BARIATRIC SURGERY: LOW CARB THE HARD WAY

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Another article about the miraculous effects of bariatric surgery appeared in the news this morning. The procedure has already been proclaimed the “cure” for diabetes and now Canadian researchers have reported that it reduces colon and breast cancer rates by 80% over five years. (“Gastric bypass surgery may stave off cancer,” Thomas H. Maugh II and Denise Gellene, Los Angeles Times, June 19, 2008. You can read the story here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2008005564_obesity19.html.) The authors state that two studies from last August have shown a decrease in…

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LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULEZ; More Good Times in New Orleans and Coconut Ice Cream

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Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez, Let the Good Times Roll, is the attitude that earned New Orleans “The Big Easy” moniker. Good times defines the soul of a city that called its residents home in spite of the hardships they would face to rebuild from a disaster that none of us thought could ever happen in America. The easy choice would have been to walk away, to move on, but for some reason, those who could, came back. They came back to broken houses without…

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TOO DELICIOUS FOR WORDS: BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE CUSTARD

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The word “custard” doesn’t prepare you for the beautiful, brown, cheesy crust. I could have called this Macaroni and Cheese Soufflé (it tastes like one, but that makes it sound much harder to make than it is), or Crustless Macaroni and Cheese Quiche (no improvement over the first title), or Cheese Puff (sounds too much like Cheetos®). Whatever you call it, I know you are going to love this versatile macaroni and cheese dish: it can be served for breakfast; as the main course for…

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Still Here

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I’m still here, just working on a number of things that are taking longer than I expected. In the meantime, here are a few terrific articles that you can check out from other blogs: I loved Regina Wilshire’s post called “The Solar Powered Plate.” in which she explains why vegetarians actually use more of the Earth’s resources than meat eaters. http://weightoftheevidence.blogspot.com/search?q=solar Dr. McCleary’s Website has been given a make-over and he is posting more often. His site is a treasure trove of wisdom and science.…

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MORE N’AWLINS FOOD: CREOLE GUMBO

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GUMBO, (c) 2008, JUDY BARNES BAKER Gumbo is the perfect metaphor for New Orleans: a rich, steamy, spicy, mélange of diverse ingredients that combine into an experience that is unique to this place. A place that feels distinctly foreign, while at the same time epitomizing the melting pot that is America. French, Italian, Native American, Creole, Cajun, and African—all share a part in the history of the Louisiana bayou region, intersecting, interacting, and blending into a one-of-a-kind, savory stew. Gumbo may contain a variety of…

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NEW ORLEANS BARBECUED SHRIMP

(c) 2008, JUDY BARNES BAKER (c) 2008, JUDY BARNES BAKER My sister treated me to a taste of the real New Orleans, the places preferred by the locals; many were just blocks from her apartment. (She lives in the neighborhood that hosts the annual Jazz Festival, which, unfortunately, I missed by just a few days). You would never suspect that some of the unpretentious buildings and cottages scattered around the city house the top spots where creative, young chefs find a following among the food-loving…

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