YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Judith’s Avocado-Chickpea Dip

My friend Judith, a number of whose remarkable, inspired recipes have appeared in these pages, has brought us yet another! She calls this one her “newest obsession.” It comes to her from a beloved family member who made it for her on the occasion of a recent visit. She described it to me over breakfast last week, and I could practically taste it as her words came rolling across the table —  Continue reading



YOUR HEALTHY PANDEMIC: Heavenly Date-Almond Latte

This recipe has it all. It’s comfort food, it’s sweet, it’s spicy, it’s bright, it’s smooth, and it’s caffeinated. Medjool dates are incredibly rich and moist, and they provide all the sweetness this latte recipe needs. The cinnamon is cozy, the citrus oils are bright, the cayenne provides a bit of heat, the almond butter is soothing and satisfying, and the vanilla offers a final kiss to bring it all home. If you’re living through a pandemic, and let’s be honest here — who isn’t? — then this latte is exactly what the doctor is ordering. Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Watermelon Sunshine Drink

My kids have all grown up to be great cooks. Adventurous, inspired by simple ingredients, and willing to try unusual combinations of ingredients at least once. Here’s a little something my youngest (now grown and married) invented on the spot last Friday afternoon, inspired by some slightly mushy watermelon in the fridge.

By the way, if you’ve noticed that things seem a little different around here, it’s not your imagination. Comfort food (of all kinds) wins. The main goal of each day is to get to the next. Deep breath. You’re gonna like this one. Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Greek Lentil and White Bean Soup with Gremolata

This recipe comes to us courtesy of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which has all kinds of great nutrition information for doctors, medical students, scientists, and everyone else who is interested in learning to cook great food with lots of flavor! This recipe caught my eye because I love gremolata! It’s guaranteed to give this soup tons of deliciousness. Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Judith’s Southwest Chopped Salad

It’s time for another recipe from Judith! This time I got her to share her Southwestern Chopped Salad recipe, which is going to make you so, so happy! You can throw this together and have it for dinner all by itself, or you can take it to a party, where it’s sure to get rave reviews and unlikely to leave leftovers. Use canned black beans, canned corn, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder instead of garlic cloves — keep it as easy as you want. This is also a great recipe to set out deconstructed for kids, with lettuce in a large bowl in the center, and add-ons in smaller bowls all around, so that they think they’re the ones deciding what to eat. If you make the salad this way, you can serve the dressing separately in a small pitcher. Wink-wink.  Continue reading


Don’t Spike Your Blood Sugar!

Imagine a diabetic character on TV who suddenly begins to act a little strangely, but is not too confused to murmur, “I think my blood sugar is too low.” Everyone on screen runs for something sugary that the character will absorb quickly. Orange juice, or maybe Coke. Sweet drinks like juices and sodas, with up to 12 (!) teaspoons of sugar per can, are great for spiking your blood sugar. None for me, thanks. Continue reading



YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Beautifully Red Cabbage Salad

Welcome to lunch for a week with spicy, crunchy, sour power! When I saw this recipe I knew right away that it had a future in my kitchen! Even still, cabbage is one of those foods that is highly underrated — especially the red kind. But go ahead and make some for you, your gang, and your co-workers! You’ll be very happy you did. Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Asian Cabbage Slaw

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of spending the evening with a wonderful group of new friends. The fire was crackling, the food and wine were wonderful, the company was delicious, and I had such a nice time. This Asian Cabbage Slaw was one of the inspired dishes we enjoyed together. I could tell you all kinds of reasons why this salad is so good for you, like the Vitamin C, and the heat from the capsaicin, and the benefits of acid, but the fact of the matter is that the best reason to make this is because it’s really good. Continue reading