Q: I am trying to prepare the best hard boiled eggs for friends. My procedure is to boil them for at least 10 minutes over a medium flame, then I let them sit and cool down so I can peel them. Now isn’t that the best procedure to use?
A: There are dozens of ways to boil an egg and your email piqued my interest. I searched the internet and found many people who claim to have the perfect method. While many of them sound good there are often multiple steps involving heating, reheating, ice water and cool running water.
The method that I use is pretty simple and very similar to yours. The Perfect Hard Boiled Egg
Q: I am from Vancouver, Canada and I am curious what Americans call a “baron of beef inside round.” I find it very difficult to find recipes for this cut on the Internet due to the fact that I am not sure what this cut of meat is called in the U.S. It is a boneless lean cut and I was wondering if I should cook it pot roast style or can I cook it 20 min. a lb. and still have a nice tender roast.
A: A Baron of Beef is alleged to have originated when Henry VIII was served a spit roasted double sirloin of beef and was so taken by the roast that he dubbed it Sir Loin, the Baron of Beef. Whether this is true or not, the term has come to refer to the large joint of beef that includes the loins and both legs. A Baron of Beef
Q: I am a male in my thirties and I am trying to re-evaluate my diet. One thing I have been reading (in men’s fitness mags and such) is that increased protein at breakfast can be very beneficial. My typical breakfast is a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter.
What would you say would be the best possible breakfast (without breaking the bank) for me to eat, keeping in mind I work out for at least an hour pretty much every day?
A: This is a great question. The whole wheat bagel and peanut butter is a good choice for a workout day. There are enough calories and the whole wheat will give you some added fiber. We know that meals that have a pretty good balance of carbs, protein and fat will keep people satisfied and make it easier to lose weight. So your combo of the carb (bagel) and peanut butter (protein and fat) works well. Part of that satisfaction comes from the added protein, which helps blunt the insulin response a bit and is digested and absorbed a little more slowly. Breakfast for Weight Loss
Q: I went to lunch with my friends and we were at the salad bar choosing the various vegetables for our salads. When my two friends saw me putting peas & corn kernels on my salad (a small amount) they said both of those were very bad for you because they were loaded with starch. I understand the starch thing, but I read where they do have a lot of vitamins, minerals, folate, fiber and good carbs, as well as other nutritional benefits. I disagreed with them, telling them that foods high in starches, served in moderation, aren’t bad for you. Am I wrong or were the two of them over-reacting?
A: Your friends are completely wrong. Period. While corn and peas are carbohydrates, they are really good for you. Both are full of fiber and satisfying. While they are mostly carbohydrates (starches) it has long since been proven that low-carbohydrate diets are no better for you for losing weight. We now know that it is eating fewer calories that is the key and not limiting one particular type of food. Peas and Corn
