TIP OF THE DAY: Polenta For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Polenta, made from ground cornmeal, is a porridge that dates to ancient times. It is gluten free, although not a whole grain*. This traditional Italian cornmeal style originated in Umbria in northern Italy, where it was a simple, hearty peasant food. In the U.S. and U.K., cooked polenta is known as as cornmeal mush. Polenta…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Tomato Substitutes

[1] Luscious, aren’t they! But what do you do during the long span of months when vine-ripened tomatoes are out of season (photo © Baldor Specialty Food). [2] Cherry tomatoes: Not the same thing, but a fair substitute (photo © Casa Barilla). [3] Sundried tomatoes should look like this: bright red and moist. If you…
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Enjoy Cheese More By Pairing Cheeses With Sweet Condiments

We recently dined at a wonderfully creative new restaurant in New York City, Frevo. A cheese course is typically served before dessert, or instead of it. Quite a few connoisseurs prefer to end dinner with cheese instead of something sweet. Our cheese course consisted of Comte cheese, shaved into pappardelle-size ribbons (fettuccine size works, too),…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Low-Calorie Cucumber Salad Recipes

One dish that has almost dropped from sight is marinated cucumber salad. While June 13th is National Cucumber Day, pale-green cucumbers have a place on St. Patrick’s Day: as a side with a sandwich or with a main of seafood, poultry and meat—even corned beef and cabbage or a Guinness beef stew or lamb stew.…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Nutritional Yeast, An Everyday Seasoning You Should Know

One of the latest ingredients embraced by chefs nationwide is nutritional yeast, a seasoning that adds cheesy, nutty, umami flavor—not unlike like the Parmesan cheese in a shaker can, but a little richer and rounder. It’s naturally low in calories and sodium, and is fat-free, gluten-free, sugar-free and vegan. It’s growing in popularity to the…
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