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 […]

A Sweet Start to the New Year

Sweet Potato Pecan Sticky Buns Traditions are hard to shake. For years my family skied at Big White in Canada for the Christmas holiday, and I’d make sticky buns for a late-morning Christmas brunch, served after a couple of hours on the slopes when we were all ravenous. When I didn’t make them this year, […]

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 Do you Define Healthy Food?

Puntarelle and Radicchio Rosa del Veneto Salad Americans are more positive about defining “healthy food” according to 2021 research by the International Food and Information Council (1) which showed that 27% of Americans say “healthy food” means the presence of components such as fruits, veggies, and nutrients (compared to 17% in 2016).  People are on […]

It’s Pumpkin Season

Pumpkin Pie Spice Chia Pudding Tis the season for pumpkin – and for those who crave it, pumpkin pie spice.    When I’m tempted by a syrupy, pumpkin spice latte, I stir up a batch of this Pumpkin Spice Chia Pudding. I get my pumpkin spice fix and a nutrient boost. Pumpkin spice not your […]

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 […]

Are You Grilling Pizza? Here’s How.

Sourdough Whole Wheat Pizza Dough You don’t need a fancy pizza oven to bake pizza outside. Toasty temperatures this summer has led me to do most of my cooking on the grill, and pizza has been “on repeat “all season. Here’s my easy-as- (pizza) pie technique. All you need is a grill, pizza peel, parchment […]