food

The Monsanto Co. has jumped into Washington state politics in a big way.

With a check for nearly $4.6 million, the St. Louis-based Fortune 500 company has more than doubled the money raised by opponents of Initiative 522, which would require labeling genetically modified foods.

The No on 522 campaign has now raised about $7.9 million, giving it a $3.5 million advantage over backers of the measure to label GMO foods.

Mark Bittman On Food Politics And Julia Harrison On Sweets

Ross Reynolds talks with author Mark Bittman about food, health and politics and how they all intertwine. Also, Julia Harrison investigates the history and importance of sweets. She tells Ross about the role of sugary snacks in the Pacific Northwest.

Imaginary Friends: Can’t Live With 'Em, Can’t Live Without 'Em

Most of us have fond memories of our childhood friends, but what about our friends that weren’t real? Imaginary friends come in many shapes and sizes, and they often provide handy scapegoats. Steve Scher talked with Marjorie Taylor, professor and head of psychology at the University of Oregon and author of "Imaginary Companions." He also talked to Stephanie Carlson, professor of child development at the University of Minnesota, about where our imaginary friends come from and why they leave.

Ruth Reichl On How And What Americans Eat

At the end of 2009, legendary Gourmet Magazine printed its last issue. Steve Scher talked with then-editor and author Ruth Reichl just four days before the announcement of the magazine’s end about how and what Americans are eating.

Robert Olen Butler On Vietnamese Expat Communities

Robert Olen Butler is the author of “A Good Scent from a Stranger Mountain,” a collection of short stories about Vietnamese expats. In his book, Butler recalls many stories from Vietnamese expats around the world and the often, as he deems them, temperamental dynamics of these communities. Steve Scher talked with Butler back in 1992.

The "gluten free" label is turning up in more and more products – from bread to disposable plates. But the definition of gluten free varies by manufacturer, so the Food and Drug Administration is creating a standard definition.

Ross Reynolds talks to Judy Simon, a clinical dietitian and nutritionist at UW Medical Center's Roosevelt Clinic, about the FDA decision on "gluten free" labeling.

This week Ross Reynolds talks with Sheryl Wiser of Cascade Harvest about the ever complicated peach. How do you find a good one? She explains and then tells us what to do with our new plump and pretty peaches! From salsa to the grill, Sheryl sets us up for peach season. 

State Lawmakers Move On Transportation Package
When state lawmakers adjourned in June, they left a $10 billion transportation package on the table. Now, Senate leaders have announced they’ll hold public hearings in the fall on the state’s transportation priorities and how to pay for them. Everett Herald reporter and columnist Jerry Cornfield joins us with details.

Junk Foods We Have Loved
Admit it – as healthy as we may try to be, we all have our guilty pleasures when it comes to food. Food writers and co-hosts of the Spilled Milk podcast, Molly Wizenberg and Matthew Amster-Burton, join us to talk favorite junk foods and fess up to their cravings. What are yours? Call us at 206.543.5869 or write weekday@kuow.org.

With the hot summer weather, who wants to be stuck in the kitchen cooking dinner? If you’re heading to the farmers market this week, there are a lot of good veggies for an easy summer salad — one you can throw together fast and take outside for a picnic. Ross Reynolds gets tips from Sheryl Wiser of the Puget Sound Fresh program at the Cascade Harvest Coalition on what to buy for a fresh salad.

Imagine a tiny, filthy-at-first kitchen, shockingly bad ingredients and the requirement to prepare two meals a day, five days a week for up to 80 young men. That’s what Darlene Barnes found when she applied for the position of house cook at Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity at the University of Washington. She was new to the area and wanted to continue her career in cooking. But what she got was so much more than a job.

Ross Reynolds talks with Darlene Barnes about her new memoir, “Hungry: What Eighty Ravenous Guys Taught Me about Life, Love, and the Power of Good Food.”

Heading to the farmers market this week? Pick up some blueberries! They are the world’s super fruit, high in antioxidants and other nutrients. Ross Reynolds talks to Sheryl Wiser of the Puget Sound Fresh program at the Cascade Harvest Coalition about what to do with blueberries.

FDA To Regulate Imported Food
Imported foods have long avoided regulation by the Federal Drug Administration. That should all come to and end soon. The FDA has proposed a set of standards to ensure that food imported into the United States complies with standards met by American farms and food-processing plants. Personal injury and products liability attorney Bill Marler explains what the changes mean.

A New Day At The NCAA?
As we head into August, college football fans are rolling out their school colors. The University of Washington Huskies play their first game on August 31. The WSU Cougars play at Auburn on that same day. The anticipation is building for college football but things might soon be different. Sportswriter Art Thiel explains what could be changing as the organization governing college sports undergoes a potential sea change.

Greendays Gardening
Our expert gardening panel knows flowers, native plants and vegetables. Have a question? They offer guidance for your garden every Tuesday. Email your question to Weekday.

News From D.C.
We preview the week ahead in Washington D.C. with CBS News Capitol Hill producer Jill Jackson.

Bradley Manning’s Court Martial Nears End
Overshadowed by the high-profile saga of NSA leaker Edward Snowden is the court-martial of Bradley Manning. The 25-year-old Army private is accused of leaking thousands of classified documents including nearly 250,000 diplomatic cables and a half million incident reports from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The defense has argued that Manning was a whistleblower. The prosecution has painted him as a traitor. Lawyers for both sides gave their closing arguments on Friday and a verdict is expected Tuesday evening. We talk with Ed Pilkington, who’s been covering the trial for The Guardian.

Milkshakes, Ice Cream And Other Frozen Treats
Like Pavlov's bell, the musical notes of an ice cream truck can trigger memories of bygone summers and bring the flavor of popsicles to your taste buds. The frozen treats of summer, be it a milkshake or snow cone, carry nostalgic memories. We want to know what your favorite summer treat is, what are your tastes of summer, and why? Email Weekday or call us at 206.543.5869.

Correction 7/25/2013: Sheryl provided the following correction regarding her friend Zephyr Paquette's summer squash preparation: After grating the squash, add some herbs and salt, and let sit for 10 minutes, not seconds.

Summer squash doesn't necessarily incite delight at first glance but Sheryl Wiser of the Cascade Harvest Coalition joins Ross Reynolds to destroy the myth that squash is merely a vessel for other flavors. We hear squash recipes and find out how to pick the sweetest squash at the farmers markets. Plus! Did you know it is actually a fruit? 

Rebecca Lerner is the Dandelion Hunter. She’s a forager for wild plants for food and medicine, twine and paint, soap and incense. Ross Reynolds walked around the University of Washington campus with Rebecca to see what they could find. Her new book is called "Dandelion Hunter: Foraging the Urban Wilderness."