Full DISHclosure

Chocolate Cayenne Macaroons

A generous dash of cayenne lends a fiery kick to this flourless confection. PrintChocolate Cayenne Macaroons 8 ounces semi sweet or bittersweet chocolate 4 egg whites 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups sweetened coconut (shredded) 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Melt chocolate in a stainless steel bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Set aside. Whisk... Read More

Soft Drinks: Hard on the Body

Have a sip of Sodium benzoate, phosphoric acid, bisphenol A (BPA)and HFCS. In case you need some added perspective on soda consumption, here are some interesting stats – Consumers worldwide drink 27 million Coca-Colas per hour or over 600-million per day.In the United States, an average person drinks 412 8-ounce drinks — or 3296 ounces — of Coke per year.  This calculates to 39964 calories consumed per year by every American, or the equivalent of 20 days of recommended... Read More

Sapelo Island: Ghosts, Gators and Prickly Pears

My husband broke the news as I unpacked our bags inside the once-grand Reynolds Mansion, “The kitchen staff said they knew we didn’t eat meat, so they’ve made us fried chicken.” And that set the tone for all our meals while visiting Sapelo Island, a mystical, isolated barrier island off Georgia’s coast, adjacent to Blackbeard Island of pirate lore. The nearest grocery store, a Piggly Wiggly, is 30-minutes away by ferry, and that would be the closest... Read More

Resurrection Cake, and My Just Desserts

In the spirit of holy week, I’ll confess one little sin: coconut cake obsession. The cake I remember from my youth wasn’t vegan or gluten free, and there were no freaky shortcuts like mix from a box or icing made of I-don’t-want-to-know-what. Nor is there an existing recipe, so I pieced together my own, made a colossal shopping trip for ridiculously decadent ingredients, and got up early, eager to create a few slices of heaven. Nearly eight hours later, I was... Read More