Eating

So simple and so great. A basic, almost ancient, cooking activity that you probably never thought to try. Your very first will be Better than any Graham cracker you've ever bought. Light, airy, crisp, nutty, slightly sweet. Remarkably satisfying. And so much healthier.

It’s either the best cheeseburger of the year. Or the best vegetarian sandwich of the year. A luscious, juicy, pungent, rich and bright handheld meal in a bun. Less than half the price of a Big Mac. You have to try this.

You could eat these every day. Not just because they're luscious and wildly tasty. Because they provide nearly complete nutrition. Less than $1 per serious serving. Luscious, tart, spicy. Hot.

There's a meatless Friday tradition in France, in Provence: aioli monstre. The Grand Aioli. A monster feast of vegetables accompanied by huge bowls of aioli. Love the name. Love the idea. And now I love the meal.

Diet as in healthy diet, not calorie-deprivation. Ranks very high on my Pleasure-Per-Calorie chart. Delicious, even luscious. Not super-low calorie, but Way lower than a muffin at Starbucks or a donut at Dunkin'. It's lemon-olive oil cake topped with fresh fruit.

And a great reminder of the Top 2 Reasons you should always have fresh pizza dough in the fridge. Reason # 2: A great pizza crust is the perfect platform for thousands of delicious, healthy toppings. Reason # 1: You love pizza. And so does everybody you know and feed.

Light, airy brioche bread soaks up so much milk, egg and cheese that this French toast looks, feels and tastes like a cheese soufflé. Covered by sautéed shiitake mushrooms. Takes 20 minutes to make and it's foolproof.

A trip to the Farmers Market tells you it's still summer. Baskets full of great late summer greens for another week or two. Evening weather cool enough to crank up the stove to stir-fry them. 15 minutes start-to-finish. Nothing but slicing and stirring. You can and should.

To set aside a few fresh ears to dry. For that day a few months from now. It's cold. Or rainy. Or both. Time for a movie and a bowl of superior popcorn. Great flavor. Low calorie. Whole grain. Gluten-free. And free! From that ear you wisely set aside to dry.