Crock Pot Yogurt

Yogurt is one of my favorite foods. In addition to its nutritional value, it's also a probiotic. There are as many varieties of yogurt as you could want to choose from. My favorites are unsweetened, tangy, yogurts like Bulgarian and Greek. While these are nice for a special treat, they are a little too pricey to be relied upon for daily use.

I had heard of making yogurt at home, but the prospect of buying yet another appliance, like a yogurt maker, for my small kitchen (and an expensive one, at that) squelched my initiative. Discouraging, no? But, rejoice! It turns out that yogurt can be made in a crock pot.

Soothing Food for Teething Babies

My girl, Cara, is 10 months old. If I drop an ice cube in the kitchen, she pounces on it like a duck on a bug. She eagerly grabs for it, and if she can hang on long enough, wedges it between her sore gums or nibbles at it with her baby teeth. Before long, her hands are red with cold, she is sitting in a puddle, and she is frustrated by trying to handle the slippery piece of ice.

Sweet, Salty and Crunchy Granola

For me, finding the perfect granola in the store was like solving a Rubix cube. There was an infinity of ingredient combinations, and purchasing bag after bag was both disappointing and insanely frustrating. Bought-granola ranges from being expensive to ridiculously expensive, and all of my selections tended to be composed primarily of puffed rice, sugar, and a hefty portion of staleness.

Pickled Cherry Tomatoes (courtesy The Culinary Institute of America)

I know a southerner isn't supposed to say this, but I hate fresh tomatoes.

My Favorite Southern Cornbread

Cornbread should be made with melted butter. Dropping the smooth batter into butter bubbling in a hot iron skillet gives the cake a crisp, golden crust. Don't be afraid of butter. It's magical...

What is "Organic," and is it really the best food choice? (Imported from "WaterColors")

Introduction:

The term "organic" carries a lot of weight in the consumer world, these days. Despite that, I usually don't hear any consumers attach any definite meaning to the word. When I hear shoppers describe why they prefer organic products over conventional, the reasons usually include statements such as, "organic is healthier" or "it's better for the environment". While these reasons sound good and are probable, they are also vague. When I hear of local producers defending their choice not to "go organic," the argument is typically that it is too expensive to do so. This is also a little vague, and can be frustrating to those who are concerned with choosing healthy, responsibly produced foods.