Time for (Yummy) Fall Ingredients

Yes, it's apple season. But it's also coming into peak time for a lot of other delicious, healthy seasonal foods. Such as: pears, mushrooms, kale, pumpkin, hard squashes, chestnuts -- to name a few.

Epicurious has a nifty feature on cooking with mushrooms, with links to an array of recipes for main courses, side dishes and pasta creations.

Here's part of their intro to the topic, and click here for a link to the page of recipes.


Tips for handling and cooking mushrooms:

• Hold the Water

Mushrooms absorb water like sponges, so don't clean by soaking them in water or holding them under the faucet: That makes mushrooms soggy and flavorless. The best way to wash them is to rub them gently with a clean, damp paper towel or cloth.

• Avoid Overcrowding

Mushrooms release a lot of moisture during cooking, so avoid crowding the pan when sautéing. Otherwise, they'll steam.

• Store Properly

Refrigerate mushrooms in a paper bag or on a tray covered loosely with damp paper towels. They are best if used within three days.

Dining where Barack and Michelle Did

Not only was The Corner Kitchen our very best dining experience on our recent trip to Asheville NC, but it also was the restaurant the Obamas chose for a dinner in Asheville when they spent part of their April vacation in the region.
On April 25th, a Saturday, the staff was surprised by an influx of Secret Service agents followed not too much later by the Obama party, which included two other couples who were their personal friends. Word has it that they spent the day hiking in the mountains nearby before selecting this spot for dinner.
We've been to Asheville quite a few times in recent years but I'd only had lunch at the Corner Kitchen. We had the opportunity to eat there last Saturday night, and it was stellar.
My "Cashew Crusted Snapper on Citrus Basil Rice with Snow Pea Salad and Coconut Carrot Sauce" (bottom photo) was the best dish I've eaten in weeks and one of the best this year, anywhere. It was head and shoulders above anything we ate at Jean-Robert's Table, by the way. Also in the photos, my husband's mountain trout entree -- excellent, but not in the class of my snapper.
Photos of the Obamas' visit are copied from the restaurant's website.

Help for the Sleep-Deprived (or Sleep Interrupted)

This posting isn't about food, but it's certainly on a topic that's very crucial to our health: sleeping well.
Some health-oriented folks, including doctors, believe that sleep may be the most important component in our entire health profile, above diet, exercise, vitamins, medications, and visiting doctors.
So here's some advice for those who have trouble staying asleep -- that is, you may fall asleep easily enough, but you wake in the night and can't get back.
It's from Real Age, and it's titled "Fall Back Asleep Fast with These 3 Tips"

1. Don't fight it. Tossing and turning works for salads, not sleep problems. If you can't get to sleep within 15 minutes, get out of bed and do some light activity, like a yoga pose or a short walk. Getting your mind off sleep resets and reboots your system. Then, once back in bed, invite sleep with some soft music or meditation. (Try setting the stage for sleep by doing this 7-minute evening stretch workout with Dr. Oz.)
   
   
2. Use the night. Dim your lights several hours before bed to avoid the stimulation caused by artificial-light pollution -- that stuff that emanates all around us thanks to TVs, computers, and indoor lighting. (And here's a great reason to nix midnight Web surfing, too.)
   
   
3. Treat your nose. Allergies can prevent and disrupt sleep, thanks to all the congestion they cause. Consider over-the-counter nasal strips or a nasal saline or antihistamine spray for a stuffy or runny nose. (Not sure if you have allergies? Read up on allergy testing.)

Beer, beer and more beer

We went to Asheville NC this past weekend, in part for me to report about the craft beer scene that's gotten so huge there in recent months. The city was voted Beer City USA 2010 in an online poll, beating out longtime winner Portland OR.
My husband did most of the tasting/drinking, since I don't have much appreciation for the stuff.
Here are a few photos of the breweries we sampled.
Lexington Avenue Brewery -- top photo.
Thirsty Monk (specializes in Belgian beers) -- middle photo.
Highland Brewery -- the area's largest, which gives guided tours.
I'll post about our best dining experience soon. Meanwhile, the cocktail I had that evening is at right, the Vanderbilt Martini.

In a hurry? Try this inexpensive dinner

This is a go-to weeknight meal around our house:
Packaged Indian entrees (these happen to be vegetarian) from Trader Joe's;
frozen brown rice in a microwavable bag (not pictured);
Indian nan bread -- whole wheat if you can get it;
a green veggie, usually broccoli steamed on the stove.
This will feed two for about $5 or less, and of course you can make more for a larger family.

Exceptional Mexican

We're in Asheville NC, home of the Biltmore Estate, adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains, and the Craft Brewing capital of the U.S. I'm here to report about the brew scene, mostly, and also to visit family and friends.

When we arrived yesterday, our first culinary treat was to try Chorizo, a relatively new Mexican eatery opened by the owner of the longtime local Mexican fave, Salsa.

We ate on the patio, enjoying the white sangria and a beer. I had excellent pork enchiladas -- not too cheesy -- and my husband had a fabulous salmon taco. (Photo shows the enchiladas.)

Two (or would that be four?) thumbs up for this one.

The Healthy Foodie does Jean-Robert's Table (Birthday Dinner)

When choosing where to go for my bday dinner, it was a no-brainer: try the most anticipated restaurant to open in Cincinnati within the past several years. Jean-Robert de Cavel is our city's most celebrated and most talented chef, and the whole local foodie world has awaited his new venture, Jean-Robert's Table. They've been up and running for at least a month, plenty of time to iron out any kinks. We were thrilled to put on some nice threads and head downtown to check it out.
The place has a beautiful interior. It feels spacious and cozy at the same time, with exposed brick arches separating the two main dining rooms and a comfortable bar with a few lounge tables along one wall. We arrived a half hour before our reservation, grabbed a table in the bar, and had a drink -- Champagne for the birthday girl and a cocktail called The Belgian (featuring Belgian ale, vodka and a few other ingredients) for my husband.
Chef walked by and we had a nice chat with him, getting his guidance on what to try from the dinner menu. Our bar server Molly also gave us some tips.
When we were seated, we selected from a moderately extensive menu of about 10 appetizers and a like number of entrees.
We liked all our dishes -- photos are above. For starters, I had a nightly special shrimp salad with watermelon and cantaloupe chunks and a rich dressing; he tried the "surf and turf" (tuna and beef) tartar.
His entree was the bacon-wrapped salmon, and I went with the skate wings. Despite the bacon wrapping, his dish actually was less rich than mine, but only because we had them leave off the cream sauce that came with his. A bottle of Calera Pinot Noir from California's Central Coast complemented our fish entrees very nicely--in fact, we loved the wine and plan to look for it retail.
Since it was my birthday, I also indulged in a lavender-honey creme brulee as dessert.
I'd have to say that the bacon-wrapped salmon was my favorite of all that we tried.
We enjoyed the evening very much, but truth be told, the food was too rich for my taste -- even as a birthday treat. Next time I will order more carefully and steer clear of a starter with a mayonnaise dressing AND an entree floating in too much oil.