Herbs such as lavender and rosemary not only smell great, but also provide ample future uses, not only in cooking but also in sachets and other fragrant uses. Best of all, if you’re already growing them yourself, you can dry them and not have to buy dried herbs at the store. The best way to [...]

Melon is a refreshing treat for breakfast, lunch, a snack or even dessert in the summertime. Most have a low calorie count (30 calories per 1/2 cup). Choosing melons is a snap–be sure the melon you select feels heavy for its size, smells ripe, and yields slightly to gentle pressure at the stem end. Ripe melons will keep [...]

The tomato investigation that I talked about last week is ongoing. In the meantime, one of the owners of Farm Fresh To You, which delivers delicious produce to my doorstep every week, put some perspective on the whole tomato harvesting issue. Red round tomatoes are harvested when they’re still hard and green. They are harvested by [...]

Seafood Watch is a program of Monterey Bay Aquarium designed to raise consumer awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources. It recommends which seafood to buy or avoid, helping consumers to become advocates for environmentally friendly seafood. Seafood Watch History Monterey Bay Aquarium developed a list of sustainable seafood as part of their 1997-1999 [...]

Now there’s a new way to enjoy wine without the buzz–Vignette Wine Country Soda offers sparkling soda that’s alcohol free in three varieties: Chardonnay, Rose and Pinot Noir. The sodas contain 50 percent varietal grape juice and log in at 130 calories each. The Rose is made with Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Northern California. [...]

While there are several sources of folic acid, such as spinach, avocados, beans and peanuts), now it’s going to be easier for expecting moms to get their daily intake, thanks to the March of Dimes, who recently created the Folic Acid for a Healthy Pregnancy seal. Folic acid, which helps prevent heart disease, stroke, some [...]

Recently, my husband and I, who do all of our produce shopping at the local Co-Op, decided to take it a step further and sign up for produce home delivery via Farm Fresh To You, in an effort to support local farmers as well as their environmental practices. Currently, over 800 families are participating in Capay [...]

While I’ve already professed my love for spring and summer fruit, there are many great fruits and vegetables coming into season currently or very soon. Fruit Strawberries Look for strawberries that are shiny, firm and fragrant. A strawberry should be almost completely red, though some whiteness near the leafy cap is acceptable. Refrigerate unwashed strawberries with the [...]

That’s right…there’s a genius in Northern California who decided to take up vegan baking–and the result is People’s Donuts, They work out of a wholesale facility in West Oakland, Calif., and have plans in the works to open a “donut shop” somewhere nearby soon. The company started selling Vegan Donuts in late March/early April 2007 out [...]

In my hometown, every Sunday, rain or shine, there’s a Farmer’s Market chock full of locally-grown produce, fish, fresh flowers and much more. The market is part of Certified Farmers’ Markets, which is an effort to re-establish the traditional link between farmers and consumers in California. It’s where you’ll find the face behind the food [...]