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Sampling Veganism: 2 Cookbooks for the Curious Omnivore

Posted in Books & Media on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 10:21pm by Tracy Morgan -

Let’s just get one thing straight, I’m probably never going to turn the corner to veganism. I just love goat cheese way too much. I’m not much of a vegetarian either, nor do I proclaim to be. But having gone through vegan-like cleanses a few times, I also know the incredible benefit that this kind of diet brings to my body. So this Christmas, as I was getting ready to embark on my January detox, one of my dear friends gave me a beautiful vegan cookbook.

Food in Film: The 10 Most Memorable Food Scenes

Posted in Books & Media on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 4:32am by Shari Danielson -

My husband. I love him dearly. He is my soul mate, my life partner, the father of my children, my BFFWB. But, sometimes, he really pisses me off.

When I told him I was writing about famous food scenes in the movies, the first example I mentioned was James Cagney smashing a grapefruit into the face of Mae Clarke. “Oh, don’t use that,” he said. “That is such a hackneyed example! Every film class, every women’s studies class, uses that clip. You know, most people haven’t seen the movie that it came from -- in fact, most people can’t even name what movie it came from. So, please! Don’t use that one.”

Eating Lassie? Jonathan Safran Foer's "Eating Animals" Gives Us Lots to Digest

Posted in Books & Media on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 8:17am by lee -

Jonathan Safran Foer's "Eating Animals" is one of my favorite food books ever. I don't agree with everything it says, but the book is so incredibly compelling, the arguments so well reasoned, and the descriptions so very vivid, that I recommend it to anyone who is thinking seriously about our food and where it comes from.

Early in the book, Safran Foer takes great pains to describe why we should be eating dogs. He even goes so far as to provide a "classic Filipino" recipe. Here's a small excerpt:

Food in Film: The 10 Best Movies with Food in a Starring Role

Posted in Books & Media on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 3:26am by Shari Danielson -

With this morning’s announcement of 2009’s Academy Award nominees, it seems appropriate to look at food from the perspective of a movie goer. Last year, two broadly released movies featured food in a starring role: Food, Inc. and Julie and Julia. We’ll find out today if either of them garners any nominations.

In the meantime, I’d like to look back through the years and pick the films that most successfully incorporate food into the plot. I’ll include the most recent first, then continue moving backwards in time. Then on Thursday, I’ll select the most memorable food-related scenes from the history of cinema.

Highlights from Our Peace Coffee Cupping: Win a Pound of SGT's Ugandan Peaberry!

Posted in Out & About on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 7:36am by lee -

The blustery weather provided the perfect backdrop for this past Saturday's free Peace Coffee cupping, attended by more than 20 coffee lovers. When we arrived at Peace Coffee's Minneapolis headquarters, we were treated to Peace Coffee's new seasonal Pollinator blend (which replaces the well-loved Winter Snowshoe Brew), muffins and scones from the Birchwood Cafe, and Marketing Director Mel Meegan's tour of the warehouse and its impressive roasters. A few minutes later, we were sitting at long tables, staring at delicious-smelling cups of coffee grounds. I don't think any of us knew what to do.

Better Burgers: A Guide to Buying Top-Quality, Great-Tasting Ground Beef

Posted in Farms & Gardens, News & Views on Sat, 01/30/2010 - 10:52pm by Shari Danielson -

The following post was written by Carrie Oliver, founder and CEO of The Oliver Ranch Company and The Artisan Beef Institute. It originally appeared on her blog last October. We thank her for letting us re-post it here. You can read more about Carrie and her work, below.

A recent New York Times article on ground beef has led a lot of friends, colleagues, and clients to ask my thoughts on the issue.

A Fresh Start: All Around the House

Posted in Books & Media, Environment, Family & Home on Sat, 01/30/2010 - 8:01am by Tracy Morgan -

Are you thinking ahead to spring? I know it’s hard to fathom in the midst of our deep freeze, but spring really IS just around the corner. Sadly, spring is when my allergies rear their ugly mugs and turn the otherwise lovely experience of new life blooming into a major sneeze-fest. Whether you've got allergies or you’re just looking for a way to clear your home of allergens, toxins, and other not-so-pleasant environmental hazards, here are some ideas that may help. (Don’t forget to check out our previous articles on detoxing your kitchen and your bath and laundry.)

Don't Throw It All Away: What I Learned On My Winter Vacation

Posted in Environment, Family & Home, News & Views, Out & About on Thu, 01/28/2010 - 11:47pm by Shari Danielson -

Back in November -- appropriately enough, on Thanksgiving Day -- four scientists for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, published a report about the environmental impact of food waste in America. They calculated that, every year, as much as 40 percent of America’s food supply is discarded! (That’s a 28 percent increase, by the way, since 1974.) If you divide that amount among every man, woman and child living in the U.S., we’re talking 1,400 kilocalories -- or 1.4 million calories -- per day, per person, that end up in the trash.