Author Archives: Dr. Sukol

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Lentils & Collards Soup

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I’ve posted this recipe on these pages once before, but I thought it was worth repeating. I love how the aromatic cumin and cinnamon and lemon flavors in this soup are so different from the spice combinations I usually use.

The box of vegetables I picked up a couple of days ago contained two huge bunches of collard greens, and I could see that they were just aching to be made into this warm, aromatic soup. It took a day or two, but I finally gathered up all my ingredients, and started chopping. Well almost all. Because most unexpectedly, after I’d rinsed and chopped all the greens, I discovered, for the first time in probably decades, that we were completely out of onions. So I did the only thing I could think of, which was to increase the garlic to 10 cloves. Or maybe 15. There were a lot. Continue reading →

What Thomas Friedman Said About Culture

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This week I heard Thomas Friedman, the journalist, author, and Pulitzer prize winner who writes extensively on globalization (market), environmental issues (Mother Nature), and the Middle East. He shared his perspective on these and more, as you can see if you check out the twitter feed I generated while I listened. I’ve been thinking a lot about one particular thing he said, which was this: “Culture really matters. People, God bless ‘em, have bodies and souls.” Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Cannellini Bean Ragout

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I’m starting to think about something warm and a little sweet, with a special bit of pizzazz for the holidays coming up. If you pull out your crockpot and make this, you will be a very happy camper. Your tastebuds and belly will thank you. And me. Probably both of us. Make it soon. Then you’ll have time to make it again for Thanksgiving, or a potluck, or a holiday party. Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Musings on Applesauce with Recipe

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Applesauce is a big thing around here in the fall. I make it at least a couple of times almost every year, a habit I inherited from my mom, who also used to make it when I was growing up. In fact, one of the very first gifts I received from my mom on becoming engaged many years ago was a garage-sale find, a cone-shaped food sieve (officially called a “chinois”) for making applesauce. Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Pumpkin Chili

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If you are looking for something warm, toasty and filling to make for dinner next weekend, give this pumpkin chili a try. Try to make it the previous day if possible, or maybe in the morning. If there’s time to let it simmer on a very low heat for a few hours, do so. When it’s done, just turn off the heat, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, and then serve. It is a perfect October meal-in-one, the cornmeal is already built in, and it’s rich in beans and veggies, my two favorite foods! Continue reading →

On #Commodity and #Terroir

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Today we’re going to talk about commodities. What is a commodity? When goods and services are traded on the grand scale for other goods and services, they become “commodities.” One characteristic of a commodity is that its price is determined not by quality, but by demand. The greater the demand, the greater the market. That’s what determines whether an item is a commodity. Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Cauliflower-Pumpkin Swirl Dip

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Nothing like recipes for the season! I’ve got 3 perfectly beautiful pumpkins on the table outside just waiting to be turned into something yummy and Octobery. This recipe goes together very nicely, but I do recommend that you measure out all your ingredients in advance. Continue reading →

Thoughts on mind and body…

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Many of us, particularly those of us from Western cultures, are in the habit of considering the mind and body as entities separate one from the other. Sir Ken Robinson, for example, in one of the most widely watched TED talks, describes an academic as an individual who employs the body to move their head from one meeting to another. In a less amusing example, this from medicine, mental illness is considered different, somehow, from physical illness, and the many aspects of care, coverage and chronicity reflect this. Has Descartes’s mind-body dichotomy outlived its usefulness? Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Tuscan Kale & Bean Soup

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You may find that, except for the kale, you are lucky enough to have all these ingredients in your home already! If that’s the case, then run over to the store and get some kale so you can make this soup! And consider using this recipe as a guide for some ideas for good things to keep in your cupboard (and freezer) at all times. Thank you to Gluten Free Vegan for the original version of this gem of a recipe. Continue reading →