'Tis the season of kale! It is starting to flood the farmers markets, pop-up in weekly CSA farm shares, and be ready for harvesting in the garden. For me, kale is a year-round vegetable, but there is nothing like getting it fresh at the beginning of the season. Scoop some up and give this dish a try. Or keep this in your back pocket for that … [Read more...]
Black Bean and Veggie Noodles
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...]
Pickled Raw Garlic
This time of year is tough on the immune system. The late nights, sweet treats, and cold temperatures can wreck havoc on our bodies. It is such an important time to practice a prevention routine. One of my favorite prevention foods is raw garlic. It's a total immune-boosting powerhouse! But unfortunately, not many people can stomach eating … [Read more...]
Asian Greens with Ginger Garlic Sauce
I'm such a fan of Asian greens. They have a tendency to be overshadowed by their ever-popular cousin kale, but I think they deserve their own spot in the nutrient-dense limelight. My father shares my opinion and always grew a wide variety of Asian greens, like bok choy and tatsoi, in our garden while I was growing up. He used to tell me that the … [Read more...]
Dandelion Green Pesto
I am really excited to teach a Cooking with Herbs class at Herbstalk this year! The class will focus on exploring the medicinal properties of common culinary herbs, as well as making some herbal treats together. My class is scheduled for Sunday, June 8th from 4 - 5:30pm. Please come check it out! To begin the conversation about cooking with … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Sautéed Kale
Let's all eat more kale! It is one of the most nutritive foods around - packed with phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Kale is best knows for its cruciferous vegetable anticancer properties, but it also has high levels of calcium, beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, and lutein. Luckily kale is also absolutely delicious if prepared … [Read more...]
Lemon and Garlic Asparagus
Asparagus is a quintessential spring vegetable -- full of green flavor, only around for a short season, and a harbinger of more summer bounty to come. It's one of my favorites and I always try to make an asparagus-focused dish to kick-off the season. Last year it was spring quesadillas and this year it was asparagus with lemon and … [Read more...]
Pesto – An Herb Delivery Vehicle
I'm really into pesto this summer! Not only is it delicious, it is also excellent herb delivery vehicle. As I've learned more about the health benefits of herbs I've tried to incorporate them into my diet as much as possible. Pestos are a terrific way to eat more herbs and to eat them in higher quantities -- you eat far more herb in a pesto than … [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...]
Refrigerator Pickles
I love pickles! I've had good luck making big batches and officially canning them, but I also enjoy making small fresh batches to enjoy throughout the summer. Making small batches allows you to use whatever veggies you have and avoids the full canning process, which can be hot and daunting. I started two large ball jars in my fridge at the … [Read more...]
