I’m on my way to the farmer’s market to pick up the ingredients for this beautiful casserole, which reminds me of the Italian flag when it’s done! And here’s what you can guarantee at this time of year: there will be no shortage of zucchini, tomatoes or corn at the market, not to mention basil. Continue reading
Category Archives: Recipes
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Ratatouille Pasta
Here’s something special to make with a group of friends on a weekend evening. Give everyone an assignment, along with a glass of wine, and it will all come together in no time! Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Dr. Sukol’s Simply Saucy Spicy Peanut Sauce
A couple of weeks ago, I pulled a mostly empty jar of creamy peanut butter (organic and natural) out of the refrigerator. I looked at it upside down and sideways. I could almost hear it begging me to turn it into something snazzy. In a very lucky moment of inspiration, here’s what the doctor (me) ordered: Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Zucchini & Dill Soup
This is such a good project for the abundance of zucchini in your friends’, neighbors’ and coworkers’ gardens! You can make the soup now, with fresh zucchini, or you can make it in a few more months with frozen zucchini. Then again you can make soup now, and freeze that instead of raw cubes of zucchini. If you use frozen zucchini, remember to saute it a little bit longer. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Best Gazpacho I’ve Ever Made
August means it’s –YES — gazpacho time! I think of gazpacho as soup and salad, both at the same time. Chief Cook-and-Bottle-Washer brought home a tray of golden, acid-free tomatoes last Friday, and (I admit it) I had my coveting eye on them from the minute they entered the house. We ate a few on Friday night, and more on Saturday. Couldn’t resist, so I swooped in on Sunday morning to pulverize the rest! Chief C&BW said it was okay, he would go buy more. Thank you, Chief. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Adzuki Sprouts Salad
Why is it that the likelihood of requests for a recipe is usually in direct proportion to the rapidity with which you threw it together!? Last week we had a potluck at work, and I threw together a little “early morning salad.” Don’t judge me!! for having this spectacular constellation of ingredients at hand, just in case, you know, I had to throw together an impressive, last-minute salad! Sometimes the stars just line up. Sometimes, on the other hand, Mercury is in retrograde. Okay, let’s give it a shot. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Jason’s Kale Chips
This recipe for kale chips is a little treat from a friend down the street. He says that he doesn’t actually measure, but just eyeballs everything. Other than the first two ingredients, therefore, you should consider the amounts listed below as suggestions only, and feel free to make it your own. Kale chips are a really great option with a sandwich, or instead of a bowl of popcorn, or for an afternoon snack.
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Cucumber Salad with Dill and Red Onion
My aunt used to make a recipe just like this. She was famous for mixing the brine with a little sour cream and drinking it after the cucumbers were gone. No kidding, her idea was once written up in a national magazine, and my family has been excited about it ever since! Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Brussels Sprouts Slaw
When you hear about a recipe for cole slaw, you usually think about cabbage. The “cole” in cole slaw” actually refers to cabbage, and it’s related to the “kohl” in kohlrabi, as well as the “col” in colcannon, that delicious Irish dish of cabbage and potatoes. Like Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and cabbage are members of the Brassica family of vegetables, also known as crucifers. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Rustic Zucchini Layered with Tomatoes
A long time ago, I spent an exciting albeit exhausting day climbing inside the Pyramids at Giza. Later that night, I ate a dish just like this in a restaurant in Cairo. Having worked up quite an appetite, my memories of that meal are layered through with the sounds of noisy waiters and clanging pots, the smart smack of pottery plates being gathered to and from tables, and the sight of dozens of cats walking silently above us on the ceiling beams of that busy restaurant. Continue reading