My phone rings and it’s my friend, Michael. He is on his way home from Dallas and has stopped to peruse some peaches that are being sold roadside by a farmer. Suddenly this song came to mind (it's a song, so keep that in mind before you click this at work). Anyhow, he says they’re gigantic and asks if I’d be so inclined to help him and his girlfriend preserve “a few peaches” in whatever way I thought was best (he was referring to making peach preserves and canning them, basically). Little did I know that a literal crate full of these gargantuan fruits were headed my way. He wasn’t wrong about them being gems though...take a look at these beauties:

It came to my attention that after all the savory recipes, you were probably hoping to see a slightly sweet one pop up at some point. Well, it’s your lucky day - it’s cherry season (or the tail end of it anyhow)!

When you think of a sweet something-or-other with cherries, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Close your eyes and visualize it. What did you see? Oh, you were thinking about just plopping them in your mouth and eating them, huh? Nah, you want to do something more creative than that. How about pairing them with some chocolate? Perhaps some vanilla, cinnamon, or almonds?  Well, I’ve created a recipe with some version of all of these things which can function as a dessert OR a breakfast. Excited yet? Keep on reading!

You’ve watched all my knife sharpening videos and knife skills videos and you’ve got everything prepared for cooking, right? Now it’s all a matter of finding the best vessel to cook everything in. So what type of cookware should you use? Well, it’s not as simple as grabbing the first pan you find in the cabinet...unless of course you only have one pan in your cabinet. There are so many types available these days: stainless steel, aluminum, copper, cast iron, non-stick (which the surface is comprised of...the primary make-up is one of the other metals), and many more. All of this can be confusing to the uninitiated, so what’s the best way to choose what you should have on hand?

What you’ll need in the way of cookware depends largely on what you use your cookware for and what it is that you plan on cooking most often. Eggs and pancakes, meat and vegetables, stews and stocks? Also consider the cook top you’re using. Gas? Induction? Electric? It makes a difference. Flat-bottomed pans are necessary for a smooth top range, and if you have induction burners, it won’t work with all types of metal. Still a little confused? It’s hard to blame you, so let’s break it down a bit more.

Every workout should start and end the same way...with 3-5 minutes of glorious stretching. When you’re young, it’s not uncommon to feel a little invincible. You know, like stretching is a waste of time. Even if you do “stretch,” it’s a half-hearted attempt at touching your toes or holding your arm across your chest (I’m certainly not knocking this, as it is a great stretch and wonderful for post-workout).

As you get older, you begin to figure out that stretching offers some great benefits. It helps to maximize your athletic performance, aids in range of motion and flexibility, and decreases the likelihood of injury. Concluding your workout with another 3-5 minutes of stretches will help your muscles to cool down properly, reduce muscle tension which may have built up during your workout, and assist in recovery.

Do you ever have a craving for Chinese takeout? Is it because of the fresh and high quality ingredients they’re using (doubtful), the mere 20-30 minutes it takes for them to have everything ready for pick-up/delivery (okay, maybe), or the fact that it seems like a relatively healthy option (okay, now you’re just deceiving yourself)...? Or perhaps it has something to do with the salt or MSG it contains that keeps you coming back for more. What if I could offer you big flavor, quick and easy preparation (prep and cooking time is under 20 minutes combined), and fresh/healthy ingredients without the excessive amounts of salt or MSG?  

Not possible, you say? If you own a wok or large-ish saucepan, a couple cutting boards, and you watch my videos below for cutting up bell peppers, onions, and pineapple...well, you could end up with something like this in a very short period of time.

Ah yes, Tom Yum...anything with the word “yum” in the name has to be good, right? This unique soup that originated in Thailand has become popular in Singapore, Malaysia, and many other countries as well. With good reason, as its distinct spicy and sour qualities and heavy usage of aromatics such as lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal (in the ginger root family) offer an intoxicating fragrance and a punch of flavor that all starts with a simple broth or stock.

It is well established that the beginning of summer is grilling season. Fortunately for all of us, it is also cherry season. Today I’m going to bring these two seasonal dynamos together for your enjoyment. The delightful yet elusive Rainier cherries are not always the easiest to find (my local Costco has them right now, but that usually only lasts a couple weeks), but bing cherries are everywhere right now. So what’s the best way to eat cherries? How do you remove that pit without chipping a tooth or owning a cherry pitter? Do you always have to eat your cherries with something involving sugar, chocolate, or something sweet? Let’s discuss (after you take a look at these glorious Rainier cherries!)...

You were wondering when the “Fit” aspect of Fiscally Fit Foodie would come into play, weren’t you? Well, here is your first installment, AND you get a video (keep reading, it’s down there somewhere)...with music...and don’t act like you’re not impressed. While the fitness posts may not be as prolific as the recipe and food posts, they should be just as informative for those of you who are interested in a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle.

Picture the following scenario: you’re sitting at home, watching TV on the couch, and all of a sudden you get the feeling that you’re not maximizing your potential...you’re feeling slightly lazy, unproductive, and maybe even have a passing thought that a workout might be a good idea. Hey, it could happen. The problem is that your gym is closed or it is 10-15 minutes away from your house and it’d be inconvenient to go or maybe you don’t have a gym membership at all. One of the great things about push-ups is that you don’t need a gym to do them and they don’t cost you a thing except a little hard work. You aren’t opposed to that, are you? Great – let’s get started then!