tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62981494383376975362024-03-13T10:45:35.991-07:00A Little CheesyExperiments in vegetarian and kosher cookingStephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-61340155057832023592011-02-06T09:39:00.000-08:002011-02-06T09:54:58.324-08:00Alert The Press: Miraculous OkraI have an important announcement to make: This weekend, I was successful in getting my husband, Doni, to eat okra!Are you as excited as I am? You may remember that last August, I declared my love for okra. I'll take it steamed, fried, roasted, stir fried, and especially pickled any day of the week. I'm a big fan of the flavor and texture, and I don't mind the slime at all. Doni, on the other handStephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-39710316453902273552011-02-05T19:18:00.000-08:002011-02-05T19:36:17.619-08:00Jicama: My New Favorite SnackRecently, I found myself at a local vegan cafe, and was pleasantly surprised when i found a pile of jicama slices next to my sandwich. I had eaten the root veggie a couple times before, but it wasn't until last week that I realized what a versatile, low cal snack it really is.As easy as a potato to peel and slice (no fruity seeds or cores to make things complicated), 1 jicama is kind of huge-StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-6380223907910160882010-12-23T19:09:00.000-08:002010-12-24T11:59:45.930-08:00Hot Toddy Taste TestAs you know by now, I've had a cold for a few weeks. Desperate for any advice that might help, I've turned to the hard stuff--hot toddies. A cousin suggested I knock a few back with this easy recipe: 1.5 ounces of Bourbon (or rum or cognac), tea, hot water, lemon and honey. Use a big mug. Drink a few and you will feel much better.Simple, right? But with the variety of liquors and teas out thereStephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-70819687062464715702010-12-21T16:09:00.000-08:002011-02-08T17:24:04.120-08:00All the Sweet Stuff: Candy Cane VarietiesThis month, due to a really long cold that just won't go away, my posts have been few and far between. I just haven't been able to do much cooking. So what's gotten me through these cold winter days? Besides Doni serving up lots of hot cocoa, it's all about the candy canes. Why buy cough drops when there are so many varieties of candy canes out there right now (at about 40 - 60 calories a StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-24678538371248183102010-12-15T22:03:00.000-08:002010-12-15T22:36:12.198-08:00Midnight Snack: Sloppy Kettle Corn Treats & Hot CocoaI always get the munchies at midnight. Tonight, I couldn't decide between kettle corn and a sloppy krispy rice treat (with marshmallow fluff and the famous cereal) to go with my fat free hot cocoa. So I decided to go a little nuts and combine the two. The verdict? Delish!Do try this at home: Combine 1 bag of 100 calorie kettle corn microwave popcorn, popped and 2 T fluffy stuff. I put the fluff StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-22512445528837881442010-12-15T13:30:00.000-08:002010-12-15T17:01:17.143-08:00Low Cal Lunches: Veggie Chicken SammyBecause I'm always throwing something together for a quick, healthy--and usually very late--lunch, I decided today to create a new post series on just that. Low Cal Lunches will be short and sweet and always diet friendly.On today's menu? A veggie chicken patty sandwich! I prefer mine to be all Morningstar Farms all the way. Today, I spread some light mayo and mustard on my new favorite thing: a StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-53124543115107023252010-12-14T13:17:00.000-08:002010-12-14T13:54:23.236-08:00Breakfast of Champions: Asian Pear Cream o'WheatLast night was New York City's first real snow. When I woke up this morning, our street was lightly dusted with the white stuff and I was desperately craving a warm, healthy breakfast. Trying hard to shed the cold that I (and the rest of my family) caught from my adorable baby niece over Thanksgiving, I finally felt strong enough to return to my trusty kitchen and give myself the nutrition that IStephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-35848543678762619622010-12-14T10:21:00.000-08:002010-12-23T19:01:15.253-08:00Flashback to Tofurkey DayOne upon a time, when I was an angsty teenager, Thanksgiving was my not my cup of tea. A whole day dedicated to two of my least favorite things (football and poultry)? No thanks. Over time, however, two major factors dramatically changed my point of view.First, during and just after college, I elected to spend the national holiday with friends and boyfriends and their families. Through these StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-87363924355257481702010-11-12T12:37:00.000-08:002010-11-14T15:51:23.990-08:00Halloween Dinner PartyI am a HUGE Halloween nut. As a kid, I loved trick-or-treating and eating from my huge bucket of candy every day after school, all year long. But it wasn't until I went to college that I started craving a fun, sophisticated Halloween experience. You see, I went to a small university where the students just weren't interested in the spooky holiday. I almost went trick-or-treating for UNICEF once, StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-36828052711165709372010-11-10T15:53:00.000-08:002010-11-10T16:01:46.982-08:00Food PhotographyBecause I have taken so many photos over the years of foods that I or others have made, I thought it would be fun to upload them all here in a slideshow. Enjoy!StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-83577434294049134942010-11-10T11:08:00.000-08:002010-11-10T16:13:59.260-08:00Planning Ahead: A Veggie ThanksgivingI was perusing the New York Times food section this morning and stumbled upon a fantastic post about veggie thanksgiving recipes! I felt a little giddy at first, amazed at all of these fantastic recipes and pretty excited about starting to plan Thanksgiving with my mom. Then I realized that this is actually a collage of recipes from an array of amazing articles on various food sensitivities, StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-40106376760489074892010-11-09T12:33:00.000-08:002010-11-09T13:07:02.113-08:00Family Dinners Past: Nacho Night & Pizza/SoupBecause I've been busy the past few weeks and only now really given the chance to catch up on all of my posts and organize photos, I thought it would be a good time to bring up some photos of family dinners past.A couple weeks ago I was watching tv on a saturday night and someone had the gall to say the word "nachos"! Just like my 3 year old nephew, J, at the slight mention of the words "cookie" StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-16376265730390679362010-11-08T20:50:00.000-08:002010-11-09T13:39:26.758-08:00Family Dinner: Southern-Inspired GoodnessBecause I just returned from a fantastic trip to California (link to Baked from the Heart blog post TK) I found myself sitting on the couch tonight around dinnertime in a bit of a jet-lagged haze. Famished, I knew that I needed some serious food nourishment and fast. Proud of myself for actually losing weight in CA thanks to a hotel gym and a serious art therapist dancing session, I wasn't in theStephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-51776268993227038712010-11-08T09:44:00.000-08:002010-11-08T09:52:52.502-08:00In Lieu of Watching Mad Men...Drink like you are mad yourself! My friend Mike just sent me this awesome link to Paste magazine that gives readers tips in drinking like the classy characters of the show. While it makes me a little thirsty, I can't help but disagree with their depiction of Don as a classy drinker who shows restraint. Seriously, Paste Magazine? I will give you some benefit of the doubt, since this was written StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-74029559956868603432010-10-12T08:32:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:59:05.788-07:00StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-20943843656444860402010-10-07T14:13:00.000-07:002010-10-07T14:25:35.738-07:00Shabbat This Week: A 5 Course MenuI won't lie, I'm super excited about shabbat this week because for the first time in so long I am hosting a shabbat dinner! Granted, it's a small one, but I'm very happy to get off my lazy bum and actually have some people over.I just got off the phone with my good friend Joanie and together we created what I think will be a really fun and delicious menu. I'll post photos of the foods if I can StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-51374463903618080152010-10-07T10:46:00.000-07:002010-10-07T11:02:08.442-07:00Low Calorie Tricks & Treats: Protein Water!I know that Crystal Light has been around for what seems like forever, but I just had to share my latest obsession: Crystal Light Hunger Satisfaction! It's 30 calories a packet--which can be mixed into a bottle of water (or a liter, which is what I prefer) and filled with fiber and protein. I like to drink it first thing in the morning or before a high calorie meal to keep myself on track. At StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-27085995864250041862010-10-04T17:30:00.000-07:002010-10-04T18:40:24.902-07:00Family Dinner: Okra Stir FryYou may remember from a previous post that I am a huge fan of okra. Maybe that's because I'm originally from Texas (where it's pickled, fried and stewed all the time), but it just as likely may be the flavor (yum!) and it's overall healthfulness.According to the Good Eats episode currently paused on my DVR, okra is a fantastic source of dietary fiber--one cup has a whopping 4 grams--Vitamins A, CStephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-49115250237832630722010-09-07T17:52:00.000-07:002010-09-07T17:55:30.067-07:00All the Sweet Stuff: Vegan Cupcakes!When my good friend Mike showed me this article, I knew I had to share it! Such a great example of tasty vegan/veggie friendly treats. Enjoy!StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-23359863321007653362010-08-22T00:02:00.000-07:002010-08-23T13:22:01.068-07:00All the Sweet Stuff: Cinnamon BabkaWhen I think of babka, I think of two things: the way my Dad's face lights up at any mention of the yeasty, sugary pastry and the classic Seinfeld episode, below. Babka is like a hybrid of challah and gooey cinnamon rolls. It typically comes in two flavors: chocolate and cinnamon. Though some people feel very strongly about their preferences (my dad doesn't understand why anyone would waste theirStephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-74285555935139173962010-08-21T22:30:00.001-07:002010-08-23T13:24:36.193-07:00Shabbat This Week: Picnic ZucchiniThis week, three close friends of ours--A, J, and adorable little N--are moving away into the great beyond: New Jersey. To celebrate their awesome new house and stifle our tears, a bunch of us had a lovely pot-luck Shabbat lunch picnic in Central Park this afternoon in their honor. As the resident vegetarian, it was my job to bring a vegetable and I chose summer squash.Zucchini and yellow squash StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-44068174189771284322010-08-20T05:47:00.000-07:002010-08-21T22:25:33.589-07:00All the Sweet Stuff: Root Beer's Birthday!It turns out that yesterday was the birthday of the modern root beer float! I hate to admit how long it's been since I've indulged in one. Granny--my mom's mom--used to make them for us on long, hot summer days in Dallas when I was a child. The frothy, sweet and cold beverage (or is it a dessert?) has such a unique flavor--it's like Proustian madeleine transporting me back to Granny's table.With StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-72798873183955378342010-08-18T22:09:00.000-07:002010-08-21T18:29:29.930-07:00All the Sweet Stuff: Snow Cone ShowdownIn our apartment, we take snow cones very seriously and this summer we've been having mini-snow cones every night. Because I've been good today, I'm treating myself to a snow cone showdown.On the roster tonight:Root Beer+Sour Cherrywith Maraschino Cherries VsBahama Mama+Honeydewwith Fresh BlackberriesWhile the root beer and cherry worked well together, it had a slightly bitter aftertaste. Bahama StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-86957246117995325272010-08-18T17:29:00.000-07:002010-08-23T13:28:26.502-07:00Family Dinner: Veggie Chili with Roasted Okra and PolentaI met up with my close friend, Tracy, today for some computer help--thanks, T! We ended up using free wifi at one of the Starbuckses (Starbucksi?) bordering Union Square. Because Wednesdays are one of the four days a week that Greenmarket hits the square, I thought it'd be a shame to head home without some fresh produce--and maybe a cookie or two.After my initial walk-through, one thing was clearStephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298149438337697536.post-3281413301351662912010-08-17T13:20:00.000-07:002010-08-17T23:29:22.760-07:00Low Cal Cheesy PopcornIf you love to eat as much as I do, you probably--like me--want to eat as much as possible without gaining weight. Because of this, I'll readily admit that I loosely count calories. What does that mean? I have a vague understanding of how many calories I should eat in order to stay the same size and a rough idea of which foods offer the best bang for my caloric buck. Just like with money, a good StephSKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587452784833288189noreply@blogger.com0