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...]
Norwegian Cod Soup
Norway is known for its fish and we’ve been lucky enough to sample quite a bit of it while staying in a cabin, north of Bergen. There is a wonderful fish market in Bergen where every possible fish is on display. While at the fish market we had a bowl of local salt cod soup. It was wonderful and I decided to try and recreate it when we … [Read more...]
Curried Chickpeas with Feta Cheese
We are loving Portugal. It is filled with nice people, beautiful landscapes, and delicious food. The food is fresh, flavorful, and healthful (just like my Portuguese Fish Stew). We took a break from our Portuguese food adventures the other night to make dinner in our apartment. There are only so many meals I can eat out before I'm ready for … [Read more...]
Indian Yogurt Chicken
One of the highlights of my time in Paris has been reconnecting with my old friend, Shaunaq. Shaunaq and I worked together about eight years ago, but haven't been in close touch since he moved to Paris in 2006. Not only has it been super fun to hang out with him, he's also been our "translator-extraordinaire" and helped tremendously with our visa … [Read more...]
French Lentils with Chanterelles
We moved into our Paris apartment on Tuesday and celebrated by cooking our first french meal. We spent a lovely afternoon walking through the markets on Rue Mouffetard and stocked our kitchen. This meal really felt like "One Beet goes to Paris" -- lots of french ingredients, but definitely my cooking style and focus on healthy, delicious, simple … [Read more...]
Curried Red Lentils
These lentils are a winter staple in my house. They are cozy and warm, easy to make, and very healthy. They definitely have an Indian twist, but seem to be appealing to a range of palates. Begin by rough-chopping a white onion and sauteing it with 1 teaspoon of curry powder and 1/2 teaspoon of tumeric (there are rough guesses on the spice … [Read more...]
Container Gardening
Now is the time to get planting if you want to enjoy fresh produce from your deck/back yard this summer. As a city dweller I'm lucky to have a very sunny deck that's ideal for container gardening. I usually plant around 10 pots each summer with a mix of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. My favorite (and most successful) veggie is definitely cherry … [Read more...]
My Top 5 Vegetables
As Thanksgiving approaches I'm having tons of ideas about what to post about gratitude, my family, holiday foods, harvest bounty etc. I have decided to focus on the food! Thanksgiving is such an amazing foodie holiday. For me the harvest bounty of seasonal produce provides the tangible representation of all the aspects of our lives that deserve … [Read more...]
Tongues of Fire Beans
How could I resit these beautiful beans? I found them at the farmer's market and had to give them a try. The farmer selling them told me they are called Tongues of Fire because of their pink shells and described them as a mixture of fresh summer beans (think green beans) and dried winter beans. They are semi-dried, so they need to be cooked, but … [Read more...]
Freezing Tomatoes
There are so many options for preserving fresh summer tomatoes, but for me, freezing them can't be beat! My culinary-master aunt Jan opened my eyes to the world of freezing tomatoes and I have never looked back. I love to can. But, canning tomatoes freaks me out. The high risk of spoilage, food poisoning, and bursting jars doesn't sound good to … [Read more...]