How Skim Is Your Milk?

Gentle Readers, what color is your milk bottle cap? For years I have been a skim milk person, though I’m not sure how I fell into the habit. Tall decaf nonfat latte is a matter of routine at this point. (Withhold any comments on the decaf part unless you want to take full responsibility for a caffeinated me.)

Cafe con leche: Breakfast of champions

Then I saw an article much like this one, if not this one, about skim milk making people fat. As a rule, I am not a low-fat fan, and my Fried exploits are well-documented. I buy into the idea that fat is not the enemy, it makes you full.

Very respectable fried pickles to be found at Carolina Ale House.

With both of The Practical Cooks Junior declaring vegetarianism, more fat in the diet is not a bad thing. So I switched to 2%. Results have included much richer and more delicious faux bechamel sauces and a lack of obese children in my home.

Pasta two ways with a side of fruit.

Yes, moving from the light blue to the dark blue cap (and this is a big deal in Tarheel country) did not set the world aflame. I run. I workout. Eating all vegetables has frankly left me hungry on more than one occasion. I am happy for the extra fat myself.

Milk Bottles Old, New, and Buttermoo

Perhaps it was the lusciousness of the cafe con leches I consumed in Barcelona, but it was time. I think this change will stick. So what color is your milk bottle cap? Post a comment below, tweet my direction, or chat with your cow. I look forward to hearing from you!

Send your questions, queries, and quips to practical cook at gmail dot com. Connect on Facebook: The Practical Cook Blog. (Thanks in advance for spreading The Practical Cook Blog word. Press “like” on Facebook today!)

Coming up Sunday, Weekly Menus, Gangnam Style.

How to Cook Cereal: This Time It’s Sugary

Gentle readers, who knew that the humble box of cereal would generate so much passionate discussion? Building on the pantheon of cereal posts (see the Helpful How to Cook Cereal video and One Ingredient, Three Ways: Cereal Edition), and based on reader requests, we shall address sugary cereal.

A Pyramid of Sugar Cereals

If you found counting to 29 too labor intensive, or if you disdain the Autumn Promise as a breakfast of champions, here’s a video for you (eyes on you Virtual Cook and Kilted Vegan). How to Cook Cereal: Sugar Edition.

There is a variety of cereal choice here in the Practical Cook kitchen, but there is a trend toward healthy. Santa Claus brings the small boxes of the sugar bombs every year as a treat. And yes, fellow shoppers smirk at me when my kids shout out, “look Mommy, those are Santa cereals.”

For me, I just can’t function on sugar fuel in my old age, I have to have balance in the force in the form of protein. Do I miss the feeling of my mouth being ripped up by Apple Jacks, or the delightfully faux chocolate milk that Cocoa Krispies leave in the bowl? Sure. But I’ve shifted those to dessert options.

Is preparing cereal cooking? Leave a comment or join the chatter on Twitter.

Comments, questions, quips? Email practical cook at gmail dot com. Or post a comment here, or connect on Facebook: The Practical Cook Blog. (Like, like, like! Press “like” on Facebook today!)

Next up, Somewhere Over the Rainbow Orzo.