Tag: garlic

Chronic inflammation damages the body and can result in several health consequences, including a variety of diseases along with cancer, heart disease and obesity. Although eating an anti-inflammatory diet is important for everyone, it’s even more crucial for people who regularly engage in intense exercise.

This is quite simply the most difficult edition of The Flavor Chronicle I have ever written. My grandmother, the person I attribute with teaching me how to cook and my muse behind many of my columns, passed away a few weeks ago. There have been so many memories flooding back to my mind these past few weeks, many of which have been food-related memories. I want to share a few of those memories and one of my grandma’s recipes, which every grandmother of Italian heritage holds close to her heart.

In this corner, weighing in at approximately 50 pounds and an imposing height of 4 feet 5 inches tall, is spunky Alexis Higgins. In the opposite corner, 18 other kids (ages 8 to 13), and three absolutely intimidating judges. The challenge: knock the socks off the judges with the best dish they have ever tasted and win the hearts of America.

Many of us have wonderful memories of holidays and everything they represent. Our religious devotion, celebrating with family and friends and traditional foods are just a few things we hold in our hearts. One of my favorite Christmas food memories involves my dad when he was in college. I now share that story and the special recipe, which has been part of the Mariani family's Christmas meal for well over a century.

A Pig Roast Dinner to benefit the Hollister Elks Lodge is set for 7 p.m. Friday at the lodge. Menu items will include roasted pork, beans, coleslaw, applesauce, garlic bread and carrot cake. Dinner tickets are $18. Please make reservations before Nov. 11 at noon by calling (831) 637-1436. It will include a silent auction with closing bids at 8:30 p.m. plus raffles. Funds will go toward a major project to help kids with disabilities.

Have you ever driven down a street you use all the time and notice something you’ve never seen before? Has that charming little house down the road always been there? It’s funny how we can go through life with blinders on. Funnier still is how we can live in an area for years and know next to nothing about local history. There is more to Gilroy than just garlic.

It is no secret that this is my favorite time of year for vegetables. A visit to any farm stand or farmers market here in the South Valley will yield a plethora of items just in from the fields. The variety of colors, flavors and textures become my muse in the kitchen. This week, I share how many of these seasonal vegetables can find its way into a very tasty, healthy and economic dish.