Sidebars | Food & Wine

Sophie's Pantry

Return to main article

Email Article
Print Article

It's easier to eat well when the right ingredients are on hand. Here are three of Dahl's standbys:

Agave Nectar

A sweetener made from the agave plant, agave nectar (or agave syrup) has a low glycemic index, so it won't cause spikes in blood-sugar levels.

Argan Oil

This Moroccan cold-pressed oil is rich in vitamin E, carotenes and essential fatty acids. It has a lovely nutty flavor that's a nice change from the usual olive oil in salad dressings. Dahl grinds it with a teaspoon of honey and a few almonds, then spreads it on dark rye bread as a snack.

Lemons

Dahl caramelizes slices of lemon to serve with fish. "The zest is great for sauces," she says. "And the juice magically brings out the flavors in other ingredients."