Béarnaise Recipe, Spotlight on Austrian Red Wine Vinegar, Who Needs a Dedicated Double Boiler, Shedding Light on Common Allergens and Managing Fitness Setbacks
Every now and then I want an indulgence, and one I find so tempting is the French classic I mastered in culinary school: béarnaise, the 200-year-old sauce said to have been created by accident by the Parisian chef Jean-Louis-François Collinet. It’s as sumptuous today as it was back then. But you don’t have to be a professional cook to make it at home—all you need are the right ingredients and equipment.
Béarnaise
BéarnaiseRich and buttery, this is the ultimate sauce for steak—and the perfect dip for roasted potatoes.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Austrian Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon leaves, chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon water
- Coarse sea salt to taste
Directions
Step 1
In a small saucepan, bring the vinegar, shallot, black pepper, and tarragon to a boil. Lower the heat and cook until the vinegar is reduced by half. Pour into the top of a double boiler (or a metal or heatproof glass bowl that will fit over a saucepan) and allow to come to room temperature.
Step 2
Melt the butter in the microwave or a small saucepan and set aside. Fill the bottom of the double boiler (or another saucepan) with 2 inches of water, bring to a boil, and then lower the heat to a simmer. Whisk the egg yolks and water into the vinegar reduction and place the mixture over the simmering water. Whisk continuously until it doubles in volume. Then slowly whisk in the butter, about 2 tablespoons at a time. Continue whisking vigorously until the sauce becomes thick but is still pourable. Taste and season with salt, if desired.
Step 3
Remove the double boiler/saucepan from the heat. The sauce can sit while you cook your steak. Whisk gently before serving, if needed.
Yields a scant cup, enough for 4 steaks
Healthy Ingredient Spotlight
Austrian Red Wine Vinegar
Red wine vinegar is a pantry essential, but this one, finely crafted in Austria, is in a class by itself. Rotweinessig is one of the most traditional vinegars in the country—it’s what Austrians use on a daily basis. The Austrian Red Wine Vinegar in my 2026 collection of artisanal vinegars is crafted from fresh wine made from Austria’s own popular Zweigelt grapes. The grapes are grown in the Styria region of the country, which is called the green heart of Austria because of its verdant and hilly landscape and rich agriculture. The wine goes through a second fermentation to convert the alcohol into acetic acid, and then it’s stored for several years in oak barrels, which softens the acidity while maintaining a wonderful fresh taste—mild and harmonious.
Quick Kitchen Nugget
Who Needs a Dedicated Double Boiler?
A double boiler is simply two stacked pots, though the name is somewhat misleading since only the bottom pot holds boiling liquid (water). The top pot is where you place ingredients that could easily burn, like chocolate or butter, or curdle, like egg-based custards, sauces, and curds. The cooking is done by the steam that rises from the boiling water in the bottom pot, which must be filled with only about 2 inches of water. This prevents the boiling water from touching the top pot. The cooking time is somewhat longer, but it’s less risky than placing delicate ingredients over direct heat.
You can easily create a makeshift double boiler by placing a large heatproof glass or metal bowl over a saucepan. The bowl should cover the opening of the pot but not be so deep that it touches the boiling water.
For Your Best Health
Shedding Light on Common Allergens
Sneezing caused by cats, dust mites, or mold may one day be preventable with a flip of a switch. Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder found that UV222 light can alter allergen proteins, reducing allergic reactions without dangerous side effects. Within 30 minutes, airborne allergens decreased by up to 25%, according to their study published in the journal ACS ES&T Air.
“We have found that we can use a passive, generally safe ultraviolet light treatment to quickly inactivate airborne allergens,” said study author Tess Eidem, PhD, a senior research associate in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering. “We believe this could be another tool for helping people fight allergens in their home, schools, or other places where allergens accumulate indoors,” said Dr. Eidem.
If you walk into a room where there’s a cat and you sneeze, it’s not actually the cat you are reacting to. It’s likely airborne flecks of a protein produced in its saliva. The protein spreads when the cat licks itself and sends up microscopic flakes of dead skin that float in the air (aka dander). When we inhale these particles, our immune system produces antibodies that bind to the protein’s unique 3D structure, kicking off an allergic reaction.
Cats, dogs, mice, dust mites, mold, and plants all emit their own unique proteins, with their own unique structure. Unlike bacteria and viruses, these allergens can’t be killed because they were never alive. “After those dust mites are long gone, the allergen is still there,” said Dr. Eidem. “That’s why if you shake out a rug, you can have a reaction years later.”
Standard methods of reducing allergens, like vacuuming, washing walls, using an air filter, and regularly bathing pets, can work OK but are hard to maintain, long-term studies show. Instead of eliminating the proteins that cause allergies, Dr. Eidem and coauthors Mark Hernandez, PhD, a professor of civil, environmental, and architectural engineering, and Kristin Rugh, a microbiologist in the lab, sought to change their structure, much like unfolding an origami animal, so the immune system wouldn’t recognize them. “If your immune system is used to a swan and you unfold the protein so it no longer looks like a swan, you won’t mount an allergic response,” explained Dr. Eidem. UV light, their study suggests, can do that.
UV222 lights are already commercially available, mostly for industrial antimicrobial uses. Dr. Eidem envisions a day when companies could engineer portable versions for people to switch on when they visit a friend with a pet or clean out a dusty basement. UV222 systems could also potentially protect workers frequently exposed to allergens, such as those who work around live animals.
One in three adults and children in the United States have allergies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Eidem hopes her research, and more to come, can provide some relief or even save lives. “Asthma attacks kill about 10 people every day in the United States, and they are often triggered by airborne allergens,” she said. “Trying to develop new ways to prevent that exposure is really important.”
Fitness Flash
Managing Setbacks
Roadblocks on the route to better fitness are common for almost everyone. Maybe you started off strong, but then, little by little, other responsibilities got in the way and your motivation began to wane. Or maybe you were too ambitious at first and got hurt and sidelined, or you’re simply impatient with the pace of your improvement. Setbacks can be discouraging, but you can overcome them and achieve your goals, say the experts at the American Council on Exercise. Here’s what they suggest:
- View setbacks as part of your journey rather than as failures.
- Keep a progress chart to remind yourself of how far you’ve come.
- Break big goals into smaller, more attainable steps. If you hope to run a 5K, start by aiming for a 1K or 2K.
- Pair new habits with existing ones, like doing calf rises while brushing teeth, to help them become permanent.
- Build the mental strength needed to navigate challenges and stay committed to goals. This could be through guided meditation or mindful workouts like yoga and tai chi.
- Try a fitness app that offers daily reminders, progress tracking, and motivational tips.
- Celebrate all achievements, even the smallest ones, like every pound lost.