LiveWorld Transcripts

Women.com presents

Tamara Holt
Redbook Food Editor

February 25, 2000

Exotic recipes are a must for all gourmets. Tamara Holt, Redbook Food Editor, takes the audience on a global romp as she shares some of her favorite recipes from around the world. From a variety of cheese to exotic fish dishes, Holt’s mouth-watering recipes are guaranteed to satisfy all culinary cravings.

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HomeArts: Welcome to our chat with Tamara Holt, the food editor at Redbook magazine. Today this cookbook author and teacher will answer your questions and talk with you about your cooking ideas and needs. Welcome, Tamara!

Tamara Holt: Thanks! It's great to be here, and glad you can join me to celebrate Leap Day. The thing about this time of year is that you are through the Christmas holidays, have had a month to recover, and you've downed lots of sweets on Valentine's Day and enjoyed all the hearty stews that the cold winter weather cries for. So while the next big food occasion isn't 'till Easter, and spring's new crops haven't sprung, now's a great time to try unusual and exotic recipes that are a thrill to your taste buds and your sense of adventure. Wake up the last of the cold months with recipes from cuisines from all around the globe. That's what I do at this time of year. Does anybody have any questions?

Grillbaby: I'm about ready to pull out my barbecue for the summer, but have a question. Which fish are best for grilling? Would they be the same ones that are good for smoking, like salmon?

Tamara Holt: Grillbaby - Glad to hear you're starting the grill so early in the season. You know, you are not alone; 60 percent of Americans actually grill year-round. You're right about the fish to choose for grilling. The best fish have firmer flesh and are cut thick so that they don't fall apart and fall through the grill rack. The ones to look for are tuna, swordfish, salmon, mahi-mahi, mako shark. But if you want a complete list the best thing to do is to ask your fishmonger when you buy the fish. If a clean and stink-free kitchen is what you are after you can cook any fish on your outdoor grill. Just wrap the more tender fish in aluminum foil, or place them in a foil cooking bag such as Reynold's Hot Bags, along with a little bit of oil and some fresh herbs. Place the packet on the grill and they'll steam inside the foil. No mess, no smell. And you can cook any kind of fish.

DownUnderWonder: Are there any foods that are "soothing?" Perhaps certain foods or nutrients that alleviate stress?

Tamara Holt: DownUnderWonder - Personally, I find all foods soothing and I bet I'm not alone. However there are certain foods that will help you to reduce stress, some for different reasons- some psychological, some physiological. You may find that your favorite childhood food becomes a comfort food as you grow, whether that's macaroni and cheese, chicken soup, or meatloaf. Then there are certain foods that have a physiological effect. I'm not an expert in the area - read up on the nutrients that help to calm the nervous system (I think calcium and potassium are two) - then you can look for foods that are rich in those substances. Another way to look at it is as aroma-therapy. Certain smells help to calm our nerves. Some might say just the smell of food cooking. The classic book on how food affects your mood is called "Food &" by Elizabeth Somer (Henry Holt Publishing, 1995). In general, a well-balanced diet - getting all the nutrients your body needs - exercising, and sleeping right should reduce the feeling of stress.

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