YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Tabouleh Like You’ve Never Seen It!

I’m still collecting recipes for July 4th! This particular tabouleh is a Mediterranean masterpiece! If you’ve never tried sumac and za’atar, you are in for a treat — packed with phytonutrients and flavor, they make for a major mouth rush! If you don’t have any and you’re not inclined to go find some, then just substitute a teaspoon of thyme and don’t give it another second’s thought. Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Chickpea Chica’s Salad

This week we are all about this summer salad, created by our very own Chickpea Chica! The Chickpea Chica has developed dozens of recipes that showcase bright flavors you would never have thought to combine. So we celebrate her talent and thank our lucky stars, which reminds me: It’s not too early to start collecting your recipes for July 4th! Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Meal-in-a-Bowl in 20 Minutes!

Wondering what to make yourself for dinner tonight? Make a meal for two with this magnificent bowlful of flavor, or save half to take to work tomorrow. Then again, you might want to pack this meal-in-a-bowl for a picnic, or to eat once you get situated on that train or plane ride you’ve been planning. A very smart choice…and it sure beats those sad, little pretzels! Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Strawberried, Blueberried Salsa

The Free Dictionary defines salsa as a spicy sauce of chopped (usually raw, but not always) vegetables or fruit, especially tomatoes, onions and chili peppers. You may not have realized, however, that salsa doesn’t necessarily mean tomatoes. In Spanish, salsa means, simply, sauce, and salsa comes in lots of different versions, such as negra (black, with dried chilis) and verde (green, with herbs and tomatillos), not to mention, of course, roja (red, with plenty of tomatoes, onions and garlic). This particular salsa features berries to grand effect! Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Black Bean Brownies

Definitely on a roll here with desserts (especially brownies)! It happens.

I am a huge fan of black-bean brownies. I owe this to two facts: First, I am a big fan of beans. And secondly, I love brownies. So there you have it. In case you are wondering, the beans in this recipe cannot be tasted at all, so feel free to make this for children and skeptics. They will NEVER know, unless you tell. Continue reading


Gotta Love Lovage Soup

The lovage at our house is almost as high as an elephant’s eye! Okay, maybe not. But it’s almost as high as MY eye! Which means that while it was quite delicately flavored a few weeks ago, and very appropriate for salads, now its strong celery taste is making it a better choice for stir fries and soups. Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Brownies To Crow About

If you are trying to figure out what to bring to the Memorial Day Picnic that’s coming up, you may want to give some consideration to putting these amazing brownies on the menu. In fact, you’ll probably want to do a dry run and make a practice batch beforehand, just to make sure they come out the way you’re hoping. Yes, that’s probably what you’ll want to do! Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Garlic Asparagus with Lime

If it’s spring, it’s asparagus time. Unless your hens got into the asparagus bed at the end of last summer and dug it all up, like happy pigs. In which case it is still asparagus time, but —  this year — at the supermarket. And it is back to the drawing board for your own asparagus bed, which took the requisite three years to mature and was started in 2012. Which would have made this year number four. Just saying. Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Ginger Snaps & Macaroons

Ever since I got those nut milk bags and started making my own coconut milk a few months ago, there has been a never ending supply of coconut flour, which we’ve been using to make cookies, apple crisp, pudding, and, now, macaroons. If you don’t happen to have a high-speed blender, nut milk bag, and dehydrator, then no worries. Just go to town and buy some coconut flour (or vice versa)! Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Spring Greens & Grains

This is one of those recipes that gives you a chance to feature whatever grain you feel like eating today, whatever greens are in season, and whatever other vegetables you are in the mood to sautè. Take a deep breath, saunter through the kitchen to see what’s there, and then gather your goodies and start to chop. If you get everything ready early in the day, you can throw this together pretty quickly. And if you make the grains ahead of time, you’ll feel like a real pro when everything comes together in just minutes! Continue reading