Do you know what this is?

No, it’s not grub worms. This is fresh raw turmeric—nature’s own ibuprofen.

Ever slathered yellow mustard on a sandwich? Then you’ve had turmeric. Like curries? Yep, turmeric gives it the bright yellow color. Even the iconic Kraft Mac and Cheese now uses turmeric to enhance the intense cheesy color.

Turmeric is bright orange on the inside, with a knobby light brown skin. The flavor of the tuber is a little bitter, but with a subtle bite, like ginger, with hints of black pepper. Some people think it tastes a little like an orange.

Turmeric contains curcumin, which helps decrease the amount of harmful inflammatory chemicals in the body. If you’re dealing with any inflammatory conditions, like arthritis, fibromyalgia or other auto-immune issues, you need to add turmeric to your diet.

Turmeric also reduces bloating, helps reduce the pain of a sunburn and, some believe, it helps slow the aging process (WHAT??? Research needs to be done into that RIGHT NOW).

But here’s the thing: In order for your body to absorb the curcumin, the turmeric has to be combined with black pepper. Which is why black pepper is one of the ingredients in this easy Turmeric Vinaigrette.

I don’t peel my turmeric when I make the vinaigrette. I wash the turmeric, throw everything into the blender, pulse for 5 seconds and then let it rip until the mixture is smooth. Turmeric Vinaigrette is great on heavy greens like kale, and is wonderful when tossed on roasted Brussel Sprouts or other vegetables. I’ve even stirred it into tuna and chicken salads for a taste sensation!

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In case you’re hosting an Oscar party, here’s a throwback post to one of my favorite appetizers!

The Oscar for Outstanding Food in an Academy Award nominated film goes to Crabby Snacks and Homemades, starring in “Silver Linings Playbook.”

“Beasts of the Southern Wild” certainly provided some strong competition (the star of the movie is named Hushpuppy, afterall). Messy fresh crabs, fried alligator tail and even (gulp!) cat food had huge scenes.

Another contender: the White Cake that never got served in “Django Unchained.” Of course, “Life of Pi” and “Les Misérables” were most notable for the lack of food.

But back to the winner.

In Matthew Quick’s novel, “The Silver Linings Playbook,” he describes Crabby Snacks as “buttered crabmeat and orange cheese on English Muffins.” Homemades refer to homemade egg pasta.

I thought it would be fun to whip up my version of Crabby Snacks. They’re relatively simple to make. Because they’re made with processed cheese, white bread and mayo, you just know they are going to be absolutely delicious.

This recipe makes 48 bites, so if you aren’t feeding a crowd, cut the recipe in half. And serve it Sunday night during the big broadcast… it’s guaranteed to keep everyone from getting crabby when their Oscar picks don’t win!

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You want to know what’s in the food you’re eating, right?

Sure, labels tell you if there’s gluten or artificial sweeteners (or a dozen other things). But they DON’T tell you if what’s inside was made with ingredients that were genetically engineered.

What does “genetically engineered” mean? It’s the lab process of artificially inserting genes into the DNA of food crops or animals. The result is called a genetically modified organism, or GMO.

Label on a Food Product made in the Netherlands

Genetic alteration can improve the resistance of a plant or an animal to insects and disease, allow crops to require less water, and enhance taste and quality.

But, just like a product that has preservatives, genetically engineered food should be labeled so we know what we’re buying.

Sixty major food companies, including Monsanto, Kellogg’s, General Mills and Kraft, don’t agree. Monsanto’s website says:

“Such mandatory labeling could imply that food products containing these ingredients are somehow inferior to their conventional or organic counterparts.”

Are we supposed to take the word of the biotech industry that the food we’re eating is safe? Why not provide labeling so there is complete transparency and consumers can make a choice?

The FDA doesn’t require or conduct safety studies on genetically engineered food. They should. Even China and Russia require labeling!

If you think the FDA should require labeling of genetically altered food, click here. Who knows what we’ll discover about the affects of genetically engineered food 10 years from now?

Can you say cyclamates?