Kitchen Shrink: Seeing double; Fun food doppelgangers
KITCHEN SHRINK:The other day at the market, a fellow shopper pointed to a deep orangey pink-fleshed fish resting on a bed of crushed ice, and asked the fishmonger for one...
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Kitchen Shrink: Chill out when your fridge freaks out
KITCHEN SHRINK:For almost 18 years, I've delighted in helping readers and "fans" with their assorted culinary crises — everything from how to feed ornery in-laws, migraine sufferers, and those with...
Kitchen Shrink: Meal planning saves your health, wealth and wits
KITCHEN SHRINK:A week or two of family faves can be prepared ahead of time so dinner is served pronto from fridge (or freezer) to table without last-minute meal cramming. Here's...
Kitchen Shrink: Putting the kibosh on back-to-school cooties
KITCHEN SHRINK:Chatting with a few teacher friends of mine, they're all eager to open their classroom doors and start the school year with batteries recharged after a leisurely summer break....
Kitchen Shrink: Mix and match for easy summer combos
KITCHEN SHRINK:A dear friend entertaining out-of-town guests for a summer soiree sought out some recipes from my repertoire for safely and elegantly feeding her lactose-intolerant, gluten-sensitive, nut-allergic and vegetarian crew...
Kitchen Shrink: An American Foodie in Europe, Part Two: Italy
KITCHEN SHRINK:Recovering from a one-week binge on butter, cream, croissants and crepes; the soccer family, accompanied by this lucky food writer, waddled the way from Bordeaux to carb paradise. Hopping...
Kitchen Shrink: Ooh la la, An American foodie in Europe – Part 1;
KITCHEN SHRINK:How lucky can a food writer get to be invited to travel with a San Diego family to tutor an 11-year-old boy, whose older brother was participating in an...
Kitchen Shrink: Why are we all snoring? Here are some food remedies
KITCHEN SHRINK:A sleep-deprived girlfriend recently confided in me that her husband incessantly snores like a high-powered buzz-saw forcing her to resort to desperate measures to catch a few good zzzz's....
Kitchen Shrink: Stick it to me! Summer’s sizzling popsicle craze
KITCHEN SHRINK:The other day, while ambling through my favorite kitchen store, I came across assorted pop molds of different designs, but the one that pulled me in had kitschy tiki...
Kitchen Shrink: Boys in blue; the best berries of summer
KITCHEN SHRINK:While strolling along a quaint little street in Northern California, a whimsical window display in a French patisserie caught my eye and drew me inside. I was particularly intrigued...
Kitchen Shrink: Grill and chill this lazy summer
KITCHEN SHRINK:The season's trend to prep indoors — but cook, eat and make a mess outdoors — will apply throughout various times of the day from early breakfasts to late...
Kitchen Shrink: Peaches vs. Nectarines, ringside
KITCHEN SHRINK:There's been a long-standing rivalry between these quintessential sisters of summer, each possessing their own divine attributes. I'd now like to host a championship bout between the two with...
Kitchen Shrink: It’s Tool Time for men of all ages this Dad’s Day
KITCHEN SHRINK:Listen up, guys! Whether you're a strapping young daddy, a career-driven middle-aged father, or a spry elder papa you'll need to adjust your dietary requirements to an age appropriate...
Kitchen Shrink: Summer Spud Salads
KITCHEN SHRINK:As summer breezes in so do barbecues, picnics, and iconic potato salads. The eggy, mayo-based version is a relative newbie on the potato salad spectrum.Spanish explorers lay a solid...
Kitchen Shrink: Aged to Perfection vs. Sweet Young Things
KITCHEN SHRINK:In a society obsessed with aging and an iration for youth, it's funny that in the food world many old ones are actually revered and coveted for their fine...
Kitchen Shrink: Cellulite busters for beach season and beyond
KITCHEN SHRINK:The other day at the dairy aisle of the supermarket, nostalgia reared its head as I overheard a little girl innocently insult her grandmother. As I reached for my...
Kitchen Shrink: Food Quiz – Some Tasty Trifles
KITCHEN SHRINK:Trivia fever is sweeping the nation thanks to "Jeopardy" rock star champion James Holzhauer, captivating viewers by breaking all records (even his own multiple times). I thought it would...
Kitchen Shrink: The perfect gift for the mom with (almost) everything
KITCHEN SHRINK:With Mother's Day around the corner, there's still time to buy your special lady something thoughtful, practical and entertaining in the kitchen, whether she's a butcher, a baker or...
Kitchen Shrink: May culinary flowers
KITCHEN SHRINK:While master chefs embrace edible flowers, especially as springtime blooms, this botanical trend is anything but trendy. Julius Caesar's Roman banquet tables were not only a feast for the...
Kitchen Shrink: Let’s get cagey; The truth about eggs
KITCHEN SHRINK:My grandma would often tell me how much she enjoyed farm-fresh eggs delivered weekly to her home by the friendly egg-man, who happened to be completely bald, humorously reflecting...
Kitchen Shrink: Kick up your heels with herbs and spices
KITCHEN SHRINK:During spring break I experimented with fun and exciting herbs, spices, and flavorings incorporating these darlings into every drink, dish, snack and baked treat. They lend an antioxidant oomph...
Kitchen Shrink: A few of my favorite spring things
KITCHEN SHRINK:So, we're having some soggy days and cooler temps, but look what this season is heralding — spring training and March Madness, a stream of festivals, an inspiration for...
Kitchen Shrink: How to be Irish for a Day
KITCHEN SHRINK:Growing up I our family would celebrate St. Paddy's Day with a giant shamrock-shaped cake to pay tribute to Ireland's patron saint, as well as my baby brother,...
Kitchen Shrink: Perk up without caffeine
KITCHEN SHRINK:While standing in the mid-afternoon I-need-a-java-jolt-or-I'm-going-to-collapse-from-fatigue line at the local coffeehouse, I started chatting with fellow customers as we waited for the barista to take our orders. Whether high-school...
Kitchen Shrink: Growing old happily: Part 2
KITCHEN SHRINK:Let's continue last week's dialogue on promoting a long, happy, healthy and active life by maintaining an optimum diet, which includes throwing toxins and other dangers under the bus...
Kitchen Shrink: Growing Old Happily, Part 1
KITCHEN SHRINK:Recently, the oldest man in the world ed quietly into the night in northern Japan at the very ripe old age of 113. More super-centenarians (over 110 years) are...
Kitchen Shrink: February feasts and festivals
KITCHEN SHRINK:It's hard to believe such a short month is so log-jammed with commemorations, celebrations, and annual hooplas from Super Bowl and Chinese New Year to Valentine's Day and Black...
Kitchen Shrink: Avoid a St. Valentine’s Day massacre in the kitchen
KITCHEN SHRINK:I recently watched with great delight Billy Wilder's classic flick, "Some Like it Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis , and Jack Lemmon. A pair of struggling musicians during...
Kitchen Shrink: Have a ‘Souper’ Bowl for Big Game Sunday
KITCHEN SHRINK:Since I don't have a crystal football, I can't predict which two teams will be vying for the Vince Lombardi trophy at Super Bowl LIII. At this time of...
Kitchen Shrink: Best foods for strong bones
KITCHEN SHRINK:I've recently heard of at least a dozen friends and family of all ages (including my husband who took a nasty tumble at Torrey Pines Preserve), who have...
Kitchen Shrink: A jackfruit of all trades
KITCHEN SHRINK:I'm really not much of an intrepid chef, and can even be a little pedestrian in my tastes and stubborn cooking habits. For the New Year, I'm committed to...
Kitchen Shrink: These are a few of my favorite Cs
KITCHEN SHRINK:During the holiday season, we all tend to indulge more than usual, making us feel like royalty. We especially want to treat ourselves before guilt and gustatory resolutions of...
Kitchen Shrink: Feed your Soul this New Year
KITCHEN SHRINK:While chatting with a chef friend of mine the other day, we both agreed that food trends emerge from our political climate and emotional state. When uncertainty looms, we...
Kitchen Shrink: Reflections and Predictions
KITCHEN SHRINK:This time of year, I get all nostalgic and weepy-eyed, especially with the heavenly holiday aromas perfuming the air everywhere, transporting me back to my childhood. My grandma always...
Kitchen Shrink: Let’s get this party started (Part 2)
KITCHEN SHRINK:"At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely." — W. Somerset Maugham Let's continue last week's dialogue with...
Kitchen Shrink: Global comfort foods with a healthy twist
KITCHEN SHRINK:When autumn breezes in people naturally seem to crave steamy, creamy, fatty, heavy, salty or sugary "comfort foods" of all manners.Although the term was officially coined as recent as...
Kitchen Shrink: Spooky foods beyond Halloween
KITCHEN SHRINK:Believe it or not, the real life food frights that lurk in oceans and fields, on farms and supermarket shelves are even more horrifying than the nastiest witch's brew...
Kitchen Shrink: Tips for hosting a bone-chilling Halloween party
KITCHEN SHRINK:A few years back, my old friends Eleanor and Harry — impersonating the notorious Bonnie and Clyde — hosted an outrageous Halloween shindig. With sheer criminal intent, the pair...
Kitchen Shrink: ‘Sips of Baja’ feast at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Rancho Santa Fe
KITCHEN SHRINK:The friendship between SoCal and neighboring Mexico took a luxurious turn late September under the lantern-lit skies of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa's Sunrise Patio in Rancho Santa Fe...
Kitchen Shrink: The herb garden of my dreams
KITCHEN SHRINK:While recently chatting with a family friend, she exuberantly mentioned that she was whipping up a mixed-green salad with the herbs, lettuces and cucumbers that she freshly picked from...
Kitchen Shrink: Ole Mole! A culinary salute to Cinco de Mayo
KITCHEN SHRINK:A friend of mine was invited to a Cinco de Mayo potluck, and needed an authentic recipe to show her appreciation of the lively Mexican cuisine. The meaning of...
Kitchen Shrink: Dangle a carrot
On the heels of International Carrot Day (April 4) who can resist chomping on a bright orange stalk of sweet goodness. Let’s celebrate this nutrition-packed snack with some food folklore...
Kitchen Shrink: From math to mouth – A culinary numbers game
As dreaded tax season looms, the nation becomes obsessed with numbers and calculations. Food preparation, whether cooking or baking is also log-jammed with a dizzying array of figures since food...
Kitchen Shrink: Spring’s Green Fling
Spring is busting out with seasonal jewels as baby sprouts, delicate tendrils and fragrant leaves blanket the fresh warm earth. Mother Nature’s throwing a coming out party, and you’re all...
Kitchen Shrink: Kicking off the big game this Sunday with some winning eats
Counting down the days for the Super Bowl LII extravaganza, there’s still a little time left to strategize for a creative shindig, whether you’re hosting the event or organizing a...
Kitchen Shrink: What’s Your Culinary I.Q.?
KITCHEN SHRINK:In keeping with the spirit of the end-of-school season, I thought it apropos to give a food-related final exam for your amusement and amazement. Check out next week's column...
Jeff Deverett – on location in his adoptive San Diego – a producer’s story
The life of intrepid film producer and entrepreneur Jeff Deverett, a Carmel Valley resident, reads like a blockbuster movie script. Growing up with an identical twin brother, Larry, made it...
Kitchen Shrink: 31 ways to use pumpkin
KITCHEN SHRINK:Whether it feels like autumn or not, the calendar gremlins herald the season with the invasion of pumpkins. The mighty squash, which is 90 percent water and zero cholesterol,...
Kitchen Shrink: Can’t take the heat? Beat summer sizzle!
KITCHEN SHRINK:When summer’s furnace cranks on, no one really feels like cooking or even firing up the good old Weber. Alas, the only thing we might be inclined to make...
Foods of Red, White and Blue
Let’s pay tribute to America’s birthday symbolically with red, white and blue foods — not artery-clogging red meat, pasty white bread or stinky blue cheese, rather healthier options to bolster...
Easy Summer Salad Suppers
Not all salads are created equal. While some are skimpy heaps of rabbit greens, others are bountiful, beautiful offerings, substantial enough for the main event for lunches or dinners. Here...
THE KITCHEN SHRINK
What a treat rubbing elbows with the crème de la crème of the culinary world during the annual “friendship” luncheon at La Jolla’s Marine Room celebrating the pride and accomplishments...
Eating my way through Parma! Part 2, Cheese!
Growing up, I never really embraced Parmesan cheese, a stinky powder, which was typically sold in shiny, tinsel-green cylinders. When I heard the story of the iconic entertainer, Liberace, who...
Eating my way through Parma! An Italian Food Series
A truffle hunting we will go! Thanks to the gracious hospitality of the Italian Trade Agency, I traipsed through the historic cobblestone streets and bucolic hills of Parma, the gastronomic...
The supermarket is a land mine: Part 2
Let’s continue the dialogue from last week’s column alerting food shoppers of the hazards at the supermarket, and how to avert them — especially contradictory or misleading claims that lurk...
The supermarket is a land mine: Part 1
Attention food shoppers! You are entering dangerous territory that requires careful maneuvering through aisles and shelves, and reading of labels to avoid toxic or unhealthy items. Safe food selections depend...
KITCHEN SHRINK Back-to-school food lessons, Parts 1 and 2
PART1As the dog days of summer fade into the classroom, whether grade school or grad school, students need to shift their energy from brawn to brains and pick foods that...
KITCHEN SHRINK: A fine kettle of fish
The good news is that carefully chosen fish and seafood especially wild-caught, deep sea, cold-water varieties contain a rich store of lean protein, heart and brain healthy omega-3 fatty acids,...
The Kitchen Shrink: Lickety Split! Here’s the scoop on summer’s frozen bliss
July is the celebratory month for ice cream. During the last decade the nation’s soft spot for frozen delicacies has sparked a creamy, dreamy billion-dollar industry that diversified into serving...
Lickety-split! Here’s the scoop on making summer’s frozen bliss
July is the celebratory month for ice cream. During the past decade, the nation’s soft spot for frozen delicacies has sparked a creamy, dreamy billion-dollar industry that diversified into serving...
Kitchen Shrink: Stay cool as a cucumber with summer spices
“Much virtue in herbs, little in men.” — Benjamin FranklinYou can beat the summer heat, and stay calm, cool and collected with a handful of handpicked herbs and spices following...
KITCHEN SHRINK: Manly foods for all ages and stages
Men as a subspecies generally have different moving and non-moving parts than women, along with thought processes and stress coping mechanisms. These need to be fueled by specific nutritional requirements....
KITCHEN SHRINK: Hot food tips to cool your heels this summer
As we transition from spring to summer we tend to dine al fresco, head to the beach with fresh-packed picnic lunches, and generally eat lighter and healthier. We all want...
KITCHEN SHRINK: Food-linked books inspired local cooks
On May 13, Green Acre Campus Pointe opened its doors to a group of gourmets with sophisticated taste buds, inspired chefs and devoted bibliophiles to celebrate the San Diego Council...
Kitchen Shrink: Mind your Peas and Qs
Every season is blessed with an agrarian rock star — fall’s bounty of gourds, winter’s hearty roots, summer’s fresh berries and watermelon, and spring’s green peas and shoots, bursting with...
KITCHEN SHRINK: French Toast, s’il vous plait for Mother’s Day
On Sunday, May 10 mothers across the land — biological, adoptive, foster or step — will be honored, pampered and treasured in appreciation for their years of eternal love, caring,...
Kitchen Shrink: In deep water
California is becoming desert dry in the fourth year of a severe drought that has depleted rivers, lakes and snowpacks. Drop by drop we can make a difference in our...
KITCHEN SHRINK: Solving culinary crises
Inquiring readers want to know everything from putting the skids on pasty pasta to going on a quest for a lactose-free cheese. Your queries are now being answered. Q: Is...
KITCHEN SHRINK: For a hair-raising experience, feed your follicles
At certain times of the year, particularly fall and spring, my hair seems to go into a holding pattern — it grows in slow motion and thins out as well....
Kitchen Shrink: Got goat milk?
Dear Kitchen Shrink:I have trouble doing dairy, whether it’s a sensitivity to cow’s milk or a lactose intolerance. I’ve tried non-dairy alternatives, everything from soy, almond and cashew milks to...
Define yourself, says Graham; it’s the first step to success
When Stedman Graham, Jr. sauntered into the crowded lecture hall on Feb. 11 at Torrey Pines High School, parents and teachers took notice of his presence even before he spoke....
KITCHEN SHRINK: Going nuts over pistachios
One of my favorite childhood pastimes was to sit at the kitchen table and crack open a mound of salty, red-dyed pistachio nuts, making two piles — the shells and...
Stedman Graham, Jr. speaks at Torrey Pines High School: Define yourself by your own metrics; it’s the first step to success
When tall, handsome Stedman Graham, Jr. sauntered into the crowded lecture hall at Torrey Pines High School Feb. 11, 2015, parents and teachers took notice of his presence even before...
Kitchen Shrink: Go for the gold with mighty turmeric
The golden boy of Indian spices, tantalizing turmeric (ginger’s first cousin and the main spice in curry) is as gorgeous and flavorful as it is healthful. It was revered for...
Kitchen Shrink: Dr. Mom’s natural cough remedies
As a self-proclaimed hypochondriac, I’m particularly conscious of the cacophony of sounds (and germs) that fill the air this time of year. The irritating, uncomfortable and annoying coughs — whether...
Kitchen Shrink: Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year enliven February
The docile Year of the Sheep rears its shy wooly head as it wrings in a period of calmness and tranquility less than a week after steamy Valentine’s Day. The...
KITCHEN SHRINK: Winning eats for Super Bowl Sunday XLIX
On Sunday, Feb. 1, at approximately 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time, tailgate parties will be rockin’ and rollin’ from Foxboro and Boston to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Seattle, making a final...
Kitchen Shrink: Righting readers’ rants
As your culinary advisor, mentor and nurturer, I’m also available as a sounding board for your venting and to dole out doses of practical advice … so rant away!Make your...
Teff-lon grain excites the culinary world
Q: Dear Kitchen Shrink, I have a non-Celiac gluten sensitivity, and am growing tired of the old stand bys--quinoa and buckwheat. Do you have any other grain suggestions for an...
Kitchen Shrink: Open Sesame! 13 reasons to love this seed
The delightful proverb, “good things come in small packages,” so aptly describes the diminutive yet mighty sesame seed. Whether pressed into an oil of healing liquid gold, pulverized into a...
Kick-off 2015 the right way: Anti-aging eats for the young at heart
As another calendar year rolls around, that means we will all get one year older, but that doesn’t mean we have to look our true birthday age. (Yes, Christie Brinkley...
Kitchen Shrink: Happy, Healthy Foodie New Year!
• KITCHEN SHRINK:Let’s all put on a pair of rose-colored glasses as the 2015 arrow points to positive trends for a healthier, happier lifestyle for all. Organic farms are sprouting...
Some naughty Noel noshes
Christmas brings a bounty of seasonal goodies to our tables from the much-lampooned fruitcake to close cousins of stollen and panettone. Here’s a decadent sampling of traditional holiday favorites from...
Kitchen Shrink: Know which foods are ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’
In December, temptation takes many holly, jolly edible forms — from rich hors d’oeuvres and calorie-laden cocktails to fatty fowls and decadent desserts. Let’s leave the belly fat to Santa...
KITCHEN SHRINK: That’s the way the cookie crumbles for St. Nick
Globe-flying Santa Claus chews on delicious morsels during his delivery rounds. Here’s a sampling of traditional Christmas cookies from around the world to bake in your own kitchen. Serve with...
the party! Tips for a fun, festive season
For a peripatetic group, the progressive dinner party is truly a blast. Start at the Allen’s for appetizers, then saunter over to the Miller’s for the main event. Stroll down...
Here’s to your holiday herb happiness!
Aromatic herbs and spices scream holiday cheer along the produce aisles. Here’s a winter wonderland of quintessential holiday flavorings to help you get the most from your sweet and savory...
How to trim holiday fat from your dinner table
‘Tis the season for stuffing your face silly from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, punctuated by some fattening pit stops (Chanukah, Kwanza, Christmas and various holiday cocktail parties). According to...
Kitchen Shrink has help for handling holiday happenings
Since we're a communal melting pot and there are many crossovers among cultures, we’re fortunate to be able to partake in the delights of all the December traditions — social,...
Tips for a Fabulous Feast
This time of year, both seasoned cooks and neophytes are cocooning themselves in their kitchens to prepare an impressive, bountiful (and hopefully healthy) Thanksgiving feast. It is also that time...
Kitchen Shrink: Cranberries, the tart little darling of fall
Those bright ruby wax-like balls herald the holiday season as they dominate the supermarket produce aisles. The quintessential fruit of fall, this tart little gem transports me back to my...
Kitchen Shrink: A word about the bird for a terrific Thanksgiving
With Turkey Day around the corner, here are some tips and tricks for pulling off a flawless and fabulous Thanksgiving feast. Don’t be a SkinflintEveryone loves an attention-grabbing centerpiece —...
Expensive expiration dates: If in doubt, don’t always throw it out
Some people interpret food “expiration” dates strictly to the letter of the law, tossing items the exact second they hit the date. This mentality, according to a recent study conducted...
Kitchen Shrink: Sage advice for seamless Thanksgiving preparation
As the holiday season approaches, folks are gearing up for stress- and faux pas-free Thanksgiving feasts. Thanks for sharing your dilemmas and allowing me to help you solve them. I...
Kitchen Shrink: Pepper Power for autumn and always
Over the years I’ve made a culinary observation that the world is divided into salt people and pepper people, and rarely do they betray their loyalties. Salt is a mineral,...
Kitchen Shrink: How Sweet it is! Some Sugar-free Baking Tips
"I enjoy reading your columns each week. I wondered if you would consider doing one on finding sugar substitutes for baking.My 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed last year with Type 1...
Kitchen Shrink: Go wild during National Rice Month
• KITCHEN SHRINK:“Rice is great if you’re really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something.” — Mitch HedbergThis precious grain that has been nourishing populations for more than...
Kitchen Shrink: hip soars in Picky Eaters’ Club
• KITCHEN SHRINK:As back-to-school time approaches, parents need some gustatory coaching so children will be fueled, focused and nourished for the long school day.Budding Taste BudsAccording to Dr. Alan Hirsch,...
Pour on the red-palm fruit oil
Olive oilhas been dubbed the heart-healthy king of its class, making the Mediterranean diet a global role model.Coconut oilbeats the heat like no other fat, has a long shelf life...
Hunger Games in the Real World
At age 6, Nya, a girl living in San Diego, was suffering from malnourishment because her father, a single parent was struggling to raise (and feed) his children on an...