The first Monday in September ushers in Labor Day in the United States. This is a federal holiday that celebrates the achievements of American workers and the establishment of the labor movement over 100 years ago. It also provides an extended three-day weekend for many families and a final opportunity to enjoy the long, hot days of summer. A familiar part of many Labor Day get-togethers is firing up the barbecue. Beef, turkey or “veggie” burgers top the list of grill-friendly candidates to serve at such occasions. But this year, I’m going to do something slightly different. Instead of the standard fare, lamb burgers are on the menu and with good reason.
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Foods and natural remedies are frequently classified according to their most prominent features. Echinacea flowers and roots are generally thought of as immune boosters. Ginkgo biloba leaves are widely regarded as memory enhancers. And saffron stigmas are associated with the deep red color they impart to countless Eurasian dishes. Of the three examples, saffron is probably the least familiar in terms of medicinal potential. However, that is likely to change thanks to recent studies that are beginning to reveal new talents for this ancient spice. Read more »

I’m really excited about today’s recipe for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I never thought of myself as the type of guy who could successfully pull off a dish like this. From a distance it just seems too exotic for a simple fellow who was born and raised in Southern California. But I’m equally happy to report that this particular recipe is very easy to make and lends itself well to leftovers and other interesting food combinations. Read more »

Parents face many challenges trying to raise healthy children. Convincing kids to eat enough non-starchy vegetables is at the top of that list. This is no accident. Among other reasons, food manufacturers spend millions upon of millions of dollars “educating” the youth market on what’s cool to eat. But with a little creative parenting, there are ways of outsmarting finicky youngsters and junk food marketers at the same time. Read more »