Nov 06, 2009 -
It's uncertain how risky bisphenol A (BPA) is to humans, but I figure better safe than sorry. I threw out my potentially risky water bottles and containers but now a new study from Consumer Reports says there's BPA in my canned goods, too. Metal cans are often lined with plastic that contains BPA to protect the food.
- 7 Comments
Oct 13, 2009 -
While shopping at Berkeley Bowl, I came across the bargain section of fresh produce. Most of the time I won't glance at this section, but a two-pound bag of ripe red tomatoes caught my eye. At only $0.99 per bag, I couldn't pass them up since I had a hankering for a bowl of fresh tomato soup.
- 8 Comments
Oct 05, 2009 -
When the weather is cold, there's nothing like a piping hot bowl of soup to warm the kitchen and the soul. I enjoy making soup on Sunday or Monday. Then I eat it for lunch all week long.
- 7 Comments
Sep 28, 2009 -
Crazed start to the week? Then reassure your stomach and soothe the mind by using yesterday's chicken breasts to make a poultry riff on Provençal soupe au pistou.
This dish consists of assorted vegetables, with pistou, a sauce made of garlic, basil, olive oil, and Parmesan.
- 1 Comment
Sep 17, 2009 -
If you found the recipes for chicken posole appetizing, then you'd likely also find yourself enraptured by this Latin soup as well. What is it?
- 8 Comments
Sep 16, 2009 -
I don't often throw big blowouts like Party does, but I still love an excuse to celebrate in my own way. So, to honor Mexican Independence Day (which just happens to be today — olé!), I'm making a spicy soup called chicken posole. With chicken broth, roasted chicken, hominy, and chiles, this rustic stew is down-home, South-of-the-border cooking at its best.
- 2 Comments
Jul 29, 2009 -
I'm a major supporter of soup, and believe in eating it year-round, regardless of the weather. Yet I know how some of you can't bear to steam up sun shades with bowls of hot liquid in the Summer. If you fall into the latter category, chilled zucchini soup, with its creamy body and subtle flavor, is just the thing to talk you off the ledge.
- 2 Comments
Jun 24, 2009 -
Even if you aren't a fan of warm soups in Summer, it'd be hard not to get behind the tart, herbaceous, chilled Spanish soup known as gazpacho. In-season tomatoes provide a savory acidity, emulsified olive oil gives a creamy mouth-feel, and garlic packs a punch. In traditional Spanish recipes, the addition of day-old bread adds weight and body.
- 2 Comments
May 23, 2009 -
One recent Summer afternoon at Sam's Chowder House, I enjoyed some of the best New England clam chowder I'd ever had. Ever since, then, I've had lingering thoughts of making an inspired version at home, which was further encouraged when I came across a copy of The Summer Shack Cookbook, in which I earmarked a promising recipe for fresh-from-scratch, authentic New England clam chowder.
The recipe calls for quahogs, the unofficial chowder clam of New England, but since those aren't widely available on the West Coast, I substituted them with Manila clams.
- 4 Comments
May 18, 2009 -
I was telling my sweetheart the other day, soup has always been one of my favorite things, regardless of the situation (or the weather forecast, for that matter). Now that the days have grown balmier, there's been talk again of busting out the barbeque. Does that mean it's time to stop slurping soup?
- 23 Comments