The Christmas holiday for my family is about celebrating the birth of our Lord and gathering family around the table with food and cheer. It is a joyous occasion, but for those who have recently lost a family member, it can be difficult time. I lost my parents within 8 months of each other. They were in their early 70’s and healthy, so it was quite a blow to our family. The first Christmas without them was very painful, sitting at the dining room table gazing at the two empty chairs. The ...
From My Table to Yours
Happy Thanksgiving! Last week was the kickoff for my new cooking series "Denise's Table." We had a lovely evening of holiday dishes, party tips and great company. This week's recipe, Millet with Cranberries, Chestnuts and Brussels Sprouts, was featured at Denise's Table -- and will be on my Thanksgiving table, as well! Chef Karina has a way with millet, that ancient grain that has all of the wonderful nutritional properties of quinoa but not the cost. The dish also features Brussels ...
Exotic Coconut Pumpkin Soup
Thanksgiving is upon us and that means it's pumpkin-time. Pumpkin is everywhere - lattes, pies, muffins! Although it is a healthy vegetable, giving us vitamin A and C, it is usually paired with sugar and fat, which completely counter all of its goodness! Instead of the traditional pumpkin pie, I was looking for a different way of bringing our good friend the pumpkin to my Thanksgiving table that highlighted all of its nutritional goodness. Did you realize that a big ol’ slice of Pumpkin pie a ...
How To Enjoy A Gluten-Free Thanksgiving
Amy has some great ideas this week for making a gluten-free Thanksgiving stress-free and delicious, too. Enjoy! -- Denise If you love food – and who doesn’t? – then Thanksgiving is a hard holiday to beat. But when you need to be gluten-free, that same holiday becomes challenging. Here are some tips for taking the stress out and putting the fun back in. Eating at someone else’s home? Interview your host: find out what they are serving and how they cook. Little things can make the ...
Preparing for a Gluten-Free Holiday Season
Halloween signals the end of Breast Cancer Awareness month and the start of the winter holiday season for young and old. For those needing to live gluten-free, this can be an especially challenging time of year. Office parties, open houses and family events are all complicated enough without having to make sure your food is safe, too. Don’t panic! We’ve got some great tips for getting ready now, so you can enjoy the parties & holidays later! Be prepared! A little planning goes a long ...
More Super Stars for Breast Health!
I’m back with another recipe packed full of nutrients for breast health -- this time it has raw veggies, which are cancer choking super stars. Why do I call raw veggies cancer choking? Because we know that oxygen and a healthy PH are cancers’ enemies. When our bodies are too acidic from eating sugar, dairy, animal protein, or refined foods, we set the stage for a slew of ailments, ranging from chronic degenerative diseases to fatigued body to cancer. What we know, thanks to Nobel-prize winning ...
Spiced Lentils with Grilled Fish
Karina is here with a delicious and elegant way to celebrate good breast health. I'll be back next week. Enjoy! -- Denise This one is for the ladies; October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and in support of that I have the perfect recipe that is full of ingredients that help boost the immune system, aid the body in absorbing nutrients, have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and have lots of omegas, vitamins and minerals. This is a light dish, very low in fat and warming; a perfect fall ...
If I had breast cancer, I would eat…
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, and as I listen to the statistics of women diagnosed, I ponder the reality that it could happen to me. I can’t help but wonder, what would I do? What power foods would I eat to strengthen my immune system? What I do know is that we have incredible power over our health. Even if there are genetic factors involved, our lifestyle can have an effect on whether or not those genes are expressed. That being said, cancer is a stinker and can appear in even the ...
Dinosaur BBQ’s Mojito Chicken
My neighbor Ben turned me onto this recipe. We are both fans of the Dinosaur BBQ in upstate New York – a favorite hang of bikers, too! If you are ever in Syracuse or Rochester, NY – check it out. I love it, especially on the weekend when having guests. It’s one of those dishes that you can get started in the morning, let it marinate all day, and just pop in the oven when the guests arrive. You don’t even have to hang out by the grill! The chicken is a crowd pleaser because it is so ...
Aussie-Style Grilling
Karina is back this week, to give us her take on the classic Australian dish “Shrimps on the Barbie”. She’ll also be at the Winchester Farmers Market on Saturday with loads of yummy snacks, like Walnut Pate, Sweet Potato Hummus and Chocolate Cranberry Energy Chews. Stop by! -- Denise Perfect Grilled Seafood In celebration of meatless Mondays and raising awareness of the heightened health risks of over-eating meat along with the profound environmental impact of the meat ...