Can you bring that again? Arugula, Fig & Fennel Salad October 29, 2009

The last two years I’ve had special requests to bring this salad to Thanksgiving. The fresh fennel is the perfect compliment to turkey.  The figs and arugula dress up the table, and after mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, creamed green beans and all the favorites, it’s refreshing to have something crisp and green!

ARUGULA, FIG & FENNEL SALAD

1 quart fresh arugula leaves or spring salad mix

1 or 2 tablespoons walnut oil (or olive oil)

1 or 2 tablespoons bland vegetable oil

1 or 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar

1 fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced

6 to 8 ripe figs, cut into halves

6 ounces Roquefort cheese or blue cheese, broken into bite-sized bits

1/2 to 2/3 cup walnut bits or halves, toasted

Optional: 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chervil

Place the greens in a salad bowl.  Toss with the oils and vinegar.  Arrange the fennel and figs on top and scatter the cheese and toasted walnuts over all.  Top with chopped fresh chervil, if using.

From “The San Francisco Chronicle Cookbook.”

Baby Steps, Big Breakthroughs October 24, 2009

I made an amazing discovery this week.  I experimented with going a week without a particular food that I suspected was causing me trouble.  Often, but not always, I’d become incredibly drowsy after eating it.

“Why not try going without it for a week?” I thought.

The results are far greater than I’d hoped.  Suddenly, I’m not nearly so tired.  I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed.  I used to have to drag myself out of bed, after having slept far longer than I’d like to admit.  I used to have to eat every two hours.  If I didn’t, I began to feel faint.  Since I’ve cut this food out of my diet, the energy spikes have disappeared.  I used to feel thirsty all the time.  Now, I’m okay.  I still drink a lot of water, but I’m not desperately thirsty the way I usually am.

The weird thing is that the symptoms of being allergic to this food don’t include any of the above.  And I don’t have the symptoms that are typically listed with it.  I still don’t know if I’m allergic to it, or if it just makes my blood sugar spike.

Because everyone’s body is different, and because I don’t want to tempt anyone to think this food might impact them in this way, I am not going to say what food it was.

I will, however, encourage you to listen to your bodies.  Pay attention to how different foods make you feel.  Don’t stubbornly insist on eating the same things just because that’s all you’ve ever done.  Explore.  Try new foods.  Figure out what works and what doesn’t.  You CAN have a healthy body with low-maintenance food.  Just pay attention and make note of what works and what doesn’t.  Good luck!

NYT’s Readers’ Rules on Eating Well October 7, 2009

A book I’d love to read is to be released in January.  A New York Times columnist, Michael Pollan, invited readers to send in their favorite “rules for eating well.”  He says he received over 2,500 responses.  He’s compiled their wisdom into a short book.  Here is a link to what he said about it, and a sample of 20 favorites.

Here’s one I liked:  “It’s better to pay the grocer than the doctor,” by John Forti

I completely agree!

Autumn’s apples October 1, 2009

Honeycrisp apple slices drizzled with Mrs. Richardson’s butterscotch caramel fudge.  Available for but a fleeting moment.  Don’t miss it!