Breakfast in Bed, Mediterranean Style

Breakfast at Callie's

Today I swam in the rain. It was heaven. It brings back images of one of my fave classic films Breakfast at Tiffany's. This afternoon I purchased new oatmeal colored sheets (400 thread count); three new comforter(s): old fashioned lacy vintage-style oatmeal; white; and a multi-Mediterrean colored one--maroon, gold, brown, and forest green. And tomorrow for the finale I'm treating myself to breakfast in bed.

No recipes this time around. It's simple. It's basic. It's good. I will warm up a fresh multi-grain whole wheat bagel and top it with two scrambled eggs (organic and brown)--made with a tad of extra virgin olive oil in the pan to prevent sticking (I mention doing this in my book The Healing Powers of Olive Oil), a splash of organic low-fat milk, and a sprinkle of grated cheddar cheese. A sprig of fresh parsley (yes, I still have my herbal garden) will make it perfect and pretty for me.

This easy meal for one (a few bites for the pooch duo and cat) will be teamed with a large cup of new French Roast coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice. Eggs (in moderation) whole grains, fresh fruit play a part in the traditional Mediterranean diet.

I love this stormy weather with lightning and thunder. And I love waking up to breakfast in bed. It's (almost) like dialing up for room service at a hotel. I love having my two French Brittanys with me on clean sheets as they will be tomorrow in the morning. Note to self: Teach the boys how to cook up a meal for their Mom and serve her in bed. But for the time being, I don't mind playing "gourmet" chef.

A Toast to Gourmet Hot Chocolate

GOURMET HOT CHOCOLATE SOOTHES THE SOUL

BY CAL OREY

I remember in the film Under the Tuscan Sun when Katherine (Lindsay Duncan) indulges guilt-free in an ice-cream cone and Frances (Diane lane) takes a peek at the uninhibited woman enjoying herself. It's healthier to eat your favorite foods--including dark chocolate--in moderation than to deprive yourself of life's simple pleasures, which can lead to overeating. Pssst! With gourmet food you don't need to go there.

While processed cakes, cookies, and ice creams are not healthful (usually because they contain too much sugar, preservatives, and artery-clogging trans fat), homemade desserts and beverages can be good for you. Yeah, it's for real. Also, any time you can pair fresh fruit with gourmet treats, by all means do as they do in Europe and savor the best fruit of the season.

On the topic of seasons, today, I and my companion animal trio endured thrilling thunderstorms, lightning bolts, and heavy rain at Lake Tahoe. They are cool because they've grown up with it all so it's "normal." But instead of hitting the swimming pool, I waited for the roofer to repair the water leak(s) in my study.

And now, I am sitting contented, in front of a warm fire, and watching a film on TV. My two Brittanys, Simon and Seth, are sleeping on the couch, and Kerouac, my black cat is curled up in the catnapper. It's time to treat myself to a mug of gourmet hot chocolate. (I was comped plenty of the luxury stuff from luxury chocolatiers around the nation during research for my forthcoming book on chocolate.)

So, what exactly is this kind of hot chocolate, anyhow? I use organic low-fat milk with gourmet dark chocolate shavings (just like you'll find and taste in Europe). And yes, I will include a dallop of whipped cream (without trans fat) and sprinkle cinnamon on top.

Not only am I getting a good dose of good calcium and vitamin D from the milk, the chocolate provides iron, other nutrients, and feel-good compounds (which are discussed in my book The Healing Powers of Chocolate--due out at the end of the year). The bottom line: Don't stress over extra calories and fat. You can enjoy a pleasurable treat--like gourmet hot chocolate which boasts good dietary fat--and enjoy its healing benefits, too.

Adapted from The Healing Powers of Olive Oil

Chilling With Melon Sorbet

Cool Comfort Food
by Cal Orey

It is pre-summer. It is gray outside. It is drizzling. The chilly weather on June 1 (I did swim yesterday in the rain; but today is an introvert's indoor cozy-up treat) reminds me of that adorable video song (with the little, lonely girl dressed up like a bumblebee and finds her way) No Rain by Blind Melon.

Thunderstorms and lightning are here (again) at Lake Tahoe and other regions around the world. Instead of craving hot food I find myself eyeing a recipe that calls for melons, sweet melon concoctions in my book The Healing Powers of Vinegar (chock-full of tried and true recipes created from spa chefs, popular vinegar companies, around the nation).

Speaking of melons, have you noticed the seasonal cantelopes? Watermelons and honeydews also are out on display at the grocery store. And yes, melons do have good for you nutrients--vitamin A, C, and water (an excellent natural diuretic) to beat bloat. Orange, red, green melons--balls, cubes, and mushed into cool sorbet.

So, it's time. It's an oh-so perfect time to whip up a quick and easy and all-natural homemade melon sorbet...without chemicals and preservatives. And, yeah, I'm still enjoying new berries because they are so good, so budget-smart, and great to dress up desserts-- just like this one. It's a healthful comfort food.

Melon Sorbet

2 ripe sweet melons, halved and deseeded

6 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted

2 egg whites large

Scoop flesh from melons and place in a food processor with sugar and vinegar. Blend to a puree. Place in a freezer-proofer container; cover and freeze 4-5 hours. Whisk egg whites until stiff, then blend with the mushy sorbet. Freeze until solid. Leave to stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving. [Optional: Serve with fresh berries.]

(Excerpted from The Healing Powers of Vinegar, The Vinegar Institute)

Chocolate Biscotti Rx Heals... the Painful Health Insurance Earthquake

It's Saturday. It's a day for fun, rest, and relaxation... But today, May 30, 2009, it is not an amusing day for me. I am hardly alone. I was welcomed with a big health insurance package in my mailbox. As I opened the all too familiar cold and sterile envelope (being a health author-intuitive I sensed a price hike would greet me) I read the formal letter again and again. Yes, I was hit like a major earthquake hits our state without mercy. Monthly premiums are raised. It's true. And I am feeling blue.

I don't get it. We are in a deep recession. NorCal, my Golden State, is hurting--like an illness, a flu epidemic. People are struggling. Businesses are closing. Locals are still getting laid off from their jobs. Our state parks are being closed. Construction projects are on hold. And yet, health insurance prices, for people like me--healthy "Tier 1" boomers--who live life like healthy nuns--are paying the big price big-time. So, what to do?

Chocolate. It's a Chocolate Rx day. I am too upset to bake a homemade batch of chocolate biscotti. But I do have some in the freezer (made with healthy extra virgin olive oil discussed in my book The Healing Powers of Olive Oil) and crunchy walnuts. And yes, fresh, low-fat organic milk will also soothe my soul and pocketbook wounds, too. And I will munch on a few of these chocolate stress-busters tonight as I snuggle up with my three male fur kids and get a double dose of chilling out while fantasizing about moving to Canada like in the film Sicko--where all is good. (Or a tropical place where cocoa trees grow may suffice.)

Will this mini chocolatefest make me feel better as I try and absorb the sobering fact that I'll be paying more each month for health insurance that I haven't put to the test? (Maybe it's the chocolate fixes, olive oil, nuts, and milk that help keep me healthy--mind, body, and spirit.) As Scarlett said in Gone with the Wind: "I'll think about that tomorrow." I will swim and savor the bubbly hot tub and ambiance of towering pine trees, clean air, and snow-capped mountain tops of Lake Tahoe. I will survive. Thank God for the healing powers of chocolate.
P.S. Self-reliance paired with a prestige truffle a day may be the real insurance to health, happiness, and longevity.

Cioppino for the Adventurous Fish Lover

Cioppino--the Italian Dish for the

Adventurous Fish Lover

While I prefer to be a strict vegetarian, it's a challenge to do it right and maintain good health. I know that I need essential fatty acids for good health. So, two to three times per week, I try to include fresh salmon or tuna in my diet. In my early teens (fish was on the menu and a religious ritual every Friday in my home because Catholicism rules), I do recall indulging in fresh lobster, trout, halibut, shrimp, and scallops.

I also have fond memories of an awesome meal at a NorCal restaurant in famous Cannery Row, Monterey, California. (A place one of my fave authors John Steinbeck wrote about in his works.) It was the first time that I had the Cioppino experience--fun, and it is for the uninhibited fish lover. Read: You must wear a bib and have the skill of cracking crab and lobster. (I admit it. I took half of the fish soup home so I could enjoy solo and not feel self-conscious. And I shared with my fish-loving fur children who weren't shy. At all.) Mediterranean people do eat and do love their fresh fish--a variety of types, too. And fish, does play a role in the health perks of Mediterranean diets.

Speaking of the Mediterranean...My dear friend Gemma Sciabica, an amazing cook like my Mother was, provided me this Cioppino recipe for The Healing Powers of Olive Oil (page 234-235) and it's also in one of her cookbooks Cooking with California Olive Oil: Treasured Family Recipes. (We are both Catholic. We both love fine food. But I continue to pray that one fine day I could cook and bake up a dish or two like she does!)

Cioppino
1/4 cup Marsala Olive Fruit Oil

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil and/or parsly

1 onion, diced

6 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 pound cod, cut into 2-inch cube

3/4 cup wine

1 pound crab (Alaskan King, thawed)

4 cups chopped fresh or canned tomatoes

1 pound shrimp

4 tablespoons tomato paste

2 dozen clams or mussels

Salt, pepper, and red hot pepper flakes to taste

1/2 pound scallops

2 bay leaves (remove before serving)

In a Dutch oven, add the oil, onions, garlic, and bell pepper. Cook over medium heat until soft. Add the wine and cook 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, red hot pepper flakes, and bay leaves. Simmer for 15 minutes, covered, then add the basil. Add the cod and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the remaining fish and cook, covered for 5 minutes, or until the clams open. Discard any unopened clams. Serve in soup bowls with toasted crusted Italian bread slices.

Excerpted and adapted from The Healing Powers of Olive Oil by Cal Orey (published by Kensington, 2009; mass market edition)

Wake Up to Grr-eat Sweet Potato Biscuits

Wake Up to Grr-eat Sweet Potato Biscuits

Good morning. Do you want the good or bad news? Bad news: Yesterday morning Seth, my youngest Brittany, 3, devoured one banana peel (yes, the banana was eaten by me). Minutes later I rang up my vet. On hold. I waited. I waited for the final verdict. Good news: No damage. Seth survived the banana peel.

The banana saga brought back memories of the bagels and wrapper he chowed down during the horrifying June 2007 Angora Fire when we evacuated to a hotel. And, of course, there was the Dark Chocolate Truffle Incident...(A traumatic ordeal for all. Keep chocolate away from dogs morning, noon, and night 24/7.)

This morning all is good but I realize these days I am a bit bored with breakfast. Fruit, cereal, yogurt, and even the blueberry pancakes are yesterday's news. I want a new treat. And today, my eyes are fixed on a recipe (courtesy of Spectrum Naturals, Inc.,) in my book The Healing Powers of Olive Oil.

I adore homemade sweet potato pie so these wholesome, all-natural biscuits will get me at the first bite, too. And they should make fine teammates with a Tuscan Omelet, yes? (Both call for canola oil.) Breakfast is back. If you whip up a batch please do share...One more thing. If you've got a food-loving canine (or two) by your side during breakfast as I always do, have a couple of doggie biscuits to share. (http://calorey.blogspot.com/2009/05/extra-virgin-olive-oil-for-your-pet-you.html) Buno appetito!

Sweet Potato Biscuits

1 cup unbleached flour
1/4 cup peeled, cooked, and mashed sweet potato
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1-2 tablespoons milk
Pinch cinnamon
1/3 cup Spectrum Naturals Organic Canola Oil

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sift the dry ingredients together. Place the sifted dry ingredients into a food processor, add the oil, and blend. Blend the sweet potatoes into the mixture and add the maple syrup. Add the milk a small amount at a time until the dough begins to form into a ball. Process as little as possible. Place the dough ball on a lightly floured suface and knead lightly, 5 to 10 times. Roll it out to 3/4-inch thickness and cut it into rounds. Place the cut-out rounds on a lightly oiled cookie sheet and bake for about 12 minutes. Makes 12 biscuits.

What's Your Olive Oil Personality?

QUIZ
OLIVE OIL BON APPETIT!
WHICH OLIVE OIL
IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

By Cal Orey

Olive oil judges from coast to coast and around the world recognize award-winning olive oils, but not all of them may be a suitable match for you and your lifestyle. For instance, if you don’t like mushrooms, porcini olive oil may not be your cup of oil. You may love to cook, but extra virgin olive oil may not give you enough pizzazz. Like to bake but don’t want to be stuck using only canola oil (one healthful oil) for your breads, cakes, and muffins? You may be limiting yourself with your oil of choice.

No matter what kind of oil lover you are, take this quiz, excerpted from my book The Healing Powers of Olive Oil (new mass market edition, January 2009) to get to know your personality and your real taste in oil before you choose the oil(s) for you.

Oils For Life

What’s your lifestyle? Take this short quiz to find out. Discover what your fave flavor reveals about your real personality.

1.A typical morning for you includes:
A.Family chaos, with the dog joining in.
B.Breakfast in bed.
C.A 2-mile run.
D.Computer work.
E.Brunch at an ethnic restaurant.

2.When you cook, you’d like to:
A.Feed a fun-loving crowd.
B.Feed a loving mate or friend who’ll enjoy your meals.
C.Make a meal to take on the run.
D.Make a low-maintenance meal.
E.Work in a kitchen chock-full of exotic treats.

3.Your idea of a perfect vacation is:
A.Grabbing the family and visiting relatives.
B.Going to a secluded park for picnic.
C.Hitting the mountain trails.
D.Enjoying an at-home movie fest with a few friends.
E.Flying to a foreign country.

4.When the weekend hits, you can be found:
A.Enjoying a family event with the in-laws, spouse, kids,
cat and dog.
B.Busy with your hobbies.
C.Jogging through the neighborhood.
D.On the couch, cuddled up with you know who.
E.Attending an out-of-town social event.

5.A meal to you means, in one word:
A.Fun.
B.Wholesome.
C.Quick.
D.Healthy.
E.Exciting.

TALLY UP
Once you understand your cooking and eating styles, you can use the knowledge to select oils that are compatible with them. This, in turn, will enhance your olive oil experience. See how you scored below. I’ve made a few oil-wise choices for you to get started or to add to your current olive oil repertoire.

Mostly A’s: The Extrovert:
Your Style: You are well-rounded, fun-loving, and people-oriented. You want an oil that is versatile, and good for kids and animals. An all-purpose olive oil is ideal. An oil that will not be too exotic during family get-togethers is best.
Best Oils: Extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, roasted garlic olive oil, and citrus olive oils.

Mostly B’s: The Introvert:
Your Style: You are the intellectual, an independent individual who may live alone. You’d probably enjoy an olive oil that is good for you and versatile, as opposed to strong-flavored olive oils.
Best Oils: Extra virgin olive oil, basil olive oil, and citrus olive oils.

Mostly C’s: The Outdoor Health Nut:
Your Style: You are a physical person, ready to hike in the summer, hit the gym in the winter. An active individual with a sense of adventure as long as it’s healthful.
Best Oils: Light olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, and porcini olive oil.

Mostly D’s: The Indoor Hermit:
Your Style: You are a sofa spud, with one hand on the remote control and the other in a bag of wholesome doggie treats. An afternoon of baking is up your alley.
Best Oils: Extra virgin olive oil, and homemade flavored olive oils.

Mostly E’s: The Adventurer:
Your Style: You are ready to travel for work or play. Trying new foods is what life is all about. You enjoy tasting new foods and flavors wherever you go and “bland” is not in your vocabulary.
Best Oils: Pepper olive oil, porcini olive oil, rosemary olive oil, and oregano olive oil.