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
Category Archives: Recipes
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
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
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Flaxseed Wrap
The original version of this recipe comes from Wheat Belly, authored by cardiologist William Davis. Flax meal is an interesting option if you are looking for grain-free options for a portable lunch. I like the idea of grinding flax seeds in your Vitamix, and I like the idea of making your own wraps. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Raspberry-Coconut Popsicles
These popsicles are just what I need — the perfect antidote to 88 degrees and 100% humidity. In June.
Note that you have to plan ahead, so don’t try to make these an hour before the party. Although it will take only around 20 minutes to put together the popsicles, you’ll need about 6 hours from start to finish after you add in all the freezer time. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Strawberry-Pecan Spinach Salad
The quintessential springtime salad! Can you just imagine this recipe’s tiny sweet strawberries bursting in your mouth? Soft, gently flavorful leaves of spinach, fresh from the ground? With a bit of bite from the onion and some satisfying give from the pecans? Thank you, lowfatveganchef.com, for the original version of this recipe.
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Spring Peas with Walnuts and Dates
A celebration of spring! If you can’t decide whether to get the snap peas or the snow peas, or maybe those beautiful little spring peas, here’s a recipe that will let you use all three. From foodnetwork.com.
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Chicken Cacciatore
If, like many of our friends this week, you’re getting ready for a huge onslaught of guests to celebrate a commencement of one sort or another, think about putting a recipe like this in your slow cooker. The very process of slow cooking blends and brings out flavors, caramelizes and smoothes the natural sweetness in ingredients like tomatoes, and generally turns what was previously a very nice recipe into something entirely more subtle and sublime. Try this chicken cacciatore, in honor of Ann’s graduation.
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Spinach Pesto Pasta
Here’s a special pasta dish with a gorgeous rainbow of colors. The original recipe comes from vegweb.com. Continue reading