Fasly-Kam

We got this recipe from   Smoke and Spice: The  Real  Way to  Barbecue   by Cheryl and Bill Jamison.  12 ounces portobello mushrooms Coarse Kosher or sea salt Dressing: 2 Roma or Italian plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 scallions, sliced Salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste 1 large bag of spinach, or equivalent Crumbled feta cheese, optional Sunflower seeds, optional I've done this in my barbecue/smoker, but I guess you could use a covered grill using low, indirect heat. Slice the mushrooms into large, bite-size pieces and salt them lightly. Arrange mushroom pieces on a small grill pan, rack, or a piece of heavy-duty aluminium foil. Place in the barbecue and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until they ooze liquid and are cooked through. While the mushrooms are cooking, mix the dressing ingredients. Ad...

Hard to believe that July is almost over. How's summer where you live? We're still looking forward to its arrival here in western Oregon ... One challenge we frequently face is deciding what dish to take to a potluck (also known as a potluck supper, spread, Jacob's join, Jacob's supper, faith supper, coverd dish supper, bring and share, shared lunch, pitch-in, carry-in, bring-a-plate, smorgasbord, and dish-to-pass 1). We want to take something that we'll eat. That way, we know that there will be at least one item that fits our diet.This picture from the Wikipedia Potluck page is fairly typical, unless you're fortunate enough to be going to Grok potlucks.  Carbfest, also known as a potluck (image from this site )  Carving station, complete with carbs! ( source )  What kinds of dishes fit the paleo / primal / low carb philosophy, short of bringing a full carving station? Cost is an issue. Protein and fat are more expensive than carbohydrate. Breaking out ...

The nutrition and public health quagmire in the United States has, like a virulent contagion, infected many other topics. “Sustainability” is one of them. Sustainability is a "dialogue of values that defies consensual definition" (Ratner 2004).  Let’s look at the following paragraph from the “Food” section of the Wikipedia page for sustainability (Wikipedia, 2011): The American Public Health Association (APHA) defines a "sustainable food system"[86][87] as "one that provides healthy food to meet current food needs while maintaining healthy ecosystems that can also provide food for generations to come with minimal negative impact to the environment. A sustainable food system also encourages local production and distribution infrastructures and makes nutritious food available, accessible, and affordable to all. Further, it is humane and just, protecting farmers and other workers, consumers, and communities."[88] Lots to feel good about in that state...

The cafeteria at my workplace offers some selections that fit my diet, but they’re pricey. There are a number of fast food and chain restaurants nearby that could do in a pinch, but their cost and the time required make those options unacceptable, too. Packing a lunch is my best option, but I've had to learn a few tricks to make that a part of my routine. Taking leftovers is the simplest choice, but we don’t always have them. My solution is to grill a large batch of meat or poultry and freeze it in meal-size portions. We buy London Broil in the large, extra savings package when it’s on sale. I season them with a 50:50 mix of coarse ground black pepper and Kosher salt. I brown them over direct heat for approximately 2 ½ minutes per side, turning them three times for a total of about 5 minutes per side. Once browned, I move them to the side and allow them to cook via indirect heat until the internal temperature reaches ~137F. While they’re cooking, I can cook some other meat – countr...

Jared Diamond has described agriculture as "the worst mistake in the history of the human race." (Diamond, 1987) "Recent discoveries suggest that the adoption of agriculture, supposedly our most decisive step toward a better life, was in many ways a catastrophe from which we have never recovered. With agriculture came the gross social and sexual inequality, the disease and despotism, that curse our existence."  Inequality and despotism have been, and still are, undeniably present in this world. But we should always remember that association does not prove causation. Might there be other forces leading to these conditions?  Could there be forms of "agriculture" that would not produce them? The term agriculture includes the production of animal products from managed grasslands, not just the production of "cash crops." As I discussed in a previous post , human manipulation of the environment to favor food production (in other words, agriculture) was...