Stone Soup
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Stone Soup

In one of my favourite children’s folk stories, Stone Soup, a tale is told of a poor beggar who arrives at a village, hungry and asking for something to eat.

An apple a day . . .

An apple a day . . .

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but only if thrown hard enough.”

Taste and See

Taste and See

“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.”
(Oscar Wilde)

Add salt
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Add salt

I grew up in a home of limited culinary interest. The food was basic; we had two spices, salt and pepper. My Dad avoided or fought other spices and food with strong flavours. This month, as I begin my new job as Director of Geneva Campus Ministry, salt is on my mind.

No such thing as hormone-free beef
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No such thing as hormone-free beef

Hormones occur naturally in all animals, plants and people, which is why there’s no such thing as “hormone-free beef.” Occasionally I see a sign making that claim at a farmers’ market and I will tell the vendor that it’s giving a wrong message to consumers. Promoting the beef as “no hormone implants used” or “no growth promotants used” or, simply, “organic beef” would be more accurate.

To those who diet after Christmas
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To those who diet after Christmas

There’s no doubt, Christmas hurts the waistline.

Food safety 101

Food safety 101

Those $12 home-made pies look good at the farmers’ markets I visit, but I never buy them.

Ruby-red treasure in your backyard

Ruby-red treasure in your backyard

Ontario rhubarb with its rosy colour and tart flavour make it a favourite for pies, tarts and cakes, to say nothing of preserves and cobblers.