A Plan for More Plants – Flexitarian!

Egg Roll Bowls If you believe that performance will suffer if you drop meat, eggs and dairy from your diet, check out the stories of vegan Olympic athletes featured in the bon appetit magazine article, “Going Green for the Gold, For These Olympic Athletes, a Plant-Based Diet Makes Them Feel Fitter, Faster and Stronger.” (1) […]

Grilled Portobellos with White Bean Hummus

I just just made a new food friend, the Mortgage Lifter Bean, which I picked up on a trip through New Mexico. The Mortgage Lifter’s charms go beyond its quirky name. Cultivated by native Americans in the Southwest (1,2), one story says it was named the Mortgage Lifter Bean by a farmer who, just as […]

Update Your Sloppy Joe

Tempted by Tempeh You likely have a memory of eating Sloppy Joes from your childhood. It might even be a fave comfort food. Like it or not, the dish has survived for decades – versions of Sloppy Joe “loose meat sandwiches” have been around since at least the 1930s. This recipe updates the Sloppy Joe […]

A Novel Way to Help Control Blood Sugar

Jump on the Cottage Cheese Revival: Peanut Butter Mousse and Whipped Feta Cream Protein-packed cottage cheese is having a moment (1) and blitzing it into something irresistibly creamy is the move. It was top-of-mind for recipes featuring California dried figs when the Valley Fig Growers asked me to write a website article on health research […]

It’s Granola Season

Super Seedy Nutty Granola As hard as it is to say goodbye to summer, cool fall weather green lights turning on the oven. A box of oats and a selection of nuts and seeds in my freezer was a strong suggestion to make granola. I’d forgotten just how addictive the crunchy, toasty mix can be. […]

Eat For Longevity

Costa Rican-Style Black Beans & Rice Can you eat your way to a longer life? Dan Buettner’s work over the past 20 or so years, studying and writing about Blue Zones™ (BZ), 5 places around the world with populations that enjoy especially long, healthy lives, suggests you can (1,2,3,4).   It’s not the only thing. […]

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, […]