A couple weeks ago I was doing some cooking at my daughter and son in law’s house while they were learning to change diapers and care for our newborn granddaughter (!!) I pulled a container of tofu from the refrigerator and made something really yummy and totally new with it. Basically, I cut the tofu into approximately 20 squares and roasted them until most of the water had evaporated and they looked more like crackers than tofu. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY CUP: Hopeful Tea
In my opinion, it’s time to take a deep breath. Oh boy. A lot has been going on, no? Hopefully this tea will provide you with an opportunity to breathe in, to savor the moment, and then to exhale. I believe this is the very first time I have ever included a recipe for tea on the blog. This recipe was handwritten on a card given to me by a friend who has been making their own tea blends for a long time. They called it quiet spirit tea. I call it hopeful. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Cauliflower Popcorn
This spices in this recipe appeal to me big time, and hopefully you’ll feel the same. I spent some time with my kids in Jerusalem this past winter, and they cook with lots of heat and spice. In fact, I’m sure they would increase the cumin to 1 or even 2 teaspoons, use hot paprika instead of sweet, and add more hot sauce at the end. Everything they made was fabulous, so if you’re a fan of heat (like me), I’m going to suggest you try it that way, too. This recipe reminded me of some of the things we cooked while I was there, and making their favorites always makes me feel a little closer to them. This recipe is fantastic as a snack, a side, or sprinkled on top of soup, salad, or grains. Continue reading
The Illusion of Variety
Like many people who have been holed up in their homes for the past 15 months or so, this past week I entered a supermarket for the first time in more than a year. Omg. I left with one package of granola bites (treat), one cabbage (food), two kinds of beer (treat), and tonic water (treat–Fever Tree, the best!). Hopefully, I’ll do better next time. The whole experience got me thinking once again about what a supermarket really is, and I decided to share something I first posted a very long time ago. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Chocolate Avocado Pudding
This is a great recipe for when you buy a whole bunch of avocados and they all ripen at the exact same time. Not only is it truly delicious, but there is an excellent chance that no one will realize that what you’ve made for them is any different than any other chocolate pudding they’ve ever eaten. Voila! Continue reading
YOUR HEALTH PLATE: Coffee Nice Cream
Inasmuch as it’s going to be around 90F out there tomorrow, I am sharing a recipe that will be perfect for the weather. It’s like a smoothie but a lot thicker. You can eat it as is, or as the base for a smoothie bowl. It’s not ice cream; it’s “nice cream.” And it is delicious. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Canned Soup
Let’s say you have no get-up-and-go. Let’s say you did, but you used it all up dealing with your boss, your kids, your spouse, your self, your neighbor, your coworker, or your pandemic. Then let’s say that it’s dinnertime and you wish you had it in you to throw together something more nourishing than breakfast cereal or potato chips, but you don’t. What follows is a great recipe for when that day comes. Continue reading
Every Little Bit Means Progress
This is a post about how perfection is the enemy of progress. The thing is, this is true all the time, but I feel like it’s especially important to remind ourselves now, when we’ve been through so much, and it isn’t over yet, and we still need to be extra kind to ourselves, not to mention our family and friends and co-workers, who are also trying very hard to keep putting one foot in front of the other. So here’s the story: A while ago, it was time for us to replace our 300-foot-long driveway, so we contracted with some very competent, able-bodied cement guys. They put a date on the calendar for the following spring, and we waited (patiently) until May came around. Then they came one day and ripped out the old driveway, fully intending, of course, to replace it later that same week. Alas, as my grandmother used to say, “Menschen tracht unt Gott lacht.” That means people plan and God laughs. Ha-ha. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Quinoa-Pistachio Salad
Thank goodness for quinoa and pistachios. If your mint isn’t coming up yet, feel free to substitute lemon balm, which grows wild and crazy around my house. This is a very forgiving recipe, and if you have other things you’d like to add or use up, like shredded carrots or chopped red pepper or a little lemon juice, then go right ahead. Continue reading
All Hail the 2021 Growing Season!
The first time I joined a community-supported agriculture (CSA) years ago, its kickoff late on a Thursday afternoon sent me racing out of the office at the end of the day. The first week’s bounty included lettuce greens, herbs, onions, kohlrabi, radishes. Adults chatted and children hopped around like bunnies as we waited for the strawberries to arrive. Continue reading