Herbs Make Everything Taste Better

Carrot Top Pesto with Basil & Marcona Almonds Herbs popping up in the garden are a welcome sign of spring. In my northwest home there’s parsley, thyme, oregano, chives, and mint. Just in time! In winter, I lean heavily on a frozen stash of herb-based pestos and sauces, and the supply is dwindling. My first […]

Mussels in Smoky Tomato Broth

A Saucy Valentine’s Day Dinner There’s nothing like an overflowing bowl of steamy, saucy mussels to anchor a Valentine’s Day – or any dinner. Add a hunk of crusty bread to mop up the juices, and a big salad. The nickname “poor man’s oyster” doesn’t apply to mussel’s today, although they remain an excellent value […]

Veganuary? Make Meatless Marvelous

Loaded Hummus with Smoky Mushrooms and Blistered Chickpeas January is a big month for food-and drink-related resolutions (1). Participation in Veganuary, a 31-day challenge of going vegan for the month of January, has grown, with a record-breaking global sign-up rate of over 600,000 people for 2023 (2). Will a month of eating a completely free […]

Is Turkey to Blame for the “I Need a Nap” Feeling After a Thanksgiving Feast?

Marinated Fig Relish with Olives and Peppers Thanksgiving plans and prep are underway. My inbox is flooded with messages such as “time to order your turkey,” “plan the best friendsgiving ever,” and links to recipes for pies, sides and more.  My family isn’t the only one who celebrates with a table overflowing with “must-have” dishes, […]

Stroke Awareness and Prevention

Roasted Carrot, White Bean and Almond Dip May is National Stroke Awareness Month. It’s likely you, or someone else in your orbit has been impacted by a stroke. It is the number one cause of adult disability in the U.S.A. and the 5th leading cause of death (1). What is a stroke? Per the Center […]

Wake Up Your Morning Oat Routine

Baked “Carrot Cake” Oatmeal Locked into a daily bowl of oatmeal? Shake up the routine and bake your oats into an almost carrot cake situation. It tastes like dessert for breakfast.  For more staying power serve it with Greek yogurt which pumps protein to at least 20 grams – my minimum for a meal. The […]

How Covid-19 has Changed Our Foodways

Mediterranean Roasted Fish with Artichokes, Snap Peas, Tomatoes & Baby Potatoes It’s not news that Covid-19 has changed how we shop, cook, and eat (1), but it is interesting that some of these changes may be beneficial.    A Food Marketing Institute survey indicates the increase in home-cooking enabled consumers to acquire new culinary tools […]

Preoccupied with Protein?

We chatter about fat and carbohydrate, but Americans are preoccupied with protein. It’s no surprise – protein is associated with positive outcomes like health, strength and performance (2). The word “protein” comes from the Greek “proteios” which means “first place.” (1). Plant protein is a hot sub-category of the protein craze, driven by interest in […]

It’s Grill Season

Grilled Caesar Salad with Aquafaba Dressing and Parmesan Chickpea “Croutons” I’d say chickpeas are having a moment, but anyone from Turkey, South Asia, the Middle East or Africa, where they’ve long been a staple food, would laugh (1).  In “How Did Chickpea Flour, A Staple of Indian Cuisine, Become A Health Food Sensation? ”  (2 […]

Give Your Eggs Benedict a Healthy Twist with Avocado

Eggs Benedict with Avocado “Butter” Sauce Americans love avocados. The world loves them, too. Consumption is “off the charts” according to the World Avocado Association (1,2). U.S. avocado consumption has tripled since the early 2000s to 7.8 avocados per capita. We gobble up 75% of Mexico’s avocado production, the world’s top producer (3). The silky […]