Tag Archives: colds

Zinc and Other Health Issues

When you think about zinc, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? A vitamin slogan? A cold remedy? For a lot of people, zinc is one of the first things they turn to when a cold is brewing. However, different studies on zinc and the common cold have had different outcomes. One study from the Cleveland Clinic found that zinc didn’t make a difference for muscle aches and fever, but did cut the duration of a cold by half. Another study looked at different types of zinc lozenges used for treating colds — zinc gluconate vs. zinc acetate. In … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: S is for Stew

Stew screams fall to me. While some home cooks shy away from the labor-intensive dish I happen to love the way a piping-hot pot of stew fills the house with incredible aromas on a chilly fall evening. If you are one of those people who love the taste of a hearty helping of stew, but can’t stand the prep work that goes into making it, might I suggest setting aside a single Sunday afternoon to make this incredible recipe. It was created by the folks at Martha Stewart Living, though I tweaked it a bit to conform to the tastes … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: K is for Kale

It’s considered one of the healthiest vegetables around. Kale is part of the Brassica family (along with broccoli and cabbage) and is loaded with Vitamin K (good for the blood), Vitamin A (good for bone growth and vision) and Vitamin C (great for the immune system). The green leafy veggie is also chock full of cancer preventing phytochemicals. Of course, that likely matters little to your youngest eaters, who primarily care about taste. Some of my family members don’t like the bitter taste kale can leave behind when eaten alone. However, the nutritious vegetable is extremely tasty when incorporated in … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: J is for Jambalaya

I live in Wisconsin, home of the world famous Green Bay Packers and the place others come to learn how to tailgate. Around here autumn is known as tailgating season and not just at legendary Lambeau Field. They’re tailgating at Miller Park in Milwaukee, at Camp Randall in Madison, heck, my neighbors tailgate at the local park prior to their grandson’s Little League games. And while it may be hard to believe, residents here cook up more than just brats and cheese curds on game day. Despite its southern roots, Wisconsinites love whipping up a piping hot batch of jambalaya. … Continue reading →

How to Eat Chinese Food Without Feeling Guilty

How many times have you ordered Chinese food since the kick off of the Summer Olympics in Beijing? I’m guilty or indulging in more than my share over the last 16 days. It’s hard not to, after all, Chinese dishes are among the most popular in the world and with all eyes on China for the last two weeks it’s no surprise that requests for regional recipes are at an all time high. Unfortunately, not all Chinese food is prepared the same and the cuisine sometimes gets a bad rap for offering unhealthy choices–many of which are loaded with sodium. … Continue reading →

Making an Edible Bird’s Nest

Much has been made of the most recognizable Olympic venue in Beijing, China. The eye-catching National Stadium, or “Bird’s Nest” was home to the memorable opening ceremony and it is currently housing the track and field events along with men’s soccer. In addition, this Sunday the Bird’s Nest will host the 2008 Olympic closing ceremonies. According to the building’s designer, the hollowed complex allows in maximum sunshine in an effort to make spectators feel like they are in a forest. The designer also noted that the bowl shape was designed specifically to help the audience focus on the bottom center … Continue reading →

More Quick and Easy Back to School Meals—Wrap and Go

Even if your children are not enrolled in year round school the business of getting ready to head back to class is well underway in most households. (Heck, our Wal-Mart already moved the school supplies to make room for Halloween decorations.) With so much to do and so little time to do it preparing 4-course meals is out of the question for many home cooks. If you are pressed for time, but still want to get a healthy meal on the table then these next recipes might come in very handy during the next couple of weeks. The first is … Continue reading →

Hearty Vegetarian Lasagna

This is not a dish you could easily whip up after working overtime at the office and had five hungry (an impatient) mouths to feed. It’s best made on a lazy Sunday or any other time when you have few interruptions. Despite the disclaimer I can tell you that the end result is well worth the effort. When I was first served this particular lasagna at a friend’s home in Hawaii I couldn’t believe it was vegetarian. There’s no mistaking that it lacks ground beef, but the dish was so hearty and the addition of the macadamia nuts gave it … Continue reading →

Healthy Summer Dips

My 4-year-old loves hummus! I feel like screaming it from the rooftops. (But, I’ll settle for announcing it in cyberspace.) Like most kids she doesn’t exactly embrace new foods, but the “smooshy” substance that sat on my plate during a rare lunch out last month intrigued her and she asked to try it. I obliged and to my surprise (make that utter shock) she announced that it was “YUMMY!” After that meal I went out and bought several containers of hummus (infused with different flavors including artichoke, lemon and smoked peppers). However, at $3 for just a few ounces I … Continue reading →

Aimee’s Homemade Dog Food

Since Moose got sick last weekend (and Lally joined him a few days later), I’ve been serving them chicken, rice, and broth. Lally has always been a chicken lover, so I’m sure this is just heaven for her. Moose will eat pretty much anything that doesn’t eat him first, but I bet he likes the real stuff better than chicken in kibble-form, too! It’s started me thinking about how I would make my own dog food, if I decided to keep going the homemade route for the pups. Chicken and rice is an okay diet for an upset tummy, but … Continue reading →