A "better" mac n cheese

I'm all for recipes that look and taste like the "real" thing but are better for you, so I was thrilled to see this article in yesterday's New York Times which also includes a recipe for mac n cheese!

"Researchers at Penn State University found that adding vegetable purée to various recipes [resulted in feeling] full after eating fewer calories, allowing the vegetable purée mixtures to act as natural appetite suppressants."

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/recipes-to-curb-appetites/

Enjoy.

Link: Easy cooking projects

Wanted to share this New York Times' article (which I learned of via Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks): http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/16/dining/16diy-recipes.html

It guides you through thirteen simple cooking projects, designed to get you comfortable with your kitchen and create some delicious staples like fresh cheese, and some not-so-staple items like cold-cured pork belly.

Let's get cooking!

Back in action - artichoke season

After a long winter hiatus, we're back! Not that I haven't been cooking - there's been lots of that going on - just in a bit of hibernation mode.

I thought I'd start with an easy post -

The Wall Street Journal posted The Art of the Artichoke in its weekend edition, which I share with you because artichokes are my favorite food. I'm particularly interested in trying the Artichoke, Dandelion and Pecorino Salad with Mandarin Dressing, as I think Pecorino may be my second favorite food.

For a super-simple artichoke recipe, here's my earlier post on how to steam an artichoke.