Tasty and simple potato salad

I received some purple fingerling potatoes this week and was wondering what to do with them. I saw this recipe on a flyer and decided to give it a try. It's easy to make and quite good, a great salad for those summer picnics ahead, too. Take care not to overcook the potatoes, otherwise they'll fall apart and the salad will become pasty (I almost ended up there!) I didn't have radishes on hand, so I substituted chopped celery, and it worked out fine.

Your stage in life matters

This article from the L.A. Times is an insightful look at the effects of dietary protein and aging.

Personally, my important take-aways are the following:

• Vegetarian protein sources are preferable over animal based ones (just my opinion, but I think it's a better plan for an older adult in particular).
• This quote from biogerontologist Valter Longo says it all, “Your stage in life matters”. Make sure you research and act on health, vitality, and longevity approaches that make sense for your stage in life :-)

Clean nutrients

Dunno about the liver cleanse part, but there are good tips for clean nutrients in this article.

Good resource on dried legumes

Peas, lentils, and chickpeas (garbanzo) are nutritional cornerstones of many world diets. They're an important protein source, gluten free, and here's a great website to learn more about them and how to use them creatively in cooking.

How did we evolve to drink milk?

Here's an interesting article highlighting the mystery of how the human species evolved to tolerate and integrate milk as a foodstuff. Personally, I think drinking milk is more beneficial for young people than older adults (like myself) who potentially have less tolerance for it. I've come to the place where my milk consumption is from "incidental intake", such as in baked goods, restaurant prepared foods, and in an occasional coffee (because I like it that way!) I also make sure I get ample calcium from vegetable sources and Vitamin D from sun exposure in moderation. As far as I can tell I'm doing great!

If I had to guess, early humans adapted to drink milk because it was easier and more available to them than other foodstuffs where they lived. And since humans can't digest or process grasses directly, it seems likely that livestock became the bridge that enabled plains dwellers to extract more food value from their environment. Sure, that's just speculation, but knowing how humans will seek out and favor an easier nutrition source when not enough is otherwise available, it makes sense to me.

Beneficial fresh foods

Here's an interesting slide show highlighting some fresh foods that have some cancer fighting benefits.

Longevity improvement via diet

An interesting article on how vegetables rich in polyphenols may improve overall health and longevity. All I can say is that it seems to be working well with me :-)

Admit it, you always wondered about this!

There is knowledge in the universe that everyone needs to know, like how to feed yourself. Well, this is a small step in that direction - for example, if you're ever marooned on a tropical island that has only pomegranate trees. I sure hope if they'll do mangoes or persimmons next :-)

How to de-seed a pomegranate efficiently

Best ever cornmeal muffins

Best ever and easiest corn muffin recipe, from "Hut Cusine", M.A.D. Reynold's Good Cooking from Halfway Cabin, Banff, Canada (quite likely no longer in print):

1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

1 Egg, beaten
1/4 cup veg. oil
1 1/4 cups milk

Mix dry ingredients. Beat together wet, and add to dry. Stir for about one min. Spoon into muffin pan about 3/4 full. Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 min.

Frank's tip: Spread spun honey or drizzle regular honey on these and they're killer!

Cereal recommendation

I've seen some recent articles panning cereals as a quick breakfast food, but I still find it a useful and quick jump start for me in the morning. Most off-the-shelf cereals have significant added sugar, though, so always read the labels before buying.

Northern Gold's Original Honey Almond granola is one that I like, as it has just eight ingredients and most of them completely natural (has some dairy, so not Vegan). Mix it with some Grape Nuts, fruit & nut mix, or another favorite cereal to add a little variety, too.