August and September in the Southern Mediterranean has been hot and dry. It has been perfect for hanging at the beach and exploring small towns, but eye-opening to see the strains of this climate on growing conditions. Of course everyone knows that plants don't grow well without enough water, but I've never actually spent time investigating local … [Read more...]
Zucchini Mint Fritters (and Tomato Basil Fritters)
We made tomato fritters in one of my Greek cooking classes and they were outstanding - simple, whole foods ingredients and lots of flavor! Unfortunately they were also deep-fried, so I decided to try making a similar version at home that could be cooked in a pan - none of the deep-fry and all of the deliciousness, well, almost all. Zucchini … [Read more...]
Grilled Summer Pizza
I love homemade pizza overflowing with delicious toppings. It honestly feels like a different food from the crappy stuff sold at fast food chains and greasy restaurants. Homemade pizza can actually be a health food - filled with veggies, made on whole wheat crust, and using just the right amount of cheese. And, in addition to being delicious and … [Read more...]
Pickle Extravaganza
One of the things I miss most while on The Big Trip, is canning and preserving in my kitchen at home. I have the preservation bug! I think it is a derivative of my nesting instinct -- I always want to be harvesting and putting up food to use during the cold winter. My problem is finding time to actually use everything I preserve! Anyone want … [Read more...]
Veggie Snack Bags
Everyone knows that we should be eating more fruits and vegetables, but sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to actually make that happen. I'm quite focused healthy eating, and even I sometimes find that I haven’t eaten enough on a given day. One of my tricks is packing veggie snack bags. I know it sounds like I’m in third grade, but some … [Read more...]
Greek Pasta Salad
There is something about summer that inspires me to make pasta and grain salads. First of all, I love any excuse to use up as many veggies as possible, but I also love that these salads are good warm or cold and can be eaten right away or enjoyed a few days later. They are the epitome of easy, healthy, summer cooking. My standby is a quinoa salad … [Read more...]
Black Bean Enchiladas
In honor of Father's Day, I'm sharing one of my Dad's favorite dishes -- enchiladas! My Dad is a great cook and has a number of signature dishes. Enchiladas were one of his specialities when I was growing up and will forever remind me of him when I make them. I love Mexican inspired cooking because of the range of flavors and the many options … [Read more...]
Healthy Eggplant Lasagna
It was unseasonable cold while we were in Switzerland and we even had a few days of snow! It was fun to have snow while in the Swiss Alps - it seemed very fitting. Given the cold weather, I was making warm comfort foods and this eggplant lasagna was one of our favorites! Begin by slicing two small eggplants into rounds, coating with olive oil, … [Read more...]
Swiss Fondue
We're perched in the Swiss Alps looking out over breathtaking peaks. In an effort to fully get into the spirit of Switzerland I decided to give fondue a try. Amazingly I've never had fondue before and I've certainly never made it before. It turned out to be quite easy, very tasty, and super rich. I wouldn't suggest having it as a regular part … [Read more...]
Cracking Walnuts
It was a rainy day in southern France and I sat around cracking walnuts with my godfather. There is something deeply soothing about a repetitive motion like cracking nuts - it keeps the hands busy and allows the mind to wander. It is perfect for long conversations or contemplative thoughts. In this case it was the former, but when my hands are … [Read more...]