ArcaMax

Herbal Aromas

I gave up planting fruits and veggies years ago but I have not given up on herbs. Every year I make sure I have plenty of those.

I’ve changed some of what I plant because my garden is much smaller now. But there’s nothing like cooking with fresh herbs. I love stepping into my garden to pick herbs when I need to ...Read more

Enjoy this previously published Zola classic...

From the IDF Diabetes Atlas:

“Today, there are over 380 million people living with diabetes. A further 300+ million with impaired glucose tolerance are at high risk from the disease – an alarming number that is set to reach 471 million by 2035. Diabetes has caused over 5 million deaths...Read more

It was Sunday morning. We were in the mood for brunch, so we went to a restaurant called 1885.

1885 has indoor and outdoor seating. One section of the outdoor seating runs along one side of the bar. We sat there so we could chat with our favorite bartender, Daniel.

We were not there long when a couple of folks sat down beside us. Turns out ...Read more

I have discovered a new way to stay regular. It’s not fiber. It’s a mineral. Magnesium.

Lots of people have a challenge staying regular. Overweight or skinny. Constipation can be an issue; and one that can interrupt your life in a most uncomfortable way.

When dieting, lots of people get constipated. As you reduce the amount of fats you...Read more

Dairy and the Best No-Dairy Alternatives

I was born in Wisconsin. America’s Dairyland. I was proud to be from Wisconsin. Still am.

In June, the “June is Dairy Month” commercial jingles would come on the radio across the Midwest. My favorite that ran for years went like this:

“Dairy foods are great foods. Dairy foods are great. ...Read more

Enjoy this previously published Memorial Day edition....

Memorial Day was always a fun holiday at my house. As a kid, I remember the day to be sunny and not too cold. I’m sure that was not the case every year, but my memory holds that weather report on record anyway. One of the other things I will remember about Memorial Day is kittens...Read more

Editor's Note: Enjoy this previously published Zola classic edition!

When I was a young girl of 12, I became obsessed with weight. Twiggy was the super model at the time and she was rail thin. I thought I needed to be like that. I wasn’t obese by any means. Turns out I was a normal 12-year-old, but I was worried I was too fat to be in...Read more

Editor's Note: Please enjoy this previously published Zola classic.

“Little Plate” restaurants are all the rage. In our “hip and happening” neighborhood no fewer than a half dozen of these popular eating places have debuted in the last 6 months –all located within a mile of our place. There are more spread throughout the city. ...Read more

Memorial Day was always a fun holiday at my house. As a kid, I remember the day to be sunny and not too cold. I’m sure that was not the case every year, but my memory holds that weather report on record anyway.

One of the other things I will always remember about Memorial Day is kittens. Spring brought a fresh batch of furry babies into our ...Read more

For years I had a love-hate relationship with cast iron cookware. Now that I have more cooking experience, I adore cast iron.

I have to tell you my cast iron story.

Not long after I moved into my first apartment, my mother gave me two of her Lodge heavy-duty cast iron fry pans. She was getting new cookware and there was no room for them in her...Read more

Chives...

My chives were the first thing to come up in my herb garden every year. As soon as the snow melted I could see their little heads popping up through the soil. By the time it was warm enough to actually get out in my garden and clean with a rake, the chives would be high enough that I had to work around them. They’d be three ...Read more

The Glycemic Index is all the rage right now. I am a big fan, but I have a few hints that might vary from what you read in most places.

The Glycemic Index is a measure of a food’s ability to spike your blood sugar. The index goes from 0 to 100-plus. (Yes, a food can actually score higher than 100. And white sugar is 100 so you know that’s ...Read more

I planted an asparagus patch once. While doing my research I learned you should not harvest it the first year. I followed those directions and let it mature through the year. I looked forward to the day when I’d be able to pick and eat my own asparagus. Unfortunately, the next spring weeds began encroaching from the cornfield behind my house. ...Read more

I’ve never been that fond of the grill. I think I can trace it back to when I was about 20 years old. I bought a charcoal grill that came in a box. I had to put it together. Even with perfectly clear directions, it still took me five hours to get that thing ready to cook a hotdog. It wasn’t the most expensive grill so it didn’t last more ...Read more

Editor's Note: We think you will enjoy this previously published Zola classic!

Intermittent Fasting

In the last few years, there’s a buzz phrase in the dieting community that is getting lots of coverage. It’s called intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting is the concept of going 12 to 18 hours without food.

Some research...Read more

I worked for a woman named Marilyn Lewis in 1980. I only met her in person once, but she made a lifelong impression on me.

Marilyn and her husband Harry lived in LA. He was an actor. Actors are not always working constantly and some fall on harder times. Harry knew that and had experienced that himself.

Besides acting, Harry dreamed of opening...Read more

Enjoy this previously published Zola classic

When I was a young girl of 12, I became obsessed with weight. Twiggy was the super model at the time and she was rail thin. I thought I needed to be like that. I wasn’t obese by any means. Turns out I was a normal 12-year-old, but I was worried I was too fat to be in my sister’s wedding so...Read more

It was late afternoon. I was at the grocery store picking up a few items to make dinner.

I passed two women greeting each other. One of them had a young daughter in tow. The girl was maybe seven years old. The moms were maybe in their late 30s.

We were all in the dairy section; the area with the big refrigerators full of milk and cream. The ...Read more