then you’ll wonder why you ever drank water without it.
The fruits of spring (0)
4/20/10 •
Have you seen the new government food pyramid yet? It’s really attractive and shows fruit as the most important food group.
No cans (0)
4/15/10 •
I have a standard rule about food in my house, which is: live food for live people. I believe that although GOD has equipped our bodies to handle a lot of the junk that we put into our bellies, that He really intended for us to flourish from eating live foods and a lot of fruits and vegetables.
Spring soup medley (0)
4/13/10 •
A good soup stock doesn’t always have to come from something that walks around. Good vegetarian soup stocks can be made from a variety of sources, and one of my favorites is miso soup.
Southern-style Mexican fajitas (0)
4/08/10 •
Chicken fajitas are a Mexican-based meal that pleases most palates. In picky families, each person can make their own combination.
As the mother of five and a journalist, I've always encouraged people to empower themselves with information on healthy foods and lifestyles. Nurturing our children with healthy food is one of the most important jobs we have, yet as families have become busier or drifted apart, meal times have been sacrificed.
