holidays | Page 4 of 4 | The Rambling Epicure

Not to miss: Bittman on Thanksgiving as a model for Sustainable Cooking

Published by Jonell Galloway + Thursday, November 24, 2011 Permalink 0

Don’t miss Mark Bittman‘s “Thanksgiving as a model for sustainable cooking” in The New York Times.

The one thing that is different about Thanksgiving is that we are less wasteful. For the rest of the year, Americans have a record for throwing out at least 40% of their food, while even before Thanksgiving we are figuring out what do do with all the leftovers. Perhaps we should make this our model for the rest of the year.

…The holiday also contains a solution to one of our greatest problems today: our eating. We’re finding it incredibly hard to feed ourselves the way we want. It’s not, as many think, because food is so expensive or we’re so short on time, but because we have a perspective on cooking that impedes our getting real value from our ingredients, or the most from our time.

On Thanksgiving, though, we get it right.

Click here to read the rest of this very important article.

A Thanksgiving Quote: The thankful heart sweeps through the day finding blessings

Published by Jonell Galloway + Thursday, November 24, 2011 Permalink 0

Happy Thanksgiving!

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!— Henry Ward Beecher, American Congregationalist clergyman

Make your own pumpkin pie spice for pies and lattes

Published by Jonell Galloway + Tuesday, November 22, 2011 Permalink 0

Save money on those pumpkin spice lattes by making your own pumpkin spice with this recipe. Click here to see recipe.

Find variations on this spice recipe here.

And if you get a craving for pumpkin pie spice lattes from time to time, here’s a low-calorie version. For an all-out version, whipped cream and all, you might go for this recipe. For a simple version using fresh pumpkin purée, click here.

Thanksgiving: The thanks we have to offer in these hard economic times

Published by Jonell Galloway + Tuesday, November 22, 2011 Permalink 0

by Jonell Galloway

Despite the gloom and doom we hear in the financial news, despite the news about obesity and general unhealthy eating in the U.S., there are things to be thankful for, and this week, it’s perhaps more important than anytime in our lifetimes to remember them.

The food world and eating habits were certainly worse 10 years ago than now. Awareness was less. And above all, hard economic times do not necessarily mean bad times for food. People starve during wars, but during hard economic times, they often tend to go back to basics. They raise vegetable gardens and chicken; at the moment we’re witnessing urban gardens popping up all over the country. They think before they buy, before they throw something in the shopping cart, and that often leads to healthier eating. Fresh, simple, healthy food will always be cheaper than processed and junk food. And then we have a Super First Lady in Michelle Obama is going all out for the future of our children, even planting a vegetable garden as a good example for them.

These are things to be thankful for, but once again, Mark Bittman’s list is better than mine, so I suggest you continue reading. Click here to read his heart-warming, thoughtful list.

Halloween News: “green” jack-o-lanterns, recycled DIY decorations, DIY political pumpkins to geek lanterns, homemade treats

Published by Jonell Galloway + Monday, October 31, 2011 Permalink 0

by Jonell Galloway

50 homemade Halloween decorations, from political pumpkins to geek lanterns, offers loads of ideas for making original, creative jack-o-lanterns.

Click here for recipes for making homemade Halloween treats with your children.

Wee toddlers are sometimes scared by all the ghoulish things surrounding Halloween, so Tera Pearson has created Halloween care packages for toddlers.

Being Green This Halloween is Simple at Goodwill is a wonderful way of recyling old clothes and objects to make Halloween costumes and decorations.

If you still like caramel apples (I do!), here’s an easy recipe for making your own to hand out as treats.

To see a lovely gallery of vintage Halloween decorations, click here.

If you don’t want the mess of the pumpkins, try making jack-o-lanterns the green way by making jack-o-lanterns and Halloween decorations from old books. How green!

Auburn Pub offers lots of tips for keeping Halloween and Halloween costumes safe.

For photo lovers, here are some tips on shooting frighteningly fun Halloween photos.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween News: more healthy and ghoulish treats and recipes

Published by Jonell Galloway + Thursday, October 27, 2011 Permalink 0

by Jonell Galloway

MSNBC Today Show’s nutritionist Joy Bauer says the average trick or treater comes home with the equivalent of 10 cups of sugar and 10 lbs. of butter. When you put it in those terms, you realize if you want to contribute to the health of future generations, there are strategies for choosing healthier options. An easy-to-implement video full of common sense tips for choosing your treats.

Here’s some great Halloween photography to get you in the spirit.

Halloween is Here gives loads of recipes for complete Halloween meals, for both adults and children.

If you’re set on staying green when it comes to Halloween costumes, here are some more creative ideas.

Shine! Yahoo offers lots of healthy savory and sweet Halloween recipes, such as chocolate-covered fruit, as does Family Health and Nutrition.

If you’re planning a Halloween lunch party for your children, here are some simple ideas for giving a ghoulish look to sandwiches, fruit and other ordinary fare.

Betty Bossi’s Swiss Cookbook

Published by Jonell Galloway + Wednesday, October 19, 2011 Permalink 0

by Jonell Galloway

Betty Bossi’s “The Swiss Cookbook”

The Swiss Cookbook, by the famous but fictional Betty Bossi, the equivalent of Betty Crocker in the U.S., can make a good addition to a cookbook collection for those who want to cook Swiss dishes but can’t read French or German. It makes a great Christmas gift, and is handy to have in the house, whether you’re a gourmet cook or just an occasional one.

The recipes are organized by region. In a land with four languages and such cultural diversity, this is a necessity. There is a brief description of each region and its cuisine, along with attractive photos. Each recipe is accompanied by a photo.

The ring binding and glossy pages make it practical to use. The Swiss Cookbook is appropriate for Swiss people as well as for expatriates, because it gives a good overview of traditional Swiss cuisine and contemporary cuisine using Swiss ingredients.

It is an attractive gift for most anyone interested in food.

It can be ordered online from the Betty Bossi online shop, and is also available in many supermarkets in Switzerland.

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