Even before I eliminated gluten from my diet I preferred to eat quinoa pasta. I love the taste, texture, and high protein content. I often recommend it to clients looking to upgrade the nutritional value of their dishes (or get their toddlers to eat something healthier!). I'm still a committed quinoa pasta fan, but black bean pasta is … [Read more...]
Three Bean Chili
As the weather turns cooler it is so important to eat rich, nutritious, and warming foods. Warming foods can mean both foods that are physically warm, and foods that are filled with warming spices that help warm us on the inside (hot peppers, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, cardamom etc.). This chili fits the bill for both! Not to mention also being … [Read more...]
Veggie Lover’s Pizza
Healthy pizzas are one of my favorite go-to meals. They get a bad reputation for being filled with cheese and unhealthy ingredients, but in fact they can be an excellent vegetable delivery vehicle (particularly good for picky eaters!). This pizza is overflowing with veggies, built on a whole wheat crust, and uses very little, if any, cheese. … [Read more...]
Anatolian Bulgar Stew
My cooking classes on The Big Trip just keep getting better! Last week we took a class at Cappadocia Home Cooking in the small rural town of Ayvali, Turkey. We had a terrific evening getting to know a local family, learned quite a bit about traditional cuisine, and cooked to our hearts content. The evening began with a tour of their beautiful … [Read more...]
Greek Cooking Class
I've taken two cooking classes while we've been in Greece and they have both been excellent. Last night, we had class in Kea, which turned out to be a private session at a beautiful villa near our rental apartment. We started by touring the vegetable garden, which was at the peak of August beauty. We used tomatoes and green peppers from this … [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...]
Peppers Stuffed with Curried Vegetables
August is a time of abundance! No other month has more variety or overstuffed bushel baskets, when it comes to produce at the farmers markets. It is the best time of year to enjoy all the bounty of summer through vegetable heavy meals. These stuffed peppers use many of the seasonal vegetables of August, but don't feel limited by my choices. … [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...]
Portuguese Fish Stew
I had a delicious fish stew while visiting family a few weeks ago and decided to try and recreate it at home. It was different than the original stew, but equally tasty, and will definitely become a regular winter meal in our house. There is something so comforting about warm soup on a cold night -- it just feels like the right thing to be eating … [Read more...]
Quinoa Pasta with Tangy Peanut Sauce
This is one of my favorite recipes -- I love Asian flavors and this a crowd pleaser every time! This version turns a typically unhealthy meal into a nutritional staple by substituting quinoa pasta for traditional white flour pasta, replacing chicken with tofu, and adding lots of veggies. Quinoa Pasta with Tangy Peanut Sauce Ingredients (serves … [Read more...]