Living Well Etc.

Look out baby, Memorial Day is nearing so barbecue season has officially begun        I bet this sounds familiar.    You are standing in the middle of your backyard, drooling on the bucket of just pulled weeds, because an enticing aroma of yummy barbecue wafts through the air.    Sadly, it is not coming from your grill.    The bad and good news of this tasty temptation is that I'm that neighbor torturing you with mouthwatering BBQ aromas, but I'm letting you in on some of my secrets!   Good BBQ begins in the kitchen Although not a food snob, I am particular.  I believe that the best 'cue begins in the kitchen.   Fresh food is a must, and it has to be cooked just right.  Moreover, whatever goes on the grill must be bursting with flavor.  Luckily, I have a prolific herb garden.  This won't rub you the wrong way Since I tend to lean toward Mediterranean dish...

  Holiday dinners with the Italian side of my family are some of my best memories.  With Thanksgiving coming up very soon, those memories are playing with my sense of reality, as fond memories tend to do.  I just want to jump into those visions and be that little girl watching my grandpa, as head of the family, command everyone to "mangiare" (eat).  These events were full of playful banter and the occasional heated discussion that always ended in laughter and wine.  Nevertheless, for the most part, they were centered around dining—cooking, drinking good wine, sharing, and eating.  One really can't just sit at the table and chow down though.  This is especially true at the Italian table.  I noticed this on our latest trip to Italy as well.  Our interactions with one another are very important.  And we weave our interactions around the meal.  It's like an intricate dance of interaction and precise utensil usage, all the wh...

  The Worst Party Dear Rebecca, What is the worst and parties you’ve attended or given as well as what made them so? Wondering Dear Wondering, The worst I hosted was for my daughter’s 12 th birthday party. My planning focused on all the invitees: gift bags, a variety of games with prizes, birthday cake, candles, and the lot.   The one thing I didn’t plan well was to make sure that my daughter was the center of attention.   I expected her to be a cohost and cater to the guests.   Not good.    Huge mistake!   This was her special occasion, her party.   Children want to feel as if their birthday party is all about them.   They need to win some of the prizes.   They need to be the center of attention.   They need to feel special.   So, this was a good lesson for me.   Message to daughter: Sorry, Shannon.   You are special to me.   The Best Party One of my dear friends hosted a wonderful...

  The What, Where, and Why of Burgundian Wines For years I wanted to see the lush interior of France, more specifically the vineyards of Burgundy.   Still, it was the wines I was most interested in exploring.   Wines from Burgundy don't carry the clout of their nearby cousins in Bordeaux, but they are some of my favorites.   Since the wine was a huge draw for me to visit, I took every opportunity to learn more while in that special place.   What follows is what I learned.   Grapes, Grapes Everywhere & Quite a Bit to Drink Burgundian wines are primarily made from the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.   Yum!   Like most French wines, the name of the wine is based on the area or region and not the varietal as is common here in the U.S .   The white wines of Burgundy—made with Chardonnay grapes—come from these regions: Chablis, Mâconnais, Côte Chalonnaise and Côte de Beaune—some of the best.   Wines from Chablis are a dry Chardonna...

Summer is the Best Season for Dieting! As a woman over sixty with an activity-limiting autoimmune disease, I must adhere to a calorie-reduced diet if I wish to fit into anything remotely resembling a swimsuit this summer.  However, the good news is that this is the absolute best season for dieting!   Best part, for me at least, is that most of my diet food choices come from my backyard.  I plant a few vegetable plants in the garden, apply a bit of water, and a flood of ripe, yummy, low-cal treats is my reward.  Interested?  Follow along to get summer-thin with me by eating healthy summer foods like these.    Low-Calorie Summer Breakfasts Can be Colorful and Delicious. Taking advantage of the plentiful fruit in summer , I begin the day with vibrant colors and unbeatable flavors.  My favorites include blueberries and halved strawberries topped with a 1/2 cup of fat-free yogurt--less than 200 calories.   ...

  Dining Gluten-Free I am planning a special tea for my favorite gal pal.  I thought creating desserts for the tea might be difficult since she is gluten intolerant.  Surprisingly, I have found that some of my favorite recipes are perfect choices—delicious too.     My Favorite, Decadent Flourless Chocolate Cake Through the years, I have streamlined the steps of this amazingly simple, yet elegant recipe.  I cheat a bit by using a microwave and bittersweet chocolate chips.   Begin by setting the oven to 350 degrees, spray a 9-inch springform pan with oil and dust it with cocoa powder.   Cut 1-cup unsalted butter into pieces and add it, ¼-cup heavy cream, and 8-ounces of chocolate chips to a glass bowl.  In the microwave, heat at full power for one minute and stir.  Continue cooking at 30-second intervals until melted.    Lightly whisk 5 eggs with 1-cup sugar and ¼-cup ...

  Join Me for an Alfresco Dinner From My Organic Vegetable Garden Summer is the best time for organic gardeners.  This summer is no different.  Most days were hot, but not too hot.  Most nights were cool, but not too cool—perfect for a bountiful and healthy garden.  In fact, since the weather has been so perfect, my vegetable garden is overflowing with delectable goodies just ready to make their table debut.  Tonight should be ideal for an alfresco dinner on my herb and flower-lined patio, so let's get cooking! Munchies Are An Imperative. Purple eggplant orbs hang like plentiful ornaments just waiting to be plucked for my culinary masterpieces.  Today's will be a roasted-eggplant-herbal dip served with freshly harvested carrots, bell peppers, and zucchini cut into pencil stick pieces. Slicing the eggplant in quarters, I sprinkle it with olive oil and salt and roast it on high heat until done—about 20 minutes. It...

  What to do with an overabundance of lemons?  Try making preserved lemons.  It is amazingly easy and there are a variety of recipes out there.  All one needs to do is to quarter the lemon—I prefer Meyer—sprinkle each piece heavily with Kosher salt, and pack all into a container with lemon juice covering the sour, salty mixture.   I don’t actually 'can' mine.  I just set the containers on the kitchen counter for about a month and then freeze them.    What to do with the preserved lemons?  That’s the fun part.  Since the flavor is remarkably similar to lemony capers, I chose to make a simple pasta with them.  Super yummy choice. List of Ingredients.   Amounts are a personal choice. Roughly ¼ cup of preserved lemons cut into thin half-inch long pieces A bunch of asparagus sliced into one-inch pieces 2 cups of cooked string pasta of choice (I used vermicelli) 2 cloves garlic...

  Curious Visitor Asks About Wine & Food Pairing  As an etiquette professional for well over twenty years, I have been asked thousands of questions.  Obviously, the majority are etiquette -related, with many about relationships. However, as we see here, some concern entertaining, which makes it perfect for posting here.  Dear Rebecca,  Please tell me what kind of dishes are best for serving with red wine?  Best regards,  Visitor from Sofia, Bulgaria  Dear Visitor from Sofia, Bulgaria,  There are many styles of wine, so this question is a bit difficult.  First, the darker the wine, typically the fuller the body.  The body style is the texture and weight of the wine, think skim milk, to heavy cream. Some lighter reds (Chianti or Beaujolais) have more acid which would pair with more food—heavier wines (Cabernet) usually don't unless they are fruit-forward.    Look for some fruit or pepp...

How to Look & Feel Younger in Our 60's It’s everywhere I look, especially during the warm months.  Beautiful, young, flawless women adorn billboards, magazine covers, and every single webpage I peruse.  I never felt intimidated before, as I’m a life-long fitness and health nut.  However, now that I’m 60+, I’m feeling a tad insecure about my appearance.  Those years are beginning to show up in my mirror.  Besides going under the knife, I’ve found a few less-risky options for all of us who are over a certain age.  Follow along as I share my favorites. Duck and Cover! As a California girl, I coveted the sun in my earlier years.  Laying out with oils slathered on my pale skin was as normal as sunscreen is today.  Luckily, I began seeing a reputable dermatologist in my early 30s.  Through the years, I’ve learned how to take better care of my skin.  One of the best pieces of advice I was gi...