My name is Timothy Harlan and I am both a physician and a chef. This blog is a general collection of information and random ideas on eating great food and eating healthy.
There are three reasons to use wine in recipes. One is as a marinade where the acidity aides in tenderizing meats and other ingredients. The second is as a cooking liquid. Either way, the main reason is that wine adds flavor to your [...]
When I am giving lectures I love to talk about lentils. Legumes are one of my favorite ingredients and lentils are one of my favorite legumes. They keep well in the cupboard, cook quickly and there are dozens of ways to use them [...]
Mustard is one of those condiments that most folks take for granted. Most of us have at least a jar of yellow mustard in the fridge for sandwiches, burgers and the like. There is, however, a world beyond French’s prepared mustard that can [...]
I love a good salad dressing and especially a great vinaigrette. So simple, yet so complex. The rich combination of silky oil with tart vinegar, flavorings and herbs is incomparable.
The term pesto likely has its origins from from two Italian words. One is the Italian verb pestare which means “to pound or crush” as one does with the garlic and pine nuts. Pestos were traditionally made in a mortar andpestle, the pestle being the [...]
Pistachios are my favorite nuts. Most people think of them as a snack, and they are a great choice for something to nibble on, not just because they are delicious but they are also really good for you.
When I was in high school one of the coaches taught a class in health. Even as a teenager I knew that it was pretty sad stuff, with no curriculum, text or tests. He simply rambled for a full year about this and [...]
When I am giving talks, people will often ask about low-carb diets. Truthfully, the Atkins and South Beach diets are just plain silly. Worst of all, they’ve created a myth that pasta is bad for you. Really! Why would anyone ever want to [...]
Technically, braising is simmering food in a small amount of liquid in a covered or uncovered pan or casserole. In some ways it’s similar to stewing, except that with braising there’s generally only enough water, wine or stock to add a little moisture [...]