Blog Posts by Maggie Nemser, Shine staff

The saying "You always want what you can't have," was actualized this weekend at Whole Foods in Venice, California when a woman working the register confessed her burning desire for a Subway sandwich. She turned to her bagging partner and said, "I'm jonzing for an "Eat Fresh" lunch, if you know what I mean. I want a Subway sandwich!" Having just ordered a sandwich at the extensive Whole Foods sandwich counter, I was picking up what she was putting down. Sometimes we just want a quick, cheap experience, one that lacks too many questions and can be as simple as pointing and shooting.

Every day there are so many wild contradictions and funny comments floating the airwaves at a market, coffee shop or restaurant. Just last night I heard a cute hipster guy with requisite square rimmed glasses say to his tall, blond companion, "I like you a lot more when you're not screaming at me." Well that makes sense!

Open your ears and let me know the wackiest thing that you overhear while buying

Leftovers can cut calories and save money but there's one catch: They have to be good or you'll toss them. What's the trick to loving your leftovers? Turn them into an entirely new dish with very little effort. Here are 5 healthy ways to transform yesterday's side into today's special and save every last bite.

1. Make a huge undressed salad
Toss your salad with different dressings and leftovers throughout the week. Variety is key so consider buying different kinds of cheese and If you're watching your weight, keep in mind that goat, feta, low-fat mozzarella are the healthier than harder cheese.

2. Cook for crowd
Make a huge portion of pasta, quinoa or lentils at the beginning of the week. As you plan your meals, consider appetizing leftover combinations and cook accordingly.

3. Choose hot and cold-friendly soups
The likelihood of giving soup a second chance is higher if you don't have to re-heat it. Tomato, pumpkin, gazpacho and Manhattan clam chowder are all great hot and

When the going got tough my mother always used to say, "When life throws you tomatoes, make a tomato soup." I kid. Thankfully, she never actually said that, but she did make an amazing fresh-market tomato soup. I love this simple recipe because It's Cuisinart-free and when you dip crusty bread in it, the "going" does get a little easier.







Prep time:
15 minutes

Cook time:
1 hour

Serves 4

Ingredients:

3 pounds heirlooms seeded and chopped

2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil

1 Vidalia onion thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves (chopped)

1/4 cup white wine

sea salt

black pepper

1 cup of Parmesan cheese, grated (pass at the table)

fresh basil leaves

Directions:

1. In a medium pot , over medium and on low heat, heat the oil and cook the onion and garlic for 15-20 min.

2. Add 1/4 cup of white wine. Cook over the low heat and add the tomatoes increasing the heat to medium and continue to simmer for 1 hour.

Since when did it become legit to get spa treatments next to cereal and when did people start visiting nutritionists in aisle 9? Answer: When Whole Foods rolled into town. Regardless of unseemly supermarket extracurriculars, people seem to be downing the Cool-Aid, or shall I say "organic pomegranate juice," so heavily you'd think they're giving away free food.

Don't get me wrong, I got mad love for Whole Foods, I really do. Local, organic produce/meats, a fabulous presentation, and an informed staff are great offerings, but isn't the spa cum wine bar a little out of hand? It's now a skill to avoid your co-worker getting a deep tissue at check-out or to dodge your drunken neighbor from stumbling into you, sauced from the "wine bar" and don't get me started on the Taqueria. It's confirmed: Your friends eat faster when they "think" they're alone. Guacamole mustache, anyone?

I know this concept isn't exclusive to Whole Foods. I've heard more funny Trader Joe's pick-up line stories and

"Ever waited 40 minutes for a table when you had a reservation? Has a waiter ever totally spaced your table or spilled soda on your lap? We've all had slightly annoying dining experiences but it's not the end of the world. Dining out is a luxury, people make mistakes and it's not easy waiting tables! That said, a pair of white pants gone red wine doesn't exactly evoke wide smiles.

Last night I went out for dinner wearing a cute new pair of white pants. They were the perfect pants, the ones that make you confident even on the ugliest of days. I decided to go for a glass of red wine because I was having meat and feeling fall, save for the pants.

As the waiter poured my glass of wine he saw a fly, twitched (macho much?) and spilled Merlot on my fancy new pants. After a moment of "recovery" he said, "Wow that was a human sized fly! Did you see that thing?" I told him that I missed the fly, but didn't miss the wine on my pants. "Sorry, but that thing could have taken me down!" he

I have a little problem on my hands and it's in the shape of a muffin. Every morning I say to myself, "Be strong, skip the muffin," but it never works. The moment I see that fluffy bundle of perfectly-textured love, something cuts the connection between my brain and mouth. Superlatives don't do it justice, but to quote an annoying blast from the past: "I would walk 100 miles" for this baby.

You may wonder what the problem with an innocent muffin is. No, I don't believe what my mother used to say about turning into the actual food you eat too much of. My muffin gripe is rooted in the empty carb for breakfast factor. I actually yawned loudly and for an entire minute at 10:30 AM this morning, post muffin and after having had 8 hrs of sleep the night before.

Although I simply cannot imagine anything tasting better than my beloved blueberry muffin, the madness has to stop. I know that if I can only break the habit for a little while I'll be home free and on my way to high energy and maybe

I understand restaurant real estate is expensive, but must we pack people in like sardines? This isn't American Airlines or Burning Man, it's a restaurant and some people who actually have rear ends like to use the restroom from time to time. Let's not even get started on the fire hazards.

Cut to: Dinner the other night in West Hollywood. The plan was to catch up with a friend and not to make new ones. We were seated next to two college buddies who recently had an argument over a "misunderstood" text. Apparently Colby is slightly more sensitive than James. Why do I know this? How did I catch their names? Because I was practically sitting on their laps.

Isn't the close table situation getting a little out of control. What do you think? Just how close is too close?

Lasagna. Who doesn't love it? Cheesy layers of homemade lasagna makes even the most lactose intolerant suddenly tolerant, if only for a moment. But isn't it time we give it a little makeover? Thankfully Maria Bruscino Sanchez, an expert on layering the love just came out with a book entitled, The New Lasagna Cookbook, featuring creative remakes of the timeless classic. Arugula and prosciutto lasagna, anyone? For inspiration, here are her 10 tips for the perfect lasagna along with her mouthwatering recipe for quick black bean tortilla lasagna.


1. Most lasagnas can be prepared a day before. Refrigerate overnight. Let lasagna come to room temperature before baking.

2. Don't be intimated by making fresh pasta sheets. With a pasta machine, they are thin, delicate and easy to make.

3. Don't be afraid to use "no-boil" noodles. These noodles are a great time-saver and make delicious lasagna.

4. Get creative. You can use crepes, tortillas or sheets of phyllo dough in place of noodles.

5.