Maria's Farm Country Kitchen

September 18, 2009 • in Food & Recipes

Red Beans and Rice: Look out Popeyes!

As some of you who read my blog regularly may know, I’m a big fan of Popeyes restaurant’s red beans and rice. There is something about the creamy, smoky, spicy flavor that just hits the spot, and makes going into …

Diabetes and Endocrine Disruption: Connecting the Dots

I consider myself fairly well-read, and educated about health. I’ve researched the endocrine disruption effects of chemicals—that is, the ways that certain chemicals interfere with the production function of various hormones in our bodies. So I was shocked and surprised …

The Power of an Organic Hot Dog

This weekend I grilled approximately 450 organic hot dogs in the rain. It wasn’t easy, standing in the mud from 9:30 am until 5:00 pm (ow!) trying to keep a giant grill evenly hot (impossible), and catering to people’s varying …

Come on Down to Our Organic Apple Festival!

On Saturday, September 12, the Rodale Institute will be holding its first annual Organic Apple Festival at the farm in Maxatawny, Pennsylvania. We have beautiful orchards of organic apples just waiting to be picked by you! Admission is free. Rain …

Health Care Debate: “Death Panels,” Health Insurance Reform, and the Truth

Amidst all the hysteria surrounding the health care debate, there is a shameless lack of clear thinking. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of seeing our healthcare system up close twice this past year, and let me explain what’s really going …

Manicotti from Heaven

OK, the tomato sauce is made—now what to do with it? On one of the first trips to my in-laws, before Lou and I were married, my mother-in-law-to-be Rita Cinquino served manicotti. I had never, ever tasted anything so good …

Women’s Rights: All We Take for Granted

I know it’s more than a week ago—old news—that Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (authors of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, to be released next week by Knopf) wrote an epic cover story in …