Hot off the Stove...
Spotlight on Sparky the Barbeque Boss
Many health oriented books have directed home cooks to lighten the calorie load and make delicious meals using the back yard grill. And it’s summer so it’s likely you are firing up the Smokey Joe as you read. Well grilling is flavorful when its done right and for sure, fine on occasion, but research is out that links an increased risk of some cancers to the ingestion of charred foods, especially those cooked over charcoal. I know, I know, I know what you are thinking…”what doesn’t give us cancer” right? Once again we return to the age old wise advice for healthy living: everything in moderation. Grilling two to three times a month and using lower temperatures (gas grills can char foods as well) can eliminate the risk and still satisfy that primal urge to spark it up outside. When you do grill-out avoid lighter fluid starters and make sure your grates are very hot before you give them a good brushing to remove any burnt-on food bits.
Welcome to Celebrating the Nourishing Life
I am Executive Chef Cathryn Matthes and this is my story. When I was 15 years old I weighed close to 200 pounds. Too mortified by my size to endure school, I dropped out after the 10th grade and went to work as a dishwasher in a mom and pop owned diner in a small town in British Columbia where I grew up. That next year I lost 30 pounds, got my confidence back, finished school and learned to love cooking. Twenty five years and as many jobs later I would be recognized as one of the Top Ten Spa Chef’s in the Southeastern U.S, be called an ‘expert’ in weight management and earn my stripes as one of a handful of female Certified Executive Chefs in the country.
I am still a working chef, bouncing all over North America, talking, teaching, writing, cooking, shopping, laughing, playing and helping, wherever and however I can-to demonstrate the healing power of super-quality food, and inspire others with my energy and joy-joy derived in part, by being dedicate to a higher purpose. This is the deal; I want to save the planet and heal humanity and I need your help. This web site is my diary-it rambles, it’s my politics-it rants, it’s my journey-in search of the best food, people, places and play, it’s my kitchen table where I linger and chat and it’s my cookbook, an organically growing virtual cookbook that I hope will entertain, inform and inspire you to join me in my mission. Read below for the details of that plan. It is deliciously diabolical!
Mango Magic
If it’s been a while since you visited our Mango Blog you better get over there. Dale is ramping up for beach season and has some smokin’ tips for keeping your tips…fingers and toes that is…faboo, fresh and chemical free! And Bongo is jammin’ out some helpful household tips about laundry detergents for keeping those beach towels clean and green. Be sure to share any comments you might have. We are always looking for big ideas about living small.
Our Delicious Mission
Our mission is to guide you away from short term, boring dieting for weight loss into a rich world of health, beauty and people, places and… FLAVOR. Using our simple savory, super-nutritious recipes and some teaching videos we hope to entice you into your kitchen where you will make soul-satisfying food-food that will make you feel so good, you won’t want to eat any other way. Soon those unhealthy habits you’ve been battling for years and those unwanted pounds will begin to fade away and eating well will become as effortless as breathing. No more pain, no more fighting, no more fear; just a happy you, enjoying pure food pleasure.
Our mango method:
To support you on your journey we offer the astute assistance of the Dancing Mangos; Bongo Pongo and Dale, our resident experts in environmental wellness, natural beauty and spiritual health. In this interactive community you can connect with others and draw inspiration and motivation to stay on track and share your inspiring stories.
Our dreamy desire:
We wanna get you cooking up a storm, chatting with the chef, learning and loving it, making friends, shopping clean, living green and getting lean…shedding those sticky extra pounds and beginning to experience a faboo new you-strong, radiant, and purposeful, eating the best tasting food ever and helping heal the planet at the same time. Can we get a Hallelujah?
Come on…don’t weight another minute. Joyful healthy eating is here. Join us, in Celebrating the Nourishing Life.
