EatingWell November 2021

November is the only time of year I make gravy. I’m not sure why, since it makes everything from potatoes to stuffing to green beans taste like they were made by an old-school French chef, maybe Jacques Pépin himself. Plus, despite the fears that many people have about gravy, it’s simple to make. Along with Caesar salad, it’s one of the earliest things I remember learning how to cook. My mom is an adventurous and accomplished cook. And when I was a kid, she diligently put together a homemade dinner for our family every night. But she didn’t relish having young assistants. My sister and I wanted to help, but with limited know-how, we made her job harder. I suppose it was the nature of Thanksgiving, with its 9 million…

1 3-ingredient apps If appetizers are usually an afterthought for you, check out this collection. Try baked Brie with blackberry jam (left) for the perfect balance of sweet, savory and simple. EatingWell.com/3ingredientapps 2 Diabetes-friendly Thanksgiving Think sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie are off-limits for those watching their blood sugar? Think again. EatingWell.com/diabetesthanksgiving 3 Health benefits of chocolate It’s good for you—really! There’s sound science behind the ways it can help your body and brain. EatingWell.com/chocolatebenefits THE EATINGWELL GOOD-LIFE GURUS Turkey Day with a Twist: Go beyond the green bean casserole and canned cranberry sauce! These foodies draw from their heritage to add a special something to the American feast. @thewoksoflife Miso-glazed root veggies, sticky rice stuffing and cheesy scallion mashed potatoes—count us in! These flavorful sides come courtesy of The Woks of Life, a multigenerational…

Portobellos on the grill, shiitakes in your stir-fry, white buttons in your stuffing—however you enjoy mushrooms, here’s some news you will also enjoy: a 2021 meta-analysis published in the journal Advances in Nutrition found that folks who ate roughly ⅛ to ¼ cup (measured raw) of any type of mushrooms daily had a 45% lower risk of all types of cancer—and most significantly breast cancer—compared to those who didn’t consume fungi. ’Shrooms pack high levels of glutathione and ergothioneine, a pair of potent antioxidants that combat free radical damage. (When free radicals are left unchecked, they can cause oxidative stress, which damages cells, tissues and DNA, potentially leading to cancer.) Plus, ergothioneine is especially good at suppressing tumor growth. While the study looked at once-a-day mushroom intake, spreading the total…

HAMMONDSPORT, NY The Brewery of Broken Dreams This rustic brewery in the Finger Lakes region uses 100% locally sourced hops and base malt, plus other local ingredients, like maple syrup from Petteys Farm Maple in Jasper, just 30 miles away. Snacks such as local cheese curds and dried meats complement the balanced, traditional brews, which range from dry-hopped India pale ales to a saison made with juice from estate grapes. The historic tasting room, located on the Keuka Lake Beer Trail, is a time capsule from the late 1800s, featuring original stonework and red oak ceiling beams. (Pints $6-9; bottles $6 and up; growlers $8-16; thebreweryofbrokendreams.com) AVA, IL Scratch Brewing Company This tiny brewery has been called one of the most beautiful places in the world to drink beer. The tasting room, built with creek…

High blood pressure—aka hypertension—is a huge problem: almost half of U.S. adults have it, and it’s responsible for 1 in 4 heart attacks. The good news is that lifestyle changes, particularly exercise, are highly effective at reducing blood pressure, so much so that the American Heart Association recommends physical activity as the go-to therapy for otherwise-healthy adults with moderately elevated blood pressure. (For the record, that’s at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes of high-intensity, activity a week, plus twice-weekly strength training.) But a recent position statement published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology aims to provide an even more personalized exercise plan. “Current guidelines don’t take into account a person’s initial blood pressure or the different blood pressure-lowering effects of aerobic exercise versus resistance training,” says lead…

What food says home to you? When my mother visits my home in Arizona, I always have her make her chicken cutlets. She uses boneless chicken thighs. There’s great texture from the breadcrumb mixture on the exterior, with the perfect amount of parsley, oregano and salt. She fries them in olive oil then finishes them off in the oven. I can’t pinpoint exactly what makes them so good, but it’s probably the love that she puts into her cooking. “Camaraderie has been the thing I’ve loved most about working in kitchens.” Beer, wine or cocktail? I don’t really drink anymore. But I was at a wedding recently and they broke out some ’87 Brunello and some older Barolos. There is a depth and a rich funk to aged wine that I can’t say no…