Scary ingredient: carrageenan

“Care – uh – GEE – nen”

My first dabble in demystifying the foggy underworld of processed-health-food ingredients was surprisingly convoluted but ultimately hopeful.

Carrageenan is an ingredient commonly found in dairy products and non-dairy alternatives, most notably my beloved almond milk as well as hemp milk, rice and soy milks…pretty much all non-dairy milk beverages, but also in some brands of true dairy products like Stonyfield yogurt, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, Friendship Nonfat Cottage Cheese…it’s also found in a host of non-dairy products including Applegate sliced and packaged meatsAnnie’s Organic Frozen Pizza, Zico’s chocolate-flavored coconut water

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Natural cold remedies that work

IMG_3818Even Berkeley has a cold season. I’m just getting over a cold, in fact. Over the last few years I’ve transitioned from a dependence on Sudafed or Dayquil to alleviate my symptoms to a small army of natural health products that have shortened the healing period from 3-5 days to 2-3 days, max. And I actually recognize their ingredients. And some even taste good.

Here are my favorite remedies to get you through the season and why I love them: Continue reading

blueberry banana oat muffins

My dear friend Risa asked me a while back for a muffin recipe that was easy, healthy, and delicious. These muffins were one of the first recipes I ever tried, and they’ve come out perfect every time. They’re so simple and good for you…and particularly tasty warmed up, topped with a bit of Earth Balance and jam…mmmm.

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Hummus!

Really, is there a better food than hummus? It’s always there when you need it: It’s 5:00pm. You’ve got dinner plans at 7:00. You’re kiiiinda hungry but don’t want to kill your appetite. Solution? Carrot sticks with hummus! Home late from work and don’t feel like ordering in?? Slather some hummus on a pita, add a few raw veggies and BOOM! Satisfaction. PLUS it’s incredibly nutritious. Check it:

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My very own almond milk!

Lovely readers,

My obsession with almond milk has reached a high point, as evidenced by the four cartons Ben and I schlepped home from Trader Joe’s last night…only half-joking that it will last us until Wednesday. I use it in cereal, smoothies, almost anything baked, savory recipes, and my favorite, with cookies. Yes I just described the uses of…milk…but being lactose intolerant, it’s all worth celebrating!

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For you who like a hearty whisk

Jess and Lawrence Jordan opening at Mythos Fine Art and Artifacts

On Friday I had the pleasure of attending my first West Coast art opening at Mythos, a gallery in North Berkeley. The exhibition shows an intimate selection of works by two Bay Area collage and film artists of the Beat Generation: Lawrence Jordan and Jess Collins (“Jess”); the works are sometimes so dense with juxtaposing imagery that one appreciates the limited number of pieces, allowing you to pay adequate attention to each. The first word I would choose to describe the show as a whole would be beautiful. The second…odd; or perhaps more accurately, surreal. Third…hilarious. Take this example:

Jess, Untitled (Professor in Art Gallery), 1955.

That professor’s got a (at least) half-naked man sticking out of his backside. Something up his ass. A bit obvious, but it tickled me.

A slightly more obtuse example:  Continue reading

Lessons of Buddha’s hand

I’ve seen some odd things in my first three weeks in Berkeley: monks chilling on the basketball court near my apartment, multiple old women with crayons and various other art supplies glued to their big floppy hats, myriad “avant-garde” street performances…it’s just a different variety of crazy than that of New York.

Last week I made my first pilgrimage to the holy land of Berkeley Bowl, a haven of reasonably priced and incredibly fresh produce, including rare and beautiful gems like every kind of mushroom imaginable, absolutely MASSIVE daikon, and…a fruit I’d encountered maybe once or twice but still mystified me.

I saw another one of those specimens this morning at the farmers’ market and, after watching a small older Asian woman discuss it at length with the vendor and then buy one, I decided to inquire. Here’s what I learned:

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Berkeley feast, episode I

First post from my new abode in West Berkeley, California! I’ve been here for a full week and, despite a rainy start, it’s been amazing so far. To dispel a common misconception, Berkeley is cool…temperature-wise. You need a coat, and sometimes gloves at night. Culturally? It’s different. Extremely beautiful in its own way.

And the food? It’s unbelievable. Everywhere. Everything is so fresh.

Ben and I have visited the Berkeley Farmers’ Market both Saturdays so far. From there, our first feast was born:

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