Greens with Tomatillo-Avocado Dressing and Pepitas My daughter told me my salads were boring. She was right. I was on salad autopilot, greens with red wine vinaigrette were on repeat in my kitchen. (In my defense, my husband’s home-fermented vinegar makes a darned good dressing.) Ironically, I love the fresh crunch salad brings to […]
The Food – Mood Connection
May 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Chocolate Pudding -with a Healthy Twist Does what you eat influence how you feel? If yes, you’re in sync with three-quarters of respondents to a Food and Health Survey (1) who said that food and beverage choices impact their mental or emotional well-being. Over half of respondents (61%) noted the opposite – their mood influences […]
A Plan for More Plants – Flexitarian!
September 27, 2024 by Leave a Comment
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
July 22, 2024 by Leave a Comment
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
March 18, 2024 by 1 Comment
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 […]
Plant-Based in 2024
January 8, 2024 by 3 Comments
“Faux” Gras Plan to put more plants on your plate in 2024? It’s a thing. More and more people are catching on to the nutritional benefits and gastronomic diversity of veggies, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Esteemed New York Times food writer Melissa Clark writes that she “wants to become as fluent in tofu as she […]
It’s Granola Season
September 26, 2023 by 1 Comment
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. […]
The Summer Beet
August 11, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Chioggia Beet Salad & Red Beet Pesto There’s a good argument to be made that summer cooking is more about not cooking or cooking as little as possible. Why heat up the kitchen, or work up a sweat? Chioggia beets fit right in with the no-heat approach to summer eating. Sometimes called candy cane or […]
A Celebration of Corn
May 22, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Esquites-Style Shrimp with White Beans Esquites-Style Shrimp with White Beans has been on repeat in my kitchen for months. It’s perfect party fare yet substantial enough for a meal. Don’t worry about leftovers – there won’t be any. Corn (maize, or maíz in Spanish), the star of Esquites, is being honored in a month-long […]
Herbs Make Everything Taste Better
April 25, 2023 by Leave a Comment
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 […]
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