June 4, 2007

Chef Tim Says...

For the last several weeks I have been writing about the healthiest choices for you to make at the grocery store. So far I have discussed different ideas for protein like meat, poultry and fish. While these are not strictly items for you to keep in your pantry, the columns have focused on those ingredients that are the healthiest for you to buy.

When I started this series I wanted to discuss those items that you might keep in your pantry or fridge that would help you cook healthier because you have the right ingredients on hand. Now that the proteins are out of the way we can get on to that idea. In Your Pantry: Baking

Featured Recipe

Pumpkin Tarts
These tarts are delicious single-serving versions of your favorite pumpkin pie. Tip: This is where that pocket thermometer is so helpful. Getting the temperature just right helps to set the custard before it is put in the tart shell so the crust won't be soggy.

Ask Dr. Gourmet

The dietitian at my local hospital is telling the diners that a glass of V-8 juice is the equivalent of having a serving of 8 vegetables. True?

Dr. Gourmet Says....

Such a claim is not true at all. 4 ounces of a vegetable juice cocktail like V8 is about the equivalent of a serving of vegetables.

Even if the glass were large - say 16 ounces - that would only be 4 servings.

I am not a big fan of drinking juice instead of eating veggies or fruit. Such products as V8 are highly processed and you're better off eating 4 servings of fresh vegetables than drinking a large glass of juice. Having a tomato as one serving has as much fiber as 8 ounces of V8, for instance. V-8 and Vegetables

Featured Ingredient: Cloves

Cloves are those small stick looking things that your mom stuck in the ham at holidays. I have both whole cloves and ground cloves in my cupboard and I use them about equally. If I have the time I grind them fresh using a mortar and pestle but I also use whole cloves when I am combining other spices in the blender for rubs or marinades.

Ground cloves, like whole, are pretty powerful, so a little goes a long way. If you are trying to create your own recipe go easy at first. Too much ground clove will make a recipe bitter.

Did You Know?

Have a question about food or health? Need to know the best way to whip egg whites or what trans-fatty acids are?

Dr. Harlan has answered hundreds of questions about cooking, foods, Coumadin (warfarin) use, weight loss and more, all from people just like you.

Browse the answers to common questions at Ask Dr. Gourmet!

Hand on Heart

Dr. Harlan's latest cookbook, Hand on Heart, includes several of the recipes from drgourmet.com, plus a few that were developed specifically for the book, like Banoffee Pie! More on what's inside.

Cooking to Reduce the Burn

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