YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Red Lentil Soup with Lemon & Cilantro

Love, love lentils! They’re beautiful (and cheap) bought in bulk and stored in glass jars in the cabinet. They cook fast, compared to all the other beans, and you never need to soak them. The red ones cook quickest of all, so don’t be afraid to make this if you’ve got just one-half hour to get soup on the table. I’ve shared some of Mark Bittman’s recipes in the past. This one’s from his Kitchen Express–quick and easy. If you already pulverized some cilantro (or basil) a few weeks ago, and stuck it in the freezer for safekeeping, pull it out now — this is the recipe to use it on! I guessed at the quantities as it is written as a narrative. Continue reading



YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Vegan Ceviche

Ceviche is a dish consisting of seafood that actually cooks in acid instead of heat. Yes, that is true. It’s slow cooking of an entirely different kind. The lime juice “cooks” the fish until it is light, flaky, and flavorful, with a satisfying flash of sour. I had never considered that there could be a vegan version until I saw this gorgeous recipe, which comes to YHIOYP from “Peas and Thank You.”

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YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Roasted Chicken

This is probably the simplest and most flavorful recipe I have ever tasted. It can be made simply, with red potatoes, fresh lemons, and garlic, or exotic, with sweet potatoes and preserved lemons. I have made it with carrots, too. Any way you make it, it’s sublime. The slow cooking brings out the flavor and seals in the moisture. It makes a special dish for a celebration, but it’s also a great treat at the end of a long day. Thank you to nourishingkitchen.com for this spectacular dish. Prep time is just 10 minutes, cooking time is just under 3 hours. Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Chickpeas & Kale As You Like It

To understand why this dish is such a great (and delicious) choice, check out this post of mine about a very special patient who taught me a lot about how to take good care of your health. Try this recipe scooped onto a salad, slid into a pita, slathered on a tortilla, snuck in a wrap, or slid into a scooped-out tomato or red pepper. It’s good for lunch, dinner, or any other time you get hungry. Thank you to Nava Atlas at vegkitchen.com.

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YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Pomegranate Coleslaw

This is the time of year when the pomegranates ripen and come to market. While I was growing up, my family made a regular annual ceremony of opening the beautiful pomegranates to find them filled with shiny, red, juicy jewels. We shared them among ourselves, appreciating the fruits of our table, gobbling up the seeds, and counting our blessings.

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YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Granola with Vitamin Z, a Seasonal Secret

It’s zucchini time! Zucchini has to be one of the best vegetables to hide in food. It contributes moisture and nutrients, not to mention happy bellies. And kids never suspect a thing. But it’s not just for little ones. This recipe is great for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and all kinds of food emergencies. This recipe, from Cookin’ Canuck, will blow your mind. Continue reading