Category Archives: Cook

Dear “Health food” companies: We appreciate your attempts to replace cane sugar with other natural sweeteners like stevia or agave. However, they’re still sweeteners that may not be good for the body. May we ask you to practice making your products unsweetened all together and allowing each individual to add the sweetener of their choice if it must be added at all?

Ditto on artificial colors. Without a doubt your marketing focus groups are telling you that consumers expect a food to have a certain color. Please ignore those focus groups. We don’t need the dyes.

With much love,

The health-minded consumer

This week I met a man named Mike Ahmadi. Like me, he is a dedicated security wonk who happens to enjoy cooking. Check out his blog at www.gastronomicmuse.com

Viva Italia!

Try this easy-to-make meat salad with Asian-Italian fusion!

• 1 lb chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 bunch fresh Italian parsley, chopped
• 1 sprig rosemary
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 2 tsp capers
• 1 Tbspn olive oil
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 4 cloves garlic
• salt, pepper to taste
• Oil, vinegar to taste
• Your favorite salad mix (about 1/2 lb)
• Steamed rice

Heat the olive oil in a pan. Add the chicken. Cook until not pink. Add the garlic and let it cook a minute. Add the parsley, rosemary, lemon juice, capers. Add the white wine. Let the wine reduce, maybe 5 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove the rosemary sprig.

Put the salad in a bowl.  Add the stir-fry. Use the salt, pepper, oil and vinegar to your taste. Mix. Serve with a side of steamed rice. Delicioso!