Muscadine grapes

FACT: Muscadine grapes are considered "superfruits". They are loaded with antioxidants that help fight and prevent damage caused by those pesky free radicals. Additonally, they have more fiber than Oat Bran and are the only type of grape to have ellagic acid. Plus, they're yummy and on-sale.

Late Night with Mr. Pizza

A common side effect with eating right for dinner is the late-night snacking sessions, or that's what I have learned.

I scoured the kitchen for a snack, anything but those damn Wasa crackers! I wanted something substantial, something warm, something with punch of flavor. I wanted pizza.

I allocated two wraps, mozzarella cheese sticks, some basil from the pot in the kitchen window, a Parmesan shake 'em can, tomato paste, an onion, and some frozen veggies. I was determined to make this work.

I slathered the tomato paste from corner to corner on the low-cal wrap, sprinkled some cheese and topped it off with some sliced onion, basil and mixed vegetables. Then in it went into a preheated oven directly on the rack at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

When the "ding" chimed, I ran and began to salivate like Pavlov's dog. It smelt great! I opened the oven and tried to take it out. Problem: toppings and cheese were too heavy for the thin wrap to hold so the make-shift pizza started to crack and slip through the rack.

With the help of my Mom, we managed to salvage the remnants of the pizza. Unfortunately, the mushy consistency of the wrap base ruined any bit of enjoyment in that fourth meal. Karma, I guess.

Conquering Tomato Soup

I was always chicken noodle type of gal. I'd occasionally enjoy a good lentil or minestrone, but tomato? No way, Jose!


In psychology, I learned about phobias and how people over come them. The method to shake the fear is known as "systematic desensitization", a process in which the individual is taught how to relax and then conquer their
fear in different magnitudes.

While I never had a fear of tomato soup, I never found it very settling- so I conducted a small psychology experiment on myself using this technique.

First, I had to get comfortable around the essential element of the soup-- tomatoes. Easy. No fear in that. Next, I decided to sample a few slices of the red fruit peppered and salted. Ambrosial! I decided it was time to take a bigger step, so I fashioned myself a little tomato juice cocktail (nonalcoholic, guys) with lots of dill on the rocks. Surprising it wasn't too bad after all. This was clearly working out, I was still alive and kicking! Nothing could stop me now. I had one final showdown with a can named Campbell's and I was ready to conquer.

I plated myself up a bowl of the bright red soup and added some cracked sea salt and pepper to taste. I sat down with my spoon in hand ready to eat up. Staring pensively at the soup, I saw my reflection in the bright red liquid taunting and jeering me on. It was in that instant that I marred and quited the abrasive reflection by swallowing a large spoonful of soup.

Victory. Sweet tasty tomato soup victory.

"Fish, Fish, I got my wish."

The origins of this household tradition are still unclear to me. Perhaps it was Mom's Catholic upbringing or maybe the fact that it only required cracking open a can and a bag of bread that marked Sunday "tuna" day.

After church, my sisters and I would groan immediately for lunch as we "didn't eat enough of an adequate breakfast" before mass, or so my parents would caustically claim. Once home they'd concoct a "quick and easy" lunch-- tuna sandwiches (however, recently hot dogs have made the cut as an alternative lunch item).

This Sunday, Mom, Dad, and I mutually decided to stray from our ordinary routine and experiment a little. The picture above displays the fruits of our creations. Freshly squeezed lemon, zest, and sacred sweet sun-dried tomatoes top tuna chunks on golden crispy whole grain crackers. Healthy and scrumptious.