The Skinny Gourmet

Fast and Easy Homemade Tzatziki

2011-06-14T15:53:00.000-07:00

Tzatziki sauce has a fresh vibrant taste that is an ideal accompaniment to summer grill-outs. It is traditionally served cold with Greek and sometimes Turkish foods. Most Americans may know this sauce as the creamy, flavorful sauce that comes on gyros. But if you only eat tzatziki on gyros you are missing out! It works well with conventional greek tastes--such as lamb--but you'd be surprised how

CreativeLIVE with Penny de los Santos: Finding food photography I love, and figuring out why

2011-05-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was incredibly lucky to participate in a live streaming broadcast (thanks to CreativeLIVE of food photographer Penny de los Santos, whose work is often featured in Saveur magazine. Her food photography style favors drawing out graphic elements of food with overhead shots, and setting sharp colors off with white or understated backgrounds. I found out about the workshop the day

Buttercream Cake Decorating: Game of Thrones Cupcakes

2011-05-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

Spring gives some people a burning desire to clean things. I have never suffered that particular affliction. But every spring I seem to find myself newly obsessed, OCD style, with some specific aspect of food. One year it was a burning fascination with making homemade biscotti. I went through dozens of recipes and then once I totally understood the form, I started making up my own. Another spring

Power Cleaning the Fridge: Attempting the 20 minute super clean

2011-04-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to deep clean the fridge in under an hour? That alone sounds crazy, but then I get really nuts and attempt to deep clean the fridge in 20 minutes.

If you ask me about the last time I cleaned my fridge out entirely, I would have to ask when we moved in. I spot clean now and then when I see something dripping. I am ashamed to admit I'm such a slouch at fridge cleaning, but these

Nine things I learned about diet and exercise from a personal trainer

2011-03-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

I am fresh back from my second ever visit to a personal trainer (the fantastic Kandice King. I have always wondered about personal training, but been too intimidated to shell out the cash to try it. I've had friends who went to personal trainers and swore by them. I recognize intellectually that exercise is the other side of the foodie coin, unless some day you want to be someone who has to be

Reflections of First Time Gardeners

2011-03-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

Last year I was a doe-eyed eager first-time gardener. And to complicate things, I was learning to garden in the South, after spending my whole life in the Midwest. The climate and soil and waterfall were all different. I tried to learn what I could, and in my typical fashion I probably even went a bit overboard trying to learn everything about gardening. And then, at some point, I just took a

Eight things to love about Weight Watchers Yogurt

2011-03-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

Early on in my efforts to find a life-long eating style that suited my tastes and my life tempo, I realized that I would be permanent friends with yogurt. It is smooth and creamy, with a texture that instantly reminds me of more fattening desserts, but without all the guilt. Yogurt comes in a dizzying array of flavors, so you are not likely to get completely sick of it. Yogurt has a healthy dose

The most common new year's resolutions...

2011-01-19T17:42:00.000-08:00

Recently I asked readers to share with me their resolutions for a healthier new year. Turns out nearly all the resolutions fit into just eight categories. That sort of surprised me. And while there are some classic "eat less, exercise more" some of the frequently mentioned topics surprised me a bit.

I am forever drinking gallons of water, but I usually feel as though I'm in the minority. I

The Survivor's Kitchen: Share your stories of food, love, cancer and recovery

2011-01-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

When someone you love is diagnosed with cancer it is a shocking, horrible thing. I will never forget when I first heard that my mother had a rare and deadly form of cancer called Synovial Cell Sarcoma. I was living in Accra, Ghana on a Fulbright. I had bought a phone card to use at the public payphone to make an international call, because in those days the cell phone revolution had not yet swept

Resolution Redux: A poignant and painful confession and atonement

2011-01-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

If the date on my calendar is to be believed, I am only one week into 2011. That just feels patently false. Yet there it is, staring at me in black and white. Only one small week into 2011 and already the list of "to dos" and "haven't dones" looms large and staggering like something out of a Salvadore Dali painting. And so, like a good Catholic, I'm resolving to absolve myself through a public

Goals for a healthier new year, and a chance to win $100!

2010-12-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

I'm still trying to adjust to life as a Southerner after our move to Nashville last year. One of the biggest adjustments has been the food. Southern folks LOVE their food, and rightfully so: it is delicious. But traditionally it is delicious in that fried, smothered and soaked in sausage kind of way. Which is to say, not so kind on the behind.

Visit my skinny gourmet reviews blog and read my

Food Photography Workshop at Southern Food Blogging Conference

2010-12-07T10:31:00.000-08:00

The astonishingly gifted Jennifer Davick, food photographer for Southern Living, has put a call out to emerging food photographers! She's teaching a food photography workshop at @foodblogsouth. Interested? Contact Jennifer Davick on Facebook.

You can see more of Jennifer's food photography, and hear her take on the life photographic on her blog.

2010-11-28T03:10:00.001-08:00

Just Have Fun and Enjoy Your Life!!

We all complain about our lives from time to time. An unexpected expense comes up or we get laid off from our jobs. So many things can happen to us in even just one day. Unfortunately, complaining is a waste of time. It is a grown up version of whining, and yes, we too have tantrums. The key to enjoying life is in how we react to the events and mishaps in our daily lives.

Music City Signature Chef's Auction 2010

2010-10-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

This year's Music City Signature Chef's Auction will be held on Monday October 25th at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, and, as always, benefits the Tennessee Chapter of the March of Dimes. This fundraiser event begins at 5:30 and allows guests to sample a wide variety of signature offerings from the primiere chefs of the greater Nashville area. There will also be live music and a silent

Cupcake-palooza: All you can eat cupcakes for $10!

2010-09-24T07:56:00.000-07:00

Late in life I have developed a passion for taste tests. I suspect this could be some nostalgia for a childhood in the 80s where roving Coke vs Pepsi taste test vans dominated the suburban mall experience. Or maybe its just that I like the subtle thrill of the uncertain. Lately in our house we've blind taste tested brands of pickles, cottage cheese (where Kroger brand was a surprising hands-down

Restaurant Week Sept 13-19th: Get three course meals for a steal!

2010-09-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

It's baaaack! Book your babysiters, grab your date, your friend, your coworker...anyone! Restaurant week, one of my favorite innovations, is once again returning to Nashville's independent eating scene. Restaurant week in Nashville is organized through Nashville Originals a group of local dining establishments.

Restaurant week is a great time to try some of Nashville's best known dining spots. A

Bacon: 10 lessons learned about the fine art of hosting a bacon party

2010-09-10T08:38:00.000-07:00

As some of my readers already know, when we lived in Chicago we would occasionally throw bacon parties. That's right. Social gatherings entirely devoted to that gluttony of all gluttonies: bacon. And because our friends were adventurous little foodies, we would always challenge friends to come up with the most delicious and creative dish they could. After a few parties, this started to take on

Will calorie counts change the way we dine? Economic sociology takes a peek at nutritional transparency

2010-08-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Among the many provisions in the loved and decried Health Care bill ("Obamacare to its detractors) passed by congress last year is one that requires restaurants with more than 20 stores to provide calorie information printed on their menus for all regular menu items. Although these regulations nominally took effect in March of 2010, the Food and Drug Administration is still working out guidelines

Tropical "Grillswith": Grilled donuts with the best caramel sauce you'll ever make

2010-07-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that's right. I just did that to you. There you were minding your own business at your computer, you probably thought "what the heck is a grillswith?" and now you are drooling all over your keyboard like a drunken sailor. You might even be babbling a bit. It's okay. The grillswith does that to me too.

I just couldn't resist sharing this photo with you all. It is probably the best example

Individual Spinach Provolone Frittata -- Brunch yourself swanky!

2010-07-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

This puffs up and has the look of a faux souffle with one tenth of the work. I love eggs but my husband doesn't eat them, so I've plenty motivation to experiment with single serving egg dishes that are low work for a fast and delicious morning breakfast. This Italian inspired version, studded with creamy provolone cheese and earthy spinach, is one of my very favorites. This is the perfect way to

Sights and Tastes of the Nashville Farmer's Market

2010-06-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

The Nashville Farmer's Market is a stubborn beast to characterize. I first came to know it only from afar as three enticingly large buildings called the "farmer's market" and open 365 days a year. Somehow my brain convinced me that it was reasonable to think lush, local produce could cover three football fields and that farmers somehow found alternates to sell their produce all the time. This was

The Silly Goose in Nashville, TN

2010-05-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

The Silly Goose1888 Eastland Ave.Nashville, TN 37206615-915-0757Tuesday-Saturday 11AM to 9PM Have you ever had one of those moments where you realize that something truly fantastic has sprouted in your neighborhood and you didn't even know it? When we moved to East Nashville last August I could swear this storefront was empty. And now? A mix of funky, eclectic, charm crammed into a small space

10 ways to conserve water in the kitchen (and beyond!)

2010-05-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

We live in Nashville, where the city is still recovering from the worst rains in the state's recorded history. The floods have taken one of the city's water treatment facilities offline, resulting in dwindling water supplies and impending water shortage. The city has asked all citizens to cut water consumption by half, and they haven't mentioned how long this water conservation effort will go on.

Darling Aprons for Mother's Day: Your purchase helps an Ethopian Adoptee

2010-04-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

"There are 4.5 million orphans in Ethiopia. Help bring one home to her forever family." --Aprons for BedaAround the world there are thousands and thousands of children without parents, waiting to be loved. Lucky ones make it into orphanages, and even there many of them get by with meager provision and meager human contact. Even those orphanages headed by loving caring workers often find their

Food Blogging for Babies! 5 ways to help prevent premature birth

2010-04-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago my first child was born premature. It was a total shock. The pregnancy had been going fantastically and there were no signs that anything was amiss until it was 5:30 am and I was on the phone crying with my OB because my water broke more than 6 weeks too soon.Liam, third day of life, in the NICU and on oxygenToday Liam is a warm, affable, generous toddler who charms just

Saveur's Food Blog Awards

2010-03-07T15:59:00.000-08:00

Saveur's first annual Food Blog Awards are here. These awards seem to be filling the vaccuum left by the Wellfed Network's Food Blog Awards which were among the first of their kind, and enjoyed a huge degree of insider status, though for perhaps the same reason (that they were run by food blogging insiders) they seemed to suffer by being held at dissimilar times each year, without a ton of

A Vegetarian Insiders' Guide: Where to Eat at the Vancouver Olympics

2010-02-14T15:13:00.000-08:00

You know how it is when you are visiting an unfamiliar city: you are faced with the unfortunate choices of going to lame world-wide chain restaurants, following the herd to a handful of spots in the ubiquitous guidebook, or taking your chances and just guessing. Well, I'm here to save the day. If you happen to be lucky enough to have tickets to the Olympic games in Vancouver...I'm jealous. But

Organic, Humane, Family Farm Milk Comes to Nashville's Farmer's Market!

2010-02-06T20:42:00.000-08:00

Living in Nashville and looking to buy milk without creepy hormones made by cows who are treated well by family farmers? Well you are in luck!I know several adults who confess that after watching Food Inc. they had breakdowns in the grocery stores because they were overwhelmed by the vast variety of choices confronting them, especially when so few choices seemed to be things they felt good about

Not your ordinary smoothie: highly nutritious fruit and vegetable smoothie

2010-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

Leafy greens are amazing for you. From pregnant women to healthy adults and children, every time we turn around we seem to find another study touting their benefits. Women's Health Magazine recently reported, "A study in the journal Neurology reports that getting two-plus servings per day of veggies--especially leafy green ones like kale--slows cognitive decline by 40 percent."So if we know they

Chicago Food Blogs I Love

2010-01-26T08:21:00.000-08:00

There is something great about regional food blogging communities. When I first started food blogging I was living in Chicago, and always envious of what seemed to be the very active food blogger communities in places like San Francisco. At the time it sometimes felt like I was one of the few food bloggers covering the large, diverse, and fantastic food scene that is Chicago.Now that I'm in

A Beginner's Guide to Minestrone Soup: How to Improvise Recipes

2010-01-20T10:04:00.000-08:00

Minestrone has a certain kind of magic about it. Making it always makes me feel like I am channeling my imaginary inner Italian grandma. It is a very forgiving dish because you can put so many different things together, depending on what is conveniently at hand, and still wind up with something spectacular. And that is also its charm: when minestrone grows out of the joie de vivre of

Last chance for a great dinner on the cheap: My picks for Nashville's Restaurant Week

2010-01-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

I love restaurant week. Its one of those great concepts that makes my life a better place. Restaurants offer special prix fixe menus for really great prices, and it entices me out to try new places that I might not otherwise have gone to. You get a top notch dinner for much much less than you would normally spend at that restaurant, and the restaurants get exposure and hope to entice you to

New Year's Eve Dinner

2009-12-31T13:49:00.000-08:00

After an annoying delay at the airport (which was made tolerable only because my darling son decided to crawl around and befriend everyone rather than break down and cry), we finally made it home from our long holiday journeys. And it was delicious to be home. As the quiet of our baby sleeping descended on our house, my husband and I realized that we should probably plan a nice dinner for

Six Great Gift Ideas for Foodies, Food Bloggers & Kitchen Goddesses

2009-12-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

From practical to whimsical, here are six thoughtful gifts sure to please the kitchen maven in your life.Jessie Steele Retro Aprons are bringing sexy back to the kitchen. I'm drooling over them all, so I can't decide if I like the Retro Cherries, Classy Black and White, or the Brown Polka Dot Apron. She even makes a Children's Apron.Will Write for Food: The Complete Guide to Writing Cookbooks,

7 Common Foods The Experts Avoid

2009-12-11T07:10:00.000-08:00

You're food savvy. You've heard of the dirty dozen. You try to buy organic. Me too. The winter time is coming to most of us, so perhaps you've just cranked open a couple of cans of tomatoes, added some beef, and you have a pot of warm chili simmering on the stove. Maybe you are baking up some potatoes to go with it. While you wait you pop up some microwave popcorn and snuggle up to watch a movie.

Wasabi Brisket: So good you'll want to slap yourself

2009-11-13T07:13:00.000-08:00

This recipe is somewhat adapted from an award winning recipe originally published in the Chicago Tribune. In general I like to publish original recipes on this site, but the Wasabi Brisket is such a stunning example of some of the basic Skinny Gourmet principles, it had to be included. This tender meat is so unbelievably flavorful that a small serving is very satisfying. Better still, it makes

How to make baby food at home (fast, easy, cheap and organic!)

2009-10-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

QUICK LINKS*The ugly truth about commercial baby food*When do I start solid foods?*How much food will my baby eat?*How many times a day should I feed my baby?*What time of day should I feed my baby?*What kind of equipment do I need to make baby food?*What texture should homemade baby food be?*How do I make and store homemade baby food?Taking control of your baby's own food allows you to be as

The ugly truth about commercial baby food

2009-09-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

If you've been to a couple of baby showers, chances are you have encountered the horrible game of "guess the baby food." Jars without labels are lined up in front of guests. Guests dip a spoon in, taste, cringe, and then try to fathom what alleged combination of foods produced that hideous bland unappetizing flavor. Whenever I have done this I always thought there was some mystical but highly

Arugula salad with goat cheese and summer fruits

2009-08-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

I am profoundly sorry, but no picture on this one. I realize it is one of the grave sins of food blogging not to provide a mouthwatering photo. But I was starving for lunch, and those farmer's market peaches were just calling to me. And I've been on such an obsessive arugula kick lately that the salad began to take shape before I knew what was happening and then it just looked so mouthwateringly

Thai Chicken Larb Gai (Laap)

2009-08-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

This is one of a handful of recipes in my repertoire that I would be lost without. It is so astonishingly full of flavor and nutrition that it makes most of my other recipes run and hide from shame. I could eat it once a week for the rest of my life and never get tired from it. In fact, sometimes we do come close to eating it once a week, because it is so hard to find a tastier, quicker dish that

Foodie Mecca: Expectations and Experience of Achatz's Alinea

2009-07-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

When you live in the same city as what is arguably among the world's ten best restaurants, it is hard to ignore the pull. It is impossible to be a foodie in Chicago and not hear the tales, almost too fantastical to believe, of Grant Achatz and his mystical Alinea. It has all the stuff of legend. A chef who lost his sense of taste to tongue cancer, and then gained it back and so experiences taste

Five Guys Opens in Rogers Park

2009-07-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

I've posted earlier about my dirty little love of Five Guys burgers? Well you can imagine how gleeful I was when I drove by the Loyola el stop and saw the familiar white and red checked decor with a big "coming soon" announcement. Five Guys opened in Rogers Park last Monday. I know this because I tried (unsuccessfully) beating down their doors on Sunday only to be turned away by the sad sign

An obrunyi's guide to eating, shopping and entertainment in Accra, Ghana

2009-07-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a guide or map to places to eat, shop, groceries, restaurants, and entertainment in Accra Ghana? You won't find many good resources elsewhere, but you've come to the right place! After living in Accra for three years, I've transferred my insider's knowledge of living as an expat or "obrunyi" in Accra into a google map, complete with my sometimes random side commentary. From

Ravinia Picnic Tables on Sale

2009-06-20T05:19:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year when most foodies start thinking about the picnic season. And if you are anything like me, eagerly anticipating picnic season looks like a combination of daydreaming about food and gear. Most Chicagoan picnic fanatics will make at least one pilgrimage to Ravinia park to listen to classical music from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, or enjoy any of the touring musical acts

Chamomile Kumquat Tart

2009-06-12T06:53:00.000-07:00

I am bashfully enamored of kumquats. They are like that popular girl in high school who is small, sassy and a little bit of a rebel. You couldn't necessarily hang out with them all the time, but in small doses they knock your socks off.I was munching (skin and all of course) these tart little darlings while contemplating what to make for a nice dinner I was cooking for friends. I had some

Andreae's Vegetarian Moroccan Stew with No-knead Bread

2009-05-26T07:10:00.000-07:00

This dish has that certain kind of tantalizing heat that makes it delightful year round, and I find it particularly perfect for these annoyingly chilly Chicago "spring" days. I first became acquainted with Andreae's Vegetarian Moroccan Stew when our friend Michelle volunteered to bring us dinner after we'd brought our newborn son home from the hospital. Michelle showed up at the door with a huge

Three Berry Chicken Salad with Thyme, Tarragon and Toasted Pinenuts

2009-05-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

I have a deep and abiding love of chicken salad. It wasn't always this way. I grew up a solid "lunch meats" kind of girl, because that's what you eat for lunch when you are from Wisconsin. Maybe mix a little PBJ in the rotation to keep things interesting. But then I married Terry. He was an avowed omnivore, but the more we were together the more I noticed that there were a few things he didn't

Eat Cookies, Help the World (A giveaway!)

2009-05-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

If you have ever found your heart tugged by the idea of child soldiers, AIDS patients, or starving children in Africa then I beg you: SUPPORT ENTERPRISE ON THE CONTINENT. Because a lack of meaningful economic opportunity is at the root of all of those problems. And lucky for you, doing your part to solve the problem can be as easy as sitting back with a tasty box of cookies.I teach a politics

Proposal for Food Blogger Code of Ethics

2009-04-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

Have you, as a blogger, been guilty of plagiarism? I'm a professional academic teaching at a top American university, and I have a no-nonsense approach to plagiarism. After catching a few plagiarized papers, I took this issue to heart. In fact, I administer an academic integrity quiz as part of any course I teach so I can certify that my students know the ins and outs of how to appropriately use

A reader asks: Budget-Friendly meals that are nutritious and delicious?

2009-04-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

If you turn on the television, listen to the radio, or read a magazine or newspaper, the economy is everywhere. It puts a spin on what would otherwise be considered separate domains of existence. So suddenly we are economizing everything from our entertainment habits to our wardrobe. But perhaps no domain has gotten as much ink (or pixels) as the rediscovery of what used to be called,

Look out Chicago: There's a new burger in town

2009-04-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

Discussing burgers is always a delicate affair, because when it comes to burgers there are no undecided voters. Everyone seems already to have an allegiance. I believe this is because a burger is defined by our experience of it growing up. In time we may come to appreciate the finer qualities of a kobe burger rare with white truffle oil, but deep in our hearts we always long for a burgers as

Moroccan Spiced Bulgur & Chickpea Salad

2009-03-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

The hard crunch of carrots and almonds, the chewy toothsomeness of chickpeas and cranberries, against a backdrop of whole grains, touched off with the bright hint of fresh mint, which seems incongruous and yet somehow perfectly ties it all together. Having been raised on casseroles, meat and potatoes, I'll admit to a certain Midwestern bias in me that tends to view with initial skepticism

Slow-Roasted Salmon With Mustard Parsley Glaze

2009-03-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

Our son came home from the NICU on Sunday, and on Tuesday the first of our friends came through our door bearing the gift of home cooked food to help sustain two slightly frazzled sleep deprived new parents. And how we got spoiled by this first food delivery! Our friend Michaela is a foodie par excellence. Her dissertation examines controversies around foie gras in the US and France. She makes it

Slowcooked Beef Bourguignon with Bulgur

2009-03-06T06:35:00.000-08:00

Beef Bourguignon is a standard of French cuisine, and a wonderful example of simple, homestyle cooking that was elevated to status food. Traditionally in the northern regions of France, this dish begins by rendering bacon fat. Now I'm not embarassed to say that I actually have several tablespoons of rendered bacon fat chilling in my freezer even as we speak. I think it is handy to keep it there

Garlic Oregano Oven Fries with Pecorino Romano

2009-02-23T08:02:00.000-08:00

I have a completely embarrassing addiction to french fries. Just the idea of warm, crisp potatoes fills me with a sense of euphoria and makes my little mouth salivate like a Pavlovian dog. And nothing calls to the fry addict quite so much as a home baked french fry, redolent in olive oil, Pecorino Romano cheese, garlic and oregano, still bearing the earthy potato peel, soft inside, crisp outside,

Tortilla Espanola

2009-02-12T16:14:00.000-08:00

Several years ago I took a trip to Spain with a childhood friend of mine. We wound our way through small towns, being enchanted by local honey, olives and cakes of fig sold on the roadside by wizened old men. But we spent most of our urban time taking in Sevilla and Madrid, which were nothing short of foodie fantasies. We stumbled on a hole in the wall restaurant in Madrid packed with locals

Presto Pasta Nights #98 Roundup

2009-01-29T13:33:00.000-08:00

First of all, I am quite sorry for deviating from the norm here. I know this is suposed to go out on Friday night so all of you looking for that perfect weekend dish can peruse, but hopefully you'll forgive me for being early because I have a good reason. I am pregnant and six weeks from my due date. When I signed up to host I naturally assumed the baby would come, you know, when he was due. But

I'm hosting Presto Pasta Nights next week!

2009-01-23T09:36:00.000-08:00

Greetings all. Just wanted to let you know that I will be guest hosting Presto Pasta Nights #98. I will receive entries from Jan 24th (my birthday!) until Jan 29th. The roundup will be posted right here on The Skinny Gourmet on Friday January 30th.Send your entries to skinnygourmet (AT) gmail (DOT) com and a cc to the originator, Ruth (AT) 4everykitchen (DOT) com.To share a recipe for a roundup:1

Salmon Salad: A tasty way to get your Omega-3s

2009-01-21T19:53:00.000-08:00

Suddenly it seems a nouveau bourgeoisie bohemian affect is fashionable everywhere, even on the table. The economy is hitting everyone hard. The "formerly wealthy" ethos is the hip new thing. So feel free to pepper your conversation with little gems such as "Oh is this what it looks like in economy seating, I had no idea" and "I miss my Lexus, but one just can't overlook the fuel efficiency of a

Blueberry Clementine Scones with Pistachio Dust

2009-01-15T09:09:00.000-08:00

These scones elevate the classic blueberry flavor with the fleeting taste of seasonal clementines paired with the taste and texture of pistachio. They are unspeakably good in the morning with a warm cup of white tea. This recipe is a great addition to any baking repertoire, perfect for treating your family or taking to a brunch to impress friends. And the two-bite size makes them much more

Breakfast for Two: Tangerine Buttermilk Pancakes

2009-01-11T11:43:00.000-08:00

Every kitchen goddess has an Achilles heel. As a still-aspiring kitchen goddess I have several. But nothing irks me so completely as my inability to make a fine pancake. I mean really...pancakes? This is like frontier American food. Toothless cowhands with iron skillets were whipping up these delights on the open range. Yet they defy me. So it is probably a good thing that my husband is

The Best of 2008 and Ten Culinary Resolutions for the New Year

2009-01-02T20:06:00.000-08:00

The end of a year is always a wonderful opportunity for making new resolutions about culinary accomplishments I hope to make in the upcoming year, but also for looking back and recapturing some of the best moments of the last year. So I'm taking a look back at my absolute favorite original recipes that I posted in 2008, as well as a few of my favorite essays. These favorites are based on my

Cookie Lovers and Homesick New Yorkers Rejoice: Venetian (Rainbow) Cookies

2008-12-19T06:23:00.000-08:00

You can spot a homesick New Yorker from a mile away. No matter where they live, when they refer to going to "the city" they mean a flight to Manhattan, not a trip to the nearest metro center. Mentioning the words "bagel" or "deli" provokes at least a 15 minute diatribe about how those things don't really exist outside of New York. But recently I was introduced to one of New York's better kept

Alton meets Martha: Classic Cutout Sugar Cookies and Icing

2008-12-13T06:34:00.000-08:00

I was incredibly pleased with the traditional yet delicious taste and crisp texture of these cookies. I loved eating them plain perhaps even more than I liked them iced, which is a true testament to the quality of the cookie. Most of all, I loved making them. I made up a batch of these traditional treats with a very good friend of mine, and they helped me remember that a nostalgic holiday task,

Healthy Meets Indulgence: Cheddar and Gruyere Broccoli Soup

2008-12-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

This soup is warm and indulgent. It has a big flavor that is true to the classic character of broccoli cheddar soups while adding a hint of sophisticated imported gruyere. But unlike most other broccoli cheese soup recipes, this one strikes a delicate balance between health and taste. With a full flavored cheddar taste, this soup packs half the fat and calories of traditional broccoli cheese

Seven Tasty Ways to Transform Thanksgiving Leftovers: From Potato Soup to Mexican Pot Pie

2008-12-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

This year my husband and I slow roasted a 27 pound turkey for 18 hours (take that government regulations for food safety!) and then served it up to 25 of our wonderful friends amid a spread of other succulent food choices. Which all means that the aftermath of this great feast left tons of leftovers in our fridge. While we enjoy a reheated Thanksgiving meal as much as the next guy, it doesn't

Buttercup Squash Ravioli with Parmesan Butter Sauce

2008-11-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

Some folks hear the term "hand-made" next to pasta and started heading for the hills. I can appreciate the convenience of store-bought ravioli, particularly now that grocery stores have started carrying good quality fresh raviolis. Even still there is something magical about the experience of making ravioli at home. I suspect the magic resides not only in the enhanced taste, but also in the

Double Chocolate Biscotti

2008-11-14T09:32:00.000-08:00

It is finally that time of year where the weather forecaster has started to use the dreaded four letter word: snow. I can enjoy the winter just as well as the next gal, but for me the key component to snuggling down in cold weather is a cup of steaming cocoa. And what goes better with that steamy drink that a delicious double chocolate biscotti? True to the balance between taste and health that

Election Night Party: Menus Built Around Battleground States

2008-11-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

Sure, you could just order pizza for the American election night, but what fun would that be? Instead, check out my suggestions to assemble your own fun election night menu of foods based on traditional food from key battleground states. Because if you are an American, chances are you are thinking of attending or hosting an election night party. There is so much energy around this election that

Ina Garten and the Best Pesto You'll Ever Make

2008-10-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

For weeks now my darling husband has been eyeing my basil plants. He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively and whispers that magic word: "pesto." This afternoon he finally got his wish. I took a scissors to my beloved basil. A little bit of time in the kitchen with industrious sounds of whirring and grating and then there he was, offering me a spoon with a touch brilliant green pesto. I like pesto

Olive and Artichoke Savory Quiche Muffins

2008-10-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

These savory quiche-style muffins are bursting with Mediterranean flavors, handy enough to serve at a buffet or grab on the go, and packed with a powerful dose of hunger-fighting protein. That protein, along with a good dose of calcium, comes thanks to a secret ingredient: cottage cheese. The taster reviews on this little recipe are through the roof, and it is being fast-tracked to a "SG Best of

Inexpensive, Healthy, Sustainable Eating Week: Wrap Up

2008-10-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

We started this past week with a new guest contributor -- Butter Vixen -- who was taking up the challenge to eat healthfully and inexpensively for the week while generating a minimum of waste. It all started out with a mouth-watering Latin-inspired Citrus Chicken, the bones became stock for a delicious broccoli soup and the leftovers just keep rolling from there through a week of good eats.

Easy Healthy Broccoli Soup with Rosemary Flatbread

2008-10-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

We are checking back in with our new friends Butter Vixen and Sugar Daddy as they continue in their epic quest to eat healthfully and cheaply for a week with a minimum of waste. Part of Butter Vixen's commitment is to eat a great big serving of cruciferous vegetables every day. These vegetables have health benefits (like cancer fighting) that routinely help them score in those endless lists of "

Nutritious, Inexpensive, and Sustainable: Latin-Inspired Citrus Chicken with Rice and Beans

2008-10-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

Greetings all! With apologies to my regular readers, my day job as a PhD student working on a dissertation and teaching college classes has been consuming a lot of my time lately. In an effort to bring you all more regular updates of the healthy delicious food you've come to expect, I've invited my friend Lynn to contribute to Skinny Gourmet. When we agreed to collaborate on a few foodie projects

Apricot Ginger Cream Scones

2008-10-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

Let these memorable apricot ginger cream scones rescue you from the monotony of blueberry scones. Come take a walk on the wild side.If you are a regular reader, it probably is no big secret that in the last four months I've become an absolute scone fanatic. But this time, the scones aren't for me, I swear. I'm putting together a little food care package for a couple we are friends with who just

Ethiopian Berbere Potatoes, Carrots, and Green Beans

2008-09-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

I believe that Ethiopian cuisine makes a credible claim to be considered an equal among the world's many diverse and celebrated culinary traditions. Yet many people have never experienced the succulent rich blend of flavors that characterizes Ethiopian cuisine. Even better, Ethiopian cuisine, when prepared at home with methods that conserve on oil, offers a flavorful and interesting set of tastes

Pulled Pork with Apricot Bourbon BBQ Sauce

2008-09-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

In further confession of my not-so-secret love of lists, I have to admit that I have been compiling a list of food 'forms' that every foodie (and aspiring top chef contestant) should make at least once. And that led me to the realization that I have never made my own BBQ sauce. Growing up as I did, BBQ wasn't something one made, it just appeared from on high in bottled form. And like a good

Reality TV Cook-off: Hell's Kitchen's Rock Harper vs. Top Chef's Stephanie Izard in Chicago

2008-09-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

For fans of reality TV cooking shows, Chicago is about to dish up a unique opportunity to see, up close and personal, two of the hottest new reality TV chefs face off. If you are a fan of reality TV cooking with a little cash to burn, this is a really fun opportunity. It is being hosted by the Chopping Block, on Monday the 29th of September from 6-8 PM. There are only 60 seats available, so if

The Omnivore's Hundred

2008-09-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that the inner geek in me loves lists. There is something so completely satisfying about a list. It can represent a vast amount of information in a fairly tidy way. It is often the final product of a thought process that carefully considered what belonged and what didn't make the list. And man, who doesn't love to check things off a list? That little tick mark is the indelible

Improve Your Kitchen Prowess: Upcoming Chicago Cooking Classes

2008-08-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

Chicago is a city that provides world-class dining opportunities. But locals know it is also a city that offers a wide variety of learning opportunities to experienced foodies and kitchen newbies alike. I'm sort of a cooking-class geek; I can't get enough of them. While perusing through upcoming classes to satisfy my own inklings, I was excited to see that there is really an embarrassment of

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2008-08-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

The combination of the subtle adobo heat with the bright flavors of lemon and cilantro make this Chicken Tortilla Soup an ideal way to savor those increasingly cool late-summer evenings. This is a soup that I have been making for more than 8 years now. That fact should tell you two things: first, it has stood the test of time. This is one of a small number of soups that are so good that we make

What the world eats each week...

2008-08-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

What we eat speaks volumes about who we are and how we live. If you are anything like me, you often pass the time waiting in those grocery store lines peering into the lives of those around you as the evidence chugs by in carts and on checkout conveyors. Hot dogs, beer, frozen pizza? Bachelor. Diet muffins, diet soda, chips and kool-aid? Mom is trying to lose weight but the kids aren't having any

Gourmet Italian Pasta Salad

2008-08-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

In this dish, pasta salad, that iconic American summer food, grows up and goes gourmet. I bring in high flavor touches like sun-dried tomatoes, hot marinated artichoke hearts, and creamy Asiago cheese to create a high-taste, low fat pasta salad that is bursting with well-balanced Italian inspired flavors. This is a dish that everyone raved about, and had many of my friends eagerly asking "Where

Irish Chicken Salad Sandwich on Soda Bread

2008-08-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

Summertime always seems like the perfect time for chicken salad. It is a medium that offers endless possibilities for creativity to bring an unusual gourmet touch to a lunch or picnic. However, after a series of more innovative chicken salads, I found myself craving something a little closer to traditional, but not so traditional as to be boring. In that spirit, the idea of importing the flavor

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Raisin Scones

2008-07-31T19:20:00.000-07:00

In a busy world, where more and more families spend increasing amounts of their budgets on eating out and commercial food, sometimes you just want home baked goodness. It is a form of love embodied in flour, sugar and butter. It can be self-love when you deserve a treat, love for your neighbors, or love for a friend. But no matter how you slice it or slather it in butter, baked goods are always

Healthier Fruit Crisp Topping (with a hint of ginger!)

2008-07-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

There is perhaps no dessert more perfect for summer than a seasonal fresh fruit cobbler or pie. My husband is a fresh fruit dessert fanatic. There is no quicker way to that man's heart than to surprise him with a pie or cobbler made from fresh seasonal fruit. And if you buy seasonal fruits at the peak of their ripeness, the fruit itself has almost all the succulent sweetness you need, with very

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (and they're healthy too!)

2008-07-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been craving oatmeal raisin cookies like they were a force of nature. But the idea of nibbling at tempting cookies was not exactly in line with my summer "shape-up" plan. Or so I thought. Then I found this recipe by David Lebovitz for all natural, chewy oatmeal raisin cookies. Folks, I may never try another oatmeal raisin cookie recipe again. I'm willing to believe there may be

Kung Pao: Reflections on immigration and food

2008-07-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

My husband and I visited my parents in Wisconsin last weekend. As we often do when we visit my hometown, we got Chinese take-out for lunch one day. And so I found myself glorious slurping a bowl of Hot and Sour Soup, and reflecting on one of life's greater mysteries. I grew up in Racine, Wisconsin. It is the first county south of Milwaukee. We are a town trying to grow past its industrial roots,

Jarlsberg French Bisto Sandwich...for American Independence

2008-07-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

As this Fourth of July loomed, I found myself increasingly taken with the idea of doing something French to celebrate American Independence Day. Why? Do I have some perverse desire to infuriate legions of freedom-friers? On the contrary, I think it is because most Americans have either forgotten, or were never aware, of the debt we owe the French for our success in the Independence struggle.

Blogaversary Recap and a Look at SG's Top Content

2008-07-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

I tried whispering sweet nothings to it and I got no where. I batted my eyes and winked suggestively, but still nothing. And try as I might, my blog just didn't pick up on the idea that for once I wanted it to cook me dinner. It only seemed like a fair way to celebrate the blogaversary. But as it turns out, I am having a somewhat one-sided yet time-consuming love affair.I thought about baking a

How Should I Celebrate My One-Year "Blog-aversary"?

2008-07-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

I just realized (with a startle) that today is July first. Among other things (the summer is going by so fast, deadlines loom etc), this means that tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of my first ever blog post. This makes it my "blogaversary," which is a word I have only recently discovered.This also makes me feel strangely a little old. I still think of myself as the new kid on the food

Mexican Chocolate Meringues

2008-06-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

There is something about summer that draws me to the airy, cloud-like delight of meringues. They are a wonderfully satisfying sweet treat that stands up well to the summer heat. They can be rich and satisfying, like this recipe, or the perfect light foundation for the natural sweetness of summer fruit. Every kitchen should have one go-to meringue recipe to show off during the summer.Last summer

Orange Anise Biscotti with White Chocolate

2008-06-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

I'll let you in on a little secret: biscotti is actually absurdly easy to make. This was a dangerous revelation for me because going to the store to buy them was the only thing standing between me and regular delightful biscotti consumption. But now I carry that heavy knowledge with me. With just a little bit of time and a little bit of effort, and a tiny touch of knife skills, I can whip up

Marc Jacobs for your Food: A Fashion-Forward Take on Summer 2008 Foodie Trends

2008-06-16T07:04:00.000-07:00

Photo from AP, as hosted on Haute concept Haute concept called it "a study in symmetry." In a move that shook passive watchers our of their visual lethargy, the Spring/Summer 2008 Marc by Marc line for men paired half a blazer with half a motorcycle jacket. In other pieces in the line two different tones of the same material came together as two halves of the same blazer. Fashion classics from

Iced Mocha: Mud in the Eye of the Little Guy Coffee Shop

2008-06-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

Normally a fairly happy person, sometimes I just feel the urge to rant. On this blog I've ranted against Starbuck's efforts to brand coffee as the new wine and against the ridiculous marketing of Wolfgang Puck's crappy wrapped sandwiches as airport gourmet. And everyone feels happy, because both those target Goliath, and give him a little spit in the eye. Well, I'm sorry to say, but today is

Lemon Cherry Scones with a Sense of Humor and a Purpose

2008-06-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those moments where you say, "Oh my God, this is all I have ever wanted in a scone" and it has scarcely more than 100 calories? Yeah, me neither. Until now. This recipe became an instant classic in our home. And if that scone looks a bit strange, perhaps a bit suggestive to you, no need to adjust the dial on your internet. It is supposed to look suggestive. This is a

Rainier Cherries and Chevre Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

2008-06-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

This is a sweet and tangy summer salad topped with a naturally fat free dressing that will have you licking the bowl. The dressing gets its thickness from the pectin in natural raspberry preserves and omits oil from the dressing all together. The fats you need to maximize nutrition from all those fruits and greens comes in the form of creamy and smooth soft chevre cheese. The sweetness of Rainier

Wine Festival this Weekend at Chicago Botanic Gardens

2008-06-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend all the foodies in Chicago will be flocking to the city's beautiful Botanic Gardens for a big wine festival. Tickets for adults are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. That ticket gets you entrance to the gorgeous grounds, 10 tastings (out of more than 200 that will be available!), wine seminars, cooking demos, and live music. They also have a special designated driver ticket price that

Kumquat Madeleines

2008-06-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

You should, under no circumstances, make these madeleines. Put down the scalloped pan and step away from the stove. Why? Because they are good. They are good in that "oooh, can't I have just a little bit more?" kind of way that can be very dangerous. For me, this is dangerous because, while I have made some health improvements, they aren't exactly super healthy. And because if they are within

Quick and Easy Cucumber Tea Sandwiches with Chevre Herb Spread

2008-06-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

If you already have an eye to the summer season of picnics, chances are you know how tough it can be to find something that is tasty, healthy, easy to put together and a breeze to pack. These little cucumber tea sandwiches are just that. You can put the spread together in under five minutes. Then it is just grab and go. Leaving you plenty of time to worry about the more important things. Like