I recently attended a lecture by Dr. Arya M. Sharma here at the University of Washington. Dr. Sharma is a Canadian clinician who specializes in the treatment of obesity. He gave the UW Science in Medicine lecture, which is a prestigious invited lecture.
He spent a little bit of time pointing out the fallacy behind conventional obesity treatment. He used the analogy of edema, which is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body.
Since we know that the amount of fluid contained in the body depends on the amount of fluid entering the body and the amount of fluid leaving the body, the treatment for edema is obvious: drink less, pee more.
Of course, this makes no sense. It doesn't address the underlying cause of edema and it will not help the patient. Yet we apply that exact same logic to fat loss. Since the amount of energy contained in the body (in the form of fat) depends on the amount entering and the amount leaving, the solution is easy: eat less, move more. Well, yes, if you can stick to that program it will cause fat loss. But that's equivalent to telling someone with edema to drink less water. It will cause a loss of fluid, but it won't correct the underlying problem that caused excessive fluid retention in the first place.
For example, if you have edema because your heart isn't pumping effectively (cardiac insufficiency), the heart is the problem that must be addressed. Any other treatment is purely symptomatic and is not a cure.
The same applies to obesity. If you don't correct the alteration in the system that causes an obese person to 'defend' his elevated fat mass against changes*, anything you do is symptomatic treatment and is unlikely to be very effective in the long term. My goal is to develop a method that goes beyond symptomatic treatment and allows the body to naturally return to a lower fat mass. I've been doing a lot of reading and I have a simple new idea that I feel confident in. It also neatly explains the results of a variety of weight loss diets. I've dropped a few hints here and there, but I'll be formally unveiling it in the next couple of months. Stay tuned.
* The body fat homeostasis system. The core element appears to be a negative feedback loop between body fat (via leptin, and insulin to a lesser degree) and the brain (primarily the hypothalamus, but other regions are involved). There are many other elements in the system, but that one seems to set the 'gain' on all the others and guides long-term fat mass homeostasis. The brain is the gatekeeper of both energy intake and energy expenditure, and unconscious processes strongly suggest appropriate levels for both factors according to the brain's perceived homeostatic needs. Those suggestions can be overridden consciously, but it requires a perpetual high degree of discipline, whereas someone who has been lean all her life doesn't require discipline to remain lean because her brain is suggesting behaviors that naturally defend leanness. I know what I'm saying here may seem controversial to some people reading this, because it's contrary to what they've read on the internet or in the popular press, but it's not particularly controversial in my field. In fact, you'll find most of this stuff in general neuroscience textbooks dating back more than 10 years (e.g., Eric Kandel and colleagues, Principles of Neuroscience).
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Top Ten Links of the Week: 4/8/11 - 4/14/11
This Friday, it's lots of newsy-type stories, encased in Peeps. Enjoy!
1) Casual Kitchen: On Spice Fade, and the Utter Insanity of Throwing Spices Out After Six Months
LOVE this piece from Dan, not least because I never, ever throw out spices. He says, “The spice industry--as well as many misguided cooks, chefs and food bloggers--will tell you that if you have any spices in your cupboard that are more than six months old, you should throw them out. Pure hogwash. This is just another example of how the food industry tries to get you to spend unnecessarily. Worse, it makes cooking at home more expensive than it needs to be.” (Then he says more stuff.) Oh, snap!
2) Chicago Tribune: Chicago school bans some lunches brought from home
This article, about an Illinois junior high that insists kids eat cafeteria food, has been all over the interweb this week, though very few news outlets have mentioned that A) the policy has been in place for six years, and B) most of the kids at this particular school qualify for free or reduced lunch. That doesn’t change the Big Brotherness of it all, but it does give it a little perspective, yes?
3) UK Guardian: Expensive wine and cheap plonk taste the same to most people
Woo hoo! Bring on the Three Buck Chuck!
4) LA Times: Organic label makes foods seem tastier, more healthful
In a blind taste test involving 144 shoppers, cookies labeled as organic were estimated to have, “more fiber, less fat and fewer calories” than their non-organic counterparts. Alas, it ain’t so. Beware as you shop. (NOTE: I originally phrased this as, “In a blind taste test OF 144 shoppers,” which would have made it a very different blurb. Some might say Lecter-esque?)
5) Washington Post: 2011 Peeps Show
Terrible food, wonderful art: The Post holds its annual Peeps diorama contest.
6) Surviving and Thriving: How Often do You Wash Your Jeans?
Oh, every time I wear them. #NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement
7) stonesoup: veggie love - 7 tips to make sure you're getting enough
Simple, realistic, way helpful tips on cramming more broccoli into your maw. Plus cute recipes!
8) Couponing 101: Realistic Couponing
Though it sounds like an event in the Grocery Shopping X-Games, Extreme Couponing is actually a TLC show about expert savers. Some argue the participants go way overboard, venturing into hoarding territory, which might intimidate beginning couponers. (Understandably so.) Happily, Couponing 101 has a nice, non-scary intro into the wide world of Red Plum discounts. For more, check out CHG’s piece, “Couponing for People Who Hate Couponing: A Zero-Stress Guide to Clipping Big Bargains.”
9) Food Politics: How to Get Involved in School Food
Have kids? Want to change their cafeteria offerings from the top down? Marion Nestle has compiled a list of resources. Read it andweep eat learn.
10) Slashfood: Vegan Magazine’s Faux-Meat Recipe Photos Actually Real Meat
Yuh-oh. VegNews has been photoshopping pictures of burgers and ribs, and passing them off as images of tempeh and seitan. Cauliflower lovers, they are not pleased.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Neatorama: Sunless Farming of the Future...
... Looks a lot like a Deee-lite video, apparently.
Slashfood: The Truth Behind the Olive Garden’s Tuscan Cooking School
What? NOOOOOOO! B-b-b-but … the unlimited breadsticks? They’re real, right?
AND ALSO
Achilles Effect: Word Cloud – How Toy Ad Vocabulary Reinforces Gender Stereotypes
Crystal compared descriptive words used in toy commercials – 27 ads aimed at boys, 32 at girls – and created word clouds with the results. The boys’ biggest included “battle,” “power,” “heroes,” and “ultimate,” while the girls could claim, “love,” “fun,” “magic,” and “babies.” Not so surprising, but still fascinating.
Thank you so much for visiting Cheap Healthy Good! (We appreciate it muchly). If you’d like to further support CHG, subscribe to our RSS feed! Or become a Facebook friend! Or check out our Twitter! Bookmarking sites and links are nice, too. Viva la France!
1) Casual Kitchen: On Spice Fade, and the Utter Insanity of Throwing Spices Out After Six Months
LOVE this piece from Dan, not least because I never, ever throw out spices. He says, “The spice industry--as well as many misguided cooks, chefs and food bloggers--will tell you that if you have any spices in your cupboard that are more than six months old, you should throw them out. Pure hogwash. This is just another example of how the food industry tries to get you to spend unnecessarily. Worse, it makes cooking at home more expensive than it needs to be.” (Then he says more stuff.) Oh, snap!
 |
| Flickr's edenpictures |
This article, about an Illinois junior high that insists kids eat cafeteria food, has been all over the interweb this week, though very few news outlets have mentioned that A) the policy has been in place for six years, and B) most of the kids at this particular school qualify for free or reduced lunch. That doesn’t change the Big Brotherness of it all, but it does give it a little perspective, yes?
3) UK Guardian: Expensive wine and cheap plonk taste the same to most people
Woo hoo! Bring on the Three Buck Chuck!
4) LA Times: Organic label makes foods seem tastier, more healthful
In a blind taste test involving 144 shoppers, cookies labeled as organic were estimated to have, “more fiber, less fat and fewer calories” than their non-organic counterparts. Alas, it ain’t so. Beware as you shop. (NOTE: I originally phrased this as, “In a blind taste test OF 144 shoppers,” which would have made it a very different blurb. Some might say Lecter-esque?)
5) Washington Post: 2011 Peeps Show
Terrible food, wonderful art: The Post holds its annual Peeps diorama contest.
6) Surviving and Thriving: How Often do You Wash Your Jeans?
Oh, every time I wear them. #NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement
7) stonesoup: veggie love - 7 tips to make sure you're getting enough
Simple, realistic, way helpful tips on cramming more broccoli into your maw. Plus cute recipes!
 |
| Flickr's dmdonahoo |
Though it sounds like an event in the Grocery Shopping X-Games, Extreme Couponing is actually a TLC show about expert savers. Some argue the participants go way overboard, venturing into hoarding territory, which might intimidate beginning couponers. (Understandably so.) Happily, Couponing 101 has a nice, non-scary intro into the wide world of Red Plum discounts. For more, check out CHG’s piece, “Couponing for People Who Hate Couponing: A Zero-Stress Guide to Clipping Big Bargains.”
9) Food Politics: How to Get Involved in School Food
Have kids? Want to change their cafeteria offerings from the top down? Marion Nestle has compiled a list of resources. Read it and
10) Slashfood: Vegan Magazine’s Faux-Meat Recipe Photos Actually Real Meat
Yuh-oh. VegNews has been photoshopping pictures of burgers and ribs, and passing them off as images of tempeh and seitan. Cauliflower lovers, they are not pleased.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Neatorama: Sunless Farming of the Future...
... Looks a lot like a Deee-lite video, apparently.
Slashfood: The Truth Behind the Olive Garden’s Tuscan Cooking School
What? NOOOOOOO! B-b-b-but … the unlimited breadsticks? They’re real, right?
AND ALSO
Achilles Effect: Word Cloud – How Toy Ad Vocabulary Reinforces Gender Stereotypes
Crystal compared descriptive words used in toy commercials – 27 ads aimed at boys, 32 at girls – and created word clouds with the results. The boys’ biggest included “battle,” “power,” “heroes,” and “ultimate,” while the girls could claim, “love,” “fun,” “magic,” and “babies.” Not so surprising, but still fascinating.
 |
| From Achilles Effect |
Thank you so much for visiting Cheap Healthy Good! (We appreciate it muchly). If you’d like to further support CHG, subscribe to our RSS feed! Or become a Facebook friend! Or check out our Twitter! Bookmarking sites and links are nice, too. Viva la France!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Veggie Might: Eating Thoughtfully and Gratefully
Written by the fabulous Leigh, Veggie Might is a weekly Thursday column about all things Vegetarian.
Y’all, I’m still thinking about how eagerly and joyfully you came toAline’s aid last week. You proved that it takes very little to make a real and tangible difference in someone's life. Often, when we see ads on TV for starving children or sick animals, we turn off because the situations seem hopeless. But Aline is a real girl with a real need and your $5 and $10 donations were plenty to change her life for the better. Betsy recommends Give a Little: How Your Small Donations Can Transform Our World for more on giving small to make a difference.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Aline and the girls at the Ubushobozi Project lately in regards to food too. My dear friends Betsy and Dolinda have been volunteering at the Ubushobozi Project in Ruhengeri, Rwanda for several years, and this summer I’m riding their coattails to Africa to teach knitting, crochet, writing, and English to the girls. (Fingers crossed they’ll teach me to dance.)As a vegetarian, one of my primary travel concerns is what I will eat away from home. I admit it’s a little crazy, but that was my first question for Betsy about going to Rwanda—not Is it safe? or What kind of shots do I need?, but What can I eat there?
I think about food a lot: because it’s my job as a food blogger, because I’m a vegetarian, because I’m frugal and always looking for ways to save, and because I love to eat. Sometimes I worry that all this thinking about food borders on psychosis. You’ll often find me planning supper while eating lunch or discussing one meal while partaking in another. My boyfriend laughs, “I don’t know what I’ll want to eat later; I’m not hungry now.” But I can always think and talk and plan and drool about food.
When I asked what they eat in Rwanda, Betsy took my query seriously and told me I’d be fine: that they eat primarily a starch-based diet of potatoes, rice, beans, fresh vegetables, and very little meat; and that no one would be offended if I passed on the stewed goat. There is also a contingent of Seventh Day Adventists, which means vegetarians are common. “You may get invited to church,” she added with a laugh.
Then I started worrying. Maybe I should pack granola bars. I need to eat every few hours or I get headaches. Then Betsy told Kristen and me about Aline and her backyard kitchen.
In case you missed it, Aline’s only means of cooking is a backyard charcoal stove; when it rains, she has three options: cook in the rain, take her pot over to the elderly neighbor, or, if it’s raining too hard, not cook at all. As Betsy reported, “[Last night it rained] So Aline took the only money she had and bought two pieces of bread for Diane and Olive [her sisters] and they ate bread and avocado. Lola asked her why she didn't eat with them and she said, ‘Aline eat Ubushobozi, no fear.’ So she didn't eat dinner. She ate lunch at Ubushobozi around 2 p.m. and that's it.”
This young woman works to support her two sisters and doesn’t eat when it rains. I can’t go three hours without shoving something in my face. My family didn’t have much when I was growing up, but I do not know what it’s like to truly go hungry. I felt like a world-class jerk.
Betsy agreed that "the guilt is overwhelming sometimes. Every day and night I know I will eat. My biggest problem is deciding what to eat, order, buy, shovel in my mouth for instant gratification. Not survival. Aline and all the girls (and all the girls everywhere in impoverished nations) have to purchase their foods every day, since there's no fridge/storage options, and cook it on the spot. This can take hours, purchasing charcoal, getting the fire going, blah, blah. It's like a part time job."
Kris, who traveled to India, shared a story from her trip that is equally humbling.
"One night, S. and I stayed in a converted haveli in the middle of rural Rajasthan, just outside of a small, poorest-village-I've-ever-seen called Perharsar, where most of the haveli staff was from.How do we—wealthy, well-fed, clothed-and-sheltered we—handle stories like this?
"The next morning, we wandered into town to check things out. The people were super nice, and all the kids followed us shouting "Hello!", even when we left.
"About halfway through the jaunt, we made our way to the roof of one of the homes, where a very, very old man was making small clay pots on a wheel/kiln. His family was there, as well, except one woman who was climbing the stairs with two plates of lentils and chapati. When she saw the two of us, she immediately offered us the plates. We refused and thanked her, having already eaten breakfast.
"Then, she gave the plates to her two small children and one or two other women standing around them. SHE OFFERED US HER KIDS' BREAKFASTS. I've never experienced hospitality like that. The kids, of course, wolfed it. Lentils and all."
We can feel bad about all that we have, about the excess our country produces and wastes. Or we can be grateful and embrace our abundance as the very thing that allows us to give what we can to girls like Aline and know that we're making a direct difference. And personally, I could learn to go four hours without eating.
Readers, what is your take? Any stories from your world travels? Advice on dealing with conflicting feelings of guilt/gratitude? I'd love to hear your thoughts. The comments are open for you to let 'er rip!
~~~
If the bubbles of this article ticked your nose, fill your flute with:
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Best Deals at Big Box Stores: a Cheat Sheet
Yesterday, we asked you readers for the best deals at the major big box stores - CostCo, BJ's Wholesale Club, and Sam's Club. Your responses were comprehensive and, excuse my language, pretty farging great. (Quinoa! Who knew?)
Last night, I compiled those responses into this, a master list of Big Box Bargains – like a cheat sheet - which should help you find the best deals next time you visit a glorious warehouse. (For me, see: tonight.) It's useful! It's extensive! It's pretty!
About the process: Every product mention got one vote. (So, if three different commenters wrote "mushrooms," it got three votes.) Some things, like mattresses, elicited one clear vote and were easy to tally. Others, like cheese, were much more varied, producing several similar-but-not-exactly-alike answers. In those cases, I tallied the category as a whole, and then elaborated on individual responses within parentheses. (Um … if that makes sense, which it only kind of does. But you'll see.)
Enjoy!
17 VOTES
Cheese (2 votes feta, 2 votes Tillamook)
Paper products (10 votes toilet paper, 4 votes paper towels)
16 VOTES
Spices (5 votes cinnamon, 3 votes pepper)
13 VOTES
Olive Oil
8 VOTES
Yeast (reader Jennifer: “Literally 100x cheaper than the envelopes”)
7 VOTES
Nuts (2 votes almonds)
6 VOTES
Pet food & supplies (3 votes dog food, 2 votes supplies, 1 vote cat food)
Salad greens (4 votes organic)
5 VOTES
Butter
Canned tomatoes (1 vote organic)
Dried fruit (2 Craisin votes)
Eggs (2 votes organic)
Milk (1 vote organic)
Quinoa
4 VOTES
Baby supplies (2 votes diapers, 2 votes wipes)
Bread (2 votes "fancy bread")
Chips
Electronics/big appliances (camera, elliptical, computer, etc.)
Gas
Vanilla Extract
3 VOTES
Alcohol (wine, bourbon, etc.)
Baking soda
Bananas
Cleaning products
Movie tickets
Mushrooms
Oatmeal
Peanut butter (1 vote organic)
Produce
Rice (1 vote Basmati)
Sabra Hummus
Soap
Yogurt (1 vote Greek-style)
2 VOTES
Almond butter, Bagels, Beans, Cereal (1 vote Kashi), Clif bars, Coffee, Contact lens solution, Drugs (Kirkland brand Advil, Zyrtec, etc.), Frozen berries, Frozen chicken, Ground turkey, Gum, Kids' clothes, Laundry detergent, Lettuce, Maple syrup, Soy milk, Tissues, Toothbrushes/toothpaste, Tortillas, Vinegar, Potatoes, Tomatoes
1 VOTE
Bacon (Kirkland brand), Better than Bouillon chicken base, Bisquick, Books, Breathe-right nose strips, Brita filters, Brown sugar, Canned pineapple, Canned tuna/salmon, Cars (!), Checks, Chicken breasts, Chicken broth, Chicken thighs, Coconut Milk, Cornstarch, Crackers, Cutting boards, Dairy, Dental floss, Deodorant, Dish detergent, Dr. Pepper, Dried onions, Floss, Flour, Food court items, Fresh meats, Frozen edamame, Frozen hamburger patties, Frozen salmon fillets, Frozen shrimp, Frozen strawberries, Frozen vegetables, G2, Garlic, Gelato, Gift card deals (restaurants, movie theaters, etc.), Glasses, Goldfish, Grains, Granulated garlic, Ground flaxmeal, Honey, Hot dogs, Hot sauce, Green chiles, Janitorial supplies, Jarred roasted red peppers, Larabars, Marinated shrimp, Magazines, Marinated artichoke hearts, Mattresses, Nutella, Onions, Organic, Organic apples, Organic carrots, Organic frozen fruit, Organic hamburger, Popcorn (the kind you pop on the stove), Popcorn salt, Prescriptions, Printer paper, Ramen, Rotel, Rotisserie chicken, Salmon, Salmon burgers, Salsa, Shampoo, Shaving gel, Smuckers strawberry jam, Store-brand fish oil, Store-brand naprosyn, Sugar, Strawberries, Sun-dried tomatoes, Sweet potatoes, Tires, Toiletries, Tuna, Tupperware, Udi's granola, Veggie burgers
Fun comments:
~~~
If you like this article, you'll flip for:
 |
| Wiki Ken Hammond |
About the process: Every product mention got one vote. (So, if three different commenters wrote "mushrooms," it got three votes.) Some things, like mattresses, elicited one clear vote and were easy to tally. Others, like cheese, were much more varied, producing several similar-but-not-exactly-alike answers. In those cases, I tallied the category as a whole, and then elaborated on individual responses within parentheses. (Um … if that makes sense, which it only kind of does. But you'll see.)
Enjoy!
17 VOTES
Cheese (2 votes feta, 2 votes Tillamook)
Paper products (10 votes toilet paper, 4 votes paper towels)
16 VOTES
Spices (5 votes cinnamon, 3 votes pepper)
13 VOTES
Olive Oil
8 VOTES
Yeast (reader Jennifer: “Literally 100x cheaper than the envelopes”)
7 VOTES
Nuts (2 votes almonds)
6 VOTES
Pet food & supplies (3 votes dog food, 2 votes supplies, 1 vote cat food)
Salad greens (4 votes organic)
5 VOTES
Butter
Canned tomatoes (1 vote organic)
Dried fruit (2 Craisin votes)
Eggs (2 votes organic)
Milk (1 vote organic)
Quinoa
4 VOTES
Baby supplies (2 votes diapers, 2 votes wipes)
Bread (2 votes "fancy bread")
Chips
Electronics/big appliances (camera, elliptical, computer, etc.)
Gas
Vanilla Extract
3 VOTES
Alcohol (wine, bourbon, etc.)
Baking soda
Bananas
Cleaning products
Movie tickets
Mushrooms
Oatmeal
Peanut butter (1 vote organic)
Produce
Rice (1 vote Basmati)
Sabra Hummus
Soap
Yogurt (1 vote Greek-style)
2 VOTES
Almond butter, Bagels, Beans, Cereal (1 vote Kashi), Clif bars, Coffee, Contact lens solution, Drugs (Kirkland brand Advil, Zyrtec, etc.), Frozen berries, Frozen chicken, Ground turkey, Gum, Kids' clothes, Laundry detergent, Lettuce, Maple syrup, Soy milk, Tissues, Toothbrushes/toothpaste, Tortillas, Vinegar, Potatoes, Tomatoes
1 VOTE
Bacon (Kirkland brand), Better than Bouillon chicken base, Bisquick, Books, Breathe-right nose strips, Brita filters, Brown sugar, Canned pineapple, Canned tuna/salmon, Cars (!), Checks, Chicken breasts, Chicken broth, Chicken thighs, Coconut Milk, Cornstarch, Crackers, Cutting boards, Dairy, Dental floss, Deodorant, Dish detergent, Dr. Pepper, Dried onions, Floss, Flour, Food court items, Fresh meats, Frozen edamame, Frozen hamburger patties, Frozen salmon fillets, Frozen shrimp, Frozen strawberries, Frozen vegetables, G2, Garlic, Gelato, Gift card deals (restaurants, movie theaters, etc.), Glasses, Goldfish, Grains, Granulated garlic, Ground flaxmeal, Honey, Hot dogs, Hot sauce, Green chiles, Janitorial supplies, Jarred roasted red peppers, Larabars, Marinated shrimp, Magazines, Marinated artichoke hearts, Mattresses, Nutella, Onions, Organic, Organic apples, Organic carrots, Organic frozen fruit, Organic hamburger, Popcorn (the kind you pop on the stove), Popcorn salt, Prescriptions, Printer paper, Ramen, Rotel, Rotisserie chicken, Salmon, Salmon burgers, Salsa, Shampoo, Shaving gel, Smuckers strawberry jam, Store-brand fish oil, Store-brand naprosyn, Sugar, Strawberries, Sun-dried tomatoes, Sweet potatoes, Tires, Toiletries, Tuna, Tupperware, Udi's granola, Veggie burgers
Fun comments:
- Commenter Aryn writes: “Beware the giant box 'o pens. My husband and I bought 200 pens when we started grad school thinking we'd use them up quickly. It's been seven years. We still have about 180 of those pens.” (Aryn! I totally did this once, too, for a friend's promotional event. Maybe we can have a pen party?)
- Commenter Ami writes: "I tend to shop with my mom and we split items that neither of us can use in a week - we also split the cost of membership with makes it even more worthwhile."
- Also of note: Readers loved CostCo’s return policy, especially on appliances and electronics.
~~~
If you like this article, you'll flip for:
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Ask the Internet: Best Deals at Big Box Stores?
Today's question comes from a new membership! Yay!
Q: I just joined CostCo, mostly to get their super-solid eye exam/contact lens deal. But, while I'm there, I'd like to join the wonderful world of bulk shopping. What products are bargains?
A: From a cursory glance (and, admittedly, some prior shopping with my dad), I figured:
Want to ask the interweb a question? Post one in the comment section, or write to Cheaphealthygood@gmail.com. Then, tune in next Tuesday for an answer/several answers from the good people of the World Wide Net.
 |
| Wiki Stu pendousma |
A: From a cursory glance (and, admittedly, some prior shopping with my dad), I figured:
- contact lens solution
- canned tomatoes
- vanilla extract
- cinnamon
- peppercorns
- chicken broth
- cat food
- oatmeal (in canisters, not packaged)
- CostCo brand block cheese
- Sabra hummus
Want to ask the interweb a question? Post one in the comment section, or write to Cheaphealthygood@gmail.com. Then, tune in next Tuesday for an answer/several answers from the good people of the World Wide Net.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Comment Policy
Sweet readers!
We've received many wonderful comments lately, from insightful and generous viewers of this here blog. We love getting them, and engaging in the discussions they inspire. Honestly, the community aspect of blogging is probs the best part.
However, we've also received quite a few comments that read like this:
In these cases, the name link connects directly to one of two things:
So, folks that send germane comments packed with relevant information: Thank you and keep sending!
And to the folks that comment solely for traffic: Please stop. I don't want your dining room table, and your SEO sites are hurting bloggers who publish actual content, and who depend on this for a living. For real.
Excelsior!
Kris
P.S. Google, please get on this.
P.S.S. The first comment I received after posting this:
We've received many wonderful comments lately, from insightful and generous viewers of this here blog. We love getting them, and engaging in the discussions they inspire. Honestly, the community aspect of blogging is probs the best part.
However, we've also received quite a few comments that read like this:
Great post! I agree. -Aromatherapy Gladys
In these cases, the name link connects directly to one of two things:
- A corporation or an amateurish personal site meant to sell a variety of crap: diet aids, acai berries, dining room tables, etc.
- A fraudulent cooking site created entirely so SEO-heavy "recipes" can attract eyes to Google ads.
So, folks that send germane comments packed with relevant information: Thank you and keep sending!
And to the folks that comment solely for traffic: Please stop. I don't want your dining room table, and your SEO sites are hurting bloggers who publish actual content, and who depend on this for a living. For real.
Excelsior!
Kris
P.S. Google, please get on this.
P.S.S. The first comment I received after posting this:
Artichoke Pesto Dip and Mah Favorite CHG Recipes
We like cooking. And food. And, as of today, we here at CHG have something like 430 recipes in our archives. Leigh, Jaime, Rachel, and I have all tried them at least once. But there are only a few – maybe a dozen or so – I make with any regularity. Part of this is because constant experimentation with new dishes doesn’t leave a lot of time to go back and enjoy old favorites. The other part: these dozen are so tasty, I need to have them all the time.
They are:
That last one – White Bean Dip – I make it more often than anything else on this blog, with the possible exception of Oatmeal with Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, and Scallions. The dip is a fabulous alternative to hummus, and about a million times cheaper. Basically, all you need is a can of small white beans, five minutes, and a food processor. (Actually, you don’t even need the food processor. A potato masher and some good upper body strength is just the ticket.)
But? Thanks to Diane Morgan’s Skinny Dips, which came out late last year, there may be a new dip in town. Artichoke Pesto Dip is the name of the usurper, and though slightly pricier, it is a bowlful of pure joy. I want to spread it on toast. I want to spread it on pasta. I want to spread it on my taste buds, so each may know the joy of artichokes, lemon, Parmesan, and various sundries.
It will be on this list soon.
~~~
If you dig this dip, you’ll surely dig:
~~~
Artichoke Pesto Dip
Makes 1 cup or 8 (2 tablespoon) servings
From Skinny Dips
by Diane Morgan
1 (15-ounce) can artichoke hearts packed in water, drained
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 small clove garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
a few grinds black pepper
1) Place artichoke hearts in a food processor. Pulse a few times, until rough-chopped.
2) Add Parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pulse until dip reaches consistency you like. Serve with tortilla, pita, or what have you.
Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price Per Serving
48 calories, 3.9 g fat, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein, $0.41
NOTE: Author Diane Morgan calculated the nutrition numbers in Skinny Dips, so only the price is listed here. Also, I added more Parmesan to my version, which was very nice, as well.
Calculations
1 (15-ounce) can artichoke hearts packed in water, drained: $2.29
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese: $0.45
2 tablespoons olive oil: $0.10
1 tablespoon lemon juice: $0.33
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley: $0.10
1 small clove garlic, minced: $0.04
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt: $0.01
a few grinds black pepper: $0.01
TOTAL: $3.33
PER SERVING (TOTAL/8): $0.41
They are:
- Easy Vegetarian Bean Chili
- Gingerbread Oatmeal
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Macaroni with Broccoli and Chickpeas
- Oatmeal with Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, and Scallions
- Pasta with Asparagus and Mushrooms
- Pasta with Mushrooms, Peppers, and Onions
- Roast Chicken with Two Lemons
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Eggplant Spread
- Sweet Lassi
- White Bean Dip
That last one – White Bean Dip – I make it more often than anything else on this blog, with the possible exception of Oatmeal with Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, and Scallions. The dip is a fabulous alternative to hummus, and about a million times cheaper. Basically, all you need is a can of small white beans, five minutes, and a food processor. (Actually, you don’t even need the food processor. A potato masher and some good upper body strength is just the ticket.)
But? Thanks to Diane Morgan’s Skinny Dips, which came out late last year, there may be a new dip in town. Artichoke Pesto Dip is the name of the usurper, and though slightly pricier, it is a bowlful of pure joy. I want to spread it on toast. I want to spread it on pasta. I want to spread it on my taste buds, so each may know the joy of artichokes, lemon, Parmesan, and various sundries.
It will be on this list soon.
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If you dig this dip, you’ll surely dig:
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Artichoke Pesto Dip
Makes 1 cup or 8 (2 tablespoon) servings
From Skinny Dips
by Diane Morgan
1 (15-ounce) can artichoke hearts packed in water, drained
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 small clove garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
a few grinds black pepper
1) Place artichoke hearts in a food processor. Pulse a few times, until rough-chopped.
2) Add Parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pulse until dip reaches consistency you like. Serve with tortilla, pita, or what have you.
Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price Per Serving
48 calories, 3.9 g fat, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein, $0.41
NOTE: Author Diane Morgan calculated the nutrition numbers in Skinny Dips, so only the price is listed here. Also, I added more Parmesan to my version, which was very nice, as well.
Calculations
1 (15-ounce) can artichoke hearts packed in water, drained: $2.29
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese: $0.45
2 tablespoons olive oil: $0.10
1 tablespoon lemon juice: $0.33
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley: $0.10
1 small clove garlic, minced: $0.04
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt: $0.01
a few grinds black pepper: $0.01
TOTAL: $3.33
PER SERVING (TOTAL/8): $0.41
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