http://http://www.kentucky.com/food/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2009 Kentucky.com A la Carte 60 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:28:45 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench webmaster@kentucky.com http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643769.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643769.html Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:44 EST
When you're trying to save money, one cost-cutting method is to eat more meals at home. "Dining at home is less costly than dining out," said registered dietitian Tami Ross of Lexington. "Just one fast-food value meal costs more than an entire day's worth of healthy meals prepared at home."

Ross, who has a 13-year-old son, works part-time for Internal Medicine Associates and is a diabetes and nutrition consultant to several food and pharmaceutical companies. She understands the "temptation to 'drive through' for a quick meal on the go when you have children who are involved in sports and extracurricular activities," she said.

Ross sees cooking at home as an opportunity for parents to plan healthy meals. "Planning five dinner meals truly only takes about five minutes," she said. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643781.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643781.html Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:45 EST
Or maybe they skipped the black-eyed peas. In fact, since the tough economy has spread around the world, it looks like a lot of people fell down on the New Year's job last year.

There are a lot of foods connected with riches and prosperity. In Spain, people eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight Dec. 31.

Here in the South, I wouldn't think of passing a Jan. 1 without a bite of collards and black-eyed peas. In my family, we also threw in a little crispy fried hog jowl. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643784.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643784.html Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:45 EST
So when we get invited to serve on President-elect Barack Obama's Really Great Idea Committee, we'll suggest issuing all parents a copy of Real Food for Healthy Kids by Tracey Seaman and Tanya Wenman Steel (William Morrow, $29.95). It's a terrific primer on how to cook for and feed your offspring.

Seaman is the test-kitchen director for Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine, and Steel is editor in chief of the invaluable Web site Epicurious.com. Each woman has kids. That blend of experience and expertise makes the book seem less bossy than simply caring and helpful.

They want to help readers avoid falling back on processed foods the notorious "microwave hot dog and frozen pizza" cycle. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643775.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643775.html Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:45 EST
OliveGarden.com's recipe for cream of tomato and basil soup contains 482 calories and 34 fat grams per cup, but I slim it down by using a mixture of tomato pur e, mashed potato and half-and-half in place of two cups of heavy cream. I also substitute chicken broth for white wine. My alterations to this soup cut the calories by 74 percent and slash the fat by 80 percent.

The Taste of Home cookbook's recipe for a three-cheese grilled cheese sandwich has at least 703 calories and 59 fat grams, but I lighten it up by choosing light wheat bread and reduced-fat cheeses. My version keeps the gooey texture but eliminates the butter. Those changes trim the calories by 66 percent and take away 81 percent of the fat.

You can have one of my three-cheese grilled cheese sandwiches plus a cup of my cream of tomato and basil soup for 365 calories and 17.7 fat grams. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643772.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643772.html Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:44 EST
The Kentucky Vineyard Society will have a tasting at the Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference and Trade Show on Monday. The event will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 1801 Newtown Pike. Tickets are $10. E-mail Patachia Fisher at patachia@hughes.net or go to www.uky.edu/Ag/Horticulture/fvprogram.pdf.



A Memphis sampler ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643770.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643770.html Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:44 EST
Here's a reminder of the safety guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before starting to prepare a meal and after handling raw meat or poultry.

Keep the work area clean and uncluttered. Wash counter tops with a solution of 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach to 1 quart of water. Also, be sure to keep dish cloths clean because, when wet, they can harbor bacteria and can promote their growth. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643776.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/643776.html Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:46 EST
All you have to do is eat less and exercise more, right? Well, not exactly.

Here are a few hard realities to consider before you start.

Exercise: You think you can really lose all that weight by taking the stairs rather than the elevator or escalator? Not really. Yes, you can improve your health, but if you are seriously overweight, you'll need to do a lot more than walk up a flight of stairs to lose a significant amount of weight and be fit. That doesn't mean you have to run for two hours each day. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/642969.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/642969.html Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:16 EST
Chef/owner Ouita Michel and her staff at Holly Hill Inn in Midway will prepare the menu. Michel said the feast will begin with the traditional parade of the boar's head. The festive buffet will feature the roast hog stuffed with sausages; roasted onions with balsamic vinegar and honey; honey-roasted chicken; saffron rice pilaf; carrot pudding with currants and dates; sweet-and-sour cabbage and lentils; salad of lettuces, fennel, mint, parsley, flowers and egg; king cake; poached pears; and candied pine nuts.

Appetizers include ancient Turkish flatbread, cheese and walnut dip, spiced toasted almonds, spelt bread and olives.

The feast will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Midway College Dining Hall. Entertainment will be provided by Muzik, a medieval music group that plays authentic replicas of ancient instruments. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/636435.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/636435.html Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:11 EST
Azur in Beaumont Centre will celebrate its fourth anniversary with a five-course dinner. Cost is $65 with seatings at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Lisa The Men in Back will entertain from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Call (859) 296-1007 or go to www.azurrestaurant.com.

Buddy's Bar and Grill, 854 East High Street, will have entertainment by Ember beginning at 9 p.m. in Lucille's Lounge. Call (859) 335-1874 or go to www.buddysbarandgrill.com.

Cleveland's at the Woodford Inn, 140 Park Street, Versailles, is offering a multicourse menu with choices of pan-roasted chicken breast, pork loin chop, prosciutto-wrapped sea bass, filet mignon, and surf 'n' turf. Prices range from $30 to $50. Call (859) 879-6062. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637771.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637771.html Thu, 25 Dec 2008 07:37 EST
According to the Food Marketing Institute, 71 percent of Americans are cooking at home more often and eating out less these days. Sales of cookbooks, cooking magazines and low-cost cookware are rising, as are enrollments in cooking classes.

Beginning Jan. 1, our weekly food section, A la Carte, will offer a series on how to get reacquainted or acquainted if you've never used it with your kitchen stove. First, we'll give you a menu and then show the basic skills, equipment and pantry supplies you will need to prepare a from-scratch meal. With any luck, after following our suggestions, you'll be able to serve our home-cooked meal by the end of January.

Cooking has a lot to do with the desire to learn, but a lot of people think it's too complicated to even tackle. Today, we're offering a little encouragement from local professional chefs whom we asked to tell us how they got started in the kitchen. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637784.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637784.html Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:47 EST
Even when the U.S. government got into the act, threatening to halt brunello imports unless the wine could be guaranteed as genuine, Americans mostly stifled yawns even though the U.S. market drinks 25 percent of the brunello produced yearly.

At a time when wine is being created with an increasingly international accent, it's especially important to embrace and protect regional styles of winemaking like brunello di Montalcino.

So why the disconnect? Was the wine too expensive or too unfamiliar? Was the accusation too minor or obscure? Or were American minds focused on something more pressing, like hustling up enough money to fill the gas tank rather than the wine glass? ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637782.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637782.html Thu, 25 Dec 2008 07:36 EST
It's true that color is usually a reliable indicator of the nutrients inside, and typically the brighter the better. For example, dark leafy greens have more to offer than pallid iceberg lettuce. Even so, winter white vegetables should not be discounted. They might lack the vivid hues of squashes, carrots, beets and broccoli, but light-colored vegetables have many overlooked attributes that might surprise you.

Cauliflower

Creamy white cauliflower lacks the green chlorophyll found in its cousin, broccoli, because the cross-shaped leaves shade the florets from the sun. But this crunchy cruciferous vegetable is a tremendous source of vitamin C and contains certain phytonutrients that might help reduce the risk of cancer. The natural compounds in cauliflower, called glucosinolates, have been linked to a decreased risk of breast, colon, bladder, prostate and lung cancers. Some studies suggest that glucosinolates might also help lower blood pressure. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637781.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637781.html Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:47 EST
That's what we have to say about the holidays.

We simply happen to love eating nuts. Once the weather gets nippy, we always begin storing ideas for winter feasts. This year, nuts naturally came to mind.

Maybe it's because nuts have been getting some great press lately, for the amazing amount of nutrients that they contain. (According to the Yale-New Haven Nutrition Advisor, most nuts have significant doses of the anti-oxidant vitamin E, protein, dietary fiber, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and folate.) ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637779.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637779.html Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:47 EST
Here are my five top picks:

On a wine mission

The Battle for Wine and Love or How I Saved the World From Parkerization by Alice Feiring (Harcourt, $23). ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637773.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/637773.html Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:47 EST
"I was absolutely thrilled to be at the Food Network studios, which made the experience unbelievably exciting for me in addition to being nerve-wracking," she said. "I've never cooked in a televised competition under such time constraints, so I really felt the pressure. I so enjoyed cooking in front of a live audience, having my food judged by talented chefs, and meeting Guy Fieri."

Fieri is host of the show, which features six categories: comfort food, burgers, cakes, hot and spicy, desserts and hometown favorites. Each week's "ultimate" winner receives $25,000 and the chance to have his or her recipe featured at T.G.I. Friday's restaurants.

Another one of Nguyen's burger recipes already has proven it's a winner. She won $2,000 for five-spice pork burgers in the Sutter Home Build a Better Burger contest in November 2007. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/631192.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/631192.html Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:51 EST
For their new venture, owners Jamie Wallace and Max Schwartz have gutted the place, which has been a number of different restaurants.

"They are smoking ribs, beef brisket, pork, chicken and turkey legs. Everything is smoked with applewood," Wallace said. Side items are baked beans, slaw, green beans, potato salad and corn muffins. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call (859) 294-5377.

Distillery shows off its first product ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/631164.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/631164.html Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:13 EST
A good juicer costs a bundle, takes up space in the home kitchen and can be time-consuming to clean, so for the detox without the mess, Good Foods Market and Caf offers an organic juice bar. Here vitamins, minerals and enzymes come in bracing and sweet flavors, freshly extracted from their original packages. The juice bar opened in 2002, a recent addition in the Co-op's 36-year history.

After so long, what inspired it?

"We got suggestions from customers," said Crystal Stites, the co-op's marketing manager. "People would go to other towns and other co-ops and asked us why we didn't have one here. Some of our best ideas come from our customers." ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630659.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630659.html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:22 EST
Wrapping homemade treats can be costly. But by recycling items from around the house, you can save money and also have an eco-friendly Christmas.

Here are some ideas for wrapping food gifts.

Decorate old oatmeal boxes or Pringles cans with leftover wrapping paper or paint. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630661.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630661.html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:25 EST
A popular homemade recipe that has made the rounds for more than 50 years is Chex Mix. The recipe first appeared on the box of Wheat Chex in 1953, and that standard recipe gets a new twist with every generation.

More than 70 versions of the mix appear on Chex.com, but there probably are as many recipes as there are squares of Chex.

Ruth Ann Storrow of Lexington has been making the original Chex Mix for her friends and family at Christmastime for about 20 years. Bethany Prekopa, 11, of Mount Sterling is just discovering the magic of Chex. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630660.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630660.html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:30 EST


Quick baked goods

Susie Quick will help you breeze through your holiday baking. She'll do it for you. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630664.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630664.html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:41 EST
Champagne generally is considered only sparkling wine from the region of France of the same name. And quaffing bottles that bear that name comes at a premium. But there are lower-priced options, including U.S. and Australian sparkling wines, Spanish cavas and Italian proseccos.

"As the years go on, they're getting better and better because the technology and the skill of making these products is increasing," says Wilfred Wong, cellar master for the Beverages More chain with stores in California and Arizona.

This time of year is when sparklers are at their most appealing, says Leslie Sbrocco, author of Wine for Women and a wine judge. "Everybody wants to have a party, and nothing says party better than bubbles." ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630663.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630663.html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:41 EST
Decorating and cooking require physical labor shopping comes with crazy traffic, family gatherings can set off family arguments, and office parties can be, well, awkward.

All this can add up to a type of stress that's unique to this time of year. And all too often, it dampens holiday cheer.

Terri Thompson, founder of The Etiquette Edge, a business and social etiquette consulting firm in Paris, has a few tips for the following scenarios straight from the holidays' dank underbelly: ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630620.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630620.html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:22 EST
"My name is Amie Morgan and I'm addicted to coupons," said the Lexington woman during a recent training session where she was asked to reveal a secret about herself. "I bought nine pairs of Hanes underwear, two bags of Brach's Christmas Nougat Candy and a tube of toothpaste for 63 cents."

Up until six months ago, Morgan was a casual couponer. Oh, she might clip here and there, but it was not a big commitment. But now, with Kentucky grocery prices rising at an unprecedented rate, she started shopping for food savings. She soon found herself idling by the CVS checkout line at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday so she can be the first to get the bargains when the clock strikes 12.

Now she has all her hundreds of coupons organized in a binder. And, she said, "I see more and more people" cruising grocery aisles with the binders out. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630665.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/630665.html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:28 EST
The Original Chex Party Mix recipe

3 cups Corn Chex cereal

3 cups Rice Chex cereal ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/623445.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/623445.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:09 EST
The restaurant is the latest venture of Lucie Slone Meyers, owner of a la lucie, and chef Lindsay Brooks. They're calling their food "Southern hospitality cuisine."

Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Sunday brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (859) 226-0300. The chef's daily specials include meatloaf, fried chicken, pork chops and croquettes.

"They're doing the Bibb salad that was served at Rogers Restaurant with hot bacon dressing," Carol Brooks said. She's joining daughter Lindsay in the restaurant business. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622878.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622878.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:28 EST
Her mother, Jennifer, had picked her up early from preschool. When Josie came out of Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School, she was carrying a picture she had drawn for Ray.

While waiting for Ray's arrival at the bookstore, Josie's mother asked her to show off her drawing, but Josie didn't want any part of that. Her teacher had tied a ribbon around it, and apparently it couldn't be untied by anyone but Ray.

Ray arrived at noon and, after getting settled at a table for her two-hour autograph session and taking a few bites of popcorn, she was ready for Josie and the other fans. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622932.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622932.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:26 EST
An ingredient that adds flavor and richness to many holiday recipes is sour cream. It's usually suitable for everyone's tastes because it's available in regular, light or fat-free varieties, and recipes that call for it are everywhere.

Many people keep a pint of sour cream in the fridge at all times. Simply add a package of onion soup mix or taco or Cajun seasoning, get out the chips or crackers, and it's party time.

Some professional chefs prefer the rich flavor that sour cream adds to certain dishes. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622928.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622928.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:17 EST
We know Sister Schubert as the maker of the dinner rolls that go from the freezer to the oven to the table. They bring the aroma and taste of freshly baked Parkerhouse rolls to homes across America without a speck of flour dusting a rolling pin.

Patricia Barnes is Sister Schubert.

"When I was born, my older sister Charlotte couldn't pronounce my name," Barnes said. "My parents told her to just call me Sister, and I've been Sister to family and friends ever since." ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622926.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622926.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:16 EST
They wanted something chocolate and came up with Death by Chocolate pie. It became a hit with customers, and when the restaurant closed in 1988, Huckleberry continued to take special orders for the pies.

Huckleberry, who now owns Huckleberry's Chair Fetish, 319 South Ashland Avenue, will serve her Death by Chocolate pie at the store from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call (859) 321-3430 or go to www.chair-fetish.com.

Legacy cookbooks ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622938.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622938.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:46 EST
But in recent holidays past, Americans grew fearful of raw eggs and terrified of anything with fat.

Today, grocers stock their cooler cases with all manner of ultra-pasteurized eggnog adulterations: low-fat and no-fat versions, and soy concoctions for which the "egg" in the nog is more allusion than reality.

It's no wonder that eggnog at the holidays now is more clich than must-have beverage. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622935.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622935.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:45 EST
The column was a hit, and for 11 years, Coblentz wrote stories by hand from her farm near Geneva, Ind. She also wrote a cookbook, The Amish Cook. But in 2002, while on a book-signing tour, Coblentz collapsed and died.

Coblentz's daughter Lovina Eicher stepped up to fill her mother's role, although she had more than enough to do at home. The mother of eight, she always had a mountain of laundry waiting, children who needed help with homework, dinners to cook, bread to bake, vegetables to pick, buttons to sew on and prayers to recite.

Eicher's column turned out to be as popular as her mother's. She was welcomed by Coblentz's fans and new ones eager to embrace a simpler way of life. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622933.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/622933.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:18 EST
1 pint light cream

2 tablespoons cultured buttermilk

Bring cream and buttermilk to room temperature by letting them sit on the counter for 1 to 2 hours before you begin. If ingredients are too cold, the sour cream will take much longer to thicken or might not thicken properly. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/615152.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/615152.html Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:12 EST
We asked readers to share their best oatmeal-cookie recipes, and although they have some similarities, these cookies are as individual as the cooks who created them.

Few people are inexperienced cookie bakers, but if you've had a batch or two fail, you might need to review these cookie basics.

If the recipe gives a choice of old-fashioned oats or quick oats, it really doesn't matter which one you choose. But don't use instant oats, which dissolve into mush when stirred into cookie dough. Steel-cut or Irish oats are too tough to be used in a cookie. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/615157.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/615157.html Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:43 EST
Rozelle'sold-fashioned oatmeal cookies

1 cup raisins

3 eggs ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/615142.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/615142.html Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:32 EST
"They have contributed 10 years of volunteer time, energy, food and menus to make this program happen," said Trish Roberts Hatler, development coordinator at Cardinal Hill.

Children ages 6 to 14 with disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism and Down Syndrome, and their families participate in monthly classes taught by chefs and occupational therapists. Three to four chefs, along with occupational therapists and parents, provide one-on-one supervision to help the children with cooking activities in a group setting.

Sunflower Sundries Farm is having an open house Saturday and Sunday. The farm, 5021 Dividing Ridge Road in Mount Olivet, makes soap, jam, mustard and pickles. "We'll have the grain mill set up, and grind fresh corn meal from the heirloom, open-pollinated Hickory King corn we had grown for us," owner Jennifer Gleason said. "We'll be making corn bread and serving it along with a pot of soup." ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/615144.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/615144.html Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:33 EST
I am sure that all of us were shopping sometime this week, either for food or for holiday presents, but I have to ask: Did you need everything? I have bought stuff that I already had in my cabinets. I didn't want to do that again so, for me, it was a weekend of organizing. I found items that I didn't remember I had. It also made me realize that I had more than enough stuff.

Please go through your closets and cabinets this weekend so you don't end up overbuying.

And speaking of shopping, have you tried consignment stores? Consignment shops, thrift shops and secondhand shops are getting more popular these days. It is a great way to get a new outfit without spending much money. So if you are buying a new dress, winter clothes or a present for someone, go out to these stores to get a deal. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/606768.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/606768.html Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:00 EST
Barton's serves wood-fired steaks, seafood and pasta.

Our cuisine is fresh. We prepare our own sauces, dips and dressings, general manager Wesley Bunch said.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call (859) 744-6500. Barton's is at 120 April Way, next to Walmart. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/599555.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/599555.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:10 EST


Barefoot Contessa's rosemary-roasted cashews

11/4 pounds cashew nuts ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/599609.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/599609.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:52 EST
The restaurant part of the Chicago-based chain known for its sandwiches, appetizers, burgers, pizzas and entrees will open at 11 a.m. with lunch specials until 2:30 p.m. Tickets to the Monday night party, from 5 to 7 p.m., are $25. Bar Louie opens to the public at 7 p.m. Call (859) 285-8181.

Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Call (859) 273-7985 or go to www.barlouieamerica.com.

Check out these Thanksgiving menus ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/599563.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/599563.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:21 EST
So I asked experts at four prominent Lexington wine shops to help create a Lexington-friendly shopping list.

On the case were Abbas Larian from Le Matin Cellar, Michael Sorg from Liquor Barn, Krim Boughalem from W+M, and Pat Wylie from Wines on Vine.

I gave each of them the actual five-course menu that I will feature at my holiday dinner and asked for suggestions within three price ranges for each course: $10 to $15, $15 to $30 and $30 or more. The menu is essentially traditional flavors with a few quirky departures, so the picks are adaptable to what you're serving. (Click here for recipes from my feast.) ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/598309.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/598309.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:57 EST
A bowl of mashed potatoes might be smooth and creamy at one house, and lumpy and flavorful with bits of garlic and blue cheese at another. The broccoli casserole has more variations than florets, and the yeast rolls are warm and soft whether they come from the freezer or the bakery, or are made from scratch by Great-Aunt Emma.

Donna Potter, chef/owner of Catering by Donna, grew up in Appalachia and has a diverse staff.

"We all thought our families had fairly traditional Thanksgiving dinner; however, each one of us had a different twist on every Thanksgiving dish," she said. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/599040.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/599040.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:16 EST
She will be at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at Lexington Green at noon Dec. 10. Ray's new book is the "ultimate collection of: all-new 30- minute meals, vegetarian dinners, meals for one, kosher meals, and holiday menus." The book is $24.95.



Mind our manners ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/599042.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/599042.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:17 EST
The book is about e_SDHpgetting back to basics, but that doesn't mean simple mashed potatoes or a plain roast chicken. Nor is it about food trends, which Garten says don't really interest her.

"What I need from a recipe is pretty simple: I want an easy recipe that I can hopefully make in advance, and when friends arrive, I want the house to smell wonderful.

"I'm far less excited by trendy new ingredients or fussy cooking techniques than I am by the basics; I don't see any reason why we can't buy perfectly good ingredients in a grocery store, cook them simply and serve an absolutely delicious meal that will delight everyone at the table," Garten writes in the introduction. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/598303.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/598303.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:19 EST
Veggie surprise pie

For filling:

1 pounds yellow squash, cut into 1-inch pieces ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/590273.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/590273.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:17 EST
Bread flour, sugar, baking powder, yeast, sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips are there, but most importantly, we'll need butter to bring all those ingredients to the taste level desired for holiday goodies.

When it comes to cooking and baking for the holidays, there is no substitute for real butter.

"Anything worth making is worth getting the maximum flavor possible. Whether it's the sweet potato casserole or traditional Christmas cookies, butter really is better," said Kathy Belcher of Louisville, a registered dietitian and program director for the Southeast Dairy Association. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/590275.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/590275.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:11 EST
And speaking of letters to Santa, in Sunday's newspaper, there was a Macy's ad that said the department store would donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for each letter to Santa the store received. Children are invited to drop off their letters stamped and addressed to Santa at the North Pole at any Macy's store in the Santa Mail letter box.

It's all free

From 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, it's military appreciation day in all Golden Corral Restaurants. A free dinner is available to any person who has served in the U.S. military. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/590277.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/590277.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:10 EST
12 tablespoons butter, divided

1/4 cup shallots, diced

1 leek, sliced ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/590278.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/590278.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:09 EST
Onions

Value: In addition to their health benefits, they add amazing flavor to almost all foods.

Nutrients: Onions belong to the lily family, as do garlic, scallions and leeks. A half cup is a good source of vitamin C (5.9 milligrams, 10 percent of the recommended daily value). A half cup of onion also is a source of potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and dietary fiber. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/589220.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/589220.html Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:31 EST http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/582438.html http://www.kentucky.com/food/story/582438.html Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:54 EST
The diabetes diet is about eating balanced meals that are high in fiber, contain lean protein and healthful fats, and contain minimally processed ingredients.

The Joslin Diabetes Center recently revised its dietary guidelines to increase the recommended dietary fiber intake for overweight and obese adults with Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, or high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. The Joslin Center now recommends a goal of as much as 50 grams of fiber daily (in proportion with the recommended daily calorie intake), more than tripling the amount that the average American consumes, according to the Diabetes Diet Cookbook from the editors of Prevention (Rodale, $21.95).

The book explains why fiber is so important for our health, and it suggests ways to add more fiber to our diet. The Fiber-Full Diet Plan is about choosing foods that naturally contain dietary fiber: plant foods such as whole grains, dry beans, vegetables, fruits and nuts. ]]>