Parsley juice, anyone?
By: LMP Editorial Team - February 5th, 2008
February is often the month in which the gastronomic excesses of the previous weeks really begin to show, a sad fact that motivates the over-indulged to focus on healthier eating. So in many homes right now, vitamin-packed fruit smoothies, hearty soups and low-fat veggie dips are making frequent appearances on the menu. Fortunately, wholesome foods are a breeze to make with a good countertop blender, and there are several new ones on the market, just in time for your mid-winter health kick. (more…)
Matthew Lee isn’t surprised that Torontonians recently lined up to pay $220 for a pound of Esmerelda coffee beans, a coveted bean variety from Panama that’s often described as having “notes’ of jasmine and bergamot. It’s reflective, he says, of coffee’s elevated status as “the new wine.” 
pasta, fish, meat, eggs and poultry in minutes. No water is added – the food cooks by steam, which keeps its flavour and colour fresh. These bags stand up on their own base in the microwave (no spills!), and have a tear-off top. A package of ten sells for between $3.49 and $3.99 at major supermarkets. For more information, go to 
The downside is that they are not recyclable or reusable for steaming. But I’ve been washing them out, and using them for storing prepped vegetables and shredded cheese in the fridge. I personally won’t be using them to cook eggs – too rubbery – but I love the Shrimp Pad Thai Soup recipe that Chef Dennis DeRooy created for Glad. So much so that I’ve included it below.
Danish designers of the last century are still winning prestigious awards and why design junkies are seeking out Danish home décor and design products with an enthusiasm not seen since the 1950s, when Danish modern (remember teak?) was all the rage. 
For the winter-weary homeowner, spring’s vivid palette can be an inspiration to bring new colour to both the interior and exterior of the house. But visualizing how a particular shade of paint or renovation and building materials is too often a gamble that the homeowner loses. 
In ancient times, when the dark winter season began, people believed that the sun would return only if entreated to do so by humans making merry and creating light with fires and candles. While we now understand the science of seasonal change, we haven’t lost the instinct to huddle round the fire and illuminate our homes when the nights are long. 
Double-income families, fast foods, and increasingly hectic lifestyles; all have threatened the kitchen’s central role in the home. But you can’t, it appears, keep the family out of the kitchen for long, especially one that includes a convection oven, built-in wok, fridge with ice maker and wine-cellar, appliances that are becoming more common kitchen features.