This recipe is a super-delicious, uber-nutritious gift from a dear friend. He says it was inspired by Michael Symon’s 5 in 5, but this version is vegan! Serve it in a beautiful, brightly colored bowl, and put the bowl on a large red cloth napkin or table runner. My imagination is running wild… Continue reading
Author Archives: Dr. Sukol
I Am Grateful
I am thinking about gratitude. It’s not hard for me. I was born an optimist; I always see the glass half-full. I always make lemonade from lemons — what else would you do with them? Yes, it is true that I have had my share of bad days, but I’ll be the first to tell you that they have made me a better person, and a better doctor, too. See what I mean? It’s a given. I had a quiet laugh this week when my dear friend send me a “positivity challenge” on Facebook because, as far as I’m concerned, it’s never been positivity that was the challenge! Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Tomato & Fennel Pasta Sauce
Two of my favorite things: tomatoes and fennel! This is totally the “sauce of the season,” with fresh herbs and a simple strategy for bringing out the natural sweetness of all the ingredients. If you are not a big fan of pasta, then try cooking some turkey meatballs in this sauce, or pour it over a little pile of tofu cubes, or poach a few eggs in it. Then again you could serve it with a pan of polenta or a bowl of quinoa, or use it to make a tray of lasagna. You choose! Continue reading
Perfection is the Enemy of Progress
Sometimes I imagine a sign in my office, just above the door, that says “Perfection is the enemy of progress.” I think about this a lot, especially when I see people who are hard on themselves, who discount small efforts as insufficient, or who describe themselves as lazy, or incompetent, or unfocused. They are none of these. If anything they are precisely the opposite — hard-working, goal-directed and applied — but they tend to believe that if they can’t give it their all, there’s no sense trying because there can be no chance of success. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Lilah & the Banana Muffins
My friend Lilah sent me this recipe for banana muffins earlier today. Even though she really doesn’t care for bananas, she said “I have to tell you, I loved these.” She said she’s planning to make batches to feed her kids for breakfast on schooldays. I like that idea. You have to assume, of course, that she’s planning to make enough to eat a couple more after they leave. I like that, too. And just so you know, there’s a version of this recipe (check out Debbie Reichert’s blog) that’s been posted more than 600,000 times on Pinterest. Continue reading
The Best New Health App in Town!
This past year, I met Adam Baratz, a twentysomething who was talking about his idea for the new app, Betchyu. And this past week, I am thrilled to report, Betchyu launched! The Betchyu team is everything you’d expect — young, hard-working, creative, smart, entrepreneurial, and ambitious. These guys have cracked the code for motivation. Way to go, Adam and team! Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Grace’s Cabbage Soup
You know how sometimes, rarely, you meet someone whose friendship becomes so valuable to you that one day you realize that you have become family? And you know how it takes you by surprise, the transition, because it is so seamless that you don’t even know when it happened, but suddenly there it is and it could never have been any different. Continue reading
Celebrations & Libations
This week has been a celebration, consisting of one wonderful meal after the next at my parents’ small farm in northwest NJ. Lots of people talk about how to add more vegetables to their meals, but here at the farm my folks are walking the walk. Eating vegetables is what they do. Our dear friend and neighbor Grace waxes about where to get the best green beans, broccoli, or early corn. The asparagus and strawberries are gone now, she reminds us wistfully, until next year. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Lebanese Potato Salad
This past weekend I had the great pleasure of collaborating with a friend on a collection of recipes for a beloved young couple starting their married lives together. Many of the recipes came from my friend’s mother and her grandmother, who came to the U.S. from Lebanon so many, many years ago. In honor of my friend, Judith, therefore, and the culinary heritage that she has been so lucky not just to inherit but to perpetuate, here is a recipe for Lebanese Potato Salad. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Black Bean Salad with Quinoa
You can’t go wrong with this one-pot meal. Eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Take it to a picnic, a potluck, a brunch, or your own kitchen table. For folks with dietary restrictions, it’s the perfect dish to bring to a celebration or gathering when you’re not sure there’ll be anything there you can eat. Make a big batch on Sunday, and see how long it takes to disappear from your refrigerator. Continue reading