Senin, 30 Juli 2007

Aebleskivers (Danish Pancakes)

Jump to the recipe.Buy an aebleskivers pan. Buy an aebleskivers cookbook.Sometimes being in a new place, really being there, means experiencing some part of its unique food heritage. This is true even if it doesn't fit into the diet plan. And so it was that while visiting Seattle I was introduced to Aebleskivers for the first time. My host Nick, at left working his magic, grew up in a home where

Individual Rhubarb Tarts

I love rhubarb. As a child we had a defiant little patch of rhubarb that thwarted all of my mothers efforts to remove or relocate it. In the summer when it was ripe we would sometimes sprinkle sugar on the stalk and eat it straight from the dirt. The tangy piquant taste is still my favorite for a fruit pie. My great grandmother was famous for her rhubarb pies, which generally ran to rhubarb,

Jumat, 27 Juli 2007

Fettuccine with Celeriac, Artichokes, and Sun dried tomatoes

The two following recipes are the wrap up of the Skinny Gourmet in Seattle trip. I am newly enamored with celeriac, or celery root. So when I set out to prepare dinner for my two hosts in Seattle, I was determined to incorporate it into the dish. Not only does it add a delicious but novel taste, but it adds quite a bit of healthy bulk to a pasta dish.Celeriac is traditionally paired with

Celeriac (Celery Root)

This week's adventures in trying unfamiliar produce has lead me to celeriac, or celery root. This variety of celery is cultivated specially for its edible root. Celeriac's swollen, knobby external appearance often scares off beginners. However, once peeled, it is a nutritious healthy vegetable with more natural flavor than most root vegetables. I am experimenting with substituting celeriac in

Seattle's Pike Place Market

Markets are one of my great loves. For me, walking into a marketplace is like emerging from a sensory deprivation chamber. Suddenly you are surrounded by a throng of people with the colors and smells of the market all around. Fish, chocolate, ripe nectarines, and pungent onions all swirl together. Its intoxicating. Shopping in a market is a great way to fall in love with your food. Shopping a

Selasa, 24 Juli 2007

Wenona's Fontina & Jarlsberg Fondue

I know what you are thinking: there is no place for fondue if you are eating healthfully. But see my post on cheese and see if you aren't convinced. It is better to grant yourself intelligent indulgences than to cultivate a sense of deprivation. And the warmth of melted cheese fondue is the perfect vehicle for memories. Last week my husband and I hosted a going away party. Our entertaining style

Minggu, 22 Juli 2007

Cheese

This is another category that is often too quickly surrendered when one decides to diet. As someone who grew up in Wisconsin however, cheese is not just a food, but a powerful tie to childhood that embodies warmth and comfort. But when many dieters try to keep beloved cheese in their life they make a ghastly choice: faux cheese. In an attempt to recapture the delightful, heart-warming melty

Sabtu, 21 Juli 2007

The Magic of Produce Markets

I'm taking a long weekend out in the Pacific Northwest. I have a very dear old high school friend who lives now in Seattle and a pair of friends whom I lived with in Ghana who are now in Vancouver. Although as rainy as their reputation suggests, these cities are wonderful for exploring. One of my favorite explorations so far took us to the market on Granville Island. Much like Philadelphia's

Selasa, 17 Juli 2007

Meringue with Brandied Peaches and Chai Tea Custard Sauce

This version of a pavlova features brandied peaches on clouds of meringue with Chai tea custard sauce. It is a full-flavored dessert that can fit into any diet, and the presentation is sure to delight your guests. In fact, try not to drool on the screen. Monday night we had a few friends over for dessert and board games. I wanted to serve something light and summery, but a bit unique. The result

Turnips and Parsnips

"4. Try one new thing every week" --The Skinny Gourmet PhilosophyI advocate experimentation in the kitchen. I think it keeps you from getting into a rut. I think trying one new thing a week keeps the kitchen exciting. So last night I put my money where my mouth is. We had friends over for dinner at the last minute. I had decided to prepare chicken sausage and potatoes, because they were available

Senin, 16 Juli 2007

Orange Chocolate Meringues

Meringues...From fluffy and cloud-like to satisfyingly crisp, meringues are the perfect sweet accompaniment to a healthy lifestyle. Once you've mastered the basic meringue recipe and technique, the experimentation begins. Here is a meringue recipe I created to remind me of the dark chocolate orange candies that I used to receive in my Christmas stocking as a child, but the citrus taste makes it a

Sabtu, 14 Juli 2007

Adventures in Meringue

Meringue opens a world of possibilities to anyone trying to eat healthy but delicious food. Whether a soft cloud of meringue topping, the delicate chewiness of meringue as a shell for topping, or the delightful crispness of baked meringue drops, meringue is guaranteed to satisfy the sweet-tooth without busting the waistline. However, like many stars, this wonderful food has a reputation for being

Selasa, 10 Juli 2007

Classic Steamed Artichokes with Alioli

If you are lucky, artichokes are already a part of your culinary repertoire. Artichokes are definitely on the wonder list of foods for preparing healthy gourmet dishes. For those unfamiliar with these versatile vegetables, their unusual shape can be intimidating. For beginners, I have included a detailed "how to eat an artichoke" section at the end of the recipe. The best way to get acquainted

Tip of the Day: Hummus

I'll have to admit that I am a little bit obsessed with hummus. Growing up in a medium-sized Wisconsin town my childhood was more about cheesy-beer dip than hummus. Once in college, however, I was introduced to this wonderful, healthy dip. When we live in Ghana my husband and I make it from scratch. Hummus is great on sandwiches in place of mayo. You get less calories and fat, more protein and

Kamis, 05 Juli 2007

Heidi's Salad

Many of us understand intuitively that food is deeply laced with meaning and memory. A particular smell or taste has the power to conjure nostalgia like nothing else. That power of food can be mastered to make a dish that is a living memory. When I want to remember my summer living in a Costa Rican village, I make Gallo Pinto, the simple combination of rice, beans and local seasonings that is the

Puttanesca Sauce

I never liked olives before I visited Spain, but once I returned, I never looked back. Now olives are one of my key indulgences. Puttanesca is a traditional Italian tomato-based sauce that relies on olives and capers to produce a distinctly hearty and bold flavor. This is a simple and quick sauce that works well dressed up for special occasions or for an everyday meal.Ingredients3 garlic cloves1

Salad Love: Part II

Falling into a rut—optimistically called “doing what’s working”—is another frequent beginner’s mistake that can lead to plateau, decreased health, and eventually falling off the wagon. Why? Many people find patterned eating is an easy key to resisting temptation. They eat the same thing for breakfast every day. Some people go so far as to eat the same things for breakfast lunch or dinner. They

Salad Love: Part I

I grew up in the Midwest. If you are anything like me, you grew up thinking salads were something you ate before a meal, not for a meal. Salads were something to be endured, a punishment even. But bit by bit I discovered how truly delightful salads can be. A great salad is an assault on the senses: bursting with color, the strong scent of vinegar and herbs, that delightful crunch of lettuce

Selasa, 03 Juli 2007

Skinny Gourmet Packs a Picnic: Espinacas Con Garbanzos

Espinacas con Garbanzo is a light and summery dish that is perfect for a picnic. It packs well, serves neatly as a dip for small toasts, and has an interesting and novel combination of flavors. It is a favorite dish from Seville that I brought home to Chicago. Summertime in Chicago this year has been one of the best in memory. My husband and I recently bought a bocce ball set, and have been

Crofton on Wells

We recently took a friend for her 30th Birthday celebration to eat at Crofton on Wells, a well reputed restaurant in downtown Chicago known for a fusion of French and American styles and a dedication to fine foods at a reasonable price. In this post I review the atmosphere, service, and of course, the food!The atmosphere was pleasant and not too distracting. They have a silk paneled ceiling and

Senin, 02 Juli 2007

About Me

First, a brief disclaimer. I would have more truthfully titled this blog “The mostly healthfully sized gourmet, with occasional bouts of being more than healthfully sized” but that just didn’t have the same ring to it. So the Skinny Gourmet it is.I grew up in Wisconsin but have spent most of the last ten years living in Chicago. When I haven’t been living in Chicago I have lived in Costa Rica (

The Skinny Gourmet in Love

I am blessed with a very kitchen savvy husband. That's us, leaving the church on our wedding day amid a flurry of bird-safe sugar-based confetti that turned to sugary frosting on contact with skin. But back when we first met, on our third date, he offered to cook me dinner. He expertly prepared pan seared strip steak with rosemary mashed potatoes and a balsamic reduction sauce. For dessert

Olives!

Repeat after me: I will never ever buy canned olives again. The more processed the olives are, the less taste they pack per punch. By this rule of thumb, the greatest offender of all are the pre-chopped canned black olives. Avoid these like the plague. They taste like nothing at all. I found myself heaping them into a puttanesca sauce in a stunning blunder of judgment. I wound up using two or

Food Tricks for Stocking the Kitchen

The first two food shopping tricks will be familiar to most lovers of high quality foods. The third is a core part of the skinny gourmet mentality.Three Core Food "Tricks" Buy Fresh Buy High Quality Splurge IntelligentlyCutting all high fat foods out of your diet is a mistake. The great secret of thin people who enjoy food is moderation. One important facet of building a life-long delicious

The Skinny Gourmet Philosophy

Too often dieters make a few key mistakes that lead to frustration, decreases in overall health, and eventually to yo-yo dieting. The “secrets” to successful dieting are things we all know if we would give ourselves a chance. Above all, get rid of the idea of dieting and all the mental baggage that comes with it. This is a lifestyle transition to a healthier happier you. You will eat foods you

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