January 2008

My daughter and I were watching Emeril last night - talk about your regular, most beloved family traditions. At least one of my girls and I watch the food network every night. Stephany loves Emeril, Rachael, Paula’s Party, and Jamie Oliver. Brittany loves Alton, Ace of Cakes, and the Food Network Challenge episodes. Me? Love ‘em all!

The episode was centered around Soul Food, which is about as good as it gets. I think of Soul Fool as Southern Cooking with Zest….. So, how can it NOT be perfection waiting to be devoured? The food in this episode was called “Elegant Soul Food,” so I guess it was Soul Food in a tux. I’m so there! Emeril and his guest made a Sweet Potato Pecan Tart with Cream Anglaise and Chocolate Sauce. One of my husband’s favorite pies is the Sweet Potato pie, so when they were plating the heavenly-looking dessert, I told Steph, “Your father would die if he saw that…” Since her response was, “I’m dying enough for both of us…” I get the impression I’ll be making this pretty soon!

Click the link above to check out the recipe. After you’ve printed it out, scroll down for the other foods featured on that episode: Chef Bernard’s Crawfish and Jalapeno Cornbread (!!!), Pan-roasted Pork Chops with Sauteed Cabbage and a Shrimp, Crabmeat and Mirliton Dressing, and Pan-Fried Cornmeal Crusted Trout with Succotash and Mixed Baby Greens with a Buttermilk and Lemon Dressing.

If you’re like most people…and certainly like me….you get a great deal of pleasure from treating yourself to “morsels of mmmmmm” on a regular basis. Maybe it stems from childhood, when our parents would take us out for ice cream or a burger. The treat would tickle every single little cell in our body, causing each to do a happy dance. Fast forward to adulthood. What’s one of the fastest ways we know to put a smile on our children’s faces? The golden arches come to mind.

Did you know that in a recent study, school kids were given a taste test. They were given carrots - some were served in a McDonald’s package, while the rest were served in a plain package. Although they were the same carrots, the vast majority of the kids said the one in the McD’s package “tasted better.”

There’s absolutely nothing you can do with that information, I just thought it was interesting.

Getting a treat with (or without) your family represents happiness and, even, fun. After all, think about it, some of the best times in our lives are often accompanied by a treat of some nature.

It all sounds innocent enough, doesn’t it? The problem is, many of these treats are anything but innocent.

I don’t mind throwing myself under the bus first, so let’s take a look at what I’ve been doing to myself with my favorite “treat.”

For nearly a year, I’ve been enjoying (no - really, really, really enjoying) a grande Green Tea Frappuccino with Whipped Topping on top, drizzled with Raspberry Syrup on an almost daily basis. If I had a blog to install or redesign, I’d go get my beloved drink and then we’d tackle it together. When my husband and I ran to Starbucks in the evening during the summer, I’d “treat” myself to my gGTFwWTotdwRS while Mr. Smarty Pants had his tea. Unsweetened. Zilch calories.

Which brings me to my recent discovery - my beautiful, colorful frap that turned heads wherever it went packs nearly 500 calories. Like I said, I had one (at least) 4 times a week.

It occurs to me that the whole experience of “treating” ourselves should treat us in the long run as well as the short one. Besides, it doesn’t really matter if the delicacy has 1 calorie or (gulp) 500. So, I’ve been outsmarting myself the past few weeks. I will not ever stop going to Starbucks - it’s the nectar of the gods and my inner diva believes that what she’s meant to drink. So, I’ve been experimenting lately with different drinks on the menu - drinks that don’t cost my calorie bank the equivalent of a big fat hamburger!

I’ve found that the green iced tea shaken with lemonade is not only delicious, but has about a fourth of the calories as the fraps. There’s also the strong and heavenly coffee - with zilch calories or a great assortment of hot teas that also have 0 calories. They’re also coming out with different varieties of “Skinny Lattes” - thank you, Starbucks!

The gorgeous green delight will now be saved for the most special of special occasions - like my birthday, anniversary, valentine’s day, Thursdays, days that begin with S….kidding about the S days.

Okay, your turn - under the bus with me! What’s your weakness? Is it fries, hamburgers, ice cream, pizza… Whatever it is, I challenge you: Look online and find out how your treat has been betraying you. That’s right, find out how many calories are lurking behind its beauty and sex appeal. When you recover (I know, I know - it hurts), determine to start experimenting with alternatives. If burgers are your thing, give Boca Burgers a try - I saw that scowl! - Honestly, with enough garlic powder, pickles, tomatoes, and onions, they’re very, very good.

If Ice Cream makes you scream, try McDonald’s fruit and yogurt parfait - they’re soooo good, even kids would love them.

As an incentive to find less trick-y treats, I’ll let you in on a little somethin’ somethin’ - for two weeks I’ve been ordering calorie-free coffee or tea, or the iced green tea. I haven’t really been doing anything else differently. I’ve been walking the same as always and eating the same foods. But, I’ve lost 2 pounds - simply by cutting out this particular treat.

Now, that’s sweet. Do a little detective work, yourself, you might be amazed by the bandits you uncover.

P.S. Since typing this post, I’ve gotten a chance to try Starbuck’s Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte - AMAZING! The “Tall” only has 90 calories. Starbucks - I love you.

Les Piments Art Print
Burgess, Linda

Buy at AllPosters.com

This beautiful art print has every intention of getting framed and gracing one of my kitchen walls - and as gorgeous as it is, I’m all for it.

Its timing is perfect, I’ve fallen in total fatuation with peppers lately. I’ve been throwing them into salads, quesadillas, tacos, and even scrambled eggs. I’m experimenting with different varieties and I’m the middle of a post I’ll be adding about all that I’ve learned.

They really kick up any meal they’re invited to, so start putting them on the guest list more often!

Every now and then the Food Network has such a great day of shows lined up that I have to post them up. Today’s a pretty good one…so, here we are!

Maybe it’s because I’ve been chilly since I woke up this morning, but I’m expecially turned on by the soups, stews, and chilis on today’s shows.

First up, there’s the Meatball Soup that Emeril will serve up on Essence of Emeril. With ingredients like onion, celery, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, Essence, ground beef, ground pork, grated Parmesan, ditalini or other small pasta, baby spinach leaves, and chopped fresh basil leaves - I’ve printed the recipe out before I’ve even seen the show! I’ll watch, of course, because you HAVE to see the chef’s prepare their recipes - you learn a lot more by watching them do it than by just reading about it in a recipe.

On the same episode, Emeril will make something that, I think, sounds even better: Chuck Wagon Chili. Served with cheese, green onions, cilantro, and some out-of-this-world cornbread, this one has special written all over it!

Speaking of cornbread, check out what our girl Paula Deen’s making today: Vidalia Onion Cornbread! You can, according to the recipe, substitute another sweet onion for the Vidalia. Remarkably enough, the recipe actually starts with a cornbread/muffin mix. A few of the other ingredients are sharp cheddar, butter, milk, sour cream, and dill weed! Sounds delish.

On this same episode (the episode titled “Pot Luck”), you’ll want to see what chocolate wonders she works on store-bought doughnuts. I’m gaining weight just thinking about that one.

On a How to Boil Water episode titled “Comforting Delights,” I’m flipping over a Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe they put together. It calls for country-style sourdough bread, Monterey jack, farmhouse Cheddar, Gruyere, or imported Swiss cheese, butter, and suggests one of the following as an add-in: smoked bacon, cooked and broken into 1-inch pieces, OR 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, sliced, and drained on paper towels for 5 minutes, OR 8 slices baked ham.

They all sound amazing, but I think I’ll try the bacon first - I can’t even tell you how much I love bacon. Mmmmm.

The same episode showed a Creamy Tomato Soup recipe that’d go with one of these grilled cheese sandwiches as well as Brad goes with Angelina.

Finally, a couple of recipes that I’m still making my mind up about. On today’s Barefoot Contessa, she’ll make a Fresh Pea Soup and Roasted Pepper and Goat Cheese Sandwiches. Usually, when I see recipes on the Food Network, I instantly know if I’ll love them or hate them - so they’re either printed out with the promise of being made very soon or they’re ignored (more are printed and tried than ignored). However, these two recipes have me bumfuzzled. I’m intrigued by them and figure they’ll either be amazingly delicious or hideously icky. They remind me of the individual that you can’t make your mind up about - “Is he ugly or handsome?” “Is she gorgeous or fugly?” So, I haven’t printed these recipes out, yet, BUT I also haven’t tossed them aside. I’ve saved them under my favorites in a “Recipes” folder. They’e in culinary purgatory until I decide if they’re Heaven or hell.
They’re pictured below and they actually look pretty good. Make no mistake about it, I’d try them - and probably clean the bowl and plate. But would they be worth the trouble to make. That’s one of the questions. The other one is, would my husband and three daughters even touch them? I can hear my youngest daughter now, “Liquid Shrek…I’m not touching it.”

Even the most open-minded 2 of my bunch hate peas, so it’s not looking too good for a soup that only I would eat. But isn’t it pretty?

Credit: Images and Recipes are from the FoodNetwork.com - a cook’s best bet for finding anything he or she could ever need!

Let me say, right off the top, that I could never be (nor would I even hope to be) a vegetarian. I love seafood, chicken, smoked turkey, grilled hotdogs, and the occasional burger or steak way too much to even consider the idea. My middle daughter, Brittany, is a vegetarian, however, and has been since she was 12. Naturally, like any self-respecting overly-protective mother, I researched vegetarianism and vegetarian diets like my life depended on it. Actually, more importantly - like my daughter’s life depended on it.

I only wish I’d had the book I just read (The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Being Vegetarian
) all along. This one book, not only answers every single concern I ever had about vegetarianism, it taught me just how important it is that I start serving even more vegetables and fruits to the entire family. Whether or not you have a vegetarian in your family, you really should add this book to your home library. The updated and revised guide features countless tips for healthier cooking and eating as well as 75 delicious recipes.

When reading a book, I always know I’m in on a good thing when I find myself reaching for my pen and notebook. I’m checking my notes now to review a few of the interesting things I learned courtesy of this book and it’s very pretty author, Frankie Avalon Wolfe, M.H., PhD. Yes, “very pretty”…he’s a she and looks like a cross between Denise Austin and Diane Kruger.

From My Notes:

• There are 22 grams of protein in 8 oz. firm tofu, 13 grams in 1 cup cooked black beans, and 12 grams in 1/2 cup sunflower seeds.
• B12 is critical for the metabolism of every single cell in the body. It may eliminate fatigue, prevent Alzheimer’s, and support memory and thinking. Sometimes antacids or laxatives can inhibit the absorption B12.
• Tofu, which takes on the flavor of anything it’s cooked with, is low in calories and high in protein. That much I knew, but I didn’t know that it could be frozen. Apparently, when frozen, tofu becomes more porous and gets a gritty texture that makes it even more meatlike.
• Something I knew absolutely zilch about was Tempeh. Tempeh is a mix of whole fermented soybeans, sometimes mixed with grains such as millet or rice, and made into cutlet-shaped patties. It has a pale brown color and a bumpy-looking texture and has a somewhat nutty flavor. One of the reasons vegetarians love Tempeh so much is the fact that it’s filling - so it subs for meat “heartily.” It contains no cholesterol, almost no fat, and is high in protein and fiber. (The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Being Vegetarian
  includes a recipe for Tempeh Sloppy Joes that I plan to test out tomorrow. I’m going to serve them with another recipe from the book, Baby Spinach, Grape, and Walnut Salad. Does that sound amazing or what?! )
• Chapter 16 describes how being vegetarian and living the typical vegetarian lifestyle has been proven to lower the risk of developing cancer. The author’s description of free radicals has forever changed the way I think about food choices. I’m also much more determined to fill my family’s world up with more antioxidants, since they tame free radicals. They’re abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables.

I don’t want to give anything else away but know that I have pages and pages filled with notes - punctuated with exclamation marks, smiley faces that lost their traditional smiles to open-mouthed gapes, and a few “OMG”s. There are also many, many, many notations about which of the 75 recipes I want to try first. I wrote, “Make the Veggie Spring Rolls on page 205 as a Biggest Loser snack next week…” and “Make the Asparagus and Cream Cheese Risotto asap!” I also wrote down the following recipes to take for a test drive during the next couple of months:

Vegetarian Lasagna (page 254)

Pine Nut Manicotti (page 255)

Samosas (page 266)

Veggie Fried Rice (page 279)

Garlic Green Beans (page 278)

Couscous Pita Sandwiches (page 291)

Avocado Rolls (page 327)

Spinach and Artichoke Dip (page 326)

Mexican Layer Dip (page 324)

The Mexican Layer Dip sounds amazing! It includes Veggie refried beans, diced green chilies, vanilla yogurt, sour cream, lemon juice, avocados, salsa, cheese, scallions, jalapenos, and tortilla chips. Unless I miss my guess, my family will be diving into some during this weekend’s football games.

There’s also a chapter (#24) devoted entirely to grilling out - or, what many of you in other parts of the country refer to as “barbecuing.” In our part of the world (the south), barbecue goes between two buns, accompanied by a little sauce, pickles, and a sweet onion. When we were first married, my husband was in the Air Force, and we were stationed in beautiful Wichita, Kansas for a few years. When I first heard someone say they were going to “barbecue” in their back yard, animated question marks danced over my head. I’m sure they would have thought the same thing if I’d said, “We’re grilling out tonight.”

At any rate, whether you barbecue or grill out, Chapter 24 will be one of your favorites. My family loves grilled food, and my husband practically lives on the patio from March to September. The recipes in this chapter include Tofu Veggie Kabobs, Black Bean Burgers, and Horseradish Corn on the Cob, among others.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Being Vegetarian suggested doing something that I’ve been doing for a while, now: pick a day of the week to go completely meatless. With humus, Boca Burgers, colossal tossed salads, baked potatoes, pasta salads, veggie subs, spinach manicotti, and soups - not only is it doable, it’s delicious. My family never even notices the absence of meat. With the recipes in this book, this day of the week will be even more delicious and varied.

Click the links in this post to learn more about this wonderful and informative book. (Did I just say “learn more” after everything I just typed out. Okay, so there isn’t any more to learn. Just go buy the book! )

The site EatBetterAmerica.com (by General Mills) is giving out free samples of the original Fiber One cereal. As you well know, I’m a cereal junkie - love the stuff - especially at night. Alton Brown’s Good Eats, my comfy purple robe, my 112 year old cat, Prissy, and a bowl of crunchy cereal is Heaven on a couch. Pure Heaven. So, I know a thing or two million about cereal. Fiber One is really good - don’t let its name or “healthy” vibe scare you. It’s seen many an episode of Good Eats and is, in fact, a good eat, itself.

If you haven’t crunched through a bowl of it for yourself - get hooked up with a sample asap.

How healthy and good for you IS Fiber One? It provides 57% of the average adults daily fiber requirement, has 0 grams of sugar and only 60 calories per serving.

In order to receive a sample, all you have to do is sign up for the Eat Better America newsletter. It’s mailed out only once a month and I LOVE mine! It provides recipes and tips for people to start living healthier lives. It could very well be the thing that makes those “get healthy,” “get in shape,” “drop a size” resolutions stick like glue instead of falling like leaves. We could all use a little motivation, right?

Go to the web site today and sign up for this wonderful newsletter. Even if you’re exactly the size you want to be, don’t have an ounce of weight you need to lose, and look like a slice of perfection in your Levi’s (I really don’t like you at this moment) - you could still benefit from the healthy advice. It could help you keep on keeping on!

And, be sure to try the Fiber One cereal. I like to throw in blueberries, bananas or raspberries for extra nutrients.

I’m over the moon that one of my absolute favorite Celeb chefs and cookbook authors, Jamie Oliver, is back on the Food Network. My youngest daughter, Stephany (another Jamie fan), and I watched his Iron Chef battle against Mario - followed by the first episode of his Jamie at Home series.

On Jamie at Home, he made a Hot Smoked Salmon with an Amazing Chile Salsa that I haven’t quite been able to get off my mind. He also made a pork goulash that looked so good we were practically drooling, as well as roasted peppers stuffed with chili, tomatoes and fresh herbs.

There are certain chefs on Food Network that I simply MUST watch everything they make (Alton Brown, Paula Deen, Tyler Florence, Nigella Lawson..), but these words are never more true than when they’re spoken of Jamie. He is one of the best, and his personality and wit make his shows all the more enjoyable. Frankly, Jamie, Alton, Tyler, Nigella, and Paula are so fun to watch - I’d probably watch even if their food looked hideous. Fortunately it’s always amazing - so it’s all good.

An episode titled Let’s Get Lost will air on January 08 at 10:30pm ET/PT and 1:30am ET/PT.

The episode that we saw last night will re-air on the Food Network on Saturday Jan. 26 at 9:30 AM ET/PT.

Visit his official web site for his perfectly wonderful Guacamole/Crispy Tortillas Recipe.

One of the things I was fortunate enough to receive for Christmas was Nigella Express. I’m a huge fan of the ridiculously beautiful Nigella Lawson, so when I pulled her newest cookbook out of the gift box, I immediately launched myself into the recipes.

In the end, good southern manners prevailed, so I led Nigella to the dining room, seated her at the table, and promised to return when all the presents were given out, opened, and enjoyed. British graciousness ensured that she wouldn’t mind - not in the least.

When I returned for her, I started with the Introduction and read through every single recipe and every single notation. All 378 pages. I even read the Acknowledgement’s Page. It was here that I learned that all of the beautiful dishes, linens, silverware, pans, and other embellishments featured in the book’s photos came from Nigella’s own “…cupboards and an almost dangerous eBay habit.” Her words, not mine.

Nigella Express is an absolutely perfect cookbook. She set out to prove that fabulous food doesn’t have to take hours to prepare. As the inside cover (yes, I read that, too) says, “Nigella Express is her solution to eating well when time is short.”

But don’t think for one second that the recipes aren’t out of this world, because that’s exactly where they are. These recipes are fresh, original, fun to make AND serve, delectable, and….I know you’ll love this…highly do-able. They feature ingredients that won’t be strangers to your favorite grocery store’s shelves. In fact, you probably have the ingredients on hand for many of the recipes.

In addition to (honestly) sone of the best recipes I’ve ever seen, Nigella offers countless ingenious tips, suggestions, and shortcuts. There’s even a chapter, Chapter 13 to be precise, called “Storecupboard SOS: How to Cope When You Haven’t Got Time to Go Shopping.” The recipes in this chapter are to help you out when you have people to feed with little or no warning. Instead of hitting the panic button or punching in the number for Papa John’s Pizza, you can just grab Nigella and let her help you out of a little jam.

If you’re a fan of Nigella Lawson’s Food Network series - and who wouldn’t be - you’ll really love Nigella Express. Nigella writes just as she speaks, so reading the cookbook is like sitting at the table talking to the Domestic Goddess, herself.

For example, in a recipe for Golden Honey Dressing, she instructs, “Put all the ingredients into a jam jar, make sure the lid’s on firmly, and shake like mad.” Vintage Nigella!

I just can’t tell you how much I want you to buy this cookbook. It’s a work of culinary perfection - and, quite frankly, a remarkably entertaining read!

The links I’ve included in this post are to Cooking.com. I checked my favorite online shops to find the best price for this amazing cookbook. After all, if I’m going to recommend it to my online friends, the least I can do is find the best deal for you, right? Cooking.com actually has Nigella Express for about $11 less than other places, including offline bookstores.

I’ve already tried quite a few of the recipes, including a Red Pepper Humus that’ll be made again in a few days - served inside Celery Sticks, I’ll make a total pig out of myself. Again. I also have plans for about 4 other lovelies this week - with Breakfast Tomato Bruschetta and Breakfast Avocado Bruschetta leading the way! Make no mistake about it, I’ll get to each and every recipe this year - and, if they’re like the ones I’ve had so far, they’ll be repeated again and again.

Some of the recipes in the Cookbook are:

MUSTARD PORK CHOPS

QUICK CALAMARI WITH GARLIC MAYONNAISE

BUTTERSCOTCH FRUIT FONDUE

ROAST CORNISH HEN AND SWEET POTATOES

CRAB AND AVOCADO SALAD WITH JAPANESE DRESSING (threatening to jump in front of the Breakfast Bruschettas!)

POTATO AND MUSHROOM GRATIN

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE BROWNIES WITH GLAZE

CHERRY CHEESECAKE

MANGO SPLIT

HOMEMADE INSTANT PANCAKE MIX

BREAKFAST BARS

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE SUNDAE

Okay. That’s it. I was going to list some more, but the picture of the Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae just derailed my thoughts and intentions. All that chocolate…the caramel spilling over the side… oh man, I’d tell myself, “Be strong!” but it’s too late. My mind has already taken inventory of the ingredients in the pantry and freezer and the ones I’ll need to pick up at Kroger. ASAP.

Get Nigella Express, my foodie friends, you’ll be so glad you did!

Another trip to www.UncommonGoods.com, another couple of somethin’ somethin’s I can’t possibly live without. I’ve been living without it all this time without them, you say? (Did my husband tell you to say that???)

Well, now that I’ve seen these, I can’t possibly live another moment without them.

First up, we have the Expandable Flower Trivet (above). From the web site: Pull apart these stainless steel petals to create a trivet for oblong baking dishes or fold it into a flower shape that is ideal for round pots and dishes. Minimalist and functional, this trivet will protect surfaces from hot dishes no matter what size they are.

Check that, I’ll take one.

Secondly, Sensual Serveware (below)! From the web site: At first glance, this pure and simple glass bowl looks just that. But it is the closer inspection that will bring a slight smile of amusement as you share in designer Scot Spratford’s clever and elegant interpretation of the “mud-flap girl.” Spratford’s plexiglass silhouettes are much sleeker and refined than their more voluptuous counterparts, and they convey the sophisticated sensuality of a modern woman. The shallow clear bowl can be used to hold candy, fruit, dried flowers or stand alone and receive the attention it deserves.

Of course I’ll take one. My kitchen’s going to be soooo glamorous I’ll never want to leave it. Oh, that’s right, I never leave it as it is. Whatever. My view is about to get even sweeter.

Click the link at the first of the post to go to the web site. Once there, simply enter the name of the product you want to take a closer look at. After you’ve done that, enter the other one - they’re amazing. I know you’ll agree.

Cooking Light, the world’s largest food and healthy lifestyle title, has rolled out its “8” Lists of 2008: the top 8 must-eat foods—for benefits that range from a younger-looking face and stronger bones to heart disease prevention and mind health—as well as 8 super tips to help you live well all year long.

Coffee: Caffeine consumption not only increases alertness and improves performance but may also protect memory.

Farmed Atlantic Salmon: Salmon ranks highest in omega-3 fatty acids, shown to lower the risk of fatal heart attacks, rheumatoid arthritis, depression and cognitive decline.

Milk: Dairy products offer a package deal of phosphorous and calcium to benefit hair and skin.

Edamame: Soy protein, such as that contained in edamame, has been shown to boost collagen levels and improve skin elasticity.

Kale: Those leafy greens deliver plenty of vitamin K in addition to vitamins E, C, and folate, all of which help promote strong bones.

Chocolate: Crave-worthy cocoa and dark chocolate are both good sources of beneficial antioxidants.

Flaxseed: Adding a tablespoon of flaxseed instantaneously adds omega-3 fats, lignans and fiber to any food, such as muffins, salads or yogurt.

Eggs: Eggs are not only high in calcium and quality protein, but also provide biotin, a structural component of both bone and hair.

“Giving up a bad habit is a common New Year’s resolution, but making a positive addition to your life is much smarter, more manageable and likely to last,” said Cooking Light Editor in Chief Mary Kay Culpepper. “Cooking Light is all about making healthy living a pleasure, and we believe New Year’s resolutions can be just as rewarding.”

Plan now, relax later: Make appointments for haircuts, dental checkups and doctor visits in the first of the year—for all the year through.

Learn to cook (properly): The first step to eating well is cooking well. Turn to Cooking Light magazine’s “Fundamental Techniques” column series for a quick lesson. In the January/February issue, discover the finer points of braising.

Create a winner: Develop a new healthful recipe, and enter to win the 2008 edition of the Cooking Light Ultimate Reader Recipe Contest. (See the magazine’s January/February issue, or go to www.cookinglight.com/perks for more details.

Upgrade your home (and lower your energy bills): Invest in energy- and resource-conscious technology like low-flow shower heads, new florescent light fixtures and smart appliances.

Travel the world – through your pantry: Incorporate flavors from around the globe to spice up your menu.

Take time for yourself: Cooking Light has delicious menus to enhance your solo dining experience.

Explore your passions in a new setting: Research and book a vacation that allows you to uncover another side of yourself—from volunteer getaways to art camp for adults to cooking schools.

Share the love: Start a Dinner Day celebration or Supper Club with friends and neighbors–a great way to socialize and meet new people.

About Cooking Light:

Now in its 21st year, Cooking Light (www.cookinglight.com) is the nation’s largest food and fitness magazine. Each month, nearly 12 million readers turn to Cooking Light and cookinglight.com for innovative recipes, nutrition advice, and food and fitness tips that inspire them to live by the Cooking Light philosophy: eat smart, be fit and live well. Cooking Light is published by Southern Progress Corporation and is part of the MyRecipes.com network, home to more than 28,000 professionally tested recipes, along with how-to videos and entertaining advice.